{"id":10461,"date":"2018-12-10T22:27:25","date_gmt":"2018-12-10T22:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/?p=10461"},"modified":"2018-12-10T22:27:25","modified_gmt":"2018-12-10T22:27:25","slug":"best-vlogging-camera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/best-vlogging-camera\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Vlogging Camera of 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"VloggingVlogging is increasingly popular nowadays as a flashier alternative to the standard written blog. Anyone with anything to say can promote their products, share their thoughts, or more via video feed that can be live or more often, prerecorded. From there, you can post to sites like YouTube<\/a> or Vimeo where people can rate and comment on your high-quality video posts.<\/p>\n

Vlogging takes some specialized equipment, of course. You want a good computer, excellent location, good lighting, and a solid camera for video capture. There are so many options available in today\u2019s markets that choosing the right camera can be a real challenge.<\/p>\n

Many popular vlogging cameras tend to be on the smaller side compared to photography cameras. They\u2019re far more portable as a result and can be taken out and put back for a quick post.<\/p>\n

But really, any digital camera that can record video and has the features you need can be an excellent vlogging camera. Here we\u2019ll be looking at two point and shoots, two mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, and an ever-popular specialty camera. But first\u2026<\/p>\n

What should I be looking for in a vlogging camera?<\/h2>\n

Maximum Video Resolution<\/h3>\n

This is probably the very first consideration you should make, even before you decide to camera shop. You want at least Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 p) to make vlogs that look sharp on websites like YouTube and Vimeo. But what about 4K video (3840 x 2160 p)? 4K has 4x the resolution of Full HD; surely that\u2019s the obvious export resolution\u2026Right?<\/p>\n

There are many good reasons to shoot in 4K and a few why you shouldn\u2019t. For one, even if your audience or you don\u2019t own a 4K display, they\u2019re increasingly common. You\u2019re essentially future-proofing your video files. Post-processing like video stabilization is much easier as well since you have significantly more room for cropping as needed.<\/p>\n

Downsampling from 4K to Full HD also gives better video quality than recording in Full HD natively. This is because the camera has to record extra video data that is then used in the downsampling to build the Full HD file, as opposed to simply dumping data at the beginning with a native Full HD one. Some cameras will always use downsampled video for the increased quality.<\/p>\n

But we\u2019ll also want to keep in mind a few possible drawbacks. File sizes are going to be much larger due to the increase in video information. And you\u2019ll want a 4K display, even more, to make the most out of your high-quality video. And many of your viewers will still be viewing Full HD anyway. Your computer itself will also need a more powerful processor and more RAM to be able to process the larger 4K files quickly. But as a vlogger, you should be well prepared in this regard.<\/p>\n

Because 4K is increasingly common in digital cameras of all tiers, there\u2019s a good chance you won\u2019t even have to make that choice. But it\u2019s great to have the option even if you plan on recording Full HD video for now.<\/p>\n

Microphone Type and Available Mic Ports<\/h3>\n

While any video camera will come with a built-in mic, external microphone ports really are essential. An external mic will be much higher quality than nearly any built-in mic that comes with your camera.<\/p>\n

They can also include accessories like wind muffs (dead cats) to help reduce the hiss of moving air and more. You also have much more control over the audio gain (input sound loudness) and can better create great audio with supporting devices with an external mic.<\/p>\n

You can also choose whether you want a mono or stereo mic with an external mic vs. being limited to whichever your camera normally comes with using the built-in one.<\/p>\n

Mono mics have a directed recording style that selectively records in a specific area. They are great for picking up dialogue in a particular location while excluding another zone, for example.<\/p>\n

Stereo mics give a sense of place by recording sound across a larger area. Audio recordings of an outdoor event will sound far better using a stereo microphone.<\/p>\n

Sensor Size & Read Type<\/h3>\n

In photography we usually want larger sensors to maximize our light collection zone. In vlogging, this remains true, especially if we\u2019re regularly recording in low light environments. But this can also be mitigated through smart ISO and aperture selection as well as maintaining proper lighting.<\/p>\n

One advantage many 1\u201d sensors provide is that they read the entire sample area when recording video. While Micro 4\/3rds, APS-C, and full-frame sensors are larger, they skip some of the pixel lines to create low-resolution frames faster. This can sometimes result in inferior quality video over smaller sensors that record over the entire area.<\/p>\n

The size of the sensor also affects the field of view available. With a full frame sensor, I have a much wider field of view compared to a 1\u201d sensor. Anything under full frame is sometimes referred to as a \u201ccropped\u201d sensor. This is a reference to the days of film photography where 35mm was decided upon as a standard size for camera film.<\/p>\n

Cropped sensors are sometimes preferable over full frame ones. If I use a 35mm lens on a Micro 4\/3rds sensor with its 2.0x crop factor, I have an equivalent 70mm field of view. This gives me a pseudo-zoom effect. If I need cheap reach, then crop sensors have an advantage here.<\/p>\n

But as a vlogger, I may prefer a wide angle field of view. Sitting in front of my computer, I\u2019d rather not have to sit way back from my camera to get a decent capture. Depending on how wide angle I need, I\u2019ll have to consider both my lenses and the sensor size carefully.<\/p>\n

Durability<\/h3>\n

Many vlogs take place directly in front of your computer while you\u2019re sitting in a comfortable chair. But what about vloggers who create content from a sheer cliff or perched on a surfboard? Even a high-quality vlogging camera won\u2019t necessarily survive submersion in the ocean.<\/p>\n

If you expect to shoot in the outdoors occasionally but not necessarily drop or submerge the camera, then weatherized models are well worth considering. They usually use magnesium alloy constructions that are corrosion and scratch resistant while remaining lightweight. Rubber seals help keep dust and moisture from penetrating into the body of the camera \u2013 but remember that any interchangeable lenses should be weatherized as well.<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re into more extreme videography, then cameras like the Olympus TG-5 and GoPro Hero series are more up your alley. They can be dropped from a significant height, be submerged as far as 50 feet underwater, and provide digital and optical image stabilization to help gimbal-less vloggers keep their video looking smooth and natural.<\/p>\n

Our Top 5 Best Cameras for Vlogging<\/h2>\n
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GoPro Hero 6<\/h3>\n

\"GoPro<\/a><\/p>\n

GoPro is almost a household name for a very good reason. The cameras are designed to be the go-to camera for any sort of action-oriented vlogging. And the digital photo and video stabilization help keep footage looking relatively smooth and free of unwanted shake even though you\u2019re obviously on the move.<\/p>\n

While it doesn\u2019t have a vast range of options, the Hero 6<\/a> is well worth looking at if you want a simple device that creates high-quality videos.<\/p>\n

Durable no matter what.<\/h4>\n

When it comes to outdoor shooting few cameras offer the peace of mind you\u2019ll get while using a GoPro Hero 6. For one, it\u2019s waterproof down to 33 ft. (10 m). Other cameras usually need a waterproof casing to match this depth.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not shockproof like some other action-oriented cameras. At least not without the case which fortunately comes with the Hero 6.<\/p>\n

Simple and Intuitive Controls<\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re not technically oriented, have no fear. The GoPro Hero 6 is well designed to keep you moving and not looking through your user manuals. The camera has exactly two buttons: a side button for Power\/Mode\/Tag, and a top button for Select\/Shutter controls. That\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

From there, the touch screen allows for quick mode selection as well as framing your field of view. But what if your vlog takes you up the side of a mountain or somewhere else where both hands are needed?<\/p>\n

While your camera is safely mounted onto your helmet, voice commands allow you to remain entirely hands-free. These 12 commands include GoPro Start Recording, GoPro Turn On, GoPro Shoot Burst, and even That Was Sick, to add a HiLight tag to the recorded video.<\/p>\n

And if that isn\u2019t enough for you, the GoPro app can also be enabled with a smartphone or other smart device. This gives you wireless control of your GoPro to shoot and record even from a distance or in situations where ambient noise could overwhelm your voice controls.<\/p>\n

Overall?<\/h4>\n

Adventure-loving vloggers should consider the GoPro Hero 6 their vlogging camera of choice. While it offers 12-megapixel JPEG and RAW photography the camera is oriented towards providing point of view videography that includes 4K resolution.<\/p>\n

The simple controls and microphone port make it a breeze to take it out of the box and get right into vlogging. And the price is the lowest here.<\/p>\n\n

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\n \n \"GoPro\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n GoPro HERO6 Black - Waterproof Digital Action Camera for Travel with Touch Screen 4K HD Video 12MP Photos <\/a>\n
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