Best Vlogging Camera for Beginners

How to Set Yourself up with a Mean Vlogging Kit?
As a rookie vlogger, you'll inescapably need the following crucial skills to produce cutting-edge content that will captivate your audience and boost your popularity: 1) the pluck to go where no other minute-camera wielding adventurer has ventured before, and 2) a certain finesse at handling these complex electronic devices so that what you capture looks and sounds good! Also, you'll probably need a camera as well.
While the first two things you can only acquire yourself, obtaining a powerful filming contraption that will take you the extra mile is mostly a matter of research. Therefore, in order to save you some effort, I've prepared a list of 5 cameras that possess all the necessary characteristics to become a mighty ally in your effort to capture some unforgettable footage.
Mind, though, that the models I've assembled have been proven over and over again to offer the best performance for beginners, so if you're an experienced vlogger, you might want to look into another sort of list. Also, these 5 models are sold at fairly different price ranges, so no matter what sort of budget you're working with, you're bound to find a device that will fit you just fine.
Down below, you'll find the models I picked listed so that you can have a brief overview before we delve any deeper into the characteristics of each separate camera:Brand/ Camera | Video quality | Image Stabilization | Flip screen | External mic | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canon PowerShot SX720 HS | 1920x1080 Full HD | ||||
Sony Alpha a6000 | 1920x1080 Full HD | ||||
Canon 80D | 1280x720 HD | ||||
Go Pro Hero4 | Ultra HD 4K | ||||
Samsung S7 | 3840 x 2160 Ultra HD 4K |
Canon PowerShot SX720 HS: Best Value for Money
Featuring a sleek design and a bundle of powerful, zoom-oriented electronic parts packed inside its relatively small body, the SX720 HS is a force to be reckoned with in the world of vlogging cameras. It represents the Canon's take on a compact kind of travel model with its primary goal being to enable you to film scenic images and to capture objects of interest at a great distance.
Features
First of all, acting as the brains of this mean little machine is the powerful DIGIC 6 Image Processor, which enables you to take full advantage of its impressive roster of components.
For example, it ensures that your footage won't be glitchy or otherwise compromised even when you're fully zoomed in, as the image stabilization can run parallelly with it as smoothly as it does when you're zoomed out.
On the other side, you've got a detailed LCD display you can control with the set of buttons to its right side. Although a growing number of manufacturers slowly drifts towards touchscreen displays, the buttons on this model do their job pretty well, and you can expect an easy and intuitive control of the options on the screen.
On top of that, the connectivity has also been enhanced with the inclusion of a Wi-Fi module. This feature gives you room for some creativity with your shooting style, as you can organize the settings of your footage at a distance.
Also, the handling with this model is quite easy thanks to the rubber grip that's been inbuilt on the front side of the camera and the finely textured area in the upper right corner of the display.
Performance
As for its actual behavior in use, so to speak, the SX720 HS has a number of things going for it. First off, the aforementioned intelligent image stabilization ensures that your footage will come out clear and crisp even if your hands shake or you're otherwise working in tough weather conditions.
Further on, perhaps the biggest strength of this Canon model would be its mighty x40 zoom lens. It makes shooting at a distance a piece of cake, and it also has other supportive properties under its sleeve. The zoom framing assist feature, for example, helps you stay in focus by automatically zooming in or out, according to the situation at hand.Boasting powerful zooming mechanics and some pretty impressive secondary features going for it, the Canon SX720 HS can be a perfect option for a vlogger who intends to record various imagery at a distance or fast-paced events such as sports games.
Video Testing
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Sony Alpha a6000: Best Medium Price Range Camera
Tough and rugged all around, this Alpha a6000 is that manages both to look good and be sturdy enough to survive a nuclear blast. (alright, not really, but it definitely can take a punch, so to speak) Considering a number of its user-friendly features and its overall strength, you could almost pronounce this model the Swiss army knife of vlogging cameras!
Features
As far as its processing power is concerned, the folks at Sony decided to go with the BIONZ X Image Processor - a well-known unit that 'propels' many cameras you can find currently on the market.
This camera engine is famous for its exceptional speed and providing images great in detail and clarity.
Working together with this plucky processing motor is the Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, which in itself has quite a sizeable bag of tricks. For example, it performs brilliantly in low-light conditions, and it has a specialized way of organizing pixels so that the images and footage look crisp even when the shooting environment is not exactly perfect.
Swinging over to the matters of its design, the build of the Alpha a6000 is quite unique in the category of compact vlogging-friendly cameras. The main bulk of its body looks almost retro, while the lens, as well as buttons and various other attachments, give it a more of a modern outlook. This combination makes it a somewhat rare bird in comparison to other models, really.
Performance
Generally speaking, image and video capture is the area where Alpha a6000 really shines. Its powerful OLED viewfinder does a massive job of optimizing your footage by finding the perfect position for each and every shot at hand.
Other than that, the 24 MP resolution enables you to shoot videos at 1080p without any glitches or other imperfections. What's more, you can do so at a distance, thanks to the Wi-Fi feature. You can connect this camera with a smartphone, tablet or some other device of your choice.
Last but not least, I should point out that Sony Alpha a6000 is the proud owner of the title for the model with the quickest autofocus in the world, standing at 179 AF points and 11 fps! So, whatever it is that's moving about in a distance, and you fancy filming it, you can be sure that you won't miss it with one of these cameras on your side.
Priding itself in the world's quickest autofocus feature and a sturdy body that can take some abuse, this model is a favorite among outdoorsy vloggers who tend to visit hard-to-reach places and other God-forsaken places, so if you've got an exploring bug yourself, this model might be a great option for you.
Video Testing
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Canon 80D: Best Camera for Advanced Vloggers
Assuming the appearance of a curious truffle with a massive lens stuck in front of it, the Canon 80D represents one of the best semi-pros currently on the market. Its curvy body together with a powerful arsenal of electronics 'beneath the hood' make this particular model a proper powerhouse among the vlogging cameras!
Features
First of all, let's start with the body. The 80D model is easily recognizable, even at a distance, as it boasts a sizeable build that can really take a punch. By this, I mean that its body is completely weather-sealed, meaning that you can use it wherever and wherever, and it will still be soldiering on come hell or high water.
Further on, taking care of the sharpness and overall 'well-roundedness' of your photos is the APS-C CMOS sensor, meaning that whatever you do with it, whether it's shooting a video or capturing a quick photo, this camera will ensure that your footage comes out crisp and clear every time.
Another feature in the line of 'preparatory' mechanisms of this device would be the optical pentaprism viewfinder. This part of the camera literally finds the optimal position at which you should shoot your footage, so that you can easily produce some fine captions, no matter what your skill levels are.
On top of that, you can further manage this camera thanks to the Wi-Fi connection it has built in by the manufacturers. So, you can operate it even at a distance, and therefore approach some otherwise unfilmable situations, like capturing of squirrels playing (if you set the camera beforehand).
Last but not least, when the mechanics of this camera are in question, that is, you should know that this model comes with a touchscreen option, meaning there are not too many buttons to mess with or otherwise get confused about.
Performance
When you take a closer look at the performance-enhancing additions that this model comes with, you'll see that it's a model that bursts at the seams with all kinds of high-tech savvy tweaks, so to speak.
For starters, you've got an inbuilt flash, allowing you to light your way in situations where there's not enough natural light outside or, indeed, inside a room. This means you'll be able to shoot and film wherever you like, and the image quality will stay roughly the same.
Now, the particular part I'm about to mention you won't really see in many other models, even though it works on a pretty simple premise and is quite clever, really. Namely, on top of the camera, a little to the right side, you can find a smaller LCD display telling you the relevant parameters for each shot.
This is a great idea on the part of the Canon folks, as it enables you to quickly change the settings of each individual shot without having to pause or exit the main filming screen. Other than these, features such as time-lapse recording and a headphone port make the D80 truly a desirable camera, in every respect.
Built with predominantly higher-end professional photographers and other filming aficionados, the D80's impressive range of supportive features actually makes it a perfect candidate for a vlogging rookie, as the camera itself helps you get the best possible footage every step of the way. Also, you get to choose your own lens, which can seem a bit intimidating but is still great.
Video Testing
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GoPro Hero4: Best Outdoors Camera
On the fourth spot in this list of five, I've included a special type of camera- designed with primarily outdoorsy pursuits in mind, where a large and elaborate model could only hamper you. GoPro's, in general, have got famous for their exceptionally small bodies which somehow manage to contain a number of rather impressive properties.
Features
The GoPro company has made a fine job of branding their cameras, and before that, making them work like a clockwork. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of their efforts is that they somehow manage to include more and more features into each of their new models, while the general size remains the same.
That being said, the Hero4 is certainly not an exception. It can snugly fit into the palm of your hand, and still can shoot videos in the 4k resolution which is why people fit them on cars, motorbikes, bikes, you name it.
Since high-paced events are the most popular venues for the utilization of the GoPro, so to speak, being able to transfer data across some patches of terrain is always going to be a plus. Therefore, the inclusion of the Hero4's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity was an obvious move from the GoPro folks.
Mind though, that, while GoPro's are often the number 1 pick among athletes and other people fond of outdoorsy pursuits, they are also known for their abysmal sound quality. If you'd like to buy this Hero4, for example, getting a separate microphone might be a good idea.
Performance
With GoPro cameras, the accent is on convenience and small size, so it's understandable that there are a couple of departments in which these devices don't necessarily shine. For example, you don't get to control the view of what you're filming, as there is no display to speak of, and also the audio quality is generally considered just a low-priority add-on with these cameras.
That being said, these little electronic buggers are pretty great at some other crucial things, such as convenience thanks to their minute size, as well as the well-optimized quality of the video in less than optimal conditions.
For example, the features called the Night Lapse and Night Photo help you film the scenery and the surroundings in great quality, in spite of the low-light conditions of such a vlogging undertaking.
Well-known for its minute size and unusual pluck and sturdiness for such a small camera, the GoPro Hero4 is an absolute winner when it comes to organizing your outdoors ventures and filming them in a great quality.
Video Testing
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Samsung S7 + an H2n Handy Recorder from Zoom + a selfie stick: The Best Custom Combination
Last but certainly not least, you may be wondering what on Earth is that bundle of letters above, but rest assured, what you're seeing is possibly the best overall solution for rookie vloggers on this list. It goes without saying that when you're about to start your vlogging adventure, you seek to equip yourself with a plucky camera that can do the job for you. However, with some careful planning, you can turn your trusty iPhone or some other similar device into a fully-functional vlogging set!
Features
For this particular set, I've chosen the Samsung S7 to act as the main pushing force, as it has a solid camera and a mighty processor capable of taking up the task of continuous filming as well as some of the other devices on this list.
With 12 MP's, its camera is more than enough to handle virtually any sort of vlogging task and deliver some footage that could easily be comparable to that of certain cameras currently on the market. Also, the Quad Core processor working at 2.15GHz and 1.6GHz is truly a tough powerhouse you can rely on.
Other than that, what you'll need is a selfie stick of your choice. They come in all shapes and sizes but otherwise don't really have that much variation to them, so you can just go ahead pick a model that suits your needs in the best way. You can't make a mistake even if you tried, really.
In the end, I propose you obtain an H2n Handy Recorder from the somewhat-oddly-called Zoom company. This little device will take care of your sound, and let me just say that it vastly outperforms any inbuilt kind of microphone that a GoPro comes with, for example.
Performance
Since this type of filming configuration consists of three parts, you can organize your filming session in a variety of ways. For example, you may decide to fit the S7 on top of the selfie stick, and then place your Handy Recorder elsewhere, so that you have perfect sound clarity while filming a person at a distance!
The S7's camera is a great piece of technology for its size, and it will enable you to use interesting features such as Motion Photo and Hyper Lapse- both great at creating unique visual sequences that represent a blend of photos and film footage.
As for the Handy Recorder, it's positively packed with all kinds of sound-bending tools. For example, there's a metronome included, so you can have a steady stream of beats at your disposal whenever you need them.
Mind though, that you'll have two complex digital devices on your hands instead of just one (a vlogging camera model), so getting used to handling it can be a lengthy process.
Creating your own vlogging configuration rather than just buying a camera might sound a bit intimidating, but it can be the best decision you've made lately, granted you do a bit of homework beforehand.
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Best Vlogging Camera for Beginners:
A Rookie's Buyer's Guide
Even though the most important thing by far for a rookie is to be passionate about the discipline they're pursuing, the equipment they employ to help them get there should really be underestimated as an important aspect of it all, in all fairness. Here, I'll mention a couple of things about these cameras worth taking into consideration before you actually venture too close the deal.
Changeable lenses
A camera that allows you to change its lens easily whenever you feel like can be a great asset to have in the long run, as you won't have to buy a new camera as you grow more experienced. Instead, you can simply purchase a new lens and continue rocking the same old build with completely different results.
Flip screen
Although a flip screen can't really be described as the most crucial part of your vlogging camera, it's surely not bad to have one. Generally speaking, flip screens are becoming more and more popular thanks to their convenience and greater handling abilities they bring to the table.
External microphone input
This is a big one. For reasons unknown to the vloggers' communities, vlogging cameras tend to have catastrophically bad audio recording devices built into them, so getting a model which allows you to at least set up your own microphone will have you exhale a big sigh of relief when you actually go out with a camera in your hand. (and a mic on your shirt) Truly a must-have part of a camera.
Autofocus
Another great aspect of a vlogging camera is its ability to quickly adapt to the different scenery at quickly varying distances. Therefore, a model with quick autofocus will surely be at an advantage in comparison to a device without one. What's more, investing more money into a camera with a strong autofocus is smarter than buying a slightly less expensive camera that's absolutely 'focusless'!
Stabilization
Similarly to the autofocus feature, efficient stabilization is a great quality in a camera for roughly the same reasons as with the autofocus thing. What it does is makes an otherwise unmanageable footage that's all over the place stable and clear, which is quite important indeed. Imagine a camera without stabilization that's fitted on a mountain bike going over some rugged gravel terrain? It would make a horrid scene, indeed, and render your valuable footage positively useless!
Best Vlogging Camera for Beginners:
Conclusion
Whenever you're a good ole well-meaning rookie of the ancient craft of 'vloggery' or have someone near and dear to you who's eager to go down that path, a carefully-chosen vlogging camera will be your best friend through thick and thin. So, whether it's a Sony, GoPro, or indeed a custom configuration of your own, I hope you've managed to find a model that caught your eye. Or perhaps more of them! (meaning camera models, not eyes)