12 Best Vlogging Cameras: Mirrorless, DSLR, and Action Cameras

Take a look at this list of the 12 best vlogging cameras that include all types of cameras: mirrorless, DSLR, and action cameras!

People always ask us about the travel photography gear we use, and that includes the cameras we use for vlogging.

We also share a list of 10 things we recommend you consider when buying your ideal camera for vlogging.

The cameras in our list have been designed for video content creators! They come with capable image sensors, fast processors, better autofocus, great audio capability, a flip-screen for selfie-mode shooting, and the ability to shoot smooth 4K video among other features! 

Yet, even with such pro-grade imaging capabilities, some of these cameras are beginner-friendly and affordable to suit the needs of entry-level vloggers.

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Where Should I Buy a Vlogging Camera?

We get asked this question often. There are two places where we buy our cameras, lenses and other accessories for vlogging: Amazon and B&H Photo. 

B&H Photo is our go-to company for buying the high quality cameras, tripods and lenses. They are a reputable company that’s been in business for over 45 years. Their customer service and knowledge about photography equipment gives us peace of mind when spending money on higher ticket items.

Amazon is where we buy most of our camera accessories like filters, memory cards, etc. The free two-day shipping is always a plus. We have bought cameras, lenses and tripods from Amazon with no problem as well. They are good about returns, but won’t be able to answer gear-specific questions.

Camera Gear at B&H Photo

Vlogging Cameras and Accessories

We’ve written quite a few resources to help you find the vlogging camera that is the best for YOU!

• Vlogging Cameras for Beginners
• Best Budget Vlogging Cameras
• Cheap Vlogging Cameras

How to Find the Best Vlogging Camera

The first step to buying a camera for your vlogging it so know the features that make a vlogging camera GOOD.

Here’s a list of things we recommend you consider when buying your ideal camera for vlogging.

NOTE: All the cameras that we have recommended in this guide perform well in each of these aspects.

1. Low-Light Performance

Find a camera that performs well in low light conditions: night, cloudy or foggy conditions, indoors, shadow areas. A camera with poor low-light performance will reduce its frame rate per second (fps) and the recorded footage might be blurred due to image noise.

2. Sensor Size

The bigger the sensor size, the more light the camera captures, and the better the video quality. Camcorders and action cameras have the smallest sensors while DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have the largest sensors. Compact cameras will fall somewhere in between.

3. Lens Aperture

Find a good quality lens that has a wide aperture. This allows you to capture more light as well as create the blurry background effect you see on many vlogging videos.

4. Optical Image Stabilization

Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) helps to minimize the appearance of shake when recording while moving around. Without OIS, the video will be shaky and hard to watch.

TIP: When buying a budget vlogging camera, always look for optical or 5-axis image stabilization.

5. Video and Image Resolution

At the least, a vlogging camera should be able to record 1080p footage at 30fps. For the best video quality we recommend 1080p at up to 60fps! If you’ll also use the camera to capture still photos (for your blog), then you’ll want to consider the megapixels.

6. Audio Quality

Audio is so important! Look for a camera with a decent inbuilt stereo microphone. If you’ll be using an external mic, look for a camera it must have a microphone input for an external mic.

We use and recommend the Rode Wireless Go II!

7. Connectivity

WiFi should be a basic feature of vlogging cameras so you can easily share and transfer files to a mobile/computer device for instant uploading to YouTube and other platforms.

Having NFC (Near Field Communication) and Bluetooth and output terminals like HDMI and USB is also a plus.  

8. Battery Life

A camera with a good battery life is important! We recommend you ALWAYS have a spare camera battery that’s charged and ready just in case. Recording video drains the camera battery pretty fast so it’s a good rule to always have extra on hand.  

9. Weight and Size

A compact and lightweight camera offers portability if you’ll be doing mobile vlogging. One of the best things about most cheap vlogging cameras is their ultra-portable design which makes them great for on-the-go vloggers and travel bloggers.

10. Tripod

A lightweight tripod is another must-have for any vlogger! We LOVE our Peak Design Travel Tripod – check out the video below to see why!