Reviews |Best cameras for vlogging in 2021

Best cameras for vlogging in 2021

Simplicity and outstanding video quality: it's the perfect package we're all looking for. If you have dreams of growing a YouTube channel, these are our picks for the best cameras for vlogging

Best Camera for vlogging
News

If you’re looking for a camera you can use to create vlogs, then you’ll likely be after something which can not only produce excellent footage, but is also simple to use.

The majority of the cameras in this round-up feature tiltable or articulating screens that allow you to point the camera at yourself and still compose your shot. That’s super-useful if you don’t happen to have your own camera operator on hand.

We’ve also taken a look at the best action camera on the market, for those of you who like to create adventurous vlogs, while picking a smartphone for those who like to create videos off the cuff.

Another essential feature is the ability to connect your camera to your smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi for quick sharing – all of the cameras here have that function.

Read on to find out our picks of the best cameras you can pick up this year for your very own vlog.

Best cameras for vlogging in 2019

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

The vloggers favourite compact camera just got better

Sensor: 1-inch type stacked CMOS Megapixels: 20.1 Lens: 24-100mm (equivalent) f/1.8-2.8 AF System: 31-point contrast detection Viewfinder: n/a Screen: 3-inch Tilting touch-sensitive LCD, 1040k-dots Max Video Resolution: 4K Max Frame Rate: 30fps

Pros: 4K video with no cropping and live streaming

Canon’s PowerShot G7 X Mark II was a big hit with vloggers but the Mark III has even more to offer. For instance, the PowerShot G7 X Mark III is capable of shooting 4K (3840 x 2160) video at 29.97 / 25fps without cropping. There’s also a 3.5mm mic jack and the HDMI mini port can supply a clean feed to external devices.

Further good news is that Canon has enabled live-streaming to YouTube when the camera is connected to a Wi-Fi network.

It’s also the first camera from Canon to feature a stacked sensor design. Paired with the Digic 8 processing engine, this enables a maximum shooting rate of 30fps.

Like the Mark II, the PowerShot G7 X Mark III has a 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 lens and a flip-up screen that can be viewed from the front. This makes it an ideal camera for handheld vlogging.

Canon EOS M50: price, specs, release date revealed

Canon EOS M50

Canon’s best mirrorless camera so far is a great option for Full HD vlogging

Sensor: APS-C format CMOS Megapixels: 24.1 Lens Mount: Canon EF-M AF System: up to 143-point Dual Pixel CMOS Viewfinder: 0.39-type 2,360,000-dots OLED EVF Screen: Touch-sensitive vari-angle 3.0-inch LCD with 1,040,000 dots Max Video Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.98, 25 fps Max Frame Rate: 10fps

Pros: Excellent image quality, vari-angle screen

To get the bad news out of the way first, although the EOS M50 is 4K-enabled there’s an additional 1.6x crop factor applied to the framing in 4K mode and that’s not ideal for close-quarters filming. Also, the AF system reverts to contrast detection rather than the excellent phase detection system that operates in Full HD video mode.

Now to move on to the good news, the Canon M50 is an excellent camera for vloggers as its APS-C format sensor delivers high-quality video footage, the screen flips out to the side to give a clear view when you’re filming yourself and the AF system does a great job of keeping the focus on the subject. If you’re speaking to camera, you’ll see a reassuring square around your face to let you know you’re in focus.

With the 15-45mm kit lens mounted the M50 sits nicely in your hand and is easy to hold at arm’s length for fairly long periods. It’s also easy to use yet has advanced exposure options if you want to use them. Crucially, there’s also an audio-in port for connecting an external mic.

 

GoPro Max Review: performance

GoPro Max

Arguably GoPro’s best camera at the moment and the best camera for vlogging on this list

Megapixels: 16.6 Viewfinder: N/A Screen: Two-inch touchscreen Max Video Resolution: 5.7K in 360 mode; 1440p in Hero mode Max Frame Rate: 30fps at 5.7K (360); 60fps at 1440p (Hero)

Pros: Excellent image and audio quality; extremely versatile

Say what, a 360 camera on a list of the best cameras for vlogging? Trust us on this one. We’ve been filming with the GoPro Max since its launch in winter 2019, and we’ve been slowly falling in love with it.

For starters, the Max can shoot 360 video in 5.6K resolution at 30fps. This is actually 6K footage, but it renders at 5.6K after it is stitched in-camera. There’s an excellent Reframe feature, however, that allows you to pick any vantage point within your 360 footage and follow that as a standard-format movie.

You can also swap from 360 to Hero mode where the Max functions as an action camera using just one of its dual lenses – resolution here is limited to 1440p at 60fps or 1080p at 60fps, but the image quality is still superb.

The Max also supports HEVC video format, which produces smaller files while prioritising image quality.

For vloggers, the Max also lets you swap between lenses when filming in Hero mode. This means you can speak to the lens facing you, then swap to the other to show something off-screen. The Max also features six microphones built into its body to capture spherical audio, and you can prioritise audio from one side of the camera. This is very handy when delivering a monologue to the camera.

What’s more, the GoPro Max can live-stream Full HD video just like the GoPro Hero8 Black.

 

 

 

GoPro Hero8 Black Review

GoPro Hero8 Black

The best action camera available to buy – pricey but super versatile

Megapixels: 12 Viewfinder: N/A Screen: Two-inch touchscreen Max Video Resolution: 4K Max Frame Rate: 240fps at 1080p

Pros: Great image stabilisation, waterproof

Quite probably the best action camera currently on the market, the GoPro Hero8 Black is a great all-rounder that gives you the option to record all of your most exciting adventures – whether that’s a simple walk in the park, or kayaking down rapids.

With a wide range of mounts and accessories, no matter what kind of video you like to create, you’re sure to be able to do with the Hero8. It records in a variety of frame rates, all the way up to 4K at 60fps and 240fps at Full-HD. There’s also the superb HyperSmooth 2.0 stabilisation system that enables you to capture steady footage in extreme situations – even when mounted on a bike.

Waterproof without need for extra housing, the teeny-tiny Hero8 is something you can sling in your bag ready for when you need it. We found the battery can last for a couple of hours, but its worth having a spare or two for a full day of adventure.

GoPro’s Quik Stories app automatically compiles together your clips from the day in a highlights package, ready to upload directly to sites such as YouTube. That’s very handy for vloggers. However, the GoPro Hero8 Black is also has a Live Broadcast feature which allows you to stream footage live.

 

Best Camera for vlogging

DJI Osmo Pocket

A stabilised camera that fits in your pocket

Sensor: 1/2.3-inch CMOS Megapixels: 12. Lens Mount: n/a AF System: Contrast detection AF system Viewfinder: N/A Screen: Built-in or a connected Smartphone Max Video Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160) Max Frame Rate: 60fps at Full HD

Pros: Motorised gimbal, pocket-sized

DJI Osmo Pocket, the smallest, lightest and most impressive Osmo to date. It weighs just 116g and measures 121.9 x 36.9 x 28.6mm.

The 12Mp 1/2.3-inch CMOS camera is mounted on a 3-axis mechanical image stabilisation gimbal and it’s capable of capturing 4K video at 60fps. There’s also a series of intelligent shooting modes.

It’s a compact and robust device, and it comes with a Lightning and USB-C adaptor to connect a smartphone. This enables you to view images on a much larger screen than the one built-in to the Pocket. DJI’s free Mimo app also makes editing your video easy.

Movies are captured in MP4/Mov and stills are saved as JPEG, DNG or both. Files are stored on a MicroSD card of up to 256GB capacity.

The audio is decent when the noise reduction is turned off but there’s also a mic adaptor that takes things up a notch.

 

Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D Review

Canon EOS 250D / Rebel SL3

A great entry into DSLR videography

Sensor: APS-C CMOS Megapixels: 24.1 Lens Mount: Canon EF-S AF System: 9-point phase detection, Dual Pixel CMOS AF (via Live View or Video) Viewfinder: Pentamirror 95% coverage optical viewfinder Screen: Vari-angle touch-sensitive Clear View II TFT, 1040k-dots Max Video Resolution: 4K Max Frame Rate: 5fps

Pros: Large sensor, fully articulating touch-sensitive screen

The world’s lightest DSLR with a fully articulating screen, the Canon EOS 250D (known as the Rebel SL3 in the US) is a good entry into the DSLR market. Videographers will enjoy the articulating screen, while buying into the Canon EOS system means compatibility with a huge range of accessories, including a vast swathe of different lenses.

Although the 250D / SL3 can shoot 4K video, the crop factor increases by an extra 1.5x so the widest point of the 18-55mm kit lens is effectively around 43mm. That’s a bit wide for vlogging at arm’s length, so you may need to add a wide-angle lens to your kit. The focusing also switches from the impressive phase detection system facilitated by the Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensor, to contrast detection which is a little slower. That may mean you want to stick to Full-HD video, but the camera produces great results at both resolutions.

There’s also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity which means you can connect the 250D to your smartphone to control it remotely and share your videos online.

 

Panasonic GX800 front

Panasonic GX800

Small and light, but still packing a 4K punch, an ideal for CSC for travel vloggers

Sensor: Four Thirds Live MOS Megapixels: 16 Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds AF System: Contrast-Detect, 49-area Viewfinder: N/A Screen: Tiltable touch-sensitive monitor, 1040k-dots Max Video Resolution: 4K Max Frame Rate: 30fps (with 4K Photo)

Pros: 4K video, tilting touch-sensitive screen

A small and light compact system camera, the GX800 is a great combination of high image quality, 4K video recording, and high portability. There’s a tilting touch-sensitive screen which can face all the way forwards for maximum flexibility when composing your videos.

There’s both 4K and Full HD video recording available, which can be controlled via the touchscreen. The Micro Four Thirds mount has a huge range of compatible optics.

The 12-32mm kit lens is great if you want to keep things small, but there’s also a good range of prime lenses which are better for recording in low light, or for creating a shallow depth of field effect.

 

Best cameras for beginners: what to buy to learn photography