Video blogging or vlogging, in short, is simply a method of sharing information that you would otherwise write down in an article or blog. When people talk about vlogging, they refer to recording a video about a particular topic, as one would do in a blog. Ever since the birth of YouTube, vlogging has become immensely popular across the world with a number of celebrities taking it up in order to share events of their daily life or certain experiences with their fans. That’s why we made this list of the best vlogging camera.

Vlogging is basically the video version of a blog post. So in order to record a video, you would require a camera. With the recent boom in the smartphone market, vlogging has become available to almost everyone. While not all smartphones cameras are good enough when it comes to vlogging, the fact that they are so portable and can serve many other purposes as well make them a lucrative buy.

In this article, let us explore the market for some good vlogging cameras and filter out the best from among those.

Different types of vlogging cameras

Investing in a professional vlogging camera can be a costly affair. If you are not a regular vlogger, you may want to consider cheaper alternatives that compromise slightly on image quality but is still good enough for vlogging occasionally.

Smartphone cameras

Most smartphones come with sensors of 8 megapixels or more when it comes to secondary cameras. If you are talking about back cameras, the specifications are more impressive. Vlogging with a smartphone, hence, is a feasible option these days, thanks to the rapidly progressing technology. It is pertinent to mention here that smartphone cameras are frequently found wanting on the lighting department as well as image stabilization feature.

Webcams

Your computer’s camera is yet another option when it comes to vlogging, but it must be remembered that webcams tend to sluggish and have low frames per second rates. If you are looking to boost the viewership of your vlog, using a webcam is not a wise decision.

Action cameras

If your vlog involves a lot of travelling, climbing hills, indulging in extreme sports and jumping into waterbodies, an action camera is the best option for you. It is waterproof and durable, and can be your favorite companion during adventurous hikes.

Professional cameras

These are the ones that most professional vloggers use in order to record their content and put it up on the internet. The cheaper ones are of 720p while the more expensive variants shoot at 1080p. High quality video and good sound quality are the two primary requirements for the best vlogging camera.

4K cameras

Vlogging in 4K is gradually becoming popular with several vloggers opting to stay ahead of the curve and invest a little more into their job. 4K files can be a bit demanding on your computer though; so make sure you have the optimum specifications.

Top 5 vlogging cameras

Let us now take a look at the best vlogging camera that most vloggers use for their work.

1. Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR camera

If you are serious about vlogging and want to upload top notch video recordings on YouTube, the Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR camera is the one for you. It has a 20.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and shoots in full HD 1080p. The fast focus system in live view and video is a fantastic addition that makes this item a favorite among professional YouTubers. The 3 inch articulating touch panel LCD screen allows you to adjust the camera settings and more by simply touching the controls. It is also GPS compatible. The Canon EOS 80D is a more recent variant of this product, but the former is $300 more than this one.

2. Canon VIXIA HF G40 Camcorder

Powered by 20X High Definition Zoom Lens, this Canon product is claimed by the company to be compact, capable and easy to use. It delivers sharp, clear images with minimal distortion, and helps to reduce flares, ghosting and similar unwanted effects. It possesses an advanced HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor with improved low-light performance for better results after sunset. It features a dual SD Card slot and a high capacity battery. The built-in Wi-Fi technology helps you to upload and share your videos without any fuss whatsoever. The Canon Movie Uploader App lets you upload images to social networking sites. Another noteworthy feature is the 3.5” OLED viewscreen with 10,000:1 contrast ratio and EVF for accurate video previews.

3. Sony 4K HD FDRAX33 Handycam

The Sony 4K HD FDRAX33 is the best 4K camera you are going to find on the internet.The Blanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilizer further edits out the movements in the footage and helps in delivering clear, continuous recording. The optical zoom is only 10X but the sensor resolution of 20.6 MP makes this a lucrative purchase, The Manual Control Ring provides you complete authority on the iris and shutter adjustment, exposure and white balance. It boasts of a 5.1ch surround sound microphone along with manual audio controls. The Ustream feature allows you to live stream from your computer. The handycam comes with the AC adapter, rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, power cord, operating guide, HDMI cable and USB connection support cable.

4. Canon PowerShot G7 X

The highly popular Canon G7X PowerShot Digital Camera has to its credit 20.2 MP High Sensitivity CMOS sensor in addition to Canon’s powerful image processor. It can shoot up to 60 frames per second and is capable of shooting 1080p full HD video. The manual control ring is perfect for those who love to access the camera’s shooting modes themselves and adjust the aperture, speed, ISO, flash and focus. The auto detection technology has a face detection feature that helps you to focus easily on the specific areas. At $650, this product seems to be reasonably prized, and if customer reviews on Amazon are to be believed, it is undoubtedly the one of the best out there for vlogging.

5. Canon EOS Rebel T5i

As a digital SLR camera, the Canon EOS T5i provides plenty of options to choose from. No wonder, therefore, that it is a favorite among professional vloggers. With 18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and 5 FPS continuous shooting ability, this product offers high quality, natural-looking images. It features an impressive multi shot noise reduction tool that reduces noise and ensures nice, clean footage. Other notable features include 3 inch articulating touch panel LCD screen, integrated speedlite transmitter, 9 point AF system and optional GPS.

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Some other good vlogging cameras

Sony DSCWX220/B

GoPro HERO5 Black

Canon PowerShot S120 12.1 MP CMOS

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G7KK DSLM Mirrorless 4K Camera

Panasonic HC-W580K Full HD Camcorder with Wi-Fi

Best Vlogging camera buying guide

There are certain essentials that a camera must possess before you can call it suitable for vlogging.

Image quality

Undoubtedly, image quality is the most important criterion for a good vlogging camera. HD video recording is always a recommendable feature. Unless you are on a budget, it is advisable to go for a camera that shoots at 1080p. Most popular YouTubers usually use full-HD or 1080p cameras. 720p cameras are more affordable, but the image quality is barely as good as 1080p ones.

Optical image stabilization

Shaky video footage is the ultimate turn off when it comes to video blogs. Vlogs entail a lot of movements and gestures; so if your camera does not have optical image stabilization feature, it is likely that the quality of your recordings are below par. Video editing software can help stabilize recordings, but there’s nothing like a built-in feature for the best results.

Lens

You will definitely have to consider the best lenses for close range recordings if you are preparing to vlog while holding your camera at an arm’s length. Being out of focus not only invites bad reviews, but also hinders the growth of your vlog.

Built-in microphone

Even with a good image quality, a video recording is useless if the viewer cannot listen to a single word clearly. As a vlogger, you need to understand this and emphasize on the audio quality of your camera at the time of purchase. Almost all cameras possess built-in microphones, but only a few of them have a decent quality. Always try to go for a front facing microphone so as to reduce the background noise.

Weight

You need to be careful about the weight of the camera you are going to buy if you are planning to vlog with it. Vlogging implies holding the camera out with an extended arm for more than a few minutes. Therefore, you would need cameras that are lightweight enough for vlogging. Tripods are usually the best way out, since they also help to keep the camera stable, but of course, you may need to extend your budget for that.

Conclusion

Finding the best camera for vlogging on Youtube can be quite a daunting task if you don’t know what exactly you are looking for. With so many specifications to check for and so many variants available in the markets from different brands, it is important to understand your own needs before purchasing a camera best suited to those.

Although most vlogging cameras these days come with an adapter, it may be a prudent decision to buy an additional battery along with your camera in case you don’t have accessibility to charging points often. Adding an SD card to your cart is also something to be considered.

Your budget will ultimately dictate the kind of best vlogging camera you are going to settle for. We hope this review guide has been useful in that regard.