Top Picks: Vlogging Camera And Accessories

Top Picks: Vlogging Camera And Accessories

Searching for the best vlogging camera (and its accessories) that you can buy can be a tedious task with so many options available on the market today. Thankfully, we’ve come up with a list that can help you with this task.

Sony ZV-1 Camera is one of the newest and finest portable cameras on the block that has been specially designed for vloggers. The best part of this camera is that it is simple and effective to use without any complicated setup. The compact camera comes with indefinite video recording, wireless connectivity, flip-out display, high-quality lens, sensor, and built-in microphone. 

Further, it is equipped with vlogging specific features such as best in class autofocus, optical stabilization, and exceptional image quality, which definitely makes it an ideal vlogging camera for you and worth the buy.

Drawback or Cons

On the flip side, the camera lens is not too wide, and moreover, there is a limited touch- screen function, which acts as its major drawback. Also, there is a lack of a headphone port, which means that you won’t be able to hear audio issues.

Compared to the Competition

When compared to its peers, certain vlogging cameras such as Panasonic Lumix G100 and Canon’s G7 X III come with a much wider lens, whereas ZV-1 has a smaller camera lens. Also, it is slightly more expensive than other cameras in this class. However, in my opinion, the lightweight body, most reliable autofocus, and eliminating the need for an additional microphone puts it in a class apart from its competitors like the Panasonic Lumix G100 and G7 X III.

The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens is a great choice for vloggers looking for a wide-angle fast prime lens that is durable too. The optics of the lens are remarkable, enabling sharp capturing during filming, coupled with detailed and great image quality – this makes it ideal for shooting in difficult lighting situations. Further, it is lightweight and compact, and comes with a pocket-friendly price.

Drawback or Cons

The only drawback that this lens has is that it is equipped with a badly designed lens hood that is not easy to attach or remove, and it lacks an image stabilizer.

Compared to the Competition

Solidly built, portable, and very versatile, Sigma 16mm F/1.4 definitely stands out in comparison to other vlogging lenses available from other makers.

The Rode Smartlav+ is one of the most popular lavalier vlogging microphones for smartphones, tablets, or cameras. The most fantastic features of this microphone are its super easy functionality coupled with excellent audio/sound quality. It is also strong built. Apart from this, it comes with a multi-level condenser pod, which aids you in recording audio from all sides of the microphone. Further, it has a foam pop filter that will help you block out unnecessary background noise while filming. Moreover, it is budget-friendly and easy to carry as it fits in a pocket. 

Drawback or Cons

One of the major problems with this microphone is that there is no way to monitor audio/sound during recording. Also, it comes with a short cable and thus may require an extension for some users.

Compared to the Competition

When compared to its competitors, it is a well priced, highly portable solution for recording quality-based audio.

The Rode VideoMic Pro+ is indeed regarded as one of the best Shotgun Microphones on the market. Besides being compact and of superior quality, it can be used in any camera model with a microphone input. Furthermore, one of its remarkable features is that it is equipped with a 150 and 75 Hz high-pass filter that successfully blocks any kind of unnecessary background noise, thereby providing clear sound.

Along with this, the long battery life it comes with offers you over 100 hours of use/recording. Another remarkable feature is the automatic power switching that Rode VideoMic Pro+ comes with, which means it automatically turns on and off with your camera, thus saving your battery usage.

Drawback or Cons

It is slightly bigger than the older versions of this class, namely, Rode VideoMic, but that is primarily due to the larger windscreen it comes with.

Adobe Premiere Pro is a highly recommended video-editing program that is immensely popular among vloggers, especially among professional/advanced vloggers. It offers an amazingly simple and easy layout while also offering powerful editing and trimming tools such as the Lumetri Color tool, which offers high-quality color adjustment.

Furthermore, it comes along with a flexible, easy-to-use interface, outstanding stabilization, unrestricted multi-cam, and responsive speed, making it the most complete piece of video-editing software on the market.

Drawback or Cons

The one drawback that Adobe Premiere holds is that it is a bit high priced compared to other vlog-editing software like Final Cut Pro and Lightworks. Also, it is more suitable for advanced vloggers than beginners. Further, we recommend that Adobe should equip Premiere Pro with novel tools such as a trackless timeline and conjoined clips that can definitely help simplify the work of vloggers.

Compared to the Competition

When compared with other competitors like Final Cut Pro or Lightworks, Adobe Premiere Pro seems to have the upper hand. Firstly, in addition to regular videos, Adobe Premiere Pro can support 8K, VR, HDR, and 360° equirectangular videos, whereas Final Cut Pro can support 360° videos and up to 5k videos; Lightworks can cope with up to 4K videos. Secondly, while Final Cut Pro is only available for Mac, Adobe Premiere Pro supports Windows as well as Mac OS.

Neewer 2 pack 480 LED Light Kit II is one of the best quality and best-valued video LED, owing to its lightweight, durability, and economical price. This LED light is quite small in size and slim, making it easy to carry, and it is suitable for Sony E-Mount APS-C and Olympus/Panasonic MFT cameras.

Drawback or Cons

There seems to be no drawback as such for Neewer 480 LED Light Kit II.

Our Top Pick for Phone Stabilization: FREEFLY Movi Cinema Robot Smartphone Stabilizer

FREEFLY Movi Cinema Robot smartphone stabilizer is designed to capture smooth and outstanding quality professional videos. As the name suggests, it comes equipped with a well-designed Movi app, where you can manage programmable filming styles on your own. When you use it, the Movi Cinema Robot stabilizer makes you feel as if you are on a movie set. Moreover, it has some great features: automatic movement choices, tripod mount, excellent stabilization, and the capability to capture video both vertically and horizontally. Also, this stabilizer is compatible with nearly all Android handsets as well as iOS 11 or higher.

Though its battery life of 8 hours is less than that of other stabilizers like DJI Osmo Mobile or 3Zhiyun Smooth Q2, which offer much higher battery life of 15 and 17 hours respectively, its unique shape, strong body, and the seven shooting modes it comes with definitely makes it stand out among other stabilizers on the market.

Drawback or Cons

The only drawback of Movi Cinema Robot Smartphone Stabilizer is that it comes with a high price tag, and some of the installed features are customized for movie makers. Also, it is a little hefty in size, and the battery life could be longer.