Sony ZV-1, GoPro Hero10 Black, and more

Vlogging or making ‘video logs’ of your everyday life has become easier than ever thanks to smartphone cameras. They offer excellent video features, especially the premium ones, and almost everyone owns a smartphone today. In fact we have a list of some of the best smartphones for vlogging if you are considering to start your own vlogs. But what if you want to take things to the next level? If you are serious about making video logs, we recommend that you invest in a good vlogging camera.

Now there are some advantages of having a dedicated camera for vlogging. First, of course, is the superior video quality as you get to shoot on a much larger sensor. You also get better controls, video stabilisation, and most importantly removable/swappable storage. There are quite a few cameras out there that are suited for vlogging purposes and here are some of the best ones that we recommend.

Sony ZV-1

Sony’s dedicated camera for vlogging, the ZV-1 borrows some of the best features from its popular RX100 series. It is quite compact and comes with Sony’s 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS image sensor. It can shoot 20-megapixel stills and 4K videos, limited to 30fps, while the lens comes with a focal length of 9.4–25.7mm with an aperture range of f/1.8-2.8. It also comes with a vari-angle LCD screen for selfie shooting and an optional Bluetooth grip (GP-VPT2BT) that features easy to access controls to record, zoom and even assign custom controls.Other notable features include Sony’s Multi Interface (MI) Shoe to attach a mic or light, dynamic super slow motion mode, timelapse mode, and the ability to send videos to your smartphone wirelessly.

Buy: Sony India

Pros:
-Great image quality
-Compact and easy to carry
-Dedicated vlogging features
-Optional grip is very handy
-Decent pricing

Cons:
-MicroUSB
-No built-in viewfinder
-Mediocre battery life

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

The PowerShot G7 has been a popular name among vloggers and YouTubers. The latest version is the G7 X Mark III that upgraded to a stacked CMOS sensor and Digic 8 processor that are said to help in improving image quality and performance. For video, there are a bunch of features, including the option to live stream video and up to 4K resolution support at 30fps. The 1-inch sensor offers 20-megapixel resolution while the lens offers a focal length of 24-100mm (equivalent to full frame) and an aperture range of f/1.8-2.8. The G7 X Mark III also comes with tilting touchscreen, vertical video capture mode, and for connectivity there is Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB 3.1 (USB-C connector) for data transfer and charging.

Buy: Amazon

Pros:
-Fast focusing
-Manual controls
-Good set of video features for vlogging
-Pocket friendly design

Cons:
-Lacks a viewfinder
-4K video limited to auto mode
-No accessory shoe
-No headphone jack

Sony A6600

Sony’s A6000 series has been regarded as one of the best mid-range mirrorless cameras, especially the current gen A6600. It is bound to have more size and bulk due to its interchangeable lens mechanism, but that is exactly the reason why you should get this camera. Having the ability to swap lenses allows for wide coverage of focal lengths allowing you to shoot some amazing cinematic videos. The camera comes with a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor, which is as big as what most mid-range DSLRs have, thus you get excellent image and video quality. It also offers precise control while shooting and also has a 3-inch flip touchscreen, 5-axis image stabilisation and up to 250 minutes of battery life. It doesn’t come cheap though and if you add the cost of lenses, it can be a pretty pricey affair.

Buy: Sony India | Reliance Digital

Pros:
-Excellent image quality
-Long battery life
-Dust and water resistance
-Fast auto-focusing

Cons:
-Record button is small
-Bulky to carry around
-Very expensive
-MicroUSB port

GoPro HERO10 Black

For the ones looking for a camera that is rugged, compact and reliable to take on your next adventure trip, then you need a GoPro. The HERO10 Black is the latest model and while it doesn’t look all that different from its predecessors, it comes with some great upgrades. It features a 23-megapixel sensor, improved image stabilisation called HyperSmooth 4.0, and an improved GP2 processor. You can shoot videos at a resolution of upto 5.3K at 60fps, 4K at 120fps and 2K at 240fps. Apart from the rear touch screen there is also a small display on the front which is great for vloggers and of course it has a rugged build and is waterproof up to 33-feet.

Buy: Amazon

Pros:
-Best in its class video stabilisation
-4K at 120fps
-Rugged and waterproof
-Dual-screen
-Various add-on mods

Cons:
-Limited battery life
-Can heat up after extensive video recording
-Expensive compared to US pricing

DJI Osmo Pocket 2

As the name suggests, the DJI Pocket 2 is a compact camera that can fit inside your pocket, well almost. It is one of the most unique cameras on the list featuring the main camera module with a three-axis gimbal sitting on top of the grip. Featuring a 1/1.7-inch sensor the Osmo Pocket 2 can shoot up to 64-megapixel still images and 4K video at 60fps. It’s a great camera for solo-film makers especially who like to make walk-and-talk style videos. With its 20mm wide angle lens you don’t really need to stretch out your arm and the face detection is pretty solid. There is a tiny built-in screen to monitor what you are shooting and you can also hook it up with your smartphone. It’s a pretty nifty camera for its size, although it does come with some drawbacks. It isn’t the best for shooting in low-light conditions due to the limited size of the sensor. You also need to be very careful about the moving gimbal mechanism as it can be damaged quite easily. 

Buy: Amazon

Pros:
-Subject tracking
-Built-in gimbal offers stable footage
-Compact and easy to carry

Cons:
-No waterproof rating
-Delicate design
-Average low-light performance