Do you want to become a YouTuber and are wondering what camera to get for your YouTube content creation? YouTube has created an environment for people to become overnight celebrities as long as they have the knowledge, skills, and personality by eliminating traditional gatekeepers such as producers and agents.
And while YouTube may be considered as one of the easiest pathways to exposure, it has also become very competitive. If you are looking for an established YouTube personality, you will need to invest in the best cameras for YouTube to get an edge over people who use increasingly professional equipment and methods to shoot their videos. As such, whatever inspiration leads you to YouTube, you need to ensure you have a quality camera for creating your content.
While a good YouTube camera may set you back some few hundred dollars, you need to be well informed before deciding on the camera to buy. Given that there are hundreds of cameras in the market, how do you know which camera will be best suited for recording high-quality content for your YouTube channel? This article is going to help you in your search for the best cameras for YouTube.
1. Canon DSLR Camera EOS 80D
Intro
The Canon DSLR EOS 80D is a good YouTube camera from Canon. Its CMOS sensor is designed in such a way that it is able to take high-quality videos and shots.
Pros
- Comes in different styles and configurations
- A 24.2MP CMOS sensor for capturing high-resolution videos and images and delivers individual pixels that are refined and accountable for high ISO speeds
- Offers ISO 12,800 for movie and 16,000 for still photographs
- Designed with an intelligent Viewfinder that shows the autofocus mode and points and has a horizontal electronic level, grid display and other points of information
- 7 frames per second continuous shooting speed
- Perfect for capturing fast moving objects/subjects thanks to the Dual Pixel CMOS AF
- Instantly share your photos and videos thanks to the inbuilt NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity
- Has the camera Connect app giving you the ability to shoot remotely from a distance
- Has a long battery life and time-lapse recording
- Has a port for external mic and headphone
- The body design is weather-sealed which means you can use it in harsh weather
Cons
- It does not have 4K video recording
- Quite heavy and lacks an image stabilization
- Quite expensive
2. Sony RX100 VI 20.1 MP Digital Camera
Intro
The Sony RX100 VI is among the new generation of Sony cameras that has a wide range of features that are designed to impress, making it stand out from other cameras.
Pros
- Packed with very impressive features for the price
- Has the world’s fastest hybrid autofocus system with speeds of up to 0.03 seconds that covers both phase and contrast options
- The fast AF system allows you to capture each and every second of activity around you
- Available in different styles
- It has a battery life of 165 minutes which can easily take up to 330 shots
- Enjoy shooting speeds of 24 frames per second
- Has a good image stabilization that caters for the image accuracy and sharpness and also has great extra zoom
- Supports 4K video recording making it one of the best cameras for YouTube
- Boasts of an amazing slow-motion mode
- Has a tilting touch screen
- Easy to use when shooting thanks to the Touch Shutter and Touch Focus features
- Inbuilt Wi-Fi connectivity for instant video and photo sharing
- Has a compact design and it is very lightweight
- Top-notch video and image quality
Cons
- It doesn’t have an external microphone port
- Poor battery life when compared to most cameras in the same category
- No weather sealing feature
- Very expensive
3. GoPro HERO7 Black Camera
Intro
If you’re searching for the perfect camera to use for shooting your underwater YouTube videos for your channel, consider getting yourself the GoPro HERO7 Black camera. Besides the waterproof design, it also comes with a load of features that make it the perfect YouTube recording camera worth your consideration.
Pros
- The best choice of YouTube camera if your content involves shooting videos underwater
- Produces high-quality videos and shots
- Designed with hyper smooth video stabilization to ensure that all recorded videos or shots taken are smooth and clear
- Excellent for recording slow-mo videos as well as time warp videos
- 4K video recording supported at 60 frames per second
- Ability to Live Stream your content thanks to the Live Streaming option that lets you share your content instantly with your viewers/subscribers on platforms such as Facebook
- Has a rugged body design that makes it waterproof and can be used in depths of up to 10 meters
- Perfect cameras for adventurous YouTubers given the voice control and touch screen features
- Has an intuitive menu that makes it easy to use
- The Super Photo feature uses the high-dynamic range applied by the GoPro HERO7 letting you take excellent photos for your YouTube content with noise reduction and local tone mapping
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Overheats when used to record in 4K
- Has a poor battery life
4. Panasonic LUMIX G85 4K Digital Camera
Intro
The Panasonic LUMIX G85 4K Digital camera is one of the best mirrorless cameras that you can get yourself for creating your YouTube videos.
Pros
- Supports both FHD60 and 4K video recording
- Has a 5-axis dual image stabilization for handshake correction
- Has a good shutter shock reduction thanks to the new electromagnetic drive which helps in noise reduction
- The Panasonic LUMIX G85 has an inbuilt flash
- The camera’s body is weather sealed, dust and splash proof
- Has a rugged design that helps it survive different challenges
- It boasts of an ergonomic design that makes it comfortable to hold even with one hand hence producing stable shots
- Perfect for shooting videos thanks to the 16MP digital live MOS sensor that has a low pass filter for producing sharp and detailed images
- Supports different types of file formats including RAW
- Inbuilt electronic viewfinder and a tilting screen for excellent viewing angles
- A built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for instant photo sharing
- This Panasonic camera can be remotely controlled and has a time-lapse recording
- Being a mirrorless camera, it is lightweight
- Has a mic port and a live view finder
Cons
- Not suitable for shooting in low light conditions as its performance in such conditions is poor
- Lacks a headphone port
- Low battery life
5. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II Camera
Intro
Olympus is another brand that offers a good camera for any YouTuber. Thanks to its OLED electronic viewfinder, the camera allows you to see everything that you need to see for that perfect shot.
Pros
- Available in two different colors – black and silver and five different body styles
- This Olympus model has an OLED electronic viewfinder that is large and boasts of 2.36 million pixels that ensure you see everything for the perfect shot
- Perfect camera for shooting fast-moving subjects with all the sharpness and details thanks to the high shoot speed of 8.5 frames per second
- Supports 1080p video recording at 60 frames per second
- Choose between superfine and fine video quality and different recording modes of 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps
- Ability to record videos at 180 fps
- Inbuilt 5-axis image stabilization that produces sharp images
- The camera has a solid build and a retro look
- The buttons layout is easy and comfortable to use
- The camera’s compact design makes it a good buy for traveling YouTubers
- Silent mode feature disables all shutter sounds allowing you to shoot your videos discreetly
- Affordably priced
- Easily control the camera using your smartphone via the Olympus Image Share application
- Inbuilt Wi-Fi connectivity that lets you instantly share your images via the share application
Cons
- Recording videos at 180 fps reduces the resolution to 480p
- Doesn’t support 4K recording and has no mic port
- The menu system is a bit complex
6. Nikon D3500 24MP DSLR Camera
Intro
The Nikon D3500 DSLR camera is the perfect camera for anyone that is just getting started on YouTube and comes with a kit that has the essentials to get you going.
Pros
- One of the best camera for any novice who is getting started in the field of filmmaking or photography
- Come with an in-camera guideline that is meant to help you learn the ropes when it comes to taking high-quality videos and shots
- Boasts of a 24.2 MP APS-C image sensor
- Has an 11-point AF system that continuously shoots at 5 frames per second
- ISO range of 100 that can be extended to 25,600
- Records videos at 1080p Full HD mode
- A good camera for traveling as its not just lightweight but it’s also one of the smallest DSLR cameras from Nikon
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for instant photo sharing using the SnapBridge app
- Its image sensor is 15x larger resulting in clear and sharp images
- Reasonably priced
- Has an excellent battery life that can take up to 1550 shots
Cons
- Doesn’t have a 4K video recording option
- Lacks image stabilization and has no weather sealing feature
- Doesn’t have a mic port
7. Canon EOS 77D Body
Intro
The Canon EOS 77D camera is great for capturing all your reactions or expressions as you create content for your YouTube channel.
Pros
- 24.2 MP CMOS sensor for sharp and clear videos and images
- Designed with time-lapse and high-dynamic range movie options
- Inbuilt NFC, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity for smartphone connectivity and instant sharing
- Has an optical viewfinder that provides great control no matter what it is that you are recording or capturing
- Has a vari-angle LCD touchscreen that is comfortable and easy to use
- Designed with the Movie Electronic IS feature that helps reduce blurs in images especially when recording videos
- Can be used to record videos in low light thanks to the DIGIC 7 image processor that fast operation and high image quality
- Has the anti-flicker shooting feature that helps reduce the inconsistency in color and exposure during continuous shooting
- The camera is high-speed and gives you the ability to capture up to 6 frames per second when shooting continuously
Cons
- Has a poor battery life
- Doesn’t support 4K video recording
8. Olympus TG-5 Camera
Intro
The Olympus TG-5 camera has a durable build. This means that the camera can survive almost anything and is the best deal for adventurous YouTubers.
Pros
- Very durable.
- Has weather sealing elements and is waterproof meaning you can use it to shoot underwater or in the snow up to 50ft and a freeze-proof of up to -10degrees
- Camera is shockproof up to 7ft and a 220lbf crashproof which means it can overcome any YouTube challenge faced by most content creators
- Available in two different colors – red and black and three different styles
- Affordably priced
- Supports 4K video recording which means you get to enjoy smooth videos
- Has an image stabilization that helps eliminate blurs that are caused by handshaking
- Supports different file formats such as RAW
- Inbuilt Wi-Fi and GPS system
- Comes with an anti-fog glass and is dustproof
Cons
- Lacks an inbuilt viewfinder and manual exposure
- The screen resolution is poor
- The screen doesn’t articulate
Final Thoughts
When you want to make quality content for your viewers, you ought to find the best YouTuber camera first. To do this, ask yourself what features a good YouTube camera should have and what exactly it is that you will be capturing. Remember, most vloggers vlog about different stuff and knowing what camera will suit your needs will assist you narrowing down your list of cameras to get.
The most important factors to consider when choosing a YouTube camera is the video quality, image stabilization, audio, display, weight, size, weather sealing feature, and connectivity. For instance, if you like sharing your images instantly up on social apps as a teaser to your audience about your upcoming video, then getting a camera that can shoot high-quality images can go a long way.
The design of the camera is also important as this will ensure durability. Whether you are a beginner or professional, our list above includes some great camera choices that are worth your attention.
