At present, there are a lot of people who’re starting to make use of YouTube as a platform to create and showcase their own content for the whole world to see. For individual content creators who want to get their name out there, this is probably the easiest and least expensive way to do it. With the help of Google AdSense, they can even start monetizing their own content, and mint some serious cash out of this platform. So, if you’re planning on starting on your own YouTube channel to get your content out there in the public, you’ve probably got your eyes set, on purchasing a high quality camera for creating professional videos. Well, we can help you shortlist some of the best ones on the market right now. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 15 best cameras for YouTubers you can buy:
Best Vlogging Cameras For YouTube Videos
1. Canon EOS 77D DSLR Camera
Well, this is the camera that we use for all the videos on our YouTube channel. The EOS 77D sits right in between the 70D and 80D in terms of what it has to offer, and can be considered as the perfect beginner or intermediate camera that you can use for recording YouTube videos, especially if you’re on a budget. This camera boasts a 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor with Dual Pixel AF, that’s capable of recording 1080p footage at a speedy 60 fps. So, if you’re a person who’s more concerned about frame rate, rather than resolution, this should be the one you should be going for.
The Canon EOS 77D features a flip-out touchscreen which makes this an easy-to-use camera for vloggers, so that they can actually see what they’re shooting. Apart from this, the battery on the 77D should be good enough to last you for over an hour and a half of continuous video recording. That being said, this is pretty much an affordable option for anyone who’s looking forward to start their own YouTube channel as soon as possible, as you can currently grab it from Amazon for just under 850 bucks.
Buy from Amazon: ($849, Body only)
2. Nikon D5600 Beginner DSLR Camera
You can pit this camera against the Canon EOS 77D in terms of what they both bring to their table for their respective asking prices. The D5600 clearly seems to be a more affordable option than the Canon counterpart, especially due to the fact that it comes a kit lens for a lesser price. This camera boasts a 24.2 MP CMOS sensor that’s capable of recording video at 1080p up to 60 fps, just like the EOS 77D. Lack of 4K video recording might, might disappoint most of you, but if frame rate is your primary concern, this Nikon camera is worth every penny.
The Nikon D5600 features a flip out touchscreen, similar to one oo the EOS 77D. So, if you’re going to shoot some vlogs, you’re going to find this feature to be pretty useful. The battery on the D5600 should be good enough to last you for about 2 hours of continuous video recording, which is pretty impressive. Lastly, the camera can be purchased along with a kit lens for under 800 bucks and if you’re on a tight budget and you don’t really want the Dual Pixel AF on the EOS 77D, this is the one you should be going for.
Buy from Amazon: ($796.95, with AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G)
Best Budget Cameras For YouTube Videos
1. Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera
Blackmagic design is a reputed digital movie camera manufacturer and this is the company’s most affordable camera. This Pocket Cinema Camera is even more compact than some of the mirrorless options on the market. This camera might lack 4K recording capabilities like several other cameras at this price point, but if you want to record the best possible 1080p footage at this price, there are barely any other options out there. The reason why we said that is because, the Pocket Cinema Camera is capable of recording 1080p videos in lossless CinemaDNG RAW footage and Apple ProRes, which provides you with superior video quality than most of the competition that offers Full HD recording.
The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera also features an active Micro Four Thirds Lens Mound for added flexibility. The maximum frame rate for video recording is 30 fps, which is a major letdown, especially if you’re looking forward to shoot in slow-motion. Lastly, the battery is a downside as well, as it will last only up to 40 minutes, if you’re constantly recording. That being said, if you don’t care about its fair share of downsides, this is pretty much the obvious choice to go for, especially if video quality, regardless of resolution is your top priority. For an asking price of under 1000 bucks, this camera from Blackmagic design, certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Buy from Amazon: ($995, Body only)
2. Panasonic LUMIX G7 4K Mirrorless Camera
The Lumix G7 is the most affordable option that makes its way to the list, and offers more than what the Leica D-Lux is capable of. First of all, this is an interchangeable lens camera, so if you were concerned about the lack of flexibility on the Leica counterpart, you can certainly go for this one. The Lumix G7 features a 16 MP Micro Four Thirds sensor, that’s capable of shooting 4K video up to 25 fps with a 100Mbps bit rate. Now, this is seriously impressive for the price, as there are barely any better options at this price point. The camera also comes with a 14-42 mm kit lens that offers OIS, which is a bargain, and if you want more, you can choose from a vast range of lenses that Panasonic has to offer, for an additional price.
The Lumix G7 also features a flip-out touchscreen, a feature that’s completely that the Leica D-Lux misses out on, for twice the price. Moving on to the battery life, you can record videos continuously for up to 90 minutes before you run out of juice, so if you want to shoot longer, you might need multiple batteries. Lastly, for an asking price of under 600 bucks along with a kit lens, the Lumix G7 clearly outperforms the Leica D-Lux and several other options in this segment in terms of what it offers for the price, and that’s exactly why we consider this mirrorless camera, a steal.
Buy from Amazon: ($597.99, with 14-42mm MEGA O.I.S. Lens)
3. Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100 IV Digital Camera
This non-interchangeable lens camera is quite similar to the Leica D-Lux that we previously discussed, but it does bring a lot of features for the asking price. First of all, the RX100 IV packs 20.1 MP 1-inch Exmor RS stacked back illuminated CMOS sensor, that boasts 4K Ultra HD video recording up to 30 fps with direct pixel readout and no focus binning. Apart from this, there’s a super slow motion mode, which lets you shoot at 960 fps for up to a maximum of 4 seconds. This is an insanely fast camera, so if you’re interested in slowing down your footage so often, you should definitely consider buying this, at least as your secondary camera.
The Sony Cybershot RX100 IV also features a retractable OLED viewfinder and a tilting 3-inch non-touch display. Moving on to the battery life, the RX100 IV features an inferior battery compared to its predecessor, and should let you shoot 4K video continuously for just around 30-40 minutes. The asking price of under 850 bucks is quite justified, especially since it comes with an integrated f/1.8-2.8 Zeiss lens. The RX100 IV can be considered as a more affordable option to the Leica D-Lux in terms of video performance.
Buy from Amazon: ($848, Integrated 8.8-25.7mm, f/1.8-2.8 Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens)
4. Leica D-Lux 4K Digital Camera
Leica’s wide range of cameras, barely fail to impress us, and the company’s D-Lux digital camera is no exception on that regard. This camera features a built-in lens with an aperture of f/1.7-f/2.8, so if you’re a person who likes playing around with various lenses, you might have to look elsewhere. However, what impresses us regarding the camera is the fact that, the 12.8 MP Micro four thirds CMOS sensor on this camera is capable of recording 4K video up to 30 fps. So, if your primary purpose is recording 4K videos for YouTube channel, there aren’t much options in this range, besides the D-Lux.
The Leica D-Lux offers Optical Image Stabilization and also features a high resolution OLED Electronic viewfinder, to be in full control of your shot. The battery life of the D-Lux is pretty disappointing, as it won’t be good enough for even an hour of 4K video recording, so you might have to carry 3 or more batteries, especially if you’re planning to shoot for hours. The price tag of nearly 1100 bucks is quite impressive, especially for a camera from Leica. So, if you’re looking for an affordable 4K video recording option, this should definitely end up on your shortlist.
Buy from Amazon: ($1,095, Integrated 24-75mm f/1.7-f/2.8 lens)
Best Action Camera For YouTube Videos
GoPro Hero 5 Black Action Camera
If you’re planning to start a YouTube channel filled with action sports, adventures and vlogs, you should definitely get the GoPro Hero 5 Action camera, without giving a second thought. Most of the popular YouTubers keep a GoPro action camera in handy, despite having multiple cameras that serve other purposes. The Hero 5 Black is capable of recording 4K footage at 30 fps with its 12 MP sensor, and features a touchscreen display, which is a first for the company’s vast range of action cameras.
The Hero 5 is a tiny camera that you can carry around and mount anywhere, by making use of a plethora of mounts that are available for the camera on the market. It’s rugged body makes it waterproof up to 10m without the need of a housing. As far as battery life is concerned, the battery on the Go Pro Hero 5 Black should be good enough to last you for about 80-90 minutes of continuous 4K video recording, which is pretty decent, especially for its asking price. For a price tag of just $349, we think the Hero 5 is certainly worth the money for what it delivers.
If you are looking for action cameras other than the GoPro Hero 5, you can take a look at its alternatives.
Buy from Amazon: ($349)
Best Portable and 4K Cameras For YouTube Videos
1. Panasonic LUMIX GH5 Mirrorless Camera
If portability and 4K video recording are your top priorities, the Panasonic LUMIX GH5 immediately becomes a mouth-watering option, as the manufacturer has managed to pack in as many features as they possibly could. The GH5 succeeds the hugely popular GH4 and it’s quite popular among Youtubers like* EverythingApplePro* who uses it as his daily driver. The Lumix GH5 features a 20.3 MP Micro Four Thirds sensor that’s fully capable of recording 4K video at 60 fps. It can also record 1080p Full HD footage up to a blistering fast 180 fps. The camera also boasts in-body image stabilization, even if you don’t have an OIS lens, so, there’s no gripe on that regard.
Panasonic claims the camera is splash, dust and waterproof because of its rugged design. Lastly, the camera has a flip-out touchscreen which is a much needed feature for the YouTubers who are interested in vlogging. As far as battery life is concerned, if you’re recording constantly at 4k 60fps, you will run out of juice in under 90 minutes. That being said, if you’re going to create action-packed content for YouTube, where you’ll be able to take full advantage of the frame rate that this camera has to offer, you just cannot go wrong with the Panasonic LUMIX GH5.
Buy from Amazon: ($1,998, Body only)
2. Sony Alpha a7S II Mirrorless Camera
This high-end mirrorless cameras from Sony are mostly used by popular YouTubers who are into vlogging like Nadeshot, iJustine and many more. Being a mirrorless camera, it’s compact, despite packing a lot of features under the hood. The Sony Alpha a7S II is fully capable of 4K video recording up to 30 fps with a 100Mbps bit rate by making use of its 12.2 MP 35mm Full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor. The camera is also capable of Full HD video recording at a blazing fast 120 fps speed, so that you don’t miss out on action-packed moments.
The a7S II is a really great camera for vlogging, thanks to the built-in 5-axis image stabilization to minimize shaky footage. However, if you were looking forward to a flip-out touch screen like the GH5, you will be disappointed, as the camera only features a tilting display without touch capabilities. The battery on the a7S II should be good enough to last you for approximately 80 minutes of constant 4K recording. That being said, if you’re looking forward to purchase a compact camera to record professional videos for YouTube, this is definitely worth your money, if you can afford the asking price of over 2 and a half grand.
Buy from Amazon: ($2,598, Body only)
3. Nikon D500 DX-Format DSLR Camera
Most of the DSLRs that are capable of 4K video recording are pretty expensive, but the Nikon D500 is an exception, thanks to the usage of a cropped sensor, rather than going for full-frame. Well, to keep costs down, Nikon definitely had to go for a cropped sensor, and we’re not disappointed. The Nikon D500 boasts a 20.9 MP CMOS sensor that’s completely capable of shooting 4K Ultra HD video up to 30 fps. So, if you’re planning to buy a DSLR for not just videography, but for some professional photography as well, then the D500 will do the job for you.
The Nikon D500 has a tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen, so if you were looking for a flip-out screen for vlogging, you might have to look elsewhere. That being said, last year, several D500 owners have complained regarding the camera’s battery life, but Nikon has managed to subside that issue by offering them a free battery replacement. The updated battery should be good enough for nearly 2 hours of constant video recording. For an asking price of nearly 1800 bucks, you get a professional DSLR camera that lets you shoot some crisp 4K footage as well as breathtaking stills that you can add as thumbnails for your YouTube videos. Well there are not many options you can choose from, especially if you’re looking for a 4K capable DSLR at this price point.
Buy from Amazon: ($1,796.95, Body only)
Best High-End Cameras For Professional YouTube Videos
1. Blackmagic Design Production Camera 4K
This is a significant step up from the previously discussed Pocket Cinema camera that’s limited to Full HD video recording, as the Production Camera features 4K video recording up to 30 fps and a large 35 mm sensor. Just like the Pock4et Cinema camera, this one records in CinemaDNG RAW and Apple 4K ProRes, which results in superior video quality compared to several other 4K footage we’ve seen from DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras. The camera comes with EF compatible lens mount, which lets you choose from a wide range of high-end lenses.
Moving on to the design, the Production Camera 4K is noticeably bulkier than its little sibling, but that’s due to the better hardware that this device packs. As far as battery life is concerned, you should be able to continuously record 4K footage in Apple ProRes for approximately 60 minutes before you completely run out of juice. Lastly, the price tag of nearly 3000 dollars is certainly worth it, if you’re seriously into cinematography and not willing to make any sacrifices on your video quality. However, if you love to slow down your footage so often, you might have to look elsewhere or get a secondary camera to serve that purpose.
Buy from Amazon: ($2,900, Body only)
2. Canon XC15 4K Professional Camcorder
This is a high-end camcorder from Canon, that tries so hard to look like any other DSLR camera. If you’re interested in shooting high quality footage at wide-angle, you might enjoy using this camera to make content on YouTube. The XC15 features a 12 MP CMOS sensor capable of 4K UHD video at 29.97 fps and an integrated wide-angle f/2.8-5.6, 8.9-89mm Zoom Lens capable of 10X Optical Zoom, so if you’re one those people who don’t want to fiddle around with all the lenses that are available on the market, this might be a good option.
The Canon XC15 is aimed towards the people who expect high-end filmography for short films, tech videos or advertisements at an affordable price. The camera also has an XLR audio input and includes an MA-400 Mic Adapter, because audio quality is equally important as video quality. If you make use of the LP-E6N battery, you should be able to record continuously in 4K for nearly 100 minutes. The $2399 asking price might sound expensive at first, but do keep in mind that it comes with an integrated lens, so you don’t have to spend money on that separately.
Buy from Amazon: ($2,399, Integrated f/2.8-5.6/8.9-89mm Zoom Lens)
3. Sony PXW-FS7
This is a high-end camera that’s fully dedicated to video recording and it’s used by the popular YouTuber Jonathan Morrison for most of the recent videos on his channel. The PXW-FS7 features a 35mm CMOS sensor that’s capable of recording 4K video up to 60 fps. With an external recorder, you can step this up a notch and record 4K at a blistering fast 180 fps. The one which we’re featuring in this list comes with a 28-135mm Zoom E-Mount lens featuring a maximum aperture of f/4.
The FS7 might be huge for most of you out there, but its integrated handle lets you steadily hold the camera in your hand, thereby helping you avoid shaky footage. With the Sony BP-U60 battery, you’re looking at a battery life lasting above 2 hours while recording continuously at 4K 60 fps. At $9,990, pricing is clearly on the expensive side, as this camera is aimed towards the professionals who want a dedicated video camera for high-end cinematography.
Buy from Amazon: ($9,899, with 28-135mm FE PZ Zoom E-Mount lens)
4. Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K Professional Camera
Well, we’ve got one more Blackmagic camera to the list and this is certainly a beast for professional work. We’ve seen both Pocket Cinema camera and the Production camera 4K, featured in this list, but those were suited towards the high-end mainstream market. This one, is much more suited for experts, who knows what they’re handling with. The URSA Mini Pro features a large 35 mm CMOS sensor that’s capable of shooting 4.6K videos with a frame rate of up to a blistering fast 60 fps. The camera will record in CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes 444 & 422 formats to provide you the highest quality footage that you can get, at that resolution.
Moving on to the build, this is a bulky camera to carry around wherever you go, so if you’re having portability on your mind, just forget about it. That being said, if you’re having a professional camera like this one, you shouldn’t be concerned about the battery life as well, because you’ll be carrying multiple batteries along with you for shooting all the footage that you’ll ever need. However, you can expect to shoot video continuously for nearly 2 hours, using a single battery. For a price tag of nearly 6000 dollars, this can be considered as a worthy and much more affordable alternative to the 4K-capable Sony FS7 that we previously discussed, which almost manages to touch the 10K mark.
Buy from Amazon: ($5,995, Body only)
The Ultimate Camera For YouTube Videos
RED Weapon 8K Professional Camera
If you regularly watch tech content on YouTube, you’ve probably subscribed to the MKBHD channel already due to the reputation, and if you’ve noticed, his videos look much more crisper than what most other YouTubers bring to the table. If you’ve ever wondered why, the $49,500 RED Weapon 8K camera is the reason. All of his recent videos are shot in 8K, and then downsampled to 4K to give the video a much more sharper look. The camera is also used by Hollywood filmmakers, as their ideal camera for movie production, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is just one of them.
With this beast of a camera, you can shoot up to 8K at 75 fps with a 2.4:1 aspect ratio using the company’s REDCODE RAW format. This is made possible with the help of the DRAGON 35.4MP CMOS sensor. This is also one of the very few cameras that offer a maximum data rate of 300 MB/s for video recording. Sure, this is definitely one of the best cameras in the world for videography, but until you have the cash to afford it, you might have to look elsewhere for an affordable option.
Buy from RED: ($49,500, Body only)
SEE ALSO: 12 Best Mirrorless Cameras You Can Buy
Purchase These Best Cameras For YouTube Videos
Well, if you’re planning on starting your own YouTube channel, creating high quality footage with a professional camera should always be your top priority and these are simply the best cameras you can go for. We’re glad we could give you some options for every single price point. Cameras like the Nikon D5600, Canon EOS 77D and Panasonic G7 are clearly aimed towards people who’re on a budget. However, if you want to attain the peak of video quality, you could get your hands on the Red Weapon 8K camera, assuming you have over fifty thousand dollars to invest in your YouTube channel. Lastly, if you want a high performing camera that doesn’t require you to sell your house, cameras like the Sony FS7 or Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K will certainly do the job. So, now that you have a clear idea of the costs you’ll be shelling out, which one of these cameras are you going for and why? Make sure you let us know, by shooting your opinions in the comments section down below.
