We could almost say that there is the same variety of cameras as channel styles on YouTube.
It will not be easy to find the perfect camera for your youtuber project, but in this article we are going to break down the features you should look at to find your perfect tool.
Choosing the most suitable camera for your youtuber set is one of the most difficult decisions.
You can start with any camera and even with your smartphone. But over time, you will be limited to recording in a certain situation due to the restrictions of your equipment. For example, a mobile camera, no matter how good it is, is not designed for low-light environments.
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What features should a youtuber camera have?
A good camera for audiovisual content creation needs:
- Recording in Full HD (1080p)
- Good autofocus system, unless you have a hired cameraman.
- Flip-up or rotating screen to be able to see yourself in the image and check that it is being recorded correctly.
- Interchangeable objectives, to be able to play with different optics.
- External microphone input. The default mic is usually low quality and too far away, so you’ll need a mic. If the camera has an input, video-audio synchronization is much easier.
Choose your youtuber camera according to your way of recording
The more advanced a camera is, the better the image it captures of the scene, but you have to keep in mind that to get the most out of the capabilities of an advanced camera, you will have to spend a lot of time learning to use it until you master it.
You can have good results with more modest cameras, if you pay attention to the lighting of the set, since, after all, a camera is an object that captures light and records it digitally or on film.
Before you can choose which camera to use for your audiovisual project, you should think about your needs.
Where are you going to record, indoors or outdoors? And in what way, in movement or in static format?
If you plan to record in front of a computer, you can use a high-quality webcam.
Your recordings are improvised and very often, it is better to try to have a smartphone with a good camera or take a GoPro, rather than carry a video camera everywhere.
If you are going to prepare your own home studio, it is worth betting on a camera that gives you more manual control over the image.
You have a professional project in mind, in which you need to record shots in various places, at different times of day (and night), you have no choice but to invest in a good video camera.
What camera to choose if you are a youtuber?
In general, professional youtubers use still cameras to record their videos, because they capture light indoors very well, are more versatile and are usually cheaper than video cameras.
Being photography cameras, they have a time limit to record video, a factor that does not turn out to be a problem if you do not need to take very long shots.
The most advanced cameras usually have interchangeable lenses, the lens and the body are 2 different parts; the objective contains the optical part and the lenses, and the body is what collects the image through the sensor and transforms it into digital information.
Different objectives allow different results to be achieved.
The most determining factor is the focal length, which is measured in millimeters, it indicates the viewing angle, it is the amount of information that fits in the image, how much of the scene will be seen.
In the example image you will see that the lower the focal length, the further away the image is and you can get a wider image of the scene, on the other hand, the higher the focal length, the more detail you have, from the same distance .
The shorter the focal length, the larger the angle of view and the lower the magnification.
Types of camera lenses
Basically, there are 4 types of objectives or lenses:
- Permanent. They have a single focal length, they do not allow zooming. They tend to perform better than variables and capture light better. They are used for portraits as their focus is the most similar to the human eye. This would be the camera lens for a standard youtuber set.
- Wide angle. They range from a focal length of 17-50mm. They slightly distort the edges of the image in order to capture more information. They are used to photograph landscapes.
- Zoom. They are very versatile as they have the ability to bring the focus closer. Its focal length is very large.
- Telephoto. It is used to capture targets that are very far away. They have a focal length from 100 mm.
Generally, a youtuber setup will be located inside a room, so you don’t need a very detailed lens, since you will be recording inches from the scene.
In this case, it is best to choose a low target and thus be able to reflect as much of your set as possible on the screen.
Keep in mind that very low focal points tend to distort the corners of the image, this effect is amplified in lenses with a focal length of less than 18 mm, known as fisheye. We understand as low focal length 18-35mm, medium focal length 24-70mm.
There are fixed lenses, which only work in one focal length, and there are variable lenses that have a working range that allows you to zoom.
If your set is sthatic, I recommend you buy a fixed lens, as they have a better resolution.
A variable goal is useful when your work is very changeable.
In any case, you will be able to exchange them when you need it, as long as your camera allows it.
Top 3 best cameras for a youtuber
| Canon EOS 2000D | Nikon D3500 | Sony A6000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | HDMI | HDMI |
| Screen size | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| Max resolution | 24.7 megapix | 14 megapix | 24.7 megapix |
| Video Capture Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
 |  |  |
The best youtuber camera tripods
One of the desired characteristics during recording is the stability of the camera.
If you place your camera on the table, you will notice how the image suffers unwanted vibrations.
To avoid this effect, you need to use a tripod or support.
You can start recording with a small desktop tripod, although the most desirable is a support that allows you to adjust the height and angle of recording to your liking.
It is important that your support is sufficiently robust, resistant and can withstand the weight of your equipment well.
Take an advantage if it is made of a light material such as aluminum or carbon fiber, in case you have to carry it.
Here are the 3 most recommended tripods:
The best webcams for youtubers
If your videos are face to face with your audience, they will see you sitting on your set, as if it were a conversation between friends, and you, staring at the target as if they were the eyes of your followers.
For this situation, you do not need to invest in professional photography machinery, you just need a good webcam connected to your computer.
In this case, it will be essential for you to use an external microphone that we tell you about in the article on microphones for youtubers.
Here we recommend the best webcams that you can have at the moment:
| Logitech C922 | Logitech C920 | NexiGo N930 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual field | 78 º | 78 º | 65 º |
| Video HD Quality | 1080p/720p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Integrated microphones | 2 omnidirectional | 2 omnidirectional | 1 Stereo with noise cancellation |
| Connectivity | USB Cable | USB Cable | USB Cable |
 |  |  |