Equipment Guide: Make Great Video Content With the Best Camera for YouTube
Hire film gear from local filmmakers.
Hire film gear from local filmmakers.
When making videos for YouTube, a good camera is key. With still more people competing for the top ranking positions with high-quality video content, you need to up your game if you want your YouTube videos to be seen. For this you need the best camera for YouTube.
When choosing your camera, it is important to find equipment that fits the purpose of your videos, your ambitions and your level of expertise.
Looking to rent a video camera for your YouTube content? In this guide we tell you what you need to know before deciding on the best camera for filming your own YouTube videos:
- What qualities define the best camera for YouTube?
- Get started: best budget camera for Youtube
- Get better: up your game with a more advanced video camera
- Stay pro: ensure professional quality with the best camera for YouTube recording
- Why rent your YouTube camera?
What qualities define the best camera for YouTube?
With both amateur and professional videos gaining more and more popularity on YouTube as well as other platforms, we are exposed to high-quality video content each day. For your videos to be noticed and appreciated, you need to meet the expectations of your audience.
For that you need some basic qualities in your video camera. No matter what kind of content you wish to make, these basics should include:
- Size that fits the use. If you are a vlogger and need to be able to film anywhere and all the time, you need a small and compact camera that fits in your bag. If you are filming professionally, you might want a bigger camera with more functions.
- Good audio. While you can save some parts of a bad audio recording at a studio using a better microphone, outdoor takes will be ruined by bad sound recording. For that reason any vlogging camera needs to have good audio equipment.
- High resolution. In any video on YouTube, the quality of the footage is in focus. People will quickly get annoyed if details are blurred or the lightning is bad. Therefore, high resolution is a must. However, it should be noted that neither resolution nor audio need to be of cinematic quality.
Vlogging camera for home or outdoor adventures? Different cameras for different purposes
As we stated above, the best camera for filming Youtube videos is the camera that matches your purpose and level of expertise. If you are making content for your own channel, you might be looking for the best camera for YouTube vlogging.
Then again, the best vlogging camera might also vary depending on your style; are you uploading crazy travel adventures (then you might need an actioncam) or are you filming a diary from home? (then you might need a good DSLR with an extra high resolution).
If you are working more professionally with making studio videos that will also go on YouTube, you might need a video camera of a whole other quality. In this article we focus on video making specifically for YouTube – if you are interested in renting a cinematic camera instead, you can start here.
Can a smartphone be the best YouTube camera?
Yes! You can easily use your smartphone when recording YouTube videos. Most modern smartphones have good quality cameras and can record decent audio.
So, when is a smartphone the best camera for YouTube?
- When you are short on money
- When you are short on time, and want to get started fast
- If you have limited technical skills
However, a smartphone does have a few shortcomings compared to normal cameras. The resolution seldom matches that of the best cameras for YouTube, and the audio is often flawed when the volume is turned up high. They can also have their issues when filming in poorly lit situations.
So, if you want to use your smartphone as your YouTube camera, consider doubling down on the extras:
- Sound
- Lenses - Moment makes some absolutely stunning ones!
- Tripods - You don’t want your shaky hands to ruin the picture.
- Gimbals
- Lighting
Get started: Best budget camera for YouTube
If you are just getting started vlogging or making videos for YouTube, you might not have found your specific style just yet. Furthermore, you might not know too much about camera technology.
Since you are still experimenting, you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a camera you might not even use. To get started you need a beginner-friendly camera that is easy to figure out and will give you good – if not great – video and audio.
Here we have examples of some of the best cheap cameras for YouTube:
Get started
- waterproof action camera – bring it for all your adventures
- hypersmooth 2.0 – multiple levels of video stabilisation
- Digital lenses – get the best view of whatever you're doing
- Slow & quick motion – allows you to manipulate time
- Designed intelligent – access several intelligent functions
- Handheld – adjust for your every movement
- Easy to adjust – use a tripod or a simple selfiestick
- Wi-fi and bluetooth connection – transfer your video instantly
- Easy to use – no research is needed
- Easy setup – create excellent videos without difficulty
- Dynamic footage – record videos no matter where you are
- Fast Hybrid AF-system – change your focus quick and easy
- Intuitive touchscreen – tilt the screen and make recording easy
- Bluetooth connection – fast and easy connection
- Microphone connection – record with crystal clear sound
- Package includes camera, lens, microphone, tripod, memory card
- Amazing image quality with a great lens
- Contains all your needed gear ideal for vlogging
- Package includes 18-35mm lens, microphone, tripod, photo lights and softbox
- Better image quality with a versatile lens
- Awesome sound quality including superb lighting
Get better: Up your game with a better vlogging camera
Level Up Your YouTube Game with Advanced Camera Gear in 2023
After spending some time making vlogs or video content, you may have a better idea of the direction you want to take. Maybe your followers are loving your travel vlogs. Or maybe you are successful reviewing books or movies.
No matter what, now is the time to up your game! If you want to keep evolving and growing your channel, you need an even better vlogging camera. You also need one that matches your purpose more specifically.
Here are some examples of good and semi-professional YouTube cameras:
Get better
- Micro Four Thirds system – an all-round evolution
- Hybrid camera – excels in video and image capture
- Bluetooth and wi-fi – for a flexible shooting experience
- Wi-fi connection – for a flexible shooting experience
- Outstanding image capability - high-speed performance
- Full frame - back-illuminated image sensor
- Fast AF – for continuous recording
- Steady image stabilisation – to optimise your footage
- Amazing image quality – captures every detail
- Fast continuous shooting – up to 10 fps
- 32.5 MP APS-C CMOS sensor - provides exquisite details
- 4k video and dual pixel - video in outstanding quality
- Slow & quick motion – allows you to manipulate time
- 4k movie production – for outstanding quality
- Memory-associated 1.0 cmos-sensor – it is the master of speed
Stay pro: Ensure professional quality with the best camera for YouTube recording
For the professional vlogger, one of the ways to keep improving the quality of your content and gaining more followers is upgrading your video equipment and experimenting with new techniques.
For you, nothing will do but the absolute best camera for YouTube recording. This means that you might also want to spend a little more on an expensive – but high quality – video camera.
Another way to stay pro and keep evolving is to have a selection of different cameras for YouTube. For example the best vlogging camera, but also a good GoPro and a top-quality Mirrorless. In that way, you can make different content without compromising on quality.
Examples of some of the best cameras for filming YouTube videos are:
Stay pro
- Compact and lightweight – take the camera anywhere
- Wide dynamic range – with 4/3 image sensor
- Multifunction grip – with fingertip controls
- Record sensational movies – with 45 MP
- Create cinema-like movies – with 12-bit 8K RAW-video
- Advanced AF – using artificial intelligens with deep learning
- Cutting-edge technology – for creative filmmaking
- Capture 4K-/Full HD-video – with 15-stop dynamic range
- External RAW-output – make your creative vision a reality
- Get creative - defocused backgrounds and gorgeous bokeh
- Create cinematic images - large 6144x3456 super sensor
- Multifunction grip - with fingertip controls
- Fullframe sensor – high sensitivity and wide dynamic range
- Improved image processor – for greater stills and videos
- 12.1 MP Fullframe sensor – for high sensitivity and low noise
Why rent or subscribe to your YouTube camera?
No matter your content type or your level of experience, there are many advantages to renting your YouTube camera instead of buying.
Renting gives you the freedom to experiment with different types of equipment. It also allows you to upgrade as you get better at filming and using different types of cameras.
This makes it so much easier for you to adapt and go along with new ideas and possibilities – and will give you an advantage on an ever-changing platform as YouTube.
Do you need to rent other types of equipment for making your video content? Remember that you can find both lenses, audio equipment and gimbals at Wedio.com.
You can also check out our extremely comprehensive (too comprehensive, some might say) guide to anamorphic lenses, streaming cameras or cameras for professional videographers
FAQ
What qualities define the best camera for YouTube?
No matter what kind of content you wish to make, you need some basic qualities in your video camera and these should include: size that fits the use, good audio and high resolution.
What defines the best camera for vlogging?
The best camera for filming videos for YouTube is the camera that matches your purpose and level of expertise. In this guide we suggest some options for beginners and pros alike.
Can I use a smartphone as a camera for YouTube?
Yes! You can use your smartphone when recording YouTube videos. Most modern smartphones have good quality cameras and can record decent audio - but you probably want to upgrade somewhere along your Youtube career.
