The best YouTube vlogging camera is going to depend on you and your budget, although Canon, Panasonic, and Sony all offer some great options. Vlogging can be done on almost any reasonable budget, and there are many cameras now available to choose from. To look professional, it is recommended to purchase a video camera that will provide excellent resolution, color and sound.
High speed internet access gives vloggers the opportunity to share their points of view, make short instructional videos, show audiences new places around the world, and connect with fans via funny videos. Vloggers such as Logan Paul and PewDiePie have gained large audiences based on their unusual, and sometimes controversial, vlogs. Then there's Kids Diana Show channel that entertains over 50 million viewers on YouTube. For a popular vlogger, simply being on YouTube can be a lucrative business.
While it is not totally necessary to use a top of the line camera, it is always best to chose a camera that is likely to get the best results, within your budget. That means buying a camera with a good lens and the ability to plug in a zoom or wireless microphone when needed. Here are three vlogging cameras worth considering within a reasonable price range.
Canon, Panasonic, & Sony Are All Good Choices
There are three cameras that compete for the title of best vlogging camera. The Panasonic DMC-G7, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II, and the Sony A6600 are worthy competitors at three different price points and feature sets. First is the Panasonic G7 and it is a steady option to go for. Priced at under $500, with a good 14-42mm kit lens, the G7 is a vlogger’s bargain if they can work around some of the minor quibbles, such as the lack of a headphone jack and an occasionally slow focusing speed. Once the camera is set in good lighting, it does a decent job of tracking a vlogger moving on-screen. The G7, like the other two cameras, features a number of video enhancement choices, high definition and 4K video quality. The G7 looks similar to a DSLR and can accept a variety of Panasonic and Leica lenses, suitable for the Micro Four Thirds format.
The Canon EOS M6 Mark II and the Sony A6600 step up in price compared to the G7, and are designed as more portable walk around cameras. Each camera can take different lenses, with different prime or zoom ranges. The Canon EOS M6 Mark II is priced at $849 for the body only, or $1,099 with a 15-45mm IS STM lens kit. The camera boasts comparable features, such as 4K video at 30 frames-per-second (a firmware update is expected to add 24fps to the camera), and it uses a Dual Pixel design for more accurate auto focus. The M6 Mark II also can use Eye AF (automatic focus) to track focusing on your subject’s eyes. This comes in handy if you are vlogging and need to move around. The system is very accurate, and although it can lose slight focus for brief moments, it is excellent overall.
The Sony A6600 is also designed to track a human’s eyes and face. In addition, it features much better battery life, a bigger grip, but also a somewhat hefty price tag of $1,398 for the body, and $1,798 for the 18-135mm kit. Sony’s camera features 4K video and a headphone and microphone jack. The main drawback with Sony's option is its complicated menu system, but once mastered, vloggers will be able to really customize the look of their videos. Where the Sony really shines in its auto focusing speed. It works much like a traditional camcorder in this respect, where a subject is almost always in focus. That is very important to have if you want a professional-looking vlog. For the price, the Sony A6600 is expensive, but it may be worth the extra if you really want the best YouTube vlogging camera.