Top 10 Best Vlogging Cameras for 2018 – Buyer’s Guide

While it may have been a popular past time when the internet was first developed, vlogging has become a legitimate way to make a living. Thanks to YouTube, even people without access to professional video recording equipment can start a successful vlog.

Still, once you achieve some notoriety, it is probably a good idea to upgrade your setup. Not only will your videos seem more professional, you will be poised to take advantage of technology as it inevitably progresses. Of course, figuring out which vlogger camera is the best can be a difficult task.

With numerous resolutions, frame rates, and settings, you can feel overwhelming when choosing one. That is why we have put together a list of the 10 best vlogger cameras. Then we provide a helpful buyer’s guide explaining the most important features, so you can find the camera that is right for your vlog.

In terms of performance, the a6500 is easily the best camera we reviewed. For vloggers, the recording resolution is one of the best available on the market today. Aside from the fact that it records in 4k resolution, the a6500 also has an additional feature that allows you digitally enhance the image with 2.4x oversampling. Ultimately this increases the amount of information in the pixels by fifty percent. While this will not actually make the image more clear, it will allow the image to be blown up while still retaining its resolution without pixelation.

Moreover, when it comes to tracking and autofocus, there is not another camera we reviewed that comes anywhere near the level of the a6500. With 425 autofocus points, this camera is able to maintain focus even when shooting the quickest of subjects. For instance, this camera is able to maintain a clear image even when filming birds in flight often considered the pinnacle of challenging action shots. Furthermore, the sensor is set on a five axis stabilization IBIS mount to maintain focus regardless the situation.

Unfortunately, the IBIS stabilization is not truly native to the a6500 due to the compressed focal length. As such, when the sensor shifts to account for movement, the image quality will suffer at the edges of the frame due to less light coming through the iris at the angle of entry. This is further exacerbated by the fact that the a6500 does not have near the wealth of lenses at its disposal--either native or third-party compared to other brands or Sony DSLR cameras. While the E mount does accept various adapters, this will ultimately disengage a number of the camera’s more enticing features especially the impressive autofocus.

Sony FDRAX53 can be seen as a bit of a Goldilocks option, but it can also be seen as a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. Moreover, this setup does kind of rely on the subject of the vlog not to be the filmmaker. While a talented camera person can definitely use the Sony FDRAX53 to produce compelling videos of their self, it is not truly ideal for that purpose. That being said, a hybrid vlog can definitely find value with the Sony FDRAX53.

For one, this camcorder records in 4k resolution which a welcome surprise considering that 4k is often reserved for either niche products or professional grade equipment. Moreover, the Sony FDRAX53 can also record in a surprising number of file formats. In fact, this camera records in significantly more file formats than any other camera we reviewed. This is important because it makes that all-important post-production that much easier.

Depending on the software you use to edit your videos, this camera almost certainly films in it natively, so you do not have to worry about conversion and potential data loss during that process. Unfortunately, not all of the image quality features are ideal. Frame rate, for instance, is capped at 30fps. This means that when shooting a moving subject, they are liable to lose focus the faster they go. This will be true regardless the stabilization used even if the Sony FDRAX53 is set up on a tripod.

Ultimately, Canon cannot afford to simply cede a growing segment of the camera market to Sony, so they made a bit of a quick and dirty development of their own DSLRs into a mirrorless style. This has been met with some mixed results, though it is not a poorly performing camera by any means. However, when compared to the a6500 as well as DSLRs within its own catalog, the EOS M5 is a bit out of its league.

Basically, the camera is not significantly better than other Canons as to justify its much higher price tag, but it is not on the same level of performance as the a6500 either. This is never more apparent when comparing their respective video resolutions. Unlike the a6500, the EOS M5 only records at a maximum resolution of 1080p. Considering numerous other Canon cameras do so as well, this is a glaring absence from the EOS M5 especially at its price range.

That being said, the EOS M5 does have the benefit of an expansive catalog of either native or easily adaptable lenses both from Canon and third party manufacturers that can ultimately increase the overall value of the EOS M5 when compared to the a6500. This is especially relevant if you already have a significant collection of EF mount or EF compatible lenses. Even better, the EOS M5 will not lose any of its functions when using an adapter since many of its technologies are still based on previous DSLR models.

Still, it should be understood that the Rebel SL2 will only be able to meet the standards of vlogging for the near future and only in specific circumstances. For instance, this is not at all an appropriate camera to use for action vlogging. In fact, this is not a great camera to use even if you only intend to walk about the street. That being said, it is still a significant improvement on the point-and-shoot variety of cameras.

For one, this camera features an ISO range that can get up to 51,200--though this range is the expanded point with 25,600 being the maximum native ISO. Still, this will allow you to film even in fairly low-light conditions. However, the ultimate quality of that footage will be somewhat limited. First, the Rebel SL2 records at a maximum resolution of 1080p. While this is generally sufficient for most audience’s setups, it means that users with 4k screens will notice a bit of drop off. Thankfully, this camera does record at all resolutions at 60 fps.

Moreover, this camera only utilizes 9 AF points. While that is more than enough for a stationary subject, if you move around or are trying to shoot a subject that is moving, the focus is unlikely to remain throughout the shot. However, you likely should not move while shooting, because the Rebel SL2 does not feature any form of image stabilization. This means that the Rebel SL2 will need to be mounted or the image will shudder and shake.

Arguably the most disappointing part of the 70D is its video resolution. For a camera priced near the mirrorless market, you would expect Canon to have made an effort to ensure the 70D could record in 4k resolution. When you combine this 1080p resolution with a 30 fps rate you get a video image quality that, while not poor, is far from inspiring. On the plus side, this is one of the few DSLR cameras that can be used to record moving images or while you are moving with some limitations.

While it cannot boast the impressive AF of a top-tier Sony mirrorless, the 70D does at least use the same AF as the Canon mirrorless lineup. This provides a solid 19 AF points with a cross focus function as well. Furthermore, the 70D utilizes a Dual Pixel AF function so that even when tracking a moving target, the focus will not become confused by alternative potential subjects. However, this does not mean that you can use the 70D as an action recording camera, but neither do you have to remain static either.

Another feature of the 70D that is nice is the self-cleaning sensor. This function uses vibration to shake dust off of the sensor every time you turn the camera on and off. Aside from improving image quality, this will also reduce the necessary maintenance that you would otherwise have to do with a less expensive camera. Finally, lining your shot up is extremely easy using the pentamax optical viewfinder with electronic overlay. This allows you to both see the shot clearly while getting an idea of how it will actually look on film.

That being said, this is by no means a professional or even semi-professional camera. In terms of image quality, this camera has issues on a number of fronts. For instance, the native ISO range ends at 6400 with the option of expanding it to 12,800. Compared to vastly superior cameras which can expand their ISO to 51,200, this is definitely limiting. There will be no nighttime shoots with the EOS Rebel T6 unless the subject is a silhouette and lights - basically, not you.

To make matters worse, the range of situations appropriate for the EOS Rebel T6 are further reduced by a fairly small f stop range, meaning that while the ISO is substandard for low-light condition, the f stop will not cut it for over-exposed conditions either. Instead, the images are liable to either end up being washed out or displaying far more noise in any darkened area than a professional would be comfortable with.

That being said, this is still a reasonably capable camera that offers 1080p video resolution at 30fps. While that resolution and fps might be a bit disappointing on a camera costing twice as much, it seems like a good deal for the EOS Rebel T6. Sadly, this camera also employs one of Canon’s lesser AF functions with only 9 points though it does include the cross focus design. Still, this means the subject will not be able to move quickly and neither will you.

Arguably one of the best selling points of the GoPro is how easy it is to take with you on the go. As the absolutely smallest camera we reviewed, the GoPro has a long lineup of numerous mounts including gimbal, karmas, and headsets to give you the freedom to record anywhere and in any situation. However, the Hero 5 Black goes one step further so you can record your vlog without ever having to touch the camera.

With voice activated commands, you no longer have to constantly fiddle with the camera, constantly breaking the candid style GoPro is designed to provide. A variety of capture functions from recording to single shots to burst shots can be initiated with voice command 10 in total. Moreover, the Hero 5 Black is an international vlogger camera, able to recognize voice commands in 7 different languages.

One of the best features of the Hero 5 Black has to be its video recording resolution. This is easily one of the smallest 4k cameras on the market. Granted, it only records a maximum of 30 fps, but in this compact a profile, 4k anything is certainly much better than expected. Toss in the fact that it is waterproof up to ten meters and this truly is the best vlogger camera we saw.

Still, the Hero 5 is not without its faults. For instance, the frame options are exceedingly limited, often forcing you to look to third party support of questionable effect. In terms of controlling the GoPro’s non-voice activated commands, the 2” touchscreen is one of the smallest we saw and makes navigating the menus tedious and imprecise. Finally, the various connectivity functions including streaming, wireless uploading, and GPS tracking are a pain to use with long loading times and iffy reliability.

In this instance, certain vloggers can rest easy that the Canon g7x mark2 may not be able to compete with the best options available in terms of raw performance, but can adequately provide the necessary functions for a single shot video at a much more reasonable price. However, its limitations are manifest and need to be taken into account.

For one, the G7 II only uses a 1” CMOS sensor. While this is somewhat consistent with point-and-shoot cameras, that still does not change the fact that it is significantly smaller than the more common APS-C type of sensor found in most DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Ultimately, this limits the framing options for a vlogger, but is more than capable when shooting from within a single room.

Another issue with the image quality is that the GX7 II is not truly designed to host a wide range of lenses. It does feature some limited native lens support and does function with adapters, but the camera itself does not respond well or process the altered image in such a way that vloggers looking for professional grade image quality will want to use too many lenses--especially for some of the more demanding shots like macros or high-speed action.

Of course, if the vlogger is not presenting their self as the subject of the shot, the G7 II offers a number of features that are better than average for its frame. It records in 1080p at 60fps which, while common in more advanced cameras, is certainly a welcome surprise for a point-and-shoot. Moreover, the compact size combined with the responsive and large touchscreen make using the G7 II a much easier task than a professional or even semi-professional alternative.

DJI on the other hand, takes the reverse approach, specializing is gyroscopic servos that track images for mounted cameras. This approach shows up in a wide range of applications from drone recording to professional cinema. However, it is arguably in the consumer market with vloggers where the best value is to be found. Taking the same stabilization technology used for far more tumultuous situations and applying it to a hand held gimbal, the Osmo is arguably one of the most stable cameras we reviewed.

The gimbal features a three axis control that allows you to shoot in standard, portrait, underslung, and flashlight grips while being able to smoothly transition from one to another without breaking stride. When you combine the impressive stabilization with the numerous shot settings, the Osmo becomes and exceptionally easy camera with which to take panoramic, long exposure, and time lapsed images.

Moreover, the Osmo can also connect to your smartphone which will then be able to serve as both a real-time electronic viewfinder and a touchscreen control. After downloading the DJ Go app, the Osmo will even be able to utilize a number of post-production effects in real time. Unfortunately, that will be somewhat necessary as the camera of the Osmo is fairly limited. While it will record in 4K at 30fps and 1080p at up to 120fps, its native ISO settings are capped at 3200, making it a poor option for low-light conditions.

Basically, the Osmo mobile is an Osmo gimbal without the native camera. Instead of using a camera, the Osmo Mobile syncs with your smartphone using an optimized Bluetooth connection and uses that as the camera instead. Considering most people have a smartphone, this means that you do not have to worry about purchasing an expensive piece of equipment just to get high quality image capturing. In fact, the limitations of the image quality for the Osmo Mobile are only limited by the quality of your smartphone’s camera--though even that can be improved upon.

This app is what connects your smartphone to the Osmo Mobile and allows you to control the various gimbal settings from the comfort of its touchscreen. However, the DJI Go app is not strictly a one-way street and offers a number of features to tweak, enhance, or set up shots that are otherwise almost impossible to accomplish on a smartphone. The app will allow you to designate various recording types like time lapse or slow motion recording as well as unique still shots like long exposure, time lapse, and 330 degree panoramas.

However, it is the pre and post production settings of the DJI Go app that make it truly remarkable. For instance, you can designate a point in your shot and the gimbal will automatically use that point as a reference for the action tracking. This allows you to move without the camera losing the subject. You can determine the video resolution, white balance, ISO, and shutter speed all from the app. Moreover, you can even apply some basic photoshopping effects to clean up still images directly from the app.

For a vlogger, this is often seen as the most important feature in a camera. It stands to reason that the better resolution your footage, the better video you can produce. However, this only takes into account the maximal quality of your footage itself. You have to remember that the quality your audience will view the videos in is limited by their viewing hardware whether a smart device, computer monitor, or television.

Considering most people do not yet currently own a 4k capable screen, it is likely that your breathtaking 4k footage is being somewhat wasted. Keeping that in mind, 4k technology continues to develop with 8k right around the corner. As such, it is only a matter of time before 4k screens are priced appropriately for the average consumer in which case investing in a 4k camera will pay off.

Ultimately, whether the capability of recording in 4k is seen as a vital need for your vlog will come down more to how often you purchase new equipment more than anything else. For example, if you only buy a new camera every couple years or less, it might not yet be worth getting a 4K camera, because by the time your audience owns a 4k screen, you will have already purchased another camera likely another 4k capable one.

Conversely, if you end up using the same equipment for five years or longer, it would likely behoove you to invest the money now, so that when the average consumer can afford to purchase a 4k viewing device, you are already ahead of the game and ready to produce vlog videos that are able to take advantage of the increased resolution.

A word of warning: 8k video resolution is a trap and marketing ploy. Technically, digital technology can continue to progress without end in sight. On the other hand, the human eye does not have that luxury. As such, it is quite likely that digital image resolutions will surpass the biological range of the eye-roughly 6k resolution within ten to twenty years. 8k resolution will ultimately be the pinnacle where everything beyond is superfluous and even fifty percent of 8k resolution will be wasted in that we cannot even perceive that level of detail.

1080p - Over the past fifteen years, 1080p resolution has become the general standard. In terms of television screens, 1080p is more or less expected. For instance, standard definition televisions, those with 480p, have not been sold new for almost a decade. For computer monitors, some are still made in 720p, but that is also still technically considered HD. While a 720p monitor will not be able to display the full detail of a 1080p video, it will provide a quality image. Still, 1080p is far more common whereas 720p has now occupied the lower tier market for computer monitors.

4k - 4k resolution is a significant improvement of 1080p. In fact, 4k is actually four times as good as 1080p resolution when measured in pixels. To put that in perspective, the difference between 720p and 1080p is about twice detail. This means that the increase from 1080p to 4k is calculated not linearly, like the difference between 720p and 1080p, but quadratically. The primary issue with 4k resolution is that, as the newest top tier consumer grade resolution, it is often currently prohibitively expensive. While some strides have been made in terms of bringing 4k resolution televisions in line with top tier market values, this problem is only amplified for computer monitors in which a 4k monitor can cost just as much as a 4k television but have a screen half the size or less.

While most of us are aware that a video is actually a series of still frame images taken one after the other in sequence, many do not realize that there is a wide divergence of shutter speeds to determine how clear that sequence appears when played at full speed. This aspect is measured in fps, or frames per second. Moreover, the actual frame recorded may or may not resolve properly on your audience’s screen.

In this way, the camera’s shutter speed is somewhat similar to resolution in that even if your camera sports top of the line recording capability, a majority of your audience will not even be able to take advantages of it. Furthermore, the internation fps standard for cinema is only 24 fps significantly lower than even mid-tier cameras.

However, few people are likely to be watching your vlog on a film projector, and digital screens can refresh the image at much faster speeds. The screen’s hz, or hertz, rating will tell you how many fps it can display. Presently, most screens run at 60 hz. This means the screen can accurately replicate 60 fps.

If your camera only records at 30fps, then the audience member is only utilizing half of their screen’s capability. Conversely, if you record at 120fps something possible on higher end cameras chances are most people’s screen is only able to display one out of every two frames.

In this way, a camera that records at 120 fps is similar to a camera that records in 4k resolution: chances are most people are not able to experience the full effect and quality of your video. Of course, this brings us back to invest now or invest later decision depending on how often you purchase new equipment.

The sensor is arguably the most important component of a digital camera. This is the part that ultimately determines the quality of your images. Aside from the size of the sensor, the type of sensor will also play an important role in the quality of your images. The two main types of sensors are CCD and CMOS.

CCD - CCD, or charged coupled device, sensors are widely seen as the superior type of digital camera sensor. Aside from the fact that this type of sensor produces an all around better image quality, the CCD sensor also provides a better dynamic range and noise control. However, the CCD sensor is power consumptive and will ultimately require far more batteries to be able to run for extended periods of time.

CMOS - CMOS, or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, sensors may not yet be able to match the absolute image quality of a CCD sensor, but they are not that far off either. A big part of why boils down to the fact that manufacturers use CMOS sensors more often, because consumers generally favor battery life over maximal image quality. This has led to more research and development being done with CMOS sensors than CCD ones.

Full Frame - The full frame sensor is the top tier for sensor sizes. These sensors are almost twice the size of the next largest sensor and require a significantly larger camera body as well. This makes many full frame cameras significantly heavier than their counterparts unless they use the mirrorless system. Even then, the additional lens size necessary to maintain image resolution removes any advantage.

APS-H/C - This is the most common range of sensor sizes used in digital cameras today. These sensors do not require nearly as large of a camera body since they are much smaller than the full frame sensor. Moreover, cameras with these sensors are often far less expensive making them a great choice for enthusiasts, semi-professionals, and vloggers.These sensor will see anywhere from a 1.3x to 1.5x crop reduction.

As you can see, the best vlogger camera will depend primarily on what you intend to do with it. While the a6500 is impressive, it will likely go to waste if your videos consist of little more than you sitting in a controlled environment. For instance, if you produce makeup tutorials, the additional cost of the a6500 will go towards features you are unlikely to ever use.

Conversely, if you are an action vlogger or regularly shoot footage while on the move, getting a camera with top quality stabilization features will be vitally important. In this instance, the GoPro Hero 5 Black, Osmo, and Osmo Mobile are all viable options.

However, if you genuinely require top of the line equipment, the Sony a6500 and Canon EOS M5 are without a doubt the best of the bunch. While the a6500 is ultimately a superior camera in terms of image quality to the EOS M5, Canon offers a much wider range of lenses and adapters that actually maintain the camera’s features.