1. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Lightweight and feature-packed, this is the ultimate vlogging tool
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor size: Four Thirds: | Resolution: 20.4MP | Effective focal length: N/A | Viewfinder: EVF, 2.36 million dots | Monitor: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04 million dots | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 30p | Size, weight: 125.3 x 85.2 x 49.7mm, 414g
$1,097.10View at AmazonSee all prices (23 found)Seriously impressive video specsIncredible image stabilisationHand grip could be biggerNo headphone jack
Don’t be fooled by the retro shell: the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is a top-spec vlogging camera, offering the ultimate combo of solid image quality, lightweight build and a comprehensive feature set. The hand-grip could be bigger, but the polycarbonate construction shaves 50g off the weight of its metal-bodied predecessor, making it a camera you can comfortably hold all day. The 20.4MP Four Thirds sensor – shared with the pro-grade E-M1 Mark II – delivers reliable continuous tracking thanks to on-chip phase detection autofocus, while handheld footage is usually super smooth, courtesy of class-leading image stabilization. The option to shoot Cinema 4K at 24fps and a 237Mbps bit-rate is seriously impressive, while regular 4K footage at 30fps is routinely excellent, with lovely color rendition and good detail. Full HD at up to 120fps completes a comprehensive video offering. The vari-angle touchscreen makes framing a cinch, too, while the healthy Olympus lens catalogue opens up plenty of creative avenues. There’s no headphone jack, which will irk some videographers, but that sought-after external microphone port is there. Sure, it’s a bit expensive, but as a complete vlogging package it’s tough to beat.
- Read our in-depth Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III review
2. Sony ZV-1
The best compact vlogging camera around
Type: Compact | Sensor size: 1-inch | Resolution: 20.1MP | Effective focal length: 24-70mm | Viewfinder: None | Monitor: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 0.921-million dots | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 30p | Size, weight: 105.5 x 60.0 x 43.5 mm, 294g$748VIEW AT AMAZONSee all prices (2 found)Class-leading autofocusBright 24-70mm lens PocketableLimited touch controlsMicroUSB rather than USB-C
For a long time, the Canon G7 X Mark III was our favorite compact vlogging camera, but it’s just been knocked off its perch by the excellent Sony ZV-1. By combining all of the best bits of Sony’s RX100 series (for example, the RX100 VII’s microphone port and autofocus, plus the RX100 V’s bright 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens) the ZV-1 really nails what most vloggers and YouTubers want from a small vlogging camera. Sony’s latest Real-time tracking and Eye AF are the best around and the ZV-1 also has a huge amount of depth for a compact camera, including a built-in ND filter and profiles like S-Log2 for those who want to embrace color grading. We still think the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III’s stabilization and image quality are better still, but you won’t find a finer pocket vlogging camera than the Sony ZV-1.
- Read our in-depth Sony ZV-1 review
3. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
Still a fine pocket vlogging camera, despite the arrival of the Sony ZV-1
Type: Compact | Sensor size: 1.0-type | Resolution: 20.1MP | Effective focal length: 24-100mm | Viewfinder: None | Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle touchscreen | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC | Max movie resolution: 4K | Size, weight: 105.5 x 60.9 x 41.4mm, 304g$610.33VIEW AT AMAZON$645.22View at Amazon$654.99View at AmazonSee all prices (25 found)Tilting touchscreenEffective stabilizationMic inputNo viewfinder
Long popular with vloggers, Canon’s G7X range has kicked it up a notch with the Mark III. There’s a very capable 20.1 megapixel one-inch sensor, but now it’s also equipped with uncropped 4K video recording, along with something that’s been requested many times – a microphone socket.
This means you can elevate the sound above and beyond the internal mic’s offering, if you want to. Even better, the G7X III can stream directly to YouTube – which is, right now, an advantage over the Sony ZV-1 – so you can live vlog whatever’s happening around you, without having to downgrade to using your smartphone. USB charging is another great feature which means you can give it power bursts on the go – particularly prudent if you’ve been shooting a lot of 4K video.
The G7X Mark III’s contrast detection-only AF and more limited tilting screen mean it’s been nudged down this list by the Sony ZV-1, but it’s also more affordable and is still well worth considering if you need a pocket vlogging rocket.
- Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III review
4. Sony A6400
This feature-packed snapper is built for vloggers
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor size: APS-C CMOS | Resolution: 24.2MP | Effective focal length: N/A | Viewfinder: EVF, 2.36 million dots | Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, 921,000 dots | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K | Size, weight: 120 x 67 x 60mm, 403g$1,054.31VIEW AT AMAZON
$1,296View at AmazonSee all prices (16 found)Superb autofocusBright viewfinderGreat video featuresNo in-body image stabilization
Sony’s Alpha cameras have long been popular with vloggers, and the A6400 is no exception. 4K is a given, while support for S-log3 and S-log2 should please post-producers. There’s 4K HDR (HLG) for instant playback and Sony’s Imaging Edge Mobile app makes it possible to transfer video to your smartphone. Front-on framing is straightforward, too, thanks to a flip-up 16:9 touchscreen, while the A6400’s advanced autofocus system serves up superb subject tracking. Port options, though, will put some vloggers off: as with the 6300 before it, there’s a microphone input but no headphone socket on the A6400. Many won’t monitor audio as they record, but it’s worth noting if interviews are your thing. There’s no in-body image stabilization either, and many of Sony’s prime lenses don’t feature it – not a problem if you use a tripod or go for that handheld aesthetic.
- Read our in-depth Sony A6400 review
5. Canon EOS M6 Mark II
A travel-friendly CSC is great for video for many different reasons
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 32.5MP | Effective focal length: N/A | Viewfinder: Not inbuilt | Monitor: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 30p | Size, weight: 119.6 x 70 x 49.2mm, 408g
$1,019View at AmazonSee all prices (18 found)Small and light weightGreat tilt-up touchscreenNo built-in viewfinderRelatively few native lenses
Canon really is the king of vlogging cameras, with several making our list thanks to a fantastic range of features and options. The Canon EOS Mark II is the latest iteration of its M series of compact system cameras, and is small and light enough to be a great travel companion.
However, in its miniature body, it’s housing the same high-resolution 32.5 megapixel sensor as the 90D DSLR (see below). With Dual Pixel CMOS AF and uncropped 4K video recording, it’s one you could use to kick your vlogs up a gear. There’s also a microphone input socket, plus a screen that faces all the way forward for perfect framing.
- Read our in-depth Canon EOS M6 Mark II review
6. Panasonic Lumix G90/G95
A great mid-range travel-friendly CSC with interesting video features
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor size: Four Thirds | Resolution: 20.3MP | Effective focal length: N/A | Viewfinder: OLED Live View Finder, 2,360k dots | Monitor: 3.0-inch fully articulating touchscreen | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 30p | Size, weight: 130.4 x 93.5 x 77.4mm, 533g
$997.99VIEW AT AMAZON$1,047.99View at Amazon£899View at eBaySee all prices (4 found)Smart selfie modePower Zoom kit lens optionNo viewfinderOnly shoots 4k at 15fps
Inheriting the flagship G9’s sensor, Panasonic has packed a heck of a lot of features into this mid-range offering. For video lovers, you get 4K video recording, plus microphone and headphone sockets for perfect sound.
There’s tonnes of lenses that are compatible with the Micro Four Thirds system, so there’s something for every job, while the 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 lens which you can buy it with as part of a kit as a great all-rounder for lots of different shooting scenarios. A fully-articulating touchscreen is ideal for presenting to camera, while there’s also advanced video features such as V-Log recording, too.
- Read our in-depth Panasonic G90/G95 review
7. Sony A6100
An excellent beginner vlogging cam that capably covers most bases
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor size: APS-C CMOS | Resolution: 24.2MP | Effective focal length: N/A | Viewfinder: EVF, 1.44 million dots | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC | Max movie resolution: : 4K | Size, weight: 120 x 66.9 x 59.4mm, 396g
$898View at AmazonSee all prices (21 found)Excellent continuous tracking auto-focusExternal microphone inputNo IBIS for videoRelatively low-res display
Sony’s mirrorless Alpha range is a popular one with vloggers and the entry-level A6000 remains a stellar choice for beginners. Now, five years after its launch, there’s a successor – and the A6100 brings plenty of new tricks to the table for would-be YouTubers. 4K is the headline arrival, with 30fps 100Mbps footage taken from the full sensor width, with no pixel binning. There’s Full HD, too, including slow-mo at up to 120fps. Despite its compact proportions, the a6100 trumps its more expensive a6400 sibling by offering that most sought-after of features, an external microphone port, as well as a hot-shoe on top. The display remains flip-up rather than fully articulating, but it’s now touch-sensitive – albeit with limited functionality – which makes framing and focusing easier, especially as 4K footage neatly fills the 16:9 display. An autofocus system shared with the a6600 also delivers reliably excellent continuous tracking, which is ideal for action-packed vlogs. The lack of in-body image stabilization for video is a shame (see the Sony A6600 for that), as is the absence of a neutral color profile, but the A6100 is ultimately an impressive all-rounder with features that belie its entry-level billing.
- Read our in-depth Sony A6100 review
8. GoPro Hero 8 Black
The best action cam just got better
Type: Action | Sensor size: 4.5 x 6.2mm | Resolution: 12MP | Effective focal length: 16-27mm | Viewfinder: None | Monitor: 2.0-inch touchscreen | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 60p | Size, weight: 66.3 x 48.6 x 28.4mm , 126g
$268.98View at AmazonSee all prices (18 found)Rugged bodySuperb stabilisationPoor low-light performanceMost expensive GoPro
Although on paper it feels like an incremental upgrade, but this flagship model – which has long been the shorthand for action cameras in general – has a lot to appeal to adventure lovers. There’s improved stabilization, a new microphone and a more streamlined app that makes actually recording and outputting your video a much happier and more pleasant experience.
It’s not something that will appeal to everyone as an all rounder, but if your idea of vlogging includes trekking up mountains, diving under water or biking across uneven terrain, it’s probably the one that makes the most sense.
- Read our in-depth GoPro Hero8 Black Review
9. Canon EOS M50
A great option if you don’t mind shooting in 1080p
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor size: APS-C CMOS | Resolution: 24.1MP | Effective focal length: N/A | Viewfinder: EVF, 2.36 million dots | Monitor: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04 million dots | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K | Size, weight: 116 x 88 x 59mm, 390g$479VIEW AT AMAZON$499View at Amazon$539View at AmazonSee all prices (33 found)Vari-angle touchscreenExcellent Dual Pixel Autofocus4K shooting has a large crop
If you need to shoot in 4K, then the Canon EOS M50 is best avoided due to mandatory 1.6x crop when shooting in this mode. But if you’re making the switch from a smartphone and don’t mind shooting in 1080p, then its a fine choice. Equipped with a 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor, the M50 was Canon’s first camera to ship with the DIGIC 8 processor – and its first mirrorless camera that could shoot 4K footage at up to 24fps. The downside is that crop in 4K, which means you’ll have a narrow field of view even when you’re filming at a wide focal length – tricky if you’re recording with an outstretched arm. You don’t get any of the specialized video profiles found on more expensive models, either, but the point of the M50 is that it’s compact and accessible. With a microphone input, vari-angle touchscreen and range of connectivity options in the mix, the M50 is still a stellar starter cam for budding vloggers.
- Read our in-depth Canon EOS M50 review
10. Canon EOS 90D
A vlogging option for lovers of tradition
Type: DSLR | Sensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 32.5MP | Effective focal length: N/A | Viewfinder: Pentamirror | Monitor: 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 30p | Size, weight: 140.7 x 104.8 x 76.8mm, 701g
$1,299.99View at AmazonSee all prices (16 found)Fully articulated screenHigh-resolution sensor Uncropped 4K/30p videoDual Pixel CMOS AF No image stabilisation
DSLR releases are getting further and further apart during the reign of the mirrorless, but Canon’s release of the 90D shows that they’re not quite dead yet. Although primarily pitched as a stills camera, it has some useful vlogging-type features, including uncropped 4K video recording, mic input and an articulating touchscreen that faces forward for framing.
You’ll also be tapping into Canon’s extensive range of lenses and accessories too, so you can be as creative as you want.
- Read our in-depth Canon EOS 90D Review