Buying a Camera for YouTube: Here is What You Should Know
The Complete Buying Guide
If you are looking to buy a new camera then you should know that it will not be easy choosing the best device. There are so many devices out there that may seem like they are offering the same thing unless you really know what to look for. Even as a seasoned pro, it’s always necessary to conduct market research before buying a camera since what was good a while ago is not necessarily what’s selling right now. It’s because technology is always changing and new features being added to the cameras. For instance, until recently, 4K technology was only prominent in digital televisions but now there are cameras that offer recording capabilities up to UHD 4K resolution.
Factors to Look At When Buying a Camera for YouTube Recording or Vlogs
- Recording capabilities
What’s the maximum resolution that you can record videos in? Any camera with the ability to record in Full HD (1080p) will be an excellent choice. However, the 4K technology is now a thing in cameras and allows you to record in double the resolution of a Full HD camera. - Sound capabilities – A YouTube camera should be more than just an excellent picture quality. You need your viewers to hear you without straining. Therefore ensure that your camera of choice has put in measures to improve the sound quality. This is normally achieved through the inclusion of a built-in microphone with noise-cancelling capabilities.
- Price – Money is always a factor. Sometimes to get the best quality you have to be ready to pay good money for it. But that does not mean you won’t get great quality on a smaller budget. On the contrary, there are cameras to fit all budgets without really having to compromise on quality.
- Portability – Some cameras may prove to be too much luggage depending on the intended use. For instance, a travel vlogger will always be on the move. Therefore, the camera of choice should be a light device preferably small that can easily fit in your bag and still deliver excellent quality pictures.
- Lighting – A great camera should be able to give you excellent quality even in low light. Many of the cameras allow you to change the settings to adapt to different lighting conditions.
- Camera function – The camera you choose is highly dependent on the type of work you do. If you are a YouTuber making home videos or say tutorials then you will definitely not be using the same kind of camera as another YouTuber who is into sports videos.
Which brings us to the next possibility. There are different types of cameras and each has a unique set of features that make it more suitable for a certain line work. Read on to find out the different types of camera and how they fit in to the type of videos you do.
Before you get into more details; here’s a quick glimpse of our top picks.
| # | Preview | Name | Video Sensor | Max Resolution | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 V | 20mp Exmor CMOS sensor | 4K UHD | Point and Shoot | Check Price |
| 2 |  | Canon EOS Rebel T6 | 12mp Optical Sensor | 4K UHD | DSLR Cam | Check Price |
| 3 |  | Panasonic Lumix FZ80 | 8mp APS-C sensor | FHD (1080p) | Mirrorless | Check Price |
| 4 |  | Nikon D5300 | 24.2mp APS-C sensor | FHD (1080p) | DSLR Cam | Check Price |
| 5 |  | Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II | 20.2 MP Sony CMOS | FHD (1080p) | Point and Shoot | Check Price |
| # | 1 |
| Preview | |
| Name | Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 V |
| Video Sensor | 20mp Exmor CMOS sensor |
| Max Resolution | 4K UHD |
| Type | Point and Shoot |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 2 |
| Preview | |
| Name | Canon EOS Rebel T6 |
| Video Sensor | 12mp Optical Sensor |
| Max Resolution | 4K UHD |
| Type | DSLR Cam |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 3 |
| Preview | |
| Name | Panasonic Lumix FZ80 |
| Video Sensor | 8mp APS-C sensor |
| Max Resolution | FHD (1080p) |
| Type | Mirrorless |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 4 |
| Preview | |
| Name | Nikon D5300 |
| Video Sensor | 24.2mp APS-C sensor |
| Max Resolution | FHD (1080p) |
| Type | DSLR Cam |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 5 |
| Preview | |
| Name | Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II |
| Video Sensor | 20.2 MP Sony CMOS |
| Max Resolution | FHD (1080p) |
| Type | Point and Shoot |
| Details | Check Price |
Last Update on 2024-04-19 at 07:15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Digital Single-Lens Reflex Cameras (DSLRs)
These cameras offer the best quality in terms of photography and with their excellent video recording capabilities, they will be perfect for versatile vloggers seeking to combine photography with vlogging. The highlight of these cameras is the ability to change lens but is also what makes them a bit complex to handle. You will need a few lessons to get an in-depth understanding of how the lens work. But once you know how to effectively interchange the lens, you should have no problem using this camera. Also, these cameras are a bit heavy due to their large size. Something you should consider if you are always on the move
Mirrorless Cameras
These are very much like the DSLR. They still have the interchangeable lenses but the internal mirror box which is a key component in the DSLR cameras has been removed. This consequently leads to a significant decrease in size which is the highlight of these devices. These cameras are a bit pricey than the DSLR but it’s understandable since they pack similar features but in a smaller package.
Point and Shoot Cameras
These are also alternatives to the DSLR that will be great if you are always travelling due to their compact nature. They can’t really match up to the DSLR in terms of resolution but they still have a pretty decent picture quality. These cameras are really small and some can fit in your pockets perfectly well.
Action Cameras
These are cameras that can be strapped on your chest or head gear when skydiving, scuba diving, skiing, and other related sports. They are excellent for filming first-person angles and so, if you are one to go bungee jumping then this is the best camera type for you. They are really small fitting perfectly on your palm and deliver excellent quality video and image. Their durability is also a defining trait since they are always being used in extreme conditions.
Webcams
These are the perfect cameras if you specialize in making home videos. They serve as an alternative to your laptop camera which we can all agree that it’s utterly useless if you are recording for YouTube. It’s important to note that the level of quality on these cameras cannot match any of the above mentioned. These will do when all else has failed mainly because they are substantially affordable.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a lot you need to know before buying a camera. But the most important thing is that you know what the intended purpose for the camera is. Once that is established you can use our guide to determine which will be the best camera type. You can also check this post for a review of some of the most popular cameras among YouTubers.
