Do you have something you want to tell people about? Is there someone you want to interview? Is there a subject you know backwards and forwards that you want to share your knowledge about? Then you should be posting a vlog! The best vlogging cameras under $500 will let you concentrate on the material while you film the best quality vlog you can.
Besides the content of the vlog, having a high quality recording will make your vlog stand out from the crowd. You’ll get more repeat viewers and subscribers. If you are trying to monetize your vlog, you want as many viewers and subscribers as possible. High quality video can get you there without having to invest a whole of money on equipment.
Canon Vs Sony Vs Nikon for Vlogging?
If you’ve been serious about photography or videography for any length of time, you have probably been exposed to the brand wars of Canon vs Nikon vs Sony cameras. First off, let me state clearly that there is no real merit in the extreme views that some express about the brands. These brands are all very highly regarded and completely capable of delivering superb results for vlogging.
Canon is one of the premier brands in professional video. This video expertise trickles down even to their consumer level cameras. Canon consumer cameras are easy to use and very budget friendly. Autofocus is fast and responsive, video modes are high quality even in lower price models, and controls are easy to identify and use.
Nikon is one of the best brands in professional and consumer photography. Their newest digital cameras have video capabilities that deliver higher quality video for a low price than could be achieved by professional cameras of just a few years ago. Nikon’s lenses are simply some of the best in the industry.
Sony has a leader in consumer and professional video for decades. When Sony acquired the Minolta still digital camera and lens line, they promptly branched out into pro and consumer still digital imaging with fantastic results. While Sony has, arguably, not had the same level of success as other smartphone and laptop brands, their cameras continue to be some of the best options on the market year after year.
So, then, who wins in the brand wars between Sony, Canon, and Nikon? Photographers win! Competition is a good thing in photographic and video technology. There are other brands available that are worthy competitors to these three brands. A photographer or videographer would be very well served by many of the brands and models on the market.
In considering what cameras may be the best vlogging cameras for under $500, what criteria should be used to find our personal best choice?
How I found the best vlogging cameras under $500
- Video quality. That’s the number one thing to consider when deciding on what camera to purchase for recording video. We know our budget already. We’re not going to compare a $7000 camera to a camera costing under $300. But, if we compare two $500 cameras where one seems to have better video quality, then we should go for that one. Since video is the main purpose of the camera, then choosing the camera with the better video quality will likely be the best choice for us. Remember, resolution and picture quality are the first things that people notice when they start watching a new video.
- Versatile lens. If the lens is interchangeable, then we have a lot of versatility. Still we would choose a usable focal length range. If the lens is permanently mounted, then being able to be usable for our needs is important. You might be able to invest in and switch to better lenses down the line, so you need a camera that allows you to switch out different lenses.
- Sensor size. This is one of the primary considerations in regards to image and video recording quality. All other things being equal, a larger sensor will generally provide higher quality. Of course, rarely are all things ever equal. This is such an important factor when it comes to low light shooting. You do not want to compromise video quality when there is not enough light. Your sensor size will allow you to shoot high-quality videos even when the lighting isn’t optimal.
- Viewscreen. In addition to being used as a live monitor, viewscreens are often part of the control system of the camera. Some viewscreens even have touchscreen capability for controlling functions and accessing menu items. Being articulated or at least partially moveable is a big plus for convenience.
- Battery life. Though keeping weight down is important, the longer the battery lasts for video recording, the better.
Top 5 Best Vlogging Cameras Under $500
1. Canon EOS Rebel T6 Digital SLR Camera Kit Review
EOS Rebel T6 is a full featured entry level DSLR with great video capability. It has an APS-C 18MP sensor which delivers all that most photographers and videographers actually need. It has interchangeable lenses and takes many Canon and third party accessories.
If you are switching over or upgrading from vlogging on your phone, this camera will seriously up your game without too much of a learning curve. It really is very to learn how to operate the various modes for still photography and for using as a video camera.
An APS-C sized sensor provides a lot of image quality and resolution, especially when paired with Canon’s very high quality lenses. 18MP is more than enough to provide superb image sharpness and detail when using proper photographic technique. Video quality with this sensor and lens combination is also outstanding.
The quality of the final results is not hampered at all by the camera being entry level and inexpensive. With proper technique, it would difficult to identify discernable differences in photos and videos created with the Rebel T6 versus using a more expensive camera. What differentiates entry level or consumer level from higher end cameras tends to be more about advanced features and more durable construction.
Which is why I like to use labels such as consumer, prosumer, and pro as opposed to entry level and mid level. A lot of consumers are well beyond entry level in their skills and enthusiasm concerning photography and videography.
Using the Rebel T6 is a breeze. The most common controls are very easily accessed by dials and buttons and the large rear viewscreen lets you access deeper menu options without too much extra effort. The viewscreen is used in live view mode for video. It is bright and contrasty, viewable in low light and bright sun. It is fixed, no tilting or swinging out.
Battery life in still modes is very good, lasting several days of very light to moderate use. When shooting video, the live view on the rear viewscreen eats up power quite a bit faster. A charge is good for maybe up to three hours of use, two hours for sure. Extra batteries are cheap and small, so keep a charged one on hand.
The supplied kit lens is light and small but covers a very usable range from wide angle to short telephoto. Macro focusing is part of the feature set, as is image stabilization. It’s meant for light duty and has a rather max aperture at the tele end of the zoom, but it very sharp optically and delivers great image and video quality. This kit is easily one of the best vlogging cameras under $500.
2. Sony RX100 20.2 MP Digital Camera Review
Sony is using the marketing tag line for this product of “it’s the professional’s compact camera” which is as good a label as any for this full featured point and shoot style camera.
A 1” type sensor of 20.2MP is at the heart of the recording capabilities of this camera, the Zeiss 36X Vario-Sonnar T* lens is the optical heart. A 1” type sensor sounds very large, but it’s actually smaller than MFT, which is already smaller than APS-C.
Compared to most consumer point and shoots, though, a 1” type sensor is huge. So, the RX100 really does deliver quality that many professionals would be happy within a tiny camera.
Labeling the sensor as 1” seems a little misleading, since the sensor size is actually 13.2×8.8mm. But, it isn’t, and I will explain why the industry standard labels are named the way they are. In video, tubes were in use before silicon based flat sensors. Not all of the tube was usable for recording.
A tube 1” in size had a usable area of 16mm. The diagonal of 13.2×8.8mm is 15.9mm which fits the industry standard definition for a 1” tube. Thus, the name 1” Type. Video recording sensors for digicams use the labeling Rule of 16, so smaller sensors have names which sound rather odd.
Sony RX100 is in a level beyond basic consumer use due in large part to the fantastic Zeiss lens. This lens has 36X of optical zoom and a maximum aperture of f/1.8 at the wide end of the zoom. It is a great lens, sharp and a very usable range of wide to telephoto.
Still imaging can be recorded in RAW or JPEG, video recording is better than many currently used DLSRs. For the size of this camera, it really couldn’t get too much better than this tiny tool.
Controls are easy to access with buttons and dials for basic use, deep menu items are easily found via the large and bright viewscreen. The fixed viewscreen is used as a monitor for video modes or as a live view for still imaging. An eye level viewfinder is not included. Later models of this camera have a tilting viewscreen.
Battery charge life is pretty standard. For light to moderate still picture use, you could conceivably get several days out of a charge. About 2 to 3 hours for video use.
3. PANASONIC LUMIX ZS100 4K Digital Camera Review
A very high quality camera for still or video, the 1” type sensor is paired with an amazingly sharp Leica 10X zoom lens. Leica is well regarded for optical excellence and Panasonic has been a leader in video technology, so the combination in this camera makes a very nice small camera for any level of photographer or videographer.
One of the nice features Panasonic added to this camera is an eyelevel viewfinder. For serious photographers, holding a camera out like a phone for stills doesn’t quite feel right.
Mostly because the stance required is not very stable for shake free use. When shooting video, a lot of vloggers are using a tripod, so that limitation is lessened for video.
Controls for basic functions are buttons, rings, and dials, the fixed viewscreen is used for menu controls with touchscreen capability. Battery life is similar to the other tested cameras.
The real reason to look at this camera is that amazing lens. It is fast and truly sharp. Optical aberrations are virtually non existent, which is fantastic for a compact zoom lens. Whether vlogging or taking still photos, this is definitely one of the best vlogging cameras under $500.
4. Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera Kit Review
Closely corresponding to the Canon EOS reviewed, the Nikon D3500 is an APS-C sensor DSLR camera with interchangeable lenses and a 24.2MP image sensor. This kit comes with two lenses, a wide to short tele normal range 18-55 and a very long telephoto 70-300mm.
The camera and these two lenses are firmly in consumer (or entry) level category due to lighter duty construction, but they benefit from superb optical and image sensor quality. Nikon image quality is legendary, this kit carries on that tradition in a fine way.
This Nikon DSLR camera comes with a huge array of superb interchangeable Nikon lenses, not to mention the various other accessories included in the small light camera kit. With this camera, you can use a range of different lenses, depending on what you’re shooting, and add multiple accessories on top of your existing camera, all without investing in a whole new setup.
An interchangeable lens DLSR, Nikon has a huge array of superb Nikon lenses and many other accessories available for use with this small light camera kit.
The fixed viewscreen is used for video recording and for accessing the menu control items and settings. Knobs, dials, and buttons are used for many basic shooting functions.
The fixed viewscreen is used for video recording and for accessing the menu control items and settings. This camera uses knobs, dials, and buttons for many basic shooting functions. Manual buttons are better for changing the settings, as opposed to a touchscreen, because seasoned photographers and videographers can change any setting just from the feel of a button.
Using this camera is a joy, size and weight is perfect for most consumer users. It’s not heavy but it doesn’t feel fragile at all. Battery life is great, except for the 2 hours or so in video mode, as with almost every DSLR I’ve ever tested in video mode.
To learn more about cameras, you can see my guide on the best vlogging cameras under $100 here.
5. Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II Review
The 1” type sensor of this camera provides excellent image and quality, while the small range zoom lens (3X) keeps the package extremely small.
It is really a very small camera. Besides vlogging use, you could conceivably take this camera anywhere you would normally take a smartphone. Just use two pockets.
The only real limitation is that the lens zoom range is very minimal, only 3X. Since the lens is so small, though, that allowed the designers to create a very full featured camera that is truly tiny. Even though I call it tiny and limited range, this camera is fully capable of delivering outstanding results for vloggers and photographers.
An interesting mix of lens rings, camera dial and buttons, and viewscreen menu items provides fast and easy access to the most used and changed functions. The viewscreen is fixed but is clear and bright, even in full sunlight.
For vloggers needing the smallest camera possible but still desiring high quality, this is easily one of the best vlogging cameras under $500.
The Bottom Line
If you have a certain passion or want to travel the world, sharing your experiences through vlogs is an easy way to get your message across! But, it can be intimidating once you start watching all the professional videos already out there. We’re here to tell you that making high-quality videos doesn’t have to break the bank, and you can still find a great camera at an affordable price!
In this review, we outlined the top 5 best vlogging cameras under $500 according to the needs of different vloggers. After reading about each camera and their set of pros and cons, we hope that this review has helped steer you in the right direction towards your perfect camera. If you’re interested in learning about other essential vlogging gear, be sure to check out our other articles as well!
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