Choosing the right camera to get your YouTube career started is a bit harder than just picking up a point-and-shoot, switching it to video mode and starting to film. A lot of things come into play such as choosing whether 4K or 1080p resolution is right for you, do you want more features or portability, do you want the ability to monitor your audio, and the list goes on and on. Here is a list of some of the best cameras you can get for starting your YouTube channel.
Canon EOS Rebel T7i with Kit Lens
The Canon T7i may be a few years old but if you are starting out with making YouTube videos it is certainly a top contender based on the price. This camera includes the DIGIC 7 Image Processor, Full 1080p video recording up to 60 frames per second (more about FPS here), 3.0″ Variable Touchscreen, HDR and time-lapse movie modes, microphone input jack and more. With some very basic lighting and some basic knowledge about camera settings, this setup can produce some very high-quality video for almost every beginning YouTuber.
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
A very popular choice by many YouTubers, the Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III has both great video quality and is also very portable. The video capability is set for uncropped 4K and a much-requested microphone socket. Unlike some of the cameras on this list, you won’t be able to change out your lens but the Powershot G7 is equipped with a 24-100mm equivalent focal length. This camera also has built-in image stabilization while also having the ability to record directly to YouTube for extremely fast, run-and-gun, uploads.
Sony A6400
The Sony Alpha series is extremely popular with it comes to YouTubers and Vloggers alike and the A6400 is packed with impressive features. It has 4K recording capability (along with 4K HDR for instant playback) and a flip-up 16:9 touchscreen. Even with the excellent video quality though it does have a few drawbacks that can be easily overlooked. If you are use to monitoring your audio input, you will find that the built-in headphone jack is missing. Also, the popular built-in image stabilization is also missing but if you are a tripod shooter, this won’t be a problem.
Canon EOS M50
First off, I love the Canon M50 mainly for its portability and it’s ease of use even if you are not familiar with Canon products. It has the always appreciated variable-tilt screen, and excellent auto-focus but one minor setback is its 4K recording capability. The image quality is excellent as you would expect from this type of camera but what isn’t great is the 1.6x crop factor when shooting in 4K. This means you will drastically be reducing your field-of-view and vlogging is most likely out of the question. That being said, if you are stepping up your game from recording on a smartphone and want to get a bit more serious with your equipment, the M50 is a good choice.
DJI Osmo Action
The Osmo Action is the first action-typed camera by DJI and it is certainly a great camera. It is basically in direct competition with the GoPro Hero series and in my opinion, DJI did it better with the Osmo action. One of the main visual differences is the dual-screen setup. This is great for those who want to Vlog. Also, because of its small form-factor, it is very inconspicuous and also includes builtin stabilization for super-smooth footage.
BlackMagic Pocket 4K
In short, the BlackMagic Pocket 4K cinema camera is a beast! It is a fantastic camera and one of the most expensive on this list but for those YouTubers who want the best video possible within a reasonable budget, this one is for you. Just like it says in the name, it records cinematic 4K video and has a 4/3 sensor along with all of the features you can expect from BlackMagic. One of the most popular features available in this camera is RAW video. When shooting in RAW, you are able to capture incredible dynamic range and gives you amazing flexibility when editing. For YouTube videos, you don’t really need these features but this camera is really for those who want to “future-proof” their gear.
Your Smartphone
Out of all the cameras we have covered in this article so some people the best video camera you can use is simply your smartphone. Whether you have an iPhone, Android, or another popular smartphone of the market, most can handle the basic video needs for YouTube videos. If you are going to go this route, however, I would recommend a basic lighting setup like the Viltrox Slim LED Light Panels. This simple two-light setup will give you enough light for your camera to get the cleanest image possible.
