You must have just read our post on YouTubers Reveal EXACTLY How Much They Make on YouTube, because you have your credit card in hand and you’re ready to drop $1000 on the best vlogging camera. Not so fast. 

So you haven’t published a single video to date because you keep getting lost in endless piles of camera options with techno gibberish you wish made any sense?

Don’t sweat it. A lot of creative people tend to despise the technical stuff. Heck, here’s veteran filmmaker and the OG former YouTube daily vlogger Casey Neistat being clueless about color profiles.

In my opinion, Neistat revolutionized the vlogging space, heck he won an award for the Best First Person Show. He has since retired from daily vlogging to move on to other ventures, but he inspired millions to pick up where he left off.

So let’s start with his camera of choice – the Panasonic GH5.

Popular with many YouTubers, the GH5 and it’s predecessors have a cult-like following with aspiring filmmakers. It’s relatively inexpensive at $1400 and has everything a vlogger wants – articulating screen, world class stabilization, and more.

But let’s say you have a tighter budget, you want to be all-in under $1000?

So to help you get a move on and start getting your voice heard on the platform, we’ve done all the leg work for you and have rounded up the best vlogging cameras under $1,000.

Also, it is worth noting that if you wanted to splurge a little, and plan on becoming a part-time YouTuber starting out, that you can rent out your gear on KitSplit or ShareGrid to cut back on your costs.

Panasonic G100

If the GH5 is just out of budget, Panasonic has many cameras within their lineup that can accommodate. Many of them are built on the Micro Four Thirds mount (m43), for a primer I would recommend this post: Micro Four Thirds vs Full Frame – The Complete Guide. I love full frame cameras for studio work, but I’d argue they’re not the best for vlogging. I would give an honorable mention to one of the smallest full frame cameras though – the Sony A7C… which does have an articulating screen (a must for vloggers).

A serious vlogging camera from a serious camera brand. The G100 is Panasonic’s answer to the Sony ZV-1 and the Canon M50. Like most of the cameras we’ve already discussed, it shoots 4K up to 30 FPS, 1080p at up to 120 fps, has an articulating touch screen, and is super compact even for a micro four thirds camera.

Here’s how it differentiates itself from the pack. For one, the G100 is on the m43 mount which gives you more versatility in terms of lens selection. See our post on the Best Video Lenses for Panasonic Cameras, as well as our post on the Best Budget Micro Four Thirds Lenses. The Panasonic G100 also sports a 5-axis electronic image stabilization (EIS) that can work in tandem with in-lens stabilization. If you’re in a pinch and can’t mount a dedicated mic for some reason, the G100 features the novel tech that lets the internal mic track your voice and adjust its range for better coverage.

One of my favorite built-in feature of Panasonic cameras is the built-in timelapse mode, where you can create stunning timelapses with the tweak of a few settings. Timelapses are also in high demand from stock agencies, thus selling stock footage for a little passive income could be another way you can mitigate costs.

It is worth noting that the 4K recording has a slight crop, and making use of the EIS also crops in a little further. So definitely plan ahead and pick up a wider zoom lens if you’re set on shooting mostly in 4K.

For around $750, you can get possibly the best micro-four-thirds vlogging camera with the 12-32mm kit lens. Like the ZV-1, you can also get the G100’s Tripod Grip as a kit for an additional $50. Have a look at Tony Northrup’s review pitting the G100 against the M50 and the ZV-1.

Canon EOS M50 Mark II

First on our list is one of the best “all-rounder” cameras you can get for vlogging. The Canon EOS M50 Mark II ticks a lot of boxes for all you lifestyle vloggers out there. It’s light and compact, shoots excellent 1080p footage up to 60 FPS, and features an articulating touch screen and an incredible continuous autofocus system in video mode.

The 24-megapixel APS-C sensor on the M50 II does shoot 4K at 30 FPS, but with an additional 1.5x crop when recording 4K, it might not be all too useful for the vlogging crowd.

Canon’s newest iteration of their Dual Pixel Autofocus system in the M50 Mark II offers flawless tracking in video mode. Pair this tech with the articulating touchscreen LCD and you’ll have one of the best set-and-forget vlogging cameras you can buy today — you’ll only need to literally tap on the screen to set and lock focus anywhere on the frame while filming selfie-style.

For around $699, you can pick up an M50 II with a 15-45mm kit lens which should be enough to get you started. Here’s Tech Through The Lens with an in-depth review of the Canon M50 Mark II that talks you through more of the camera’s highlights and features.

Sony ZV-1

Next up is Sony’s compact vlogging camera that punches way above its weight class. The Sony ZV-1

boasts a super versatile Zeiss 24-70mm f1.8-f2.8 lens paired with a 20MP 1” sensor, an articulating touch screen, built-in ND filter, outstanding electronic stabilization, and 4K at 30 fps and 1080p at 120 fps for that sweet slow-mo action — all these and then some in a pocketable body.

If you’re someone who can’t be bothered to get into building a lens kit or a content creator who’s looking for a more incognito approach to vlogging, I don’t think you’ll find a better option than the Sony ZV-1. The fast 24-70mm full frame equivalent lens from Zeiss on this compact camera ensures that you’ll always have enough light to work with. When it gets a little too bright outside though, you can make use of the built-in ND filter to keep your in check and your footage looking consistent throughout the day.

The ZV-1 does have a standard 3.5mm mic input, the internal “Directional 3-Capsule Mic“ is perfectly usable, which is something that can’t be said for a lot of cameras. Another standout feature is the availability of the S-Log3 profile that’ll give you more control in color grading in post.

For around $750 on Amazon, you’ll be getting a complete vlogging set-up. For a hundred more, you can opt to get the vlogger kit that includes a handy vlogging grip which makes one-handed operation while filming possible. I can keep going with the list of features from this little vlogging marvel, but I think you should have a look at Gerald Undone’s super detailed review instead.

GoPro HERO9 Black

There are now a ton of options when it comes to action cams, but GoPro is still king. Thanks to the addition of a front-facing live view display on top of the platform’s already impressive array of video features, the GoPro HERO9 is gearing up to be the perfect vlogging camera for daredevils looking to share their story with the world.

The unassuming GoPro HERO9 Black can record up to 5K at 30 fps, 1080p at up to 240 FPS, shoot 20-megapixel stills, and can smoothen out any footage with its mind-blowing stabilization magic. Did I mention that this tiny action camera is nearly indestructible and is 33′ waterproof right out of the box without any special housing?

What makes GoPro HERO9 so special is the practically infinite selection of mounts and accessories that you can rig it up with to suit your needs. Slap on a Media Mod on this beast to allow compatibility with better mics and you’ll have in your hands the fitness vlogger’s dream camera.

With a $449 asking price, plus a couple of hundred more give or take for the inevitable mount and accessory purchases, and you’re still getting a lot of camera for your money. Here’s no other than Peter McKinnon putting the GoPro Hero 9 through its paces.

Fujifilm X-S10

Fujifilm and video may not have been the most common pairing in the past. But what we’re looking at is possibly Fuji’s best vlogging camera yet. One thing that immediately stands out is the Fuji X-S10’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS) that can work hand in hand with stabilized lenses.

Every camera we’ve touched on so far can shoot amazing b-roll and cinematic montages for just about any niche. But for creatives who are looking to get the very best possible image quality at this price range, you’d be happy to know that the Fuji X-S10 can output 10 bit 4:2:2 footage if you opt for an external recorder. Now that’s a pretty high-level filmmaking feature right there.

The 26MP APS-C sensor on this classy looking camera shoots 4K at 30 FPS, 240 FPS in 1080p for your super slow-motion needs, and has F-Log readily accessible so you can color grade to your heart’s content. It also has an articulating touch screen and a 3.5mm mic input. The X-S10 pretty much offers the best flagship Fujifilm camera features in a mid-range body.

Being a Fuji body, it’s every bit as phenomenal in stills as with every camera in the X-series. So if you’re more of a hybrid shooter or a serious filmmaker who wants to give vlogging a go, the Fujifilm X-S10 might be the camera for you.

At $999 body only, you’ll be getting a vlogging camera that does everything extremely well. Here’s Pascal Basel taking the X-S10 for a spin and reviews more of the vlogging and video-side of this incredibly versatile camera.

A Quick Word About Vlogging Gear…

Your camera buying decision should always be dictated by which type of camera will best fit the kind of content you want to produce. And there’s nothing wrong with starting with the most popular camera – the one you have with you! Smartphones dominate Mirrorless Camera Sales, and Kyle Nutt has over 1 million followers on Instagram (and 223k on YouTube) with his video work with the iPhone. I’d start with his Instagram/YouTube, as well as this guide on videography tips to help you get started.

If you’re a lifestyle vlogger, you’ll want a fairly simple camera that you can set and forget. Specialized video recording features such as log picture profiles or slow-motion footage might not be of use to you. On the other end of the spectrum, travel vloggers might want both these features for more cinematic travel videos, but are usually found on the higher-end segment of cameras.

Then there are fitness vloggers who can get away with action cameras that can mount into just about anything, favoring form factor over the best image quality. That’s an easy trade off to make because you’ll want to descend from the mountains at spine chilling speeds on a road bike and still be able to film yourself.

We’ve hopefully covered a wide range of cameras that can fit into most niches under varying filming conditions in this article.

Before we let you go though, here’s a friendly reminder: don’t burn all of your budget on the fanciest camera you can buy. Leave some of your cash for decent audio equipment. Because while the story is always king, for the most part, story can’t be bought. A decent dedicated microphone on the other hand starts at $100. See our post on the Best Microphone for Youtube at ANY Budget for some ideas.

Never neglect audio. Your audience will be more than willing to sit through a horribly compressed, artifacts-galore episode of your channel instead of watching a gorgeously lit, 4K video with terrible audio.

Don’t believe me? Here’s a short and sweet video from Rain Dance Canada that might change your mind:

Get started and start creating, you never know, you might just be on your path to starting a career as a videographer.