The Best Cameras for Vlogging

This story was written in collaboration with Forbes Finds. Forbes Finds covers products we think you’ll love. Featured products are independently selected and linked to for your convenience. If you buy something using a link on this page, Forbes may receive a small share of that sale.

Ever consider hosting and producing your own talk show? It’s easier than you think. Until recently, traditional media gatekeepers were the arbiters of what video content could and couldn’t be broadcast to the public. But video streaming services like YouTube and Vimeo have changed that by giving anyone the ability to publish whatever they want directly to the internet for anyone to watch, making it easier for people to share their passions, pet peeves, pet tricks, and mundane activities that anyone will tune in to watch. One of the most rapidly growing and meaningful ways to do this is through a video blog or vlog.

While the subject of your vlog is limited only by your imagination, producing one is harder. You must have the right gear if you want it to look and sound like more than a cheesy show broadcast on your local public access channel. That starts with the right camera.

Choosing the best camera for vlogging is more involved than merely looking at video specs on websites. You should also consider factors like ease of use; portability; an ability to capture full HD (1080p) or—even better—4k Ultra High-definition video; how effective is the devices image stabilization; and does it have features audio in for an external microphone.

Here are five cameras of various shapes, sizes, and attributes that’ll best suit different styles of vlogging.

Sometimes you feel like a DSLR; sometimes you don’t. But if you want DSLR performance in a light and compact package, the Canon G7 X Mark II is the camera for you. It’s a breeze to carry around, allowing you to shoot anywhere, anytime. And while most compacts compromise function to achieve their diminutive form, the G7 has a fast f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens with a powerful 24-100mm effective range and a 1.0-inch sensor that delivers excellent stills as well as crisp, detailed video. The camera also includes a flip-up and tilting touchscreen, making it easy to frame yourself when talking to the camera and stellar image stabilization that is particularly good for counteracting camera-shake when shooting movies, even when panning or moving around. One drawback: It doesn’t have 4K video capture.

Bottom line: G7 X Mark II handles like a bigger camera, and its advanced controls and features won’t make you regret leaving the DSLR at home. You can’t go wrong here.

The GoPro HERO7 can handle pretty much anything you can ask of a tiny camera. It’s ideal for anyone with love for POV videos or who needs a camera small enough to fit anywhere. Notable features for vlogging include the ability to shoot high-quality 4K video at 60 frames per second, and incredible electronic image stabilization. Go Pro calls it HyperSmooth, and it does a remarkable job of steadying footage, something particularly evident when you’re in a moving vehicle or jogging or heading over bumpy terrain. The company has also redesigned the microphone membrane for better audio capture and added native live streaming so users can share their adventures in real time with friends and fans around the world.

Bottom line: The GoPro HERO7 is a game changer anyone looking to up their video game without investing heaps of money. It’s not perfect. But offers the performance, portability, ease of use, and feature any vlogger could want.

This tough-as-nails little snapper looks more like a mini camcorder than a camera with video capture capability. The Olympus Tough TG-5 delivers excellent stills, and video is crisp in good lighting. It is not quite a low-light star, though. Wi-Fi and GPS are built-in, as is 4K video capture at 30 frames per second. And optical stabilization does an excellent job of keeping handheld footage steady. The camera also has a flip-out screen making handheld filming very easy; however, the display merely flips out, rather than flipping and rotating.

Bottom line: The Olympus Tough TG-5 is a go-anywhere camera with a fast lens, speedy response, and 4K video. It is a break from the usual box style of action camera, and the design and feature set make it very appealing. The shooting specs are impressive, too, enabling you to capture high-quality footage.

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 has all the essential features of a good vlog camera, including headphone for monitoring sound levels and microphone ports for adding a high-quality external mic; a fully articulating screen; and quality image stabilization to keep those walk-and-talk shots steady. Plus, it delivers exceptional 4K image quality with no recording limits. While many cameras put strict caps on the length of individual video clips, the GH5 lets you keep on rolling until the dual memory cards fill up, or the battery dies. And thanks to the weather-sealed body, you won’t have to worry about rain or snow, assuming you also have a weather-resistant lens.

Bottom line: Experienced photographers who need full control over the look of their videos will love this camera, as it is one of the most versatile vlog production tools available. It does come with a steep learning curve, though.

This pocket-size camera has been called the perfect mix between mirrorless and point-and-shoot. It pairs a big sensor with an 8.3x optical zoom lens to create high-resolution 4K footage with stunning detail. Stellar image stabilization makes it easy to use in handheld mode, and the LCD screen flips up so you can keep yourself in the frame during walk-and-talk shots. The build is sturdy and reliable, but there’s no shock-resistance or waterproofing. There is a critical omission for the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI: a microphone/headphone port. While the camera has a built-in microphone, the lack of an external jack limits its functionality in applications where there is lots of background noise.

Bottom line: The Sony RX100 VI is a little powerhouse that is not only capable of delivering outstanding image quality for its sensor size but also superb 4K and slow-motion video. Thanks to its rich feature set, robust construction and compact size, it is a pocketable gem you can take everywhere.

Source: Forbes.com

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Video blog • Forbes • Forbes • Forbes • Talk show • Streaming media • Streaming media • YouTube • Vimeo • Internet • Video blog • Video blog • Video blog • Public-access television • Video blog • Video • Porting • 1080p • 1080p • 4K resolution • Ultra-high-definition television • Electronics • Image stabilization • Sound • Microphone • Camera • Video blog • Digital single-lens reflex camera • Digital single-lens reflex camera • Canon Inc. • Group of Eight • X mark • Camera • Group of Eight • McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet • Zoom lens • Image sensor • Camera • Touchscreen • Image stabilization • Image stabilization • Panning (camera) • 4K resolution • Group of Seven • X mark • Digital single-lens reflex camera • GoPro • Camera • Point-of-view shot • Video blog • 4K resolution • Frame rate • Image stabilization • GoPro • Microphone • Sound • Streaming media • Streaming media • GoPro • Video game • Video blog • Camcorder • Video camera • Video capture • Olympus Corporation • Wi-Fi • Global Positioning System • 4K resolution • Video capture • Frame rate • Image stabilization • Handheld game console • Camera • Computer monitor • Mobile device • Net income • Olympus Corporation • Lens speed • 4K resolution • Action camera • Design • Panasonic • Lumix • Guitar Hero 5 • Video blog • Camera • Headphones • Microphone • Microphone • Articulating screen • Image stabilization • Walk and talk • 4K resolution • Camera • Guitar Hero 5 • Waterproofing • Rain • Lens (optics) • Camera • Video blog • Camera • Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera • Point-and-shoot camera • Image sensor • Zoom lens • Zoom lens • Image resolution • 4K resolution • Image stabilization • Liquid-crystal display • Film frame • Walk and talk • Waterproofing • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 • Microphone • Headphones • Computer port (hardware) • Camera • Microphone • Electrical connector • Software • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 • Image sensor format • 4K resolution • Slow motion • Point-and-shoot camera •