Best Vlogging Cameras for Vloggers 2023

It seems these days, everybody wants to be a vlogger. It’s pretty simple really. Just you, a camera, and some rudimentary editing skills and you’re all set. Just post it on youtube and voila! Vlogger. That’s where the hard stuff begins though. If you just want to vlog for vlogging’s sake, then there’s no problem, vlog away. However, if you want to make a career of it, then it gets really hard.

The first thing you have to realize is that there are literally thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people who want to do this. You have to be unique. You have to stand out from the crowd. Content matters. Delivery matters. Most of all, you must realize that it takes more than just you and a camera. There are technical aspects to it that you must learn and master.

Your camera matters above all. It has to have excellent image quality in all lighting situations, it must have great audio pickup and it must be compact enough for you to carry around all day. I remember a maxim that applies to all things and it goes like this: ‘strong, light, and cheap, pick two.’ It also applies to cameras. What compromise are you willing to live with? Are you willing to haul around a chunky DSLR with all the bells and whistles? Are you more of a simple pocket camera type of person? We are here to help you choose.

So you want to start vlogging? Here are our Top Picks for the best vlogging camera in 2023

<strong>Image</strong>	<strong>Product</strong>	<strong>Dimension</strong>	<strong>Price</strong>
Our Pick	Sony a7S II	9.61 x 6.1 x 5.67 in	Check on Amazon
	Canon PowerShot SX710	4.45 x 1.38 x 2.6 in	Check on Amazon
	Canon PowerShot SX720 HS	2.51 x 1.41 x 4.32 in	Check on Amazon
	Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100	4 x 2.38 x 1.63 in	Check on Amazon
	Canon EOS Rebel T5i	5.24 x 3.11 x 3.94 in	Check on Amazon
	Sony 4K HD Video Recording	7.05 x 6.02 x 4.09 in	Check on Amazon
	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV	4 x 1.6 x 2.8 in	Check on Amazon
	Canon VIXIA HF G40	10.5 x 7 x 8 in	Check on Amazon
	Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR	3.09 x 5.47 x 4.11 in	Check on Amazon
	GoPro HERO5 Black	1.75 x 2.44 x 1.26 in	Check on Amazon

OUR RECOMMENDED CHOICE: SONY a7S II

Sony’s A7S II in our opinion is simply the best video-capable still camera available on the market today. Don’t let the 12 MP label fool you. In the age of 30 MP cameras, this seems really low. They did this for a reason. Lower pixel counts enable better light-gathering capability which leads to superior video quality. The A7S II creates professional-level footage at a smaller and lighter form factor. It is capable of recording 4k footage internally – something other cameras struggle with.

It’s compatible with any sony Full frame E-mount lens- but there are a myriad of adaptors available if you’ve already got a lens from an older camera. It does 4:2:0 8-bit 4k video​ in XVAC format with zero pixels binning. It also features 5-axis stabilization. Casey Neistat has used this camera in one of his blogs and he was suitably impressed by its performance.

What constitutes the best Vlogging Camera?

Image Quality:

Image quality is very important. Crisp clear images read better. Remember when I said earlier that it’s just you and the camera? Nobody wants to watch something that looks like it was shot with a potato. It must be able to shoot 1080p or really excellent quality 720p. The rule of thumb is, it is better to shoot at a higher resolution than downsample rather than shoot at a lower resolution.

Also, consider what the video codec output is as it affects what program you can use to edit the video and to what extent you can tweak it. You must also consider how well it captures color. If you’re doing a make-up vlog, then it wouldn’t do to have a camera that captures muddy colors.

Weight:

Cameras are generally pretty light. But lug it around all day and it can get pretty fatiguing. I’d recommend lighter more compact cameras for all-day carrying convenience. However, if you only vlog at home, then a DSLR is an excellent choice. The best option is to get both. A lighter camera for travel and a DSLR on a tripod for stationary stuff.

Optical Image Stabilization:

If you Vlog outdoor activities, then you’re bound to be moving a lot. Movement is the bane of smaller cameras. You’re going to encounter the rolling shutter effect when using smaller cameras rolling shutter is where you get a wobble/distortion in your video due to how the video is captured by the sensor. OIS helps minimize this and helps gives you a nice stable video that won’t make your viewers dizzy.

Audio:

Audio is also pretty important. You will not retain viewers if they don’t understand a word you’re saying. Try out the microphone on the camera you’re planning to purchase. Some of them have noise/wind cancellation which will help when you’re outdoors. Better yet, find a camera with a microphone jack. This will give you the best flexibility and also better audio quality (depending on the microphone).

Autofocus:

Nothing worse than a camera that just can’t focus properly (especially in low-light situations). You’re going to end up with unusable footage if your camera can’t focus properly.

Lens:

The camera lens is also very important. What’s the aperture of the camera? What’s the focal length? Both are important in determining the look of your video. It also determines how well it performs in all lighting situations (if you vlog outdoors you are likely to encounter a wide gamut of lighting) Also you must take note that the focal length also affects distortion. You need a different focal length when shooting images at close range.

Consider your usage scenarios:

You don’t need to buy the latest and greatest vlogging cameras. Getting an uber camera is often just going to be a waste of money. Unless you’re going to be shooting skits together with your vlog then an expensive camera just isn’t going to give you the best bang for the buck. Also, say you’re out on an adventure, do you really want such an expensive piece of kit around? It’s bound to get banged up and exposed to the elements. Choose a camera for the right scenario. If you’re more of an adventure vlogger, something that’s waterproof and shock-resistant would be paramount.

The Best Vlogging Camera Picks for Vloggers 2023

1. Canon PowerShot SX710 HS – Wi-Fi Enabled (Black)

This camera is virtually a clone of the previous year’s model (sx700). It does have better burst shooting rates, a more refined autozoom feature set, and excellent 5-axis stabilization for video. However, it does have slightly worse image quality than its predecessor. The new 20.3-megapixel sensor is a great addition. There is some noise in low-light situations but it performs like a champ in great-lighting situations. The details, color, and dynamic range are impressive. Overall a great camera.

2. Canon PowerShot SX720 HS (Black)

The SX range has continued to be excellent value for the money. The PowerShot SX720 is no exception. It has a market-leading 40x optical zoom contained in a slim body allowing users to carry it around for everyday use. The full manual control is amazing for photography enthusiasts (though you can’t shoot RAW). The built-in Wi-fi is handy for file transfers and remotely operating the camera via your phone. The jpeg quality is excellent in all lighting situations.

3. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V 20.1 MP Digital Still Camera w/ 3″ OLED

The RX100 is an amazing beast spec. wise. The previous model was already excellent, this newer iteration has built on that. The Mk. V can shoot faster bursts and has an amazing autofocus system. That they managed to make this shoot 4k video in a small package is amazing. You can also get it with waterproof housing. All these things come with a price though. At $998 you’re reaching DSLR territory.

4. Canon EOS Rebel T5i EF-S 18-55 IS STM Kit

The T5i is a great camera. The touch screen remains a great feature. The optical viewfinder is great for the price point. The interchangeable lens gives you great flexibility in various situations. The autofocus is adequate but there are newer models which have better. The video quality is excellent and the rolling shutter is kept in check (though there is some aliasing in some situations), low light video performance is also excellent.

5. Sony 4K HD Video Recording FDRAX33 Handycam Camcorder

We can absolutely recommend this camcorder. The 4k capability combined with excellent video quality is a win. It has excellent specs and also decent still photo capability. The BOSS image stabilization system is one of the best we’ve ever tried. The compact size is also a plus. You can easily fit it in your jacket pocket. The Zeiss lens is excellent as always. The FDRAX33 also features other shooting resolutions and also different frame rates. The Wi-Fi capability is also pretty robust. You can stream directly to upstream (with multi-camera control)

6. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV 20.1 MP Digital Still Camera

Sony continues to knock it out of the park. They have managed to pack so much image and video quality into such a small package. It’s also very fast and responsive. I’ve never had a moment where it struggled. The stacked sensor in the RX100 IV gives it a number of advantages such as faster shooting modes with autofocus. This also enables 4k video and higher framerates. The excellent lens rounds up the complete package. This is truly an amazing camera for its size.

7. Canon VIXIA HF G40 Camcorder

The previous iteration of the VIXIA was already pretty excellent. However, Canon managed to improve it and even improve its general performance. It has enough new features to recommend over the older version. The size is perfect for vlogging size-wise. It’s also pretty versatile and can perform very well in a wide variety of lighting situations. Price wise it’s on the more expensive end of the spectrum but considering the feature set, it is well worth it.

8. Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera with 18-135mm STM Lens

The 70D is geared more toward the enthusiast photographer. It features a good blend of quality and value all in a single package. It also has excellent autofocus in video mode. It has the most advanced phase-detect autofocus out there.

The image quality is on par with the Nikon, with comparable resolution and low-light performance. Construction-wise, it feels very solid on hand. The build quality is, as always, excellent.

• 19-point cross-type AF System
• 20.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5+
• Up to 7 fps shooting
• ISO 100-12800, expandable to 25600
• ​Dual Pixel CMOS AF for fast focus in live view and video
• ​3″ articulating touch panel LCD screen with 1,040,000 dots
• ​Built-in flash with integrated speedlite transmitter and hot shoe
• ​Intelligent viewfinder with electronic overlay
• ​1080 (30, 25, 24 fps) and 720 (60, 50 fps) HD video (H.264/MPEG-4/MOV)
• ​Instant sharing and remote control with built-in Wi-Fi and EOS Remote app
• ​GPS compatible (sold separately)
• ​Full manual mode in video
• ​Built-in stereo or external microphone terminal
• ​SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card

9. GoPro HERO5 Black

The Hero5 is the GoPro refined to perfection. With the competition stiffening, they really needed to step up their game. The good news is, they have done exactly that. The picture quality is excellent and they’ve finally included image stabilization and a touch screen that makes it easier to use. It is now waterproof right out of the box which makes it more appealing.

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