Guide to the best vlogging cameras +& equipment
Casey Neistat may have been one of the first vloggers ever and probably laid the foundation for today's influencers by taking viewers into the everyday madness. Today, vlogging is no longer just used for private individuals or to reflect private life, but also as a means of corporate communication. Influencers are now also specifically invited and paid to document the journey they have experienced and to demonstrate the products and provide an authentic insight.
Those who used to write a classic blog article about their vacation now like to back it up with a blog in video form: vlogging for short.
Requirements for vlogging cameras
If you want to vlog, you don't want a heavy camera, but the camera should also have other functions that make it easier for you to create your vlog:
- Weight: Under 900g
- Microphone should be connectable
- Sensor size: the larger the sensor, the better the camera performs in the dark
- Face autofocus / AI-supported autofocus
- Sensor stabilization / stabilization
- tiltable display
The best cameras for vlogging
If you are now looking for the perfect camera for vlogging, we offer you a variety of outstanding cameras below that are very suitable for vlogging and may also offer more than just video functions. The more flexible the camera is, the better it can be used for various other purposes if you want to take photos in between or if your job requires it.
If you are looking for a wider selection of vlogging cameras, you can find them here:
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH7
The professional video camera for anyone who wants to shoot more than just vlogs, because the camera supports Arri-Log C3 and offers a huge advantage with the MFT sensor: Open Gate, because the MFT sensor is even better suited to the side conditions. The material that is recorded in Open Gate with an MFT sensor has slightly more height and is therefore even better suited for cropping in portrait and landscape, i.e. very good for YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. The GH5 was already a breakthrough in the YouTube scene because it was small, compact and already offered very good video performance.
It offers very good sensor stabilization and can be used electronically virtually without the use of a gimbal, which saves a lot of weight but comes at the expense of a tighter crop of the image.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
The video combo in a compact format! With the Osmo Pocket 3, DJI has developed the ultimate combination for content creators, combining flexibility with a smooth image and a smart sound solution. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 connects quickly and easily to the DJI Mic 2 and also saves the audio tracks of 2 microphones, as well as an Atmo/Backup track on the device itself. Only those who want to take photos on top have a small disadvantage here, but the gimbal can be switched between vertical and horizontal. This makes the OSMO Pocket 3 a perfect video solution with solid photo results and a good range of focal lengths.
Sony Alpha ZV-E10 vlog camera
The camera is a further development of the ZV-1 MK1 for content creators who need a little more flexibility than a fixed lens. It offers the E mount connection and therefore has a large selection of lenses, which makes the camera even more exciting, as already mentioned. It can be used very well for the production of videos, but also for the production of photos in good to very good quality. The camera only has electronic stabilization and not mechanical stabilization of the sensor.
Sony Alpha ZV-E10 II vlog camera
The successor to the popular Sony ZV-E10 essentially offers improvements in various areas: Autofocus, image stabilization and a new sensor! All this makes the camera a very good photo + video hybrid. 4K60p and professional video codecs with 10-bit offer a lot of potential for high-quality blogs.
Sony ZV-1 II vlog camera
Lightweight, compact and with the 18-50mm very good universal use. Like the other cameras, it also has face autofocus, but also animal autofocus. It offers several functions that make it easier for you to produce good video content. Thanks to the multi-interface shoe on the camera, you can also connect other microphones to improve the audio quality.
Sony Alpha ZV-E1
Let's call it the ZV-E10 with full-frame sensor. The Sony Alpha ZV-E1 has been the compact answer to the Sony Alpha 7 IV and offers a very strong and good video performance with some interesting software features, such as active tracking in portrait format across the sensor width (autoframing), which allows solo creators to shoot without a camera operator. It has retained many of the functions of the Sony Alpha 7R V and is therefore very powerful. It has no built-in viewfinder and only relies on a display, which is fully tiltable. The ZV-E1 is perhaps also particularly interesting for streaming, as it enables the transmission of 4K30p via USB C. In terms of video, the camera offers up to 4K120p. However, with its low megapixels, it is not really good for use in photography.
Fujifilm X-S20
The Fujifilm X-S20 is one of the all-rounder alternatives that we present here. It uses the old sensor of the X-T4, but the modern autofocus system of the X-T5. It is more compact and lighter than the X-T5 and also offers the popular film simulation of the Fujifilm film cameras, such as the X100VI. The Fujifilm X-S20 is a very attractive hybrid solution for photography without editing effort, thanks to the film simulations and with strong video functions. The mechanical image stabilizer in particular makes it easy to work handheld or on a tripod, even without a gimbal.
Nikon Z30
The Nikon Z30 is Nikon's answer to the vlogging market. Like the ZV-E1 and Lumix S9, it has no viewfinder and offers all the usual features from the system camera universe, such as AI-controlled autofocus and co. The camera impresses with a very good built-in microphone and a red record light on the front. The camera is not only good for filming, but also for taking photos. Where it falls short, however, is in the optical image stabilization. Nikon does not install any image stabilization there.
Panasonic Lumix S9
An exciting lifestyle camera that makes vlogging and hybrid influencer life very easy. The camera has been developed in such a way that it allows users to edit images and videos directly with their smartphone and use them for social media. Although the camera does not have a viewfinder, it offers a tilting display and mechanical stabilization of the full-frame sensor. It also offers 4K Open Gate, which allows you as a content creator to produce a portrait format video from your landscape format video on your smartphone. Panasonic Lumix has also addressed the issue of color looks. Like its big brother, the S5II, it offers integrated LUTs that can also be saved in real time.
Which Lens do I need for vlogging?
Now you've found the right camera, but we've only introduced you to the body? We think your own style plays an important role here in the end, but we will still introduce you to the best focal lengths for vlogging, which you need for the different sensor sizes.
Lens for full-frame cameras
A focal length of 16-35 mm offers a wide field of view, which is ideal for vlogging as it captures both the vlogger and the surroundings well. A focal length around 24 mm is particularly popular for vlogging.
Lens for APS-C cameras
Due to the crop factor of 1.5x to 1.6x, a focal length of 10-24 mm corresponds to about 15-36 mm in full format, which still offers a wide field of view.
Lens for Micro Four Thirds / MFT
With a crop factor of 2x, a focal length of 7-14 mm is converted to around 14-28 mm in full-frame format, which is suitable for vlogging.
For vlogging, the focal length should be in the range of around 15 to 30 mm (converted to full format). This provides a wide field of view that captures both the surroundings and the vlogger well without causing too much distortion.
The best vlogging accessories
If you don't just want a good picture, you also usually need good sound! We present the best microphones for this and practical tripods below.
You can find more microphones here:
DJI Mic 2
The second generation of the popular DJI Mic, which can be used very well to create sound recordings for social media, because it can also be connected to the smartphone. Or, with the DJI OSMO Pocket 3, simply feed it in directly without any other accessories. In addition, this microphone already records in 32-bit floating, which offers incredible flexibility in audio quality, as a floating audio recording can both underdrive and overdrive. They also impress with a long and reliable battery life.
Holly LARK M2
Small and inconspicuous microphones with a very high microphone quality, which also have a very long battery life. The weight of these button cell microphones is also impressive. At just 9g, they weigh virtually nothing. They have a magnetic clip and can therefore be worn very comfortably on clothing.
Like the DJI Mic, this microphone also offers active noise suppression and thus provides good audio quality, even in a very noisy environment.
Sony ECM-B1M
A good microphone with a wide range of functions. The directional characteristic can be controlled on this item, allowing the effect of the sound to be controlled more precisely if you want a little more atmosphere in the recording. It can be used on Sony cameras via the multi-interface shoe and therefore requires no additional cables.
Sennheiser MKE 200
The alternative for anyone who doesn't have a Sony camera. Although it offers fewer functions, such as the directional characteristic, Sennheiser produces some of the best microphones on the market and this small microphone with shotgun characteristic is very suitable for vlogging.
PGYTECH MANTISPOD 2.0
Small but fine tripod that simply has a lot of functions and is therefore very practical. For example, you can mount the camera very well on different surfaces, e.g. on a fence. With the ball head, the camera can also always be aligned straight. We say perfect! A practical 6:1 tripod for vlogging.
Joby GorillaPod® 3K PRO Kit
This ball-joint tripod offers a great deal of flexibility for vlogging, allowing the tripod to be attached almost anywhere. Adjusting the individual joints again and again can be a bit annoying, but the Joby Gorilla Pod is a real all-rounder that you should try out at least once. The 3K version carries a camera combination of up to 3 kg.
Our conclusion
If you want to produce content, modern cameras now combine many functions relating to autofocus and the like. As is so often the case, it is important to be clear about your own requirements for the camera and the quality you want to achieve. We would also like to refer you to our guide Cameras for beginners. At this point, we advise you not to use an old SLR camera, as it still relies on contrast-based autofocus, which is not particularly suitable for video.
In addition to a good picture, recording very good sound helps the viewer to follow your video for longer. That's why it's best to buy this together and think about its areas of application.
Vlogging is one of the best ways to create close interaction with your viewers and take them along with you and your company's everyday life.
