Whether you want to vlog for a large audience, your family, or simply just for yourself, you need to use the right tool for the job. Read on to learn how to choose the right vlogging camera for your channel in 2016.
Flip screen
First and foremost, you need a camera with a screen that’s capable of flipping 180° toward the front, so you can clearly see what will be recorded when pointing the camera toward you. This allows you to check for the best background before you press the record button or frame a static scene on a mini tripod. Composition is a very important part of video production and helps creating an engaging piece of content.
Be careful however not to get distracted from the flip screen, and make sure you engage exclusively with the lens.
Weight considerations
Serious vlogging means you will bring your camera everywhere you go. Also, footage will often be recorded at arm’s length. Obviously, the lighter the camera, the more likely you will be taking it with you and the less you will be fatigued holding it.
However, it’s ultimately a matter of personal preference. Most vloggers use a compact camera but some don’t hesitate to carry light, small DSLRs. Don’t forget to check the weight of any accessory you would want to have with the camera, like a small tripod or an external microphone for better sound quality.
Reliable autofocus
Ask yourself the following question: How engaging would be your footage if your face is blurred, even so slightly, or if the cameras keeps seeking focus, as you’re recording your daily activities? You’re right, it won’t be enjoyable to watch. Fast, accurate and reliable autofocus is essential to a vlogging camera. The absolute best is Canon’s DPAF in DSLRs like the 70D and the 80D. That said, vlogging is usually filmed at a wide angle, making autofocusing easier. Many compact cameras have good enough autofocus for the task.
Good microphone and/or 3.5mm input jack
Beginners often underestimate the importance of audio quality for filmmaking. Low quality audio is one of the major reasons why viewers leave a video early, so make sure the camera you choose can record clear sounding audio. If the camera has an audio jack for recording and to make the experience even better, consider getting a shotgun microphone to put on your camera hotshoe. This will help isolate your voice from the background noise. One popular such external microphone is the Rode VideoMic Pro. It requires a 9V battery to operate which helps tremendously with noise, but remember that it will also add to the weight of your setup.
Whether you use the internal microphone or an external one, consider using a wind muff if you ever shoot outside. This will very effectively counteract wind noise for a better listening experience for your viewers.
Beware of the rolling shutter
Shooting handheld, even with image stabilization can make the image susceptible to rolling shutter effect. This will make your footage look wobbly especially when panning, tilting, and after stabilization in post processing. Check camera reviews carefully and identify if the camera has strong rolling shutter. For example, the Sony a6300 is a great all around camera for the price point, but it’s unfortunately afflicted by serious rolling shutter and is as such less fit for vlogging.
Image quality
For any video, image quality is quite important, but how much do you need? Is 4K at 60fps an absolute requirement for a vlog? Not necessarily. 720p 24fps is also good enough as long as the story you’re telling is captivating. That said, still get the camera with the best image quality among those that fulfill the criteria above.
Good low light capability
You will vlog indoors and you will vlog in the evening, when light is less abundant than during the day. That’s why you need a camera which retains as much of its image quality as possible in low light conditions. Make sure you check reviews for the cameras you’re interested in and see how they fare in low light.
Suggestions
We are not sponsored by Canon (unfortunately), but it just so happens that our preferred vlogging cameras are of that brand. Here are our recommendations:
THE CANON G7X MARK II
It’s a light compact camera with razor sharp video, great autofocus, amazing image quality even in low light situations. The most popular compact camera with YouTube vloggers.
THE CANON 80D
It is a DSLRs with a much larger sensor for great image quality and ISO performance, industry best autofocus and can receive an external microphone.
Honorable mention
THE SONY RX100 MARK IV
A compact camera similar to the Canon G7X mark II. It has great image quality, good autofocus, even shoots 4k but overheats quickly in that resolution, has amazing slow motion modes, and is great in low light. Note that batteries run a little short.
Accessories
For static shots we recommends the following tripods:
THE MANFROTTO PIXI MINI FOR COMPACT CAMERAS
THE JOBY GORILLAPOD SLR-ZOOM FOR DSLRS
THE RODE VIDEOMIC PRO SHOTGUN MICROPHONE
