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Updated: November 13th, 2024
Whether you’re just sharing clips with friends or you’re launching an online on-camera career, vlogging matters. And there’s a point at which your smartphone may not give you the look, control, or flexibility you’re after. With 180-degree selfie screens, wide-angle lenses, microphone inputs and great video quality, more and more dedicated cameras are catering to people who want to take video of themselves and post it online.
The meaning of vlogging has changed over the years, so our picks cover a variety of styles – we’ll explain what makes each camera good for vlogging, and what key features each has that make taking video of yourself easier. We’ve also included videos shot on the cameras in question when we have them to give you an idea of what kind of performance to expect.
Best camera for vlogging on the move: DJI Osmo Pocket 3
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| Photo: Richard Butler |
DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3 is a stabilized handheld vlogging camera, designed for on-the-move vlogging. It’s built around a type 1 (13.2 x 8.8mm) sensor mounted on a tiny gimbal, meaning it can deliver stabilized footage with smoother motion than any conventional camera or phone.
The small sensor means the Pocket 3 works better in well-lit situations, though a reasonably bright F2.0 lens means it’s usable indoors, too.
It can shoot 4K 16:9 video or, by rotating the screen into the upright position, 3K vertical 9:16 footage. A small joystick lets you control the camera’s movement, and tapping the joystick button flips between the camera pointing toward you or away from you.
Its reliance on contrast-detection autofocus means its focus can be prone to hunting, though its face-detection mode works well enough that this is rarely a problem when talking to the camera.
In addition to the smooth stability of its gimbal and its genuine pocketability, one of the Osmo’s main benefits is that it’s compatible with a series of Bluetooth microphones, meaning you can capture good-quality audio without the need for additional transmitters or receivers.
The video quality isn’t always the highest, and the autofocus can occasionally lead to frustration, but overall the quality and convenience of the Pocket 3 as a package is really hard to beat.
Read our hands-on impressions of the Osmo Pocket 3
We also considered Sony’s range of entry-level vlogging cameras with Type 1 sensors, the ZV-1, ZV-1F, and ZV-1 II. The latter is the best pick of the bunch, given its zoom lens and built-in ND, but it’s hard to recommend. Its quality will be slightly better than that of a flagship phone, but if you’re going to be carrying an extra gadget around anyway, it’s probably best to spend a bit more for a more flexible interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C sensor for a big boost in image quality.
Best camera for filming indoors: Sony ZV-E10 II
26MP APS-C sensor | Full-width 4K/24p, 1.1x crop 4K/60p video | Fully articulating screen
What we like:
- Reliable, accurate autofocus
- Good rolling shutter performance
- Plenty of video options, including 10-bit
What we don’t:
- No in-body stabilization
- Doesn’t includes Sony’s latest and greatest AF
- Not fun for photography
Read our full review of the Sony ZV-E10 II
A potential alternative
Fujifilm recently announced the X-M5, an APS-C camera with a lot of the vlogging features found in the ZV-E10 II. While we haven’t had the opportunity to fully test it, its price point and Fujifilm’s broad lens selection make it an interesting choice – however, based on experience with Fujifilm’s other recent models, its autofocus system is likely to be less reliable than Sony’s, particularly with moving subjects.
We also considered Nikon’s Z30 and Sony’s similarly-specced ZV-E10, but the improved video performance of the Mark II and the lack of headphone socket on either of these older models mean it’s the newer Sony we’d lean towards.
Best camera if you do a mix of both: Panasonic S9
24MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor | 6K/30p 10-bit video | Sensor stabilized to 5EV
What we like:
- Wide range of video features
- Quick camera-to-phone-to-social-media workflow
- Aggressive price point for a full-frame camera
What we don’t:
- Mid-tier autofocus performance
- No headphone jack or front tally light
- Mediocre rolling shutter performance
- Full frame setup can be heavy for vlogging with
The S9’s stabilized sensor earns it a place on this list – while it won’t provide video as smooth as the Osmo Pocket 3, it does a good job of reducing the shakiness that typically comes with handheld footage. Its full-frame sensor provides good image quality for shooting indoors.
Read our review of the Panasonic S9
Best high-end vlogging camera
Full-width 4K/60p, 120p with minor crop | Auto cropping/framing modes | Subject recognition AF
What we like:
- 4K footage up to 120p
- Auto-cropped modes aid one-person operation
- Effective autofocus
What we don’t:
- Recording times can be short in warm conditions
- 12MP resolution not optimal for stills
- Cropped footage is upscaled to 4K
It has pretty much everything a vlogger would need: Sony’s class-leading autofocus, a front tally light, a stabilized sensor, 4K60p with no crop and excellent rolling shutter performance. It also has features that make shooting alone easier, such as its auto framing mode that dynamically zooms in on the subject in a frame, much like a cameraperson would, and the product showcase mode that overrides the face detection AF when you’re clearly trying to show the camera something.
Read our initial review of the Sony ZV-E1
Why you should trust us
This buying guide is based on cameras used and tested by DPReview’s editorial team. We don’t select a camera until we’ve used it enough to be confident in recommending it, usually after our extensive review process. The selections are purely a reflection of which cameras we believe to be best: there are no financial incentives for us to select one model or brand over another.
Author:
This article comes from DP Review and can be read on the original site.
