The best cameras for vlogging

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is an upgrade in both video and content creation specifications. The most obvious feature is the vlogging and selfie-friendly tilt screen. With touchscreen controls, it flips over 180 degrees.

Because of the tilt screen, there’s no room for a viewfinder, which marks this as more of a video and vlogging-based model. That doesn’t mean it can’t be used for still photography, however. You can easily take stills from the 4K video, while there’s also a panorama mode and a continuous shooting speed up to 20fps.

With this camera you can share your videos straight away using the built-in Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. You can share directly to Twitter, Flickr, and even send pics via email. Best of all — particularly for vloggers — you can livestream videos directly to YouTube. An external mic port ensures that the sound matches the image quality.

Other features include image stabilisation, an impressive one-inch sensor, and versatile lens. It’s also very compact, making it a great choice for taking on vlogging adventures.

When vlogging tips over into high-quality content creating, or even documentary making, you need something that’s top-of-the-range and (if you don’t mind spending some cash) has the ring of premium AF. If that’s you, check out the Panasonic Lumix GH6. It's a complex and comprehensive piece of kit by any photographer’s measure.

It’s chunky and robust, but still very portable. Indeed, the Panasonic Lumix GH6 is, in technical terms, a mirrorless micro Four Thirds camera. That means it uses a smaller sensor and photographs in a 4:3 aspect ratio, balancing portability with image quality.

As with other models, the most obvious sign that it’s good for vlogging is its flip-out monitor, which twists and angles any way you need — so you always have a good grip on framing yourself. But it comes equipped with best-in-class spec, too: a 25.2MP sensor, algorithm-based stabilisation, a powerful processor, tons of video modes, fan cooling for endless shooting, and the capability to shoot 5.7K video and hi-res slo-mo.

The video captured by this camera is industry standard — high quality but low compression. Hi-spec memory makes it easier to store on the camera and edit on your computer. This camera doesn’t have Wifi and Bluetooth like other cameras, but it's more for professional grade recording than simply posting tidbits on Instagram.

It’s not cheap by any stretch of the imagination — though in the high-end camera world, it's fairly priced — and you’ll need to shell out for lenses too.

Fujifilm X-S10 is a well-reviewed shooter with a 26.1-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor for crystal-clear photography and uncropped, natural-looking 4K. Some experts have ranked it among the best mirrorless cameras within its price bracket. And no, it’s not cheap, but it’s well-priced with this level of spec and quality.

Armed with an Optical Image Stabiliser Lens, which combines with the already-stellar in-body stabilisation for impeccable (and well-stabilised, of course) performance. It also supports the F-Log video format, which records video in a wide dynamic range, improving detail and better replicating how the human eye sees.

The still photography is super-sharp too, with high-speed continuous framing at 20fps for action shots and algorithm-powered autofocus. It’s all housed within a classic, old school-style body. And though you've likely come to expect this feature by now, we'd be remiss to not mention the large touchscreen LCD monitor, which flips out sideways and rotates forward so you can easily see what you're filming.

The Fujifilm X-S10 connects to WiFi or Bluetooth, allowing you to send footage and photos directly to your smartphone and upload onto social media. Hey, this nifty camera even doubles as a webcam in case you need one.

You've almost certainly heard about GoPro. They're the name in action cameras — the art of strapping a little camera to your heard and capturing gnarly footage while you ride a wave or do something similarly extreme.

The GoPro HERO11 balances performance and convenience with its 5.3K video, voice control, touch display, and waterproof design. With the Quik app, you can easily (and as the name suggests, quickly) edit your videos. Also using the app, you can make your phone a remote control for the GoPro camera. Though be warned: you'll need an up-to-date phone to handle it. The Quik app is seriously powerful.

HyperSmooth stabilisation is really important when it comes to shooting moving video, and the HERO11 Black is up to the task, whether it's handheld or mounted to your gear. When you're done shooting, you can auto upload everything to the cloud with the GoPro Plus subscription service.

If you want to film your underwater adventures, then this is also an excellent choice: This GoPro is waterproof up to 33 feet. You can also enjoy hands-free control of your camera using simple voice commands, or you can press the shutter button to turn the camera on and start recording automatically. It’s made all kinds of adventuring, with a scratch resistant lens and a design that withstands rough and tumble.

Maybe you’re not ready to spend a grand on something seriously hi-spec. After all, vlogging is meant to be fun — something that anyone can get into, not just the super wealthy. For anyone who's looking to save some money or who's just getting started in the vlogging game, the Sony ZV-1F is a great buy.

It’s simplistic. Possibly too simplistic for some users. Think of this as a step-up from the smartphone (which, to be fair, offers great video quality these days). It’s probably smaller than your phone too, depending on which model of phone you’re currently rocking, which makes this camera ideal for filming on-the-go.

With its array of features — background blur, eye-tracking autofocus, face priority auto-exposure, and flip-out monitor — this is a camera that’s absolutely made for vlogging and video creation. Particularly for filming yourself talking to the camera. The product showcasing feature, for instance, is handy for influencers. Hold up a product to talk about and the camera intuitively focuses between your face and the product.

It’s not only for designed for vlogging, but for making you look good too. An algorithm helps capture accurate, natural skin tones, while you can defocus the background — i.e. putting the focus on you — at the touch of a button. Also throw in great sound and smartphone connectivity.

If DSLR is your style, the Canon EOS 90D is arguably the best choice for vlogging capabilities. It’s true that mirrorless cameras are the more popular, current choice in the camera world, particularly when it comes to tech features and video-friendly handling, but the Canon EOS 90D has lots going for it: a 32.5 megapixel sensor, uncropped 4K video, mirrorless-quality autofocus, and — as is standard on these vlogging-friendly cameras — a flip-over LCD touchscreen, which flips out sideways.

Still photography is aided by continuous shooting at 10fps — which is especially impressive at such a high resolution — and intelligent tracking and recognition.

But, if you’re vlogging, it’s the video that really matters. And this is a rare case of a DSLR that makes video a priority. Uncropped 4K combines with Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus, ensuring cinematic-level footage. It’s built for matching sound quality too, with sockets for both an external mic and headphones.  

Also important for vlogging is the ability to share. This camera syncs with the Canon Camera Connect app, allowing you to share images via social media — not to mention remote control via your smartphone.

If you’re the kind of vlogger who prefers the handy convenience of a smartphone — a pocket-sized device that you can whip out whenever you’re taken by a sudden urge to vlog — the DJI Pocket 2 is a great alternative, and has specific vlogging features.

The obvious bonus is how portable this camera is. At just 116 grams, it’s seriously lightweight — you’ll barely notice it on your person — but there's a surprisingly large selection of features within its little package. These include a three-axis stabilisation, face tracking, a one-inch sensor that captures 64mp stills and 4K video, an adjustable head with 98-degree field of view, multiple video modes, slow motion in HD, and four microphones for great sound quality — plus options to zoom and focus the audio in the direction you’re filming. That really is a lot to shout about considering the size and price of this camera.

As an extra bonus for Insta-addicts, you can decorate selfies with glamour effects. And the battery lasts over two hours, which means ample vlogging time wherever you are.  

It’s never going to match the big-hitters in this roundup, and there are some limitations — some reviewers have marked it down for filming in low light, for instance — but overall it’s a fantastic little camera and endlessly handy.