Want to know the best vlogging cameras for beginners? One of the questions I always get asked a lot is what camera equipment I use. So I decided to put this epic post on the best vlogging cameras in 2024 together to help you decide on what vlogging camera you want to invest in.
Pin for Later
Quick Guide of The Best Vlogging Cameras in 2024
- Best Vlogging Camera For Beginners – Canon G7 X Mark II
- The Best Action Camera – GoPro HERO9 Black
- Camera For On The Go Vloggers – New Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
- Best Camera For Vlogging and Blogging Hybrids – Sony ZV-1
- Best Camera For YouTubers – Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III
- Best Walk And Talk Camera – DJI Pocket 2
- The Ultimate Action Camera For Creatives – Insta360 ONE X2
How to choose the best vlogging camera?
Vlogging has become very popular in the last couple of years, and of course, with that popularity, the camera manufacturers are creating some incredible cameras. When you search for a camera, you will find tons of options, but the main things you need to consider (or find out in the first place) are what you want to do with your camera? What is your budget, and what kind of blogging and vlogging are you going to use it for? Lifestyle, fashion, food, landscape, makeup, etc. You will find many camera options and there is no certain answer to which camera is the best, but if you know what you want to do, that will make the process a lot easier.
Now, if you already know that, we can get into more technical stuff. When you are considering buying the best camera for blogging and vlogging, you need to consider these things:
- Flip screen/selfie mode – a vlogging camera with a flip screen is crucial! When you are shooting a video about anything, it is a thousand times better to have a flip screen where you can see exactly what you are shooting
- Can you use a tripod? – there are some very lightweight cameras out there that you could hold with your hand if you are vlogging, but if you are looking to do makeup vlogging, you want to interview someone, etc. You may have a tripod in mind. Believe it or not, there are some incredible cameras out there that have incredible video performance, but their flip screen gets in the way of the tripod, which means that you can only shoot when holding the camera with your hand
- Autofocus – I love good autofocus, there is nothing worse than missing the perfect, natural, and just spontaneous moment because of a bad focus
- Image stabilization – this kind of goes with the last one. Sometimes it is impossible to stay still while you are shooting a video. Maybe you are in a moving vehicle, or having to walk fast. With a camera with good image stabilization, you can take advantage of these moments
- Video and photo quality – the video quality is kind of obvious, right? But good photos are also good for thumbnails. Don’t forget about thumbnails!
- Lightweight – if you are sure that you will use your camera only with a tripod and indoors, this won’t be much of a problem, but if you are an adventure traveler, lifestyle vlogger, or anything in between, you definitely won’t want to carry a big and heavy camera in your suitcase everywhere you go
- Low-light performance – this is one of the most important features to look for when you are searching to buy a new camera. From time to time, you may find yourself in an indoor location, or at a night event and you will find that your camera is struggling to get a good shot. There is nothing worse than missing great moments because of a camera that is not good for certain activities
- Microphone input – most cameras have an in-built microphone, but if you are planning to go out to the streets to shoot a video, the microphone will capture all the sounds around you, which could cause your voice to get lost. While sometimes this can be fixed when you are editing, it is easier to use a microphone
Mirrorless vs Point and Shoot vs DSLR vs Action Camera
If you get into the world of photography, you will find these names everywhere so it is better to know what they are and what each type of camera is good for.
Point-and-shoot
I find these as the easiest type to describe. A point-and-shoot camera is basically the kind of camera where you don’t need to worry about manually setting the aperture, or shutter speed and the focus as you would do on mirrorless or DSLR cameras. You just aim and press the button and the camera will do the rest. Don’t be fooled by this description, you can find very fine point-and-shoot vlogging cameras.
DSLR
I am not a professional photographer but I will try to explain how these cameras work. They reflect the scene you see in the viewfinder or LCD screen with a little mirror. When you click to take a photo or video, the mirror will move out of the way, the image will enter the sensor, and be stored in the memory card.
For this reason, when you download your photos and videos on your computer, some won’t look as you saw them with the viewfinder or LCD screen. It will depend on the settings of the ISO, aperture or the lens type, etc.
Mirrorless
As you can imagine, these cameras don’t have mirrors. They are the cameras taking on the world nowadays. When you see them, they are similar to the DSLR cameras, but the main difference is that what you see on the viewfinder or LCD screen is what you get as a final result.
Action Cameras
These are very small, lightweight, and well-built cameras for rough environments. They usually also capture a wide field of view which makes them perfect for adventurers who are on the move and don’t want to carry too much equipment.
Micro Four Thirds
Now, since we are talking about vlogging cameras, you may also hear about the Micro Four Thirds somewhere. These are very lightweight cameras that work similar to the mirrorless type, and you also have the chance of exchanging lenses depending on your needs, but what makes them different is that their sensor is smaller than the mirrorless and DSLR cameras. Their compact size and the range of lenses available make these a great choice for a small vlogging camera.
Quick Tip:
If you are looking for the best travel blogging course to take, check out my complete blog post review here or click here to enroll in one of the courses:
Here is my list of the Best Video Cameras For Vlogging In 2024
Vlogging Cameras For Beginners & Pros
| Product | Megapixels | Video | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon G7 X Mark II | 20.2 MP | 1080/60p video | Click here |
| GoPro HERO9 Black | 20 MP | 5K | Click Here |
| iPhone 14 Max Pro | 48 MP | 4K | Click Here |
| Sony ZV-1 | 20.1 MP | 4K | Click Here |
| Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III | 20.1 MP | 4K | Click Here |
| DJI Pocket 2 | 64 MP | 4K | Click Here |
Canon G7 X Mark II
This is not the newest camera you will find in the market, but it is still a great option for vloggers. It is very compact and light, so it is easy to carry it with you anywhere. This is a great camera for travelers looking for a portable camera that performs well in low light, but if you are looking to use it for any fast-moving activities like sports, this is not for you, though the autofocus is not tragic.
If you are looking for the newest version of this camera, keep scrolling down. As a warning, it is more expensive than this version, but if you can afford it, I 100% recommend it. If you are taking your first steps into the vlogging world, this G7 X Mark II will fit very well.
Features & Benefits
- Full frame: No
- Weight: 11.25 oz
- Sensor size: 1 inch
- Megapixels: 20.2 MP 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor
- Video: 1080/60p video
- LCD screen: yes and it can be flipped up by 180 degrees and down 45 degrees
- Max. Burst Rate: 8fps
- Price: Check the latest price on Amazon here
Pros
- Performs well in low light
- Very portable
- Affordable
- Versatile focal range
Cons
- Low battery life
- Sharpening and noise reduction could improve
GoPro HERO9 Black
GoPros are very well-known to be great cameras for outdoors and rough weather. This time around GoPro did not disappoint delivering this amazing action camera in the small package we all know. What makes this camera even greater is that now, it is not a camera only for sports or adventure, this camera has an LCD screen at the front as a selfie camera which will come very handy for other types of vloggers out there. You can also take 20 MP photos or capture 14.7 MP stills from your videos.
I must say that one of the new video features that catches my eye is the ‘scheduled capture’. With this feature, you can set your camera to film at a certain hour and then go to sleep. Very handy if you are looking for sunrise or northern lights.
With this GoPro vlog camera, you are also able to live stream to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Profiles, and Facebook Pages.
Features & Benefits
- Full frame: No
- Weight: 5.29 oz
- Sensor size: 7.66mm diagonally
- Megapixels: 20 MP
- Video: 5K
- LCD screen: yes
- Max. Burst Rate: the slowest is 240 fps and the fastest is 24 fps for getting different styles
- Price: Check the latest price on Amazon here
Pros
- A better battery with 30% more capacity (about 30) than its predecessor, the Hero8
- Hyper smooth 3.0 for more smooth video captures
- Front-facing screen
- 20 MP photos and 14.7 MP stills from videos
Cons
- Larger than other models
- 5K take too much memory card
New Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Cell Phones are already part of everybody’s lives, and as we all know, Apple is at the top of the camera game on their phones. This one though is a gem! I have seen other world travelers relying solely on their phones to take photos and videos, and let me tell you, their footage is not bad at all.
Even though this is a smartphone camera, which means you don’t have a lot of control over the settings, you can get HDR video recording for up to 30fps and 4K video recording 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps perfect for vlogging. Last but not least, the night mode is better than ever for photos.
Features & Benefits
- Full frame: No
- Weight: 8.47 ounces
- Megapixels: 48 MP
Primary: 48MP sensor, 24 mm equivalent f/1.78 -aperture lens, second generation sensor-shift OIS, Dual Pixel AF.
12MP Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view, six‑element lens, 100% Focus Pixels
12MP 2x Telephoto (enabled by quad-pixel sensor): 48 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, seven‑element lens, 100% Focus Pixels
- Video: 4K
- Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps
- ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps (1080p at 30 fps for 128GB storage)
- Price: Check the latest price on Amazon here (link)
Pros
- You can have your camera always on you
- Zoom accuracy is excellent for a phone camera
- Night mode is good
- Time Lapse and slow-mo available
- Really good autofocus for a phone camera
Cons
- Limited customization
- Proprietary Ecosystem: The iPhone 14 Pro Max operates within Apple’s ecosystem, which can limit compatibility with certain third-party software or accessories
- Pricey
Sony ZV-1
This is a vlogger’s sweetheart if you ask me, it is a very capable and compact camera for entry-level, professional filmmakers, YouTubers, or home videographers. On the downside, it is not the cheapest camera for vlogging.
The perks this little beauty can offer include background defocus in case you are planning to create product or makeup videos, this camera will make your life easier. Other perks are a built-in neutral density filter for outdoors, face priority exposure setting, and the Soft Skin effect to soften the blemishes on your skin, to name a few.
Features & Benefits
- Full frame: No
- Weight: 10.37 oz
- Sensor size: 1 inch
- Megapixels: 20.1 MP
- Video: 4K 30p
- LCD screen: yes
- Max. Burst Rate: 24fps
- Price: Check the latest price on Amazon here
Pros
- Wireless file transfer to send the videos and photos easily to your mobile device
- Tilting selfie screen
- Great quality in-built microphone created especially for vloggers
Cons
- Pricey
- No intercheangable lenses
- Low battery life and for charging the battery, you need to connect the entire camera
- No viewfinder
Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III
This is the preferred camera of many well-known vloggers out there, and I can totally understand why. This camera offers you a 4K video with no crop to shoot vertically or horizontally, making things easier if you are looking to upload your videos to your Instagram stories, an external mic port, and you can live stream to Youtube. You can also extract stills from the 4K videos you can use as thumbnails.
Some consider this camera over the previous option, the Sony ZV-1 because it is slightly more affordable. But these two are great contenders in terms of the quality content you can get.
Features & Benefits
- Full frame: No
- Weight: 10.72 oz
- Sensor size: 1 inch
- Megapixels: 20.1 MP
- Video: 4K 30p
- LCD screen: yes
- Max. Burst Rate: 8.3fps
- Price: Check the latest price on Amazon here
Pros
- Can shoot and live stream vertically
- External mic port
- 4K video with no crop
Cons
- No viewfinder
- Not the cheapest camera for vlogging when compared with other similar cameras
- Short battery life
DJI Pocket 2
First of all, I need to say that after looking at this tiny camera, it reminded me of the movie Wall-E. It is the perfect camera for those who do walk and talk vlogs because it is very small, light, and it basically has a gimbal attached to it. The manufacturers have made significant improvements from the previous model. This time they have worked with a larger sensor, brighter lens, improved microphones, and a wider field of view, which means you don’t have to hold it out at arm’s length when talking to the camera. The only thing that makes this camera not perfect is that it does not work well on low light or high contrast scenes.
The last thing I have to say is that this camera is perfect for vlogging, but if you are looking for a camera to take photos, there are other better options out there you can get.
Features & Benefits
- Full frame: No
- Weight: 4.12 oz
- Sensor size: 1/1.7-inch CMOS
- Megapixels: 64 MP
- Video: 4K 60p
- LCD screen: yes
- Max. Burst Rate:
- Price: Check the latest price on Amazon here
Pros
- The stabilization is excellent
- The mics work flawlessly
- The LCD screen works really well with a touch screen and you can also use the tiny adapter and app to use your smartphone as a screen in case the mini LCD screen is too small for you
- Good battery life
- Takes fairly decent photos
Cons
- It could get hot when shooting 4K
- It does not work well on low light and high contrast scenes
Quick Tip:
Improve your Youtube potential with Tube Buddy! Get a 40% off using the code YEAR40. You can check more here.
Insta360 ONE X2
This camera is not the cheapest camera you will find, but if you have a creative mind and can afford it, the results will be amazing.
You can already guess that with this camera you are able to shoot 360-degree videos with very crisp resolution and vivid colors. The best part of it is that you can use the footage of the 360 degrees, which in other times would only be possible if you had a bunch of cameras around you, or with the app, you can select only the scenes you want to work with and adapt them to be used for Instagram stories or YouTube videos. There are also several modes you can choose to film your videos that go beyond the slow-motion or the time laps we all love.
It is also a great camera if you are shooting underwater. You can go down to 10 meters, or with the special protective case, you can go down to 45 meters.
Features & Benefits
- Full frame: No
- Weight: 5.25 oz
- Sensor size: ½.3-inch
- Megapixels: 18.5 MP
- Video: 5.7 K
- LCD screen: yes
- Max. Burst Rate:
- Price: Check the latest price on Amazon here
Pros
- Superb stabilization for sports or fast-moving scenes
- Great dynamic clips
- A playground for creatives
- The app is easy to use
Cons
- Pricey
- The app only works with the latest phones
- Editing could take some time
- Some users will find it a little out there
Editing Software for Vloggers
Now that you know about the best vlogging cameras out there, you must be asking yourself about how you can edit your videos. The truth is that if you do your research, you will find some options that may look appealing to you. Of course, all options are paid subscriptions. Let’s face it, if you want to start creating quality content for your viewers, you will need to invest a little money, and believe me, this is a good investment.
I only have one editing software that has been amazing for me.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is professional-level video editing software. Don’t take these important words so seriously, it is very easy to use, and there are plenty of tutorials you can find to learn how to make the best out of this software. If you have used Photoshop before, it will be very easy to get familiarized with it since the interface is similar.
