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Updated: February 24, 2026
Whether you're just sharing clips with friends or you're launching an online on-camera career, vlogging matters. And there's a point at which your smartphone may not give you the look, control, or flexibility you're after. With 180-degree selfie screens, wide-angle lenses, microphone inputs and great video quality, more and more dedicated cameras are catering to people who want to take video of themselves and post it online.
The meaning of vlogging has changed over the years, so our picks cover a variety of styles – we'll explain what makes each camera good for vlogging, and what key features each has that make taking video of yourself easier. We've also included videos shot on the cameras in question when we have them to give you an idea of what kind of performance to expect.
Our recommendations:
Best camera for vlogging on the move: DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Photo: Richard Butler
$519 at B&H
$519 at Amazon
$519 at Adorama
DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3 is a stabilized handheld vlogging camera, designed for on-the-move vlogging. It’s built around a type 1 (13.2 x 8.8mm) sensor mounted on a tiny gimbal, meaning it can deliver stabilized footage with smoother motion than any conventional camera or phone.
The small sensor means the Pocket 3 works better in well-lit situations, though a reasonably bright F2.0 lens means it's usable indoors, too.
It can shoot 4K 16:9 video or, by rotating the screen into the upright position, 3K vertical 9:16 footage. A small joystick lets you control the camera's movement, and tapping the joystick button flips between the camera pointing toward you or away from you.
Its reliance on contrast-detection autofocus means its focus can be prone to hunting, though its face-detection mode works well enough that this is rarely a problem when talking to the camera.
In addition to the smooth stability of its gimbal and its genuine pocketability, one of the Osmo's main benefits is that it's compatible with a series of Bluetooth microphones, meaning you can capture good-quality audio without the need for additional transmitters or receivers.
The video quality isn't always the highest, and the autofocus can occasionally lead to frustration, but overall the quality and convenience of the Pocket 3 as a package is really hard to beat.
Read our hands-on impressions of the Osmo Pocket 3
A self-contained vlogging kit: Canon PowerShot V1
16-50mm F2.8-4.5 zoom | 22MP 18x12mm Dual Pixel CMOS sensor | 4K/60 with crop
Buy at B&H PhotoBuy at Canon
What we like:
- Attractive output in stills and video
- Versatile wide-angle zoom
- Fan for extended video recording
What we don't:
- Relatively large body
- Full width video has appreciable rolling shutter
- Optimized for vlogging vs stills
The
Canon PowerShot V1 is a mid-sized vlogging compact with a relatively large sensor and wide zoom lens.
It offers a competitive suite of vlogging features, a built-in ND filter and good stabilization options. It's also comfortable to hold pointing towards you, and lets you access key settings from the touchscreen. It includes microphone and headphone jacks and a fan for extended recording sessions.
AF performance is good, with reliable tracking AF and effective subject recognition. The camera is generally pretty responsive, with the zoom reacting quickly to input.
The V1's wide lens means you can crop-in for its 4K/60p mode and still maintain a wide-angle view. The full-sensor footage exhibits quite high levels of rolling shutter, so you may have to use the cropped 50/60p mode for capturing shots with lots of movement.
The V1 is a capable option with a useful zoom range, and there's a lot to be said for an all-in-one option. You do give up some flexibility for other types of filmmaking, but it should cover most of your bases when it comes to vlogging.
Read our full PowerShot V1 review
We also considered Sony's range of entry-level vlogging cameras with Type 1 sensors, the ZV-1, ZV-1F, and ZV-1 II. The latter is the best pick of the bunch, given its wideangle zoom lens and built-in ND, but it's hard to recommend. Its quality will be slightly better than that of a flagship phone, but if you're going to be carrying an extra gadget around anyway, it's probably best to spend a bit more for a more flexible or capable camera.
For ambitious vloggers and videographers: Sony ZV-E10 II
26MP APS-C sensor | Full-width 4K/24p, 1.1x crop 4K/60p video | Fully articulating screen
$1098 w/ 16-50 at Amazon.com$1098 w/ 16-50 at B&H PhotoBuy at MPB
What we like:
- Reliable, accurate autofocus
- Good rolling shutter performance
- Plenty of video options, including 10-bit
What we don't:
- No in-body stabilization
- Doesn't includes Sony's latest and greatest AF
- Not fun for photography
The
Sony ZV-E10 II is focused on vlogging, with solid 4K/24p and 4K/60p shooting capabilities, and a suite of features for taking footage of yourself.
The ZV-E10 II has an excellent grip, easy-to-hit buttons and a touchscreen that lets you control the most important settings without turning the camera around. The zoom rocker is great for power zoom lenses.
Subject tracking autofocus is fast, sticky, and accurate, though it doesn't have all the modes available on other Sony cameras. Product showcase prioritizes items held up in front of your face and has lots of options. Menus are easy to learn and responsive, and battery life is good.
The ZV-E10 II pairs useful, video-focused features with excellent hardware, making it an excellent vlogging camera depending on your style.
The rolling shutter performance is good, bordering on excellent. The lack of IBIS can make handheld footage look shakey, and electronic stabilization is only useful for stable shots. The built-in microphone is good, and the camera has headphone and mic jacks.
The ZV-E10 II brings many – but not all – of the a6700's vlogging features to a more compact and less expensive body. If you can live without IBIS and built-in ND, it's a solid interchangeable lens vlogging camera.
Read our full review of the Sony ZV-E10 II
Potential alternatives?
We also considered Canon's (noticeably cheaper) EOS R50V, but chose the Sony because of its much faster sensor that provides better rolling shutter performance and requires less cropping to shoot at 4K/60. We also looked at Nikon's Z30, but its lack of headphone socket and 10-bit video means we lean towards the Sony. The Nikon Z50II has strong video specs and some of the features the Z30 lacks, such as a headphone jack, but its form factor and heavy crop in its 4K/60 mode make it not particularly well-suited to vlogging.
Best high-end vlogging camera: Nikon ZR
24.5MP full-frame 'partially Stacked' sensor | 7.5EV IBIS | R3D (NE) Raw video codec
Buy at Amazon.comBuy at B&H Photo
What we like:
- Detailed 4K capture
- Large and bright display
- Internal 32-bit float audio
What we don't:
- MicroHDMI and microSD ports
- Lack of a mechanical shutter limits hybrid appeal
- Screen can clash with mic and headphone jacks
The
Nikon ZR is a video-focused camera built around a 24.5MP full-frame 'partially Stacked' CMOS sensor, with up to 7.5EV of stabilization.
Despite the Red branding, the ZR has a lot more in common with Nikon's mirrorless cameras, which is a benefit to vloggers. It has the ability to shoot 4K/60 with no crop and excellent rolling shutter in all its video modes. The ZR also supports 32-bit float audio recording, essentially eliminating the risk of clipping, which can be a real benefit when shooting run-and-gun.
The ZR features Nikon's subject detection autofocus for people, animals, vehicles and planes, and includes an "Auto" mode to switch between them. It also has a "product review mode" that will override face detection if you hold an item up to show the camera.
The ZR also makes provision for more serious productions, such as its inclusion of a choice of Raw recording formats. While vloggers and, realistically, most videographers won't need to shoot Raw often, but for those that feel they need it, it's nice to have the option. It certainly makes the ZR a versatile option.
We haven't fully finished evaluating the Nikon ZR, but have enough experience with it and the Z6III upon which it's based enough to know that it deserves a place on this list.
Read our initial review of the Nikon ZR
Why you should trust us
This buying guide is based on cameras used and tested by DPReview's editorial team. We don't select a camera until we've used it enough to be confident in recommending it, usually after our extensive review process. The selections are purely a reflection of which cameras we believe to be best: there are no financial incentives for us to select one model or brand over another.
