Vlogging has never been more popular. For those of you that have been wanting to start vlogging yourselves, that barrier to entry has never been so low. Anyone can now start to vlog. While the success of a vlog is dependent on the vloggers personality and how they connect with the audience, equipment can play a role in increasing the production value of one's videos.
Here is our recommendations for cameras to vlog with, for people at different stages of their vloging careers.
Smartphone Camera
The very first camera that I recommend for beginner vloggers is the smartphone. Almost everyone has one these days and if yours is fairly new, it should have a decent camera.
Smartphones have now replaced the entry-level point-and-shoot camera. My iPhone 6s Plus, for example, can shoot 4K video. It can also do super slow motion video in 1080p Full HD, and has built in editing software. Some of these features aren't even found in advanced DSR cameras! It's incredible how far technology has come in the past few years.
Smartphone Pros
- You probably already have one
- You always have it with you
- Decent rear camera
- Front facing camera for easier composition
- APPS!!!!!!
Smartphone Cons
- Limited settings (Depending on the phone/app)
Recommended Smartphone camera
- Whatever you have!
Point and Shoot/Compact Camera
Once you've outgrown your smartphone camera, you might want to start looking at point-and-shoot or compact cameras. There aren't as many compact cameras out in the market today because smartphones have now replaced the bottom range of cameras. The point-and-shoot cameras that we recommend are in the mid to high-end range.
Advanced compact cameras are great because they allow more flexibility in terms of settings, have much more versatile lenses, have ports for accessories, have the option for replaceable batteries and memory cards and much more!
Any prolific vloggers started out with this level of cameras. Casey Nesitat, Ben Brown and Fun For Louis all started out with point-and-shoot cameras.
Recommended Point and Shoot/Compact Cameras
DSLR Camera
If you're fully committed to vlogging, want the most versatility available and don't mind carrying around more weight, it might be time to level up to the big guns.
Right now, the DSLR camera offers the most flexibility. These cameras have large sensors, allowing in more light which increases image quality, especially in dimmer lighting condition. They accept all types of accessories, which can increase the quality of the look, audio and feel of your vlog.
Many daily vloggers, such as Casey Neistat, have upgraded to the DSLR to have the best quality possible in a reasonably sized camera setup.
DSLR Camera Pros
- Better build quality
- Longer battery life
- Options for different lenses, accessories
DSLR Camera Cons
- Bigger, heavier
Recommended DSLR Camera
The best DSLR camera out in the market right now for vlogging the Canon EOS 80D. This camera was made popular by Casey Neistat, but for a good reason. The larger sensor makes for amazing image quality, the flip out screen allowed for better composing when you're recording yourself, and the autofocus in video is leaps and bounds better than comparable cameras.
Recommended DSLR Lenses
There are dozens upon dozens of lenses you can choose from to vlog with, but the two mentioned above are what I generally recommend to first time DSLR users. the Canon 10-18mm STM is a wide angle lens that allows you to capture a lot in the frame. This is good for recording yourself as it leaves a lot of room for you to move around in the frame.
The Canon 18-135mm STM is a more general purpose zoom lens for everything else. It can capture moderately wide shots, but also zoom in close to objects at a distance.
Accessories
If you want to step your vlogging game even further, there are a few things you can add on to your kit to improve overall quality
Microhpone
If you've choses to use a more advanced DSLR or Mirrorless camera, it usually comes with a 3.5mm microphone jack that you can plug external microphones into. While the microphones in most modern cameras aren't as horrible as they used to be, using a dedicated microphone will dramatically increase the quality of your audio.
Tripod
Tripods help you stabilize your camera when you need super stil shots, or when you need to step away form it. A very popular compact tripod among vloggers right now is the Joby GorillaPod. It's a mini tripod with flexible legs that allows you to strap it on to various surfaces and structures. The fluid legs also help to keep the camera level in even the most uneven surfaces.
That's It!
If you have anymore vlogging related question, please feel free to shoot me a message!