When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission. 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
Photo: Richard Butler
$519 at B&H
$519 at Amazon
$519 at Adorama
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
Buy now:
$998 at Amazon. com$1098 w/ 16-50 at Adorama$1098 w/ 16-50 at B&H PhotoWhat we like:Reliable, accurate autofocusGood rolling shutter performancePlenty of video options, including 10-bit
What we don't:No in-body stabilization Doesn't includes Sony's latest and greatest AFNot fun for photography
The Sony ZV-E10 II is focused on vlogging, with solid 4K/24p and 4K/60p shooting capabilities, and a suite of features for taking footage of yourself.
The ZV-E10 II has an excellent grip, easy-to-hit buttons and a touchscreen that lets you control the most important settings without turning the camera around. The zoom rocker is great for power zoom lenses.
Subject tracking autofocus is fast, sticky, and accurate, though it doesn't have all the modes available on other Sony cameras. Product showcase prioritizes items held up in front of your face and has lots of options. Menus are easy to learn and responsive, and battery life is good.
The ZV-E10 II pairs useful, video-focused features with excellent hardware, making it an excellent vlogging camera depending on your style.
The rolling shutter performance is good, bordering on excellent. The lack of IBIS can make handheld footage look shakey, and electronic stabilization is only useful for stable shots. The built-in microphone is good, and the camera has headphone and mic jacks.
The ZV-E10 II brings many – but not all – of the a6700's vlogging features to a more compact and less expensive body. If you can live without IBIS and built-in ND, it's a solid interchangeable lens vlogging camera.
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
Buy now:
$1799 w/ 18-40mm at Amazon. com$1498 at Adorama$1798 w/ 18-40mm at B&H PhotoWhat we like:Wide range of video featuresQuick camera-to-phone-to-social-media workflowAggressive price point for a full-frame camera
What we don't:Mid-tier autofocus performanceNo headphone jack or front tally lightMediocre rolling shutter performanceFull frame setup can be heavy for vlogging with
The Panasonic S9 is a full-frame L-mount mirrorless camera aimed at creators who want to post images and videos to social with as little editing as possible.
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.
It can be difficult to adjust settings when you're holding the camera with one hand, and the rear control dial is extremely sensitive, making it easy to accidentally change settings. Lack of a grip makes the camera a little slippery.
The S9's autofocus is generally reliable but can occasionally miss or hunt for focus. It can overheat in harsh conditions. It's Real Time LUT system lets you get already-graded images and videos straight out of camera.
The S9 is a camera that goes all-in on posting to social media.
Its open-gate 6K and UHD 4K modes have good quality, with plenty of detail. Its open-gate 4K 'MP4 Lite' codec produces files that are quick to transfer to your phone, crop, and upload to social media. 10-bit video is a plus if you plan on editing.
The S9 has a well-thought-out workflow for posting media from it to the Internet. It's very capable at shooting video, but the photography experience isn't as strong.
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
Buy now:
$2199 at Amazon. com$2198 at Adorama$2198 at B&H PhotoWhat we like:4K footage up to 120pAuto-cropped modes aid one-person operationEffective autofocus
What we don't:Recording times can be short in warm conditions12MP resolution not optimal for stillsCropped footage is upscaled to 4K
The Sony ZV-E1 is a full-frame E-mount mirrorless camera aimed at vloggers and ambitious content creators.
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.
The ZV-E1 has two command dials, both on the back of the camera, which makes manual video control a little fiddly, there's a touchscreen-led interface to encourage more automated presenter/operator working, though.
The ZV-E1's subject recognition system is highly reliable. The lack of a fan means it's much more susceptible to overheating than the otherwise similar FX3. It adds automated modes that crop and follow a recognized subject around the frame, adding dynamism to single-operator footage.
"The ZV-E1 has some clever automated modes but can be a bit fiddly to operate. It's hard to match the power for the price, though"
The camera's 4K footage (up to 120p) is detailed with relatively little rolling shutter, but you'll want to use the strongest level of image stabilization (with crop) for hand-held shooting as it's a little juddery in less intensive modes.
The ZV-E1 tries to marry the capability of the FX3 cinema camera with automated ease-of-use, but can end up being quite confusing in the auto modes and quite fiddly if you try to take a more hands-on approach. It's hard to match the power for the price, though.
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.
. dpreview.com2024-11-14 18:00
