The GH5 has all the requisite features of a good vlog camera, including headphone and microphone ports, a fully articulating screen, and in-body image stabilization to keep those walk-and-talk shots steady. In our experience testing DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and even professional cinema cameras, the GH5 has proven to be one of the best video cameras, period. It’s not the cheapest, however, and there are many other good choices for vloggers with various budgets, which you’ll find below.
Panasonic Lumix GH5
The best vlogging camera overall
Why should you buy this: Exceptional image quality, no recording limits.
Who’s it for: Experienced shooters who need full control over the look of their videos.
Why we picked the Panasonic Lumix GH5:
With a 20.3-megapixel Micro Four Thirds, high bit rate 4K video capture, and internal five-axis image stabilization, the Panasonic GH5 is one of the best video cameras on the market (not to mention, a capable still camera, as well). But while all of those features are potentially important to vloggers, what really makes the GH5 stand out on this list is its lack of a recording time limit. While many cameras put strict caps on individual video clip lengths, the GH5 lets you keep on rolling until the memory cards (yes, it has dual slots) fill up or the battery dies. For long-winded monologues or interviews, this is a huge benefit.
The GH5 also packs a lot of other features useful to vloggers, like a fully articulating monitor that lets you watch yourself when you’re on screen, a microphone jack for adding a high-quality external microphone, and a headphone jack so that you can actually check and monitor audio quality before it’s too late. The electronic viewfinder will also come in handy when shooting B-roll outdoors, where bright sunlight could make it difficult to see the LCD. 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.
Overall, the GH5 is simply one of the most versatile vlog production tools available. It skews toward the professional end of the spectrum and is likewise fairly expensive and comes with a steep learning curve. For those reasons, this camera is best reserved for experienced videographers or those comfortable taking the time to learn.
Panasonic Lumix G7
The best budget vlogging camera
Why should you buy this: Great image quality, solid feature set.
Who’s it for: Suitable for anyone.
Why we picked the Panasonic Lumix G7:
Released “way back” in 2015, the Lumix G7 may not be the newest model, but it still packs a punch when it comes to video. Like the higher-end GH5, the G7 shoots 4K video from a Micro Four Thirds sensor and is compatible with the full range of Micro Four Thirds lenses. It also features a 180-degree tilt screen and a microphone jack. There’s no headphone jack, but the mic input is definitely the more important of the two.
One potential red flag for vloggers is that the G7 makes due without the impressive in-body image stabilization found in the GH5, meaning you’ll need to rely on lens stabilization for your handheld shots. Fortunately, the bundled kit lens is stabilized, although as always, you’ll get best results with a tripod, monopod, or gimbal.
We should also draw attention to the G85, an upgrade over the G7 that is based on a similar sensor but includes in-body stabilization.
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII
The best camera for travel vlogs
Why should you buy this: Great image quality, compact design.
Who’s it for: Travel and vacation vloggers.
Why we picked the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII:
The seventh iteration of Sony’s class-defining RX100 brings a wealth of advanced features to the compact camera. Not only does the RX100 VII offer the most impressive video feature set of any compact camera, it also happens to excel at still photos, giving you a one-size-fits-all device for travel. It uses a 20-megapixel, 1-inch sensor matched with a fast Bionz X processor for detailed images and fast performance. The 24-200mm, 8X zoom lens offers a usable range to cover whatever you’ll run into during your travels, and the camera is small enough to easily fit into a jacket pocket.
4K video can be recorded at either 30 or 24fps, Full HD 1080p up to 120fps, and super slow-motion as high as 960fps at lower resolutions. Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) and S-Log profiles are also included for capturing more dynamic range and creating video suitable for playback on HDR televisions.
New to the Mark VII is Sony’s Real Time Tracking and Real Time Eye AF, the same focusing technology in the A7 III mirrorless camera above. But perhaps the most important new feature for vloggers is the microphone jack, which finally allows RX100 shooters to connect external microphones for better audio quality. The RX100 VII is built to last and should be viewed as an investment.
Canon EOS 90D
The best DSLR for vlogging
Why should you buy this: Crop-free 4K, articulating monitor, great autofocus.
Who’s it for: Anyone who wants a straightforward camera and doesn’t need 4K
Why we picked the Canon EOS 90D:
A DSLR shouldn’t be your first choice when it comes to vlogging — the optical viewfinder, preferred by some still photographers, is completely useless for video, when the camera is in live view mode and you have to frame your shot on the rear LCD screen. That means you’re carrying around bulk you don’t need and paying for a feature you can’t use. However, a DSLR does offer some benefits for still photography — like excellent battery life — that make a camera like the 90D appeal to hybrid shooters who need both a great still camera and a capable video camera.
The 90D is Canon’s first DSLR to shoot 4K video from the full width of the sensor. Older
On the still photography front, the 90D uses a 33-megapixel APS-C sensor, the highest-resolution sensor of its format. While all of those pixels don’t add anything to the video mode (4K uses about 8 megapixels), they do grant extra room to crop or more detail for making large prints. Overall, the 90D is a generalist. It’s well-suited to multiple roles, if not the best at any one of them.
GoPro Hero8 Black
The best action camera for vlogging:
Why should you buy this: Incredible stabilization, versatile mod system.
Who’s it for: Anyone with a love for POV videos or who needs a camera small enough to fit anywhere.
Why we picked the GoPro Hero8 Black:
“Action” camera is becoming a misleading title. These tiny cameras can be used in a much wider variety of settings than the name implies, from (yes) nabbing extreme sports shots to recording Netflix-level movies. And GoPro’s latest flagship, the Hero8 Black, is the best of the bunch.
When it comes to vlogging, the Hero8 Black has several features that make it stand out. It uses a new version of GoPro’s incredible electronic image stabilization, called HyperSmooth, which is simply the best of any camera out there. Whether you’re just walking and talking or bombing down a narrow single-track trail on your mountain bike, the Hero8 Black keeps your footage impressively smooth. Beyond that, GoPro introduced a new series of accessories for the Hero8 called Mods. These allow you to connect a mini shotgun microphone, flip-up selfie screen, and a video light to the Hero8, turning into a powerful production tool.
Built around the same GP1 custom processor introduced in the Hero6, the Hero8 Black records 4K video at up to 60 frames per second or 1080p up to 240 fps for slow-motion playback. The user interface, which was already one of our favorites, has been updated to be even easier to navigate.
Can’t you just vlog with a phone?
Of course. In fact, many people do. A phone is conveniently always in your pocket and easy to set up and use, which makes it more accessible for spur of the moment vlogging. And the best phones are adept at handling video, with many capable of shooting 4K — some even at 60p. Keep in mind, however, that the front-facing (selfie) cameras tend to be inferior to the one on the back, and even though the microphone may be able to record stereo, you’re still better off with an external mic (they can be had for cheap, like the Movo PM10 lavalier mic).
Also, if you’re moving around, something like a selfie stick might actually work better than holding the phone in your hand. If you can, try to use a gimbal like the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 to keep the phone smooth and steady. You will get better quality footage with a dedicated camera, but sometimes the convenience of a phone will be the difference between getting a shot or not getting it all.
