Our top choice is the Sony ZV-1. It has a compact size and streaming features. And it produces high-quality video. It’s the best affordable camera to record videos for YouTube. But there are other options to consider. And we have a buying guide to help you make your choice at the end of the article. [Note: ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here.]
What is the Best Camera for YouTube?
Below are the 13 best cameras for YouTube currently on the market. Let’s dive in and discover the strengths and weaknesses of each one. We’ll show how each camera benefits a certain type of content creator to help you choose. If it’s a compact camera your heart desires, the best camera for YouTube is the illustrious Sony ZV-1. Sony unveiled it in 2020. It was their first camera specifically aimed at vloggers and YouTubers. And it has been a smashing success! It shoots uncropped 4K movies at 30 fps (frames per second). And it also has a handy slow-motion mode that records clips at 1080p at 120 fps. On top of that, it has a luxurious Sony Zeiss 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens. It’s the same lens found on the more expensive RX100 VII. And it helps produce bright, beautiful, and natural-looking videos. The ZV-1 also has lightning-fast AF and a built-in ND filter to improve video quality. It also features a flip-screen to help take selfie videos. And it has a decent built-in microphone. Not bad for a camera that you can slip into your back pocket! Professionals with deep pockets will fall head over heels for the Sony a7S III. It debuted in 2022 and replaced the a7S II as Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for video. It lets you record videos up to 4K at 120 fps. And it has dedicated ports for a mic and headphones. It has a back-illuminated 12.1 MP full frame sensor. So it captures tons of light and delivers high-quality footage… even when there is almost no light! And its low-light performance is further enhanced by the enormous 40 to 409,600 ISO range. It also has in-camera image stabilization. Pair that with a stabilized lens, like the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4. And it adds up to 8.5 extra stops of exposure! This video camera also has 10-bit H.264 and H.265 professional codecs. These ensure smooth-looking videos. For people who want to spend less, the EOS M50 Mark II is the best Canon budget camera for YouTube. It’s the successor to the incredibly popular M50. And Canon released it in 2020 to much fanfare. It does have 4K video capabilities. But it’s better suited for content creators who typically shoot in 1080p Full HD. That’s mainly due to its sizeable 4K crop factor. It has two notable video features. It has a responsive Dual Pixel AF (autofocus) system. And it has an easy-to-use fully-articulating screen. The autofocus now has subject tracking while recording movies. This helps keep subjects to stay sharp, even when moving. And the screen is fantastic for composing scenes at difficult angles. Plus, it has an external mic port. The GoPro Hero10 Black is a killer action camera launched in 2021. With a sizeable one-inch image sensor, it’s the world’s first sophisticated action camera. And it was the first to compete seriously with DSLR and mirrorless cameras. It has a durable and waterproof construction. You can take it down to 33 feet (10 meters). This makes it the best YouTube camera for adventure lovers. And the in-body image stabilization of the Hero 10 Black is in a league of its own. It can even make bumpy mountain biking footage look smooth. Also, low-light performance has significantly improved compared to previous versions. Shooting indoors and at night used to be nearly impossible. But now the clips look great. It even includes time-lapse and slow-motion modes for easy captures. Lastly, the GoPro mobile app has its very own editing software. So you can adjust your videos before posting them to YouTube. The Sony ZV-E10 is an award-winning mirrorless camera. Sony designed it for beginner and intermediate vloggers and YouTubers. It debuted in late 2021. And it pairs a 24.2 MP APS-C sensor with a speedy Bionz X image processor. The two work together to make the camera absurdly fast. It captures high-quality video (4K at 30 fps)! And it has excellent autofocus capabilities. The user interface is easy-to-use. And there are beginner-friendly automatic shooting modes and styles. So even with little or no camera experience, you can create epic videos with the ZV-E10. Lastly, the directional microphone and included windscreen ensure the sound is clear. And it has a flip screen to help with selfie videos. If you are a fan of Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras, the best camera for YouTube is the new Panasonic Lumix GH6. It came out in 2022 and replaced the Panasonic Lumix GH5. So it’s the company’s premier MFT mirrorless camera. The signature feature of the GH6 is its breathtaking 5.7K max video resolution. And since its high-resolution files are massive, you’ll be happy to hear it has two memory card slots. Furthermore, a built-in fan cools the camera and prevents overheating for unlimited recording. You also have great in-camera customization options to help your workflow. And there is a good selection of Lumix lenses to choose from and pair with this camera. It’s perfect for vloggers and wedding or event videographers who post to YouTube. The PowerShot G7 X Mark III is a high-end point-and-shoot camera that first hit stores in 2019. It has a multi-directional flip-up display. It has built-in support to help live stream to YouTube. And it showcases iconic Canon coloring. So it’s one of the best compact cameras for video makers. Another key feature of the G7 X Mark III is its 24-100mm zoom lens. It’s highly versatile. So you can capture everything from dramatic landscape shots to tightly-cropped portraits. Plus, the lens’s f/1.8-2.8 max aperture creates beautiful bokeh effects ideal for vloggers. Also, it has a vertical video mode for creating social media clips. So it’s perfect for posting to social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok. And finally, it has optical image stabilization and a three-stop ND filter. The latter boosts image quality when shooting in bright sunlight. DJI released the Pocket 2 in 2021. It’s a pocket-sized action camera with a built-in three-axis gimbal. And it records video up to 4K at 60 fps. So it’s perfect for on-the-go YouTubers and travel vloggers who typically work alone. Its motorized gimbal makes footage incredibly smooth. Plus, you can also easily make jaw-dropping, moving time-lapse videos. And there’s an easy-to-use DJI mobile app that helps you shoot, edit and share your videos. But the coolest thing about this camera is its Active Track 3.0 mode. It uses AI technology to lock on and follow subjects as they move. For you, this means less worrying about framing and more time for recording. I recommend purchasing the Creator Combo Pack if your focus is on social media. It comes with a tripod and a wireless external microphone. Both will further improve the quality of your content. It’s well-suited for influencers on Instagram and TikTok. And it’s the best camera for YouTube travel videos. The Fujifilm X-T4 is a hybrid camera designed for photography and videography. It launched in 2020. And it replaced the Fujifilm X-T3 as the company’s flagship APS-C mirrorless camera. What is the most significant difference between the two models? The XT-4 has image stabilization. This improves low-light performance and reduces camera shake during handheld shooting. The X-T4 captures 4K movies at 60 fps from the entire sensor (no crop factor). And you can film stunning super-slow-motion clips directly in the camera (1080p at 240 fps). But it has a 30-minute recording time limit. If you are primarily a photographer and enjoy making YouTube videos on the side, this is the camera for you! The Z30 is Nikon’s newest mirrorless camera. This compact camera can be fitted with any of Nikon’s high-quality mirrorless lenses. Or you can use Nikon’s FTZ lens adapter for F-mount lenses. It features an excellent AF system and a large ISO range for low-light shooting. You can record video up to 4K at 30 fps (frames per second). And it has many features that help with streaming (4K at 60 fps) or vlogging. This includes a vari-angle screen perfect for recording videos and vlogging. Another feature is its continuous charging through USB-C. This means you don’t have to replace batteries when streaming over extended periods. On top of that, the autofocus works very well. And face and eye recognition are quick and reliable and work in real-time. Blackmagic’s Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro is a video-only digital camera that came out in 2021. It’s the successor of the original Pocket Cinema Camera 6K. And it boasts even more professional video features. For starters, it has electronic lens communication. This allows it to take advantage of compatible lenses’ zoom and autofocus controls. Furthermore, the image quality of its 6K video is off-the-charts. The footage is remarkably sharp. It has vibrant colors. And you can easily oversample it to 4K for final products. Also, it has a built-in stereo mic and a vast array of ports. So it has the most advanced audio controls of any consumer camera. It’s the best camera for professional filmmakers and documentarians who post on YouTube. The Canon EOS 90D is an enthusiast-level DSLR camera released in 2019. It replaced the Canon EOS 80D as the company’s premier midrange DSLR. And it is the best DSLR for YouTube available at the moment, regardless of brand. Both 4K and 1080p video quality are excellent. Inside, it houses a high-resolution 32.5 MP APS-C CMOS sensor. It’s the same as its mirrorless sibling, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II. And one of the camera’s best video features for YouTube is the Dual Pixel autofocus. Continuous AF is fast. Plus, subject tracking is exceptional when you enable face or eye detection AF. This news is fantastic for vloggers. It ensures your subjects remain focused, even when on the move. And finally, it has a handy, fully-articulating touchscreen and headphone and mic ports. The Canon R5 makes it onto this list with an incredibly high max video resolution of 8K! It’s a mirrorless camera, so it’s light and portable compared to a DSLR of the same caliber. This lends nicely to building a proper filming rig with all the bells and whistles! This camera is for filmmakers who want the best-quality video possible. A lot of platforms don’t support 8K footage yet. But you can oversample the 8K footage to 4K to give you super-sharp footage! There are also plenty of high-quality Canon mirrorless lenses you can pair with the R5. It also features excellent AF tracking and in-body image stabilization. So you get sharp- and smooth-looking videos to upload to YouTube!
How to Choose a Camera for YouTube
Before you buy a new camera, here are some of the most important questions you should ask yourself:
What type of camera do you want? A DSLR, mirrorless, action, or compact? What size camera sensor do you want? Full frame, APS-C, Micro Four Thirds, etc. What type of video content do you want to create? Vlogs, films, gear reviews, etc. What video resolution do you need? 8K, 4K, 1080p Full HD, etc. Do you want a camera that has livestreaming capabilities? What is your skill level? Beginner, enthusiast, professional? Do you want a camera that also takes still photos? What size and weight of camera do you want? What is your budget?
Key Features of a Camera for YouTube
Below is a list of essential features to look for when deciding which camera is the perfect fit for you. We considered them all when determining what the best YouTube camera is:
4K quality video Livestreaming capabilities Sensor type Autofocus performance In-body image stabilization to minimize camera shake Fully articulating or flip screen The audio quality of the in-camera microphone Microphone and headphone ports Battery-life performance Camera body size and weight Value for the price
Whichever camera you choose, get comfortable with it before starting your YouTube channel. With the right equipment and hard work, you can create content that keeps people coming back for more! Here are the questions we get asked the most about cameras for YouTube.
What is the Best Camera for YouTube Vlogging?
If you want a mirrorless camera, the best option is the Fujifilm X-S10. But DSLR loyalists should go for the Canon EOS 90D. And compact camera lovers will like the Sony ZV-1. Finally, the best action cameras for vlogging are the GoPro Hero 10 Black and the DJI Pocket 2.
What is the Best 4K Camera for YouTube?
Every camera covered in this guide has 4K video capabilities, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. But I love the Panasonic Lumix GH6. Not only does it capture stellar 4K video, but it has a max video resolution of 5.7K! It can also shoot slow-motion 4K movies at 120 fps.
What is the Best Camera for YouTube Beginners?
The best camera for newbies starting with YouTube is the Sony ZV-E10. Internally, it’s a near-carbon copy of the Sony ZV-1. But unlike the ZV-1, it’s an interchangeable lens camera. This makes it more versatile. And it’s super easy to use with automatic modes for beginners.
What is the Best Cheap Camera for YouTube?
The cheapest option on our list is the GoPro Hero10 Black. But if it’s a “real camera” you are after, the best cheap camera for YouTube is the Canon EOS M50 Mark II. It has fantastic 4K (cropped) and 1080p video-quality options.
Our Verdict
There are many phenomenal cameras for YouTubers. And every best camera for YouTube on this list will help you create stunning videos. But some are better than others, depending on your needs. With that in mind, let’s do a quick recap of what we learned. For the average person, my number one recommendation is the powerful Sony ZV-1. Not only is it ideal for YouTube, but it also works great as an everyday stills camera for photography. Or I would opt for the Canon EOS M50 Mark II or the GoPro Hero 10 Black if you are on a budget. Lastly, professionals will get the best results from the Sony a7S III or the Blackmagic’s 6K Pro.
