Last updated February 7, 2022

Everyone is looking for the Best Vlogging Camera in 2022!

The interests in vlogging cameras have been skyrocketing!

We’re seeing more and more video content everywhere on the Internet!  In this guide, you’ll finally be able to determine the best vlogging camera in 2022 for your needs!

As a wedding photographer (www.dKweddings.net) for nearly 10 years and as a Tech YouTuber (www.YouTube.com/UTECHPIA) for close a year now, I get asked the famous question “What is the Best Camera to buy” almost on a weekly basis!  Recently, people have been asking me “What is the Best Vlogging Camera to buy”!  So with cameras being a major part of my daily life, I’ve decided to write this blog post and hopefully help YOU find the perfect vlogging camera for your needs!

You can certainly use your cellphone to make awesome vlogs, but if you want to get a dedicated camera to step up your game, this guide is what you need to help you decide on your next vlogging camera.

Again, I want to re-iterate: Before you go further into this guide, if you’re just starting out vlogging and you’re limited on funds, focus on using your cell phone and creating great content. The nice things about using your cell phone is that it’s compact, always with you, not intrusive, and you already own it! The downside is that if you want to record lots of footage, you’ll find yourself quickly running out of batteries and storage.

Alright, so you’re serious about buying a dedicated camera for vlogging. This is a great idea because it will produce better quality videos. However, there is no “perfect” vlogging camera. You would think that camera manufactures would be racing to bring the perfect vlogging camera to the market, but sadly they are not there yet.  The good news is that there are tons of great cameras in the market, you just need to decide which features are important to you, this will help you determine the Best Vlogging Camera for your needs.

Vlogging Camera Buyer’s Guide:

Quick Summary: Let’s look at the options we have today, to find the Best Vlogging Camera in 2018 for your needs. I will continue to add to this list as new cameras get introduce in the market. For most compact and most inexpensive, I recommend the Canon G7x Mark II as a solid choice. If you’re willing to go a to a slightly larger camera to get the benefit of better Auto Focus and an external Mic Jack, I recommend the Canon M50. If you want the same great Dual Pixel Auto Focus system as the Canon M50 but want an even better image quality, then the Canon 6D Mark II is a premium choice (but limited to 1080P). The lens choices on the 6D Mark II uses EF lenses and they tend to cost a lot more than the consumer EF-S lens that are compatible with the Canon 80D. So the Canon 80D is also a nice sweet spot in terms of pro vlogging features at a decent price; it’s a very popular choice. The Canon 1Dx Mark II is the MOST premium option on the list, but does *not* have the flip-out screen, and is an overkill for vlogging. If you need water proof and a tough camera, the GoPro Hero 6 is my recommendation, although you don’t have a Flip Screen.

In a nut shell; I think the best vlogging cameras are the Canon G7x Mark II, Canon M50, and the Canon 6D Mark II; but the right choice for you really depends what you need. Here’s a table that will break down the features of each camera.

Comparison Table:

Canon G7x Mark II: UTECHPIA’s top pick

The Canon G7x Mark II is easily my top pick because captures great video and decent sound with the onboard microphone, yet it’s still compact enough to fit in my jean pocket. The video quality is really good, although it is limited at 1080P at 60fps. The zoom lens has a nice f/1.8 aperture (widest setting when at 24mm) which works well in low light, and can zoom from 24mm to 100mm (full frame equivalent focal length). This built-in zoom lens in not a feature to be taken lightly, it’s actually a BIG deal because there does not exist any such lens that’s as good for any of the interchangeable lens camera in the market right now. This lens combined with its large 1 inch sensor also allows the camera to beautiful blurred background effects (aka “portrait mode” effect) while recording videos.

I love the flip out screen, because I can easily frame my shots, check my exposure, check my focus, and even use it to tap to focus! The screen can tilt as well, which can be useful when recording something down low, or when recording something way up high! The screen is smart too, it will rotate the image when it is flipped out! The auto focus is good, but not very fast and sometimes it hunts for focus when the subject lacks contrasts. Although it’s not as good as an autofocus system like the ones found on the newer Canon Cameras, it’s still very VERY Good!

There’s a lot jammed packed into a small package here! The added fact that everything is built-in is that you don’t have to worry about “bringing and attaching lens and microphones, and batteries for the microphone”, you don’t even need to worry about removing the lens cap from the camera, it’s all automatic. All you need to do: Power on the camera, hit the record button (from ANY mode), and you’re vlogging! It is very fast, so you’re less likely to miss any moments.

This camera provides a lot of bang for the buck! It’s been on the market since May 2016, but it’s still the best vlogging camera compared to anything else that’s in the market right now!

When I’m not in the studio, I almost always use the G7x Mark II! It’s super compact and portable, I love having it with me. It would be the perfect camera if it had a microphone jack, better AF and could capture 4K video. Now if you want all those added features of a better AF, microphone jack, 4k recording, and even interchangeable lens, you can have it with cannon’s latest offering: Take a look at the Canon M50, which has all these missing features, the Canon M50 is tied for my vlogging camera TOP PICK as well!

Canon M50: UTECHPIA’s top pick (tied)

This is the Camera most vloggers have been waiting for! It seriously packs tons of features for an amazing price, it’s also relatively compact too! This camera is tied as my TOP pick. I have a hard time deciding between the Canon G7x Mark II and the Canon M50. The Canon M50 is a bit larger than the G7x Mark II, and requires the extra complexity of having an interchangeable lens. Here’s where the M50 shines, it has an incredible auto-focus system (aimilar video auto-focus performance to the one in Canon’s top of the line 1Dx Mark II which sells for $6000)!, it has an external microphone jack, it has a flip-out screen, and it can record in 4k! However, note that it’s 4k recording mode adds a 1.6x crop and goes back to the old non-reliable contrast detection auto-focus system (even worse than that of the G7x Mark II)!

To make the most out of the Canon M50, you’ll want to find the ultimate lens for your needs, maybe you want several lens depending on your needs. Don’t forget to get a really nice microphone to take advantage of the external microphone jack as well!

If you want to have something a little more compact and simpler (just point and shoot, don’t need to worry about which lens to use and which microphone to attach); the get the older Canon G7x Mark II, which has been my primary Vlogging camera since 2015!

The Canon M50 is one of the most popular vlogging camera right now!
I recommend using it with the following lens:

• Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 STM Lens (works out to be 18mm-35mm full frame equivalent focal length, perfect for vlogging).
• Canon EF-M 22mm f2 STM Compact System Fixed Lens (works out 35mm, perfect for low light and getting a beautiful background blur @ f/2.0)

The two microphones that will pair well are:

• Rode VMGO Video Mic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone Super-Cardioid
• Rode VideoMic Pro Compact VMP Shotgun Microphone

Canon M50 vs M6: The Canon M50 is frequently compared with the Canon M6.  Both are currently the same price and have very similar features.  However, for use as a vlogging camera, the M50 meets and beats everything that the M6 has to offer.

The PROs that the M50 offers over the M6: I like that the M50 screen flips out to the side so that you can mount an external microphone on top, whereas the M6 screen flips out to the top which limits your options to mount an external microphone. The M50 can do 4k video (with bad autofocus, but it’s great with manual focus), and it can do 120fps at 720p (no auto focus, and no sound, but, hey 120fps is nice!), whereas the M6 doesn’t offer these video capturing modes.  Lastly, if you wanted to use your cell phone to control the camera, the M50 can be fully controllable via your cell phone, whereas the M6 is very limited in this area.

Here’s a video where I tested out the amazing Autofocus (when recording in 1080p mode):

Sony RX100 Mark V: Small camera with tons of features

This camera is physically the same size as the Canon G7x Mark II; it has most of the same features with some variations. It has a better autofocus system than the G7x Mark II, and it has 4K video capabilities. However, the G7x Mark II has a wider angle (better for vlogging), and the G7x Mark II has a touch screen which can be used to select the auto focus points. The G7x Mark II performs a tad better in low light condition than the RX100 Mark V. I’m talking a lot about the G7x Mark II, because that’s my top pick in this category.

Given the fact that Sony’s RX100 Mark V has lots of known overheating issue, rules it out completely for me. The overheating happens the most when recording in 4k, but it can also happen in 1080P too. When the camera overheats, it will simply stop recording; and I think that’s just unacceptable when you are recording a vlog and must capture the spontaneous moments!

GoPro Hero 6: The choice for extreme conditions!

The GoPro Hero 6 is the smallest camera on the lineup. It’s very durable camera, the most durable camera I’ve ever used. It’s also waterproof and thus perfect for capturing action while being right in the action! This camera would NOT be a good choice for a vlogging camera because it doesn’t have a flip-out screen, or does it have a good on-board audio microphone. However, it would greatly compliment any other vlogging camera (or your cell phone) and add amazing footage that is unique and very different. It’s got a super wide angle and is super durable; and since everything is always in focus, you can put the camera just about anywhere and get some interesting perspective (mount it really high up, really down low, underwater, etc). I personally love mounting these on my cars (using a Fat Gecko Mount) and getting some fantastic footage. It’s got pretty solid battery life (I got around 2+ hours recording at 1080p @ 30 fps) and can continue record until the battery dies out. This is also ideal for capturing time-lapse in a set & forget location. T he audio quality and video quality is on par when compared to smartphones. It doesn’t have a flip out screen, nor good audio quality, nor good low light capabilities.

Canon 80D: Popular Choice For Pro Vlogging!

The Canon 80D has been a very popular Vlogging camera because of the quality it provides at the given price point.  However, the shear size of this thing makes it harder to cary around, and you will get tons of attention when using this camera in public.  You have a wide selection of EF-S and EF lenses to use.  Note: if you’re looking in the Canon 80D, I would highly suggest looking at the Canon 6D Mark II instead.  The Canon 80D (1.6x crop sensor) and Canon 6D Mark II (full frame sensor) are pretty close in features; but the full frame of the 6D Mark II will take your video quality to the NEXT level, you get better shallow depth of field, better low light capabilities, and better video quality.   NOTE: The Canon 80D is a little bit smaller and lighter than the 6D Mark II.

Canon 6D Mark II: The ONLY Full Frame Canon Camera with a Flip-out Screen!

This is a camera that was long awaited for. This camera combined a full frame sensor with a flip-out screen. Of course being a high end DSLR, it includes the external microphone jack. It’s got the latest and greatest Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus System, providing exceptional autofocus ability. The full frame sensor means excellent low light performance as well! Combined the full frame sensor with the right EF lens and you can get the most beautiful shallow depth of field and creamy bokeh you dream of!

There was a lot of hope that if this had 4k video, then it would be the perfect vlogging camera (although still physically very large); but Canon let us down, as this doesn’t have 4K video. If you need 4K on a full frame body, you’ll have to move up to the Canon 1Dx Mark II, which sadly doesn’t have a flip-out screen.

Canon 1Dx Mark II: The BEAST of a camera!

As an all-in-one camera that takes amazing photos and amazing 4K cinematic video, this is the ultimate camera! Yes, it is the BEST photography camera Canon makes, this is what professional sports photographers, this is what high end wedding photographers use! The video capabilities is through the roof, in terms of Canon DSLR goes. It’s got the best Auto Focus system of any Camera right now, Canon nails it with the Dual Pixel CMOS AF & Movie Servo AF for high speed, high frame rate and continuous auto-focus during video shooting! It can capture 4K video at 60fps and 1080p at a smooth 120 fps. The camera body is built like a tank and can withstand a harsh conditions (although it is not waterproof). Okay, the biggest disappointment here for vloggers is the lack of a flip-out LCD screen, and obviously the MSRP price of $6000. Although it is considerably less on Amazon right now!