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"In 2024, Mastering Shots A Vlogger’s Lens Compendium"
Mastering Shots: A Vlogger’s Lens Compendium
A Vlogger’s Guide To Camera Lenses
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
The staple of any vlog is the talking headshot, a shot of the speaker talking directly to the audience. You can compose this shot with different kinds of lenses for your interchangeable lens camera.
But which kind of lens is the right lens for you as a vlogger?
In this article, I’m going to help you figure that out.
- Part 1: Three Focal Length Groups: Wide, Standard, Telephoto
- Part 2: Vlogging With Each Focal Length Group
- Part 3: Crop Factor
- Part 4: Focal Length Equivalency Table
- Part 5: Aperture
- Part 6: Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- Part 7: Optical Image Stabilization
Three Focal Length Groups: Wide, Standard, Telephoto
There are three main ranges in focal lengths that camera lenses can be categorized into wide, standard, and telephoto.
Wide-Angle Lens
Wide-angle lenses can “see more.” They allow more of your scene to fit inside your frame. Objects that are closer to the lens appear much bigger while objects that are further away appear even smaller. Perspectives are also enhanced, making close objects and people that just make it into the sides of the frame appear more stretched out. Out of all the other ranges in focal lengths, wide-angle lenses will appear the least zoomed in.
Standard Lens
With standard lenses or normal lenses, you won’t get the stretched out objects or enhanced perspectives that you get from wide-angle lenses. Instead, standard lenses are meant to see scenes as the natural human eye is meant to see them. If you shoot a scene with both a wide-angle lens and a standard lens from the same position, you’ll notice that less of the scene fits into your frame. Standard lenses will appear more zoomed-in than wide-angle lenses, but less zoomed-in than telephoto lenses.
Telephoto Lens
Out of all the other ranges in focal lengths, telephoto lenses will appear the most zoomed in. This can be beneficial for the shooter who wants to get a closer shot of a scene without having to physically be in close proximity to the scene. Objects that are further away in the background also appear larger and closer than they would appear on wide-angle or standard lenses.
Vlogging With Each Focal Length Group
You can get your talking head footage using lenses from any of the three focal length groups. Depending on how you plan to vlog most of the time, though, one of the three focal lengths might be more suitable for you.
When to vlog with a wide-angle lens
Wide-angle lenses are the most commonly used lenses for vlogging. Wide-angle lenses are great when you need to be close to your camera. This might be the case for you if your recording space is small or if you want to film yourself as you hold your camera up with your own hand.
Being close to your camera not only gives you the option to use your camera’s built-in microphone, but it also gives you the option to make use of camera-mounted shotgun microphones.
When to vlog with a standard lens
Standard lenses are great when you have more space to be further away from your camera. The perspectives in your shot will look more natural through a standard lens, making your talking head footage feel more corporate or professional. You’ll also be able to get blurrier backgrounds using a standard lens versus a wide-angle lens.
Being further away from your camera, however, means that you’ll have to use a separate microphone positioned closer to you.
When to vlog with a telephoto lens
As telephoto lenses are even more zoomed in, you’ll need to be even further away from your camera to fit yourself inside your camera frame. Why would any vlogger ever need to be that far away from their camera? One word… teleprompter. If you want or need to stick to a script, you’ll have to be far away enough from your camera that it doesn’t appear like your eyes are scanning left to right. You then close in the distance with a telephoto lens.
In the above video, Marcos Rocha compares different focal lengths for talking head videos. Which focal length range do you like the look of?
Crop Factor
Focal lengths in camera lenses are measured in millimeters. You can vlog yourself handheld with a 24mm lens on a camera with a full-frame sensor (the sensor is the piece of hardware inside your camera that turns the light it receives into a digital image). But if you use a 24mm lens on a camera with a smaller sensor, like an APS-C sensor or even smaller Micro 4/3 sensor, more of you will get cropped out (see below).
In order to make up for the cropping that occurs, you will need to use a wider lens on cameras with smaller sensors to get the same shot you’d get with a full-frame camera.
Focal Length Equivalency Table
This table shows you the focal lengths needed to achieve the same shot between cameras with different sensor sizes. In order to take a shot as wide as the shot I took of myself with the 24mm lens on my full-frame camera, I would need a 15mm lens on an APS-C sensor camera or a 12mm lens on a micro 4/3 camera.
| Focal Length / Sensor | Full Frame | APS-C | Micro 4/3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 16mm | 10mm | 8mm |
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 18mm | 11mm | 9mm |
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 24mm | 15mm | 12mm |
| Wide | 35mm | 22mm | 18mm |
| Standard | 50mm | 31mm | 25mm |
| Telephoto | 70mm | 44mm | 35mm |
| Telephoto | 100mm | 63mm | 50mm |
| Telephoto | 200mm | 125mm | 100mm |
Aperture
The next thing to consider when you’re looking for a lens is the aperture, the hole (often adjustable) within the lens that lets light in. Aperture for camera lenses is measured in f-stops (f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.0) - the smaller the f-stop number, the larger the aperture (bigger hole letting even more light in).
Because larger aperture lenses let more light in, they need a shorter time for cameras to compose an image. This is why larger aperture lenses are also called “fast” lenses.
Fast lenses are more expensive because they cost more to produce. There’s a lot more that goes into them, including larger and higher quality glass elements.
But do you even need a fast lens?
Vlogging With a Fast Lens
Pros of Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- Better low-light performance
- Better autofocus performance
- Better “bokeh” (out-of-focus areas, like your background, having that nice blurry look that you see in a lot of movies)
Cons of Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- More expensive
- Moving subjects more likely to get out of focus when shooting with a large aperture
- Better continuous autofocus performance needed when shooting moving subjects with a large aperture
Optical Image Stabilization
Finally, you’ll have to decide whether or not you want your lens to have built-in optical image stabilization (OIS).
OIS is very beneficial to have on a lens if you’re a vlogger who films mostly handheld footage. Although this technology adds to the price of your lens as well, it can greatly help you to capture smoother footage that may otherwise be shaky. Nikon calls this technology “Vibration Reduction” (VR) for their lenses.
In the above video, you can see how much OIS can help to stabilize your footage. MicBergsma simultaneously compares the footage between two GoPro Hero5 Blacks, one with OIS on and one with OIS off.
If, however, you are shooting most of your vlogs on a tripod, you won’t need a lens with OIS.
Looking for ways to set up your talking-head shot for YouTube with any of these lenses? Check out our post on 4 Ways To Set Up Your Talking-Head Shots For YouTube .
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
The staple of any vlog is the talking headshot, a shot of the speaker talking directly to the audience. You can compose this shot with different kinds of lenses for your interchangeable lens camera.
But which kind of lens is the right lens for you as a vlogger?
In this article, I’m going to help you figure that out.
- Part 1: Three Focal Length Groups: Wide, Standard, Telephoto
- Part 2: Vlogging With Each Focal Length Group
- Part 3: Crop Factor
- Part 4: Focal Length Equivalency Table
- Part 5: Aperture
- Part 6: Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- Part 7: Optical Image Stabilization
Three Focal Length Groups: Wide, Standard, Telephoto
There are three main ranges in focal lengths that camera lenses can be categorized into wide, standard, and telephoto.
Wide-Angle Lens
Wide-angle lenses can “see more.” They allow more of your scene to fit inside your frame. Objects that are closer to the lens appear much bigger while objects that are further away appear even smaller. Perspectives are also enhanced, making close objects and people that just make it into the sides of the frame appear more stretched out. Out of all the other ranges in focal lengths, wide-angle lenses will appear the least zoomed in.
Standard Lens
With standard lenses or normal lenses, you won’t get the stretched out objects or enhanced perspectives that you get from wide-angle lenses. Instead, standard lenses are meant to see scenes as the natural human eye is meant to see them. If you shoot a scene with both a wide-angle lens and a standard lens from the same position, you’ll notice that less of the scene fits into your frame. Standard lenses will appear more zoomed-in than wide-angle lenses, but less zoomed-in than telephoto lenses.
Telephoto Lens
Out of all the other ranges in focal lengths, telephoto lenses will appear the most zoomed in. This can be beneficial for the shooter who wants to get a closer shot of a scene without having to physically be in close proximity to the scene. Objects that are further away in the background also appear larger and closer than they would appear on wide-angle or standard lenses.
Vlogging With Each Focal Length Group
You can get your talking head footage using lenses from any of the three focal length groups. Depending on how you plan to vlog most of the time, though, one of the three focal lengths might be more suitable for you.
When to vlog with a wide-angle lens
Wide-angle lenses are the most commonly used lenses for vlogging. Wide-angle lenses are great when you need to be close to your camera. This might be the case for you if your recording space is small or if you want to film yourself as you hold your camera up with your own hand.
Being close to your camera not only gives you the option to use your camera’s built-in microphone, but it also gives you the option to make use of camera-mounted shotgun microphones.
When to vlog with a standard lens
Standard lenses are great when you have more space to be further away from your camera. The perspectives in your shot will look more natural through a standard lens, making your talking head footage feel more corporate or professional. You’ll also be able to get blurrier backgrounds using a standard lens versus a wide-angle lens.
Being further away from your camera, however, means that you’ll have to use a separate microphone positioned closer to you.
When to vlog with a telephoto lens
As telephoto lenses are even more zoomed in, you’ll need to be even further away from your camera to fit yourself inside your camera frame. Why would any vlogger ever need to be that far away from their camera? One word… teleprompter. If you want or need to stick to a script, you’ll have to be far away enough from your camera that it doesn’t appear like your eyes are scanning left to right. You then close in the distance with a telephoto lens.
In the above video, Marcos Rocha compares different focal lengths for talking head videos. Which focal length range do you like the look of?
Crop Factor
Focal lengths in camera lenses are measured in millimeters. You can vlog yourself handheld with a 24mm lens on a camera with a full-frame sensor (the sensor is the piece of hardware inside your camera that turns the light it receives into a digital image). But if you use a 24mm lens on a camera with a smaller sensor, like an APS-C sensor or even smaller Micro 4/3 sensor, more of you will get cropped out (see below).
In order to make up for the cropping that occurs, you will need to use a wider lens on cameras with smaller sensors to get the same shot you’d get with a full-frame camera.
Focal Length Equivalency Table
This table shows you the focal lengths needed to achieve the same shot between cameras with different sensor sizes. In order to take a shot as wide as the shot I took of myself with the 24mm lens on my full-frame camera, I would need a 15mm lens on an APS-C sensor camera or a 12mm lens on a micro 4/3 camera.
| Focal Length / Sensor | Full Frame | APS-C | Micro 4/3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 16mm | 10mm | 8mm |
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 18mm | 11mm | 9mm |
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 24mm | 15mm | 12mm |
| Wide | 35mm | 22mm | 18mm |
| Standard | 50mm | 31mm | 25mm |
| Telephoto | 70mm | 44mm | 35mm |
| Telephoto | 100mm | 63mm | 50mm |
| Telephoto | 200mm | 125mm | 100mm |
Aperture
The next thing to consider when you’re looking for a lens is the aperture, the hole (often adjustable) within the lens that lets light in. Aperture for camera lenses is measured in f-stops (f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.0) - the smaller the f-stop number, the larger the aperture (bigger hole letting even more light in).
Because larger aperture lenses let more light in, they need a shorter time for cameras to compose an image. This is why larger aperture lenses are also called “fast” lenses.
Fast lenses are more expensive because they cost more to produce. There’s a lot more that goes into them, including larger and higher quality glass elements.
But do you even need a fast lens?
Vlogging With a Fast Lens
Pros of Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- Better low-light performance
- Better autofocus performance
- Better “bokeh” (out-of-focus areas, like your background, having that nice blurry look that you see in a lot of movies)
Cons of Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- More expensive
- Moving subjects more likely to get out of focus when shooting with a large aperture
- Better continuous autofocus performance needed when shooting moving subjects with a large aperture
Optical Image Stabilization
Finally, you’ll have to decide whether or not you want your lens to have built-in optical image stabilization (OIS).
OIS is very beneficial to have on a lens if you’re a vlogger who films mostly handheld footage. Although this technology adds to the price of your lens as well, it can greatly help you to capture smoother footage that may otherwise be shaky. Nikon calls this technology “Vibration Reduction” (VR) for their lenses.
In the above video, you can see how much OIS can help to stabilize your footage. MicBergsma simultaneously compares the footage between two GoPro Hero5 Blacks, one with OIS on and one with OIS off.
If, however, you are shooting most of your vlogs on a tripod, you won’t need a lens with OIS.
Looking for ways to set up your talking-head shot for YouTube with any of these lenses? Check out our post on 4 Ways To Set Up Your Talking-Head Shots For YouTube .
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
The staple of any vlog is the talking headshot, a shot of the speaker talking directly to the audience. You can compose this shot with different kinds of lenses for your interchangeable lens camera.
But which kind of lens is the right lens for you as a vlogger?
In this article, I’m going to help you figure that out.
- Part 1: Three Focal Length Groups: Wide, Standard, Telephoto
- Part 2: Vlogging With Each Focal Length Group
- Part 3: Crop Factor
- Part 4: Focal Length Equivalency Table
- Part 5: Aperture
- Part 6: Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- Part 7: Optical Image Stabilization
Three Focal Length Groups: Wide, Standard, Telephoto
There are three main ranges in focal lengths that camera lenses can be categorized into wide, standard, and telephoto.
Wide-Angle Lens
Wide-angle lenses can “see more.” They allow more of your scene to fit inside your frame. Objects that are closer to the lens appear much bigger while objects that are further away appear even smaller. Perspectives are also enhanced, making close objects and people that just make it into the sides of the frame appear more stretched out. Out of all the other ranges in focal lengths, wide-angle lenses will appear the least zoomed in.
Standard Lens
With standard lenses or normal lenses, you won’t get the stretched out objects or enhanced perspectives that you get from wide-angle lenses. Instead, standard lenses are meant to see scenes as the natural human eye is meant to see them. If you shoot a scene with both a wide-angle lens and a standard lens from the same position, you’ll notice that less of the scene fits into your frame. Standard lenses will appear more zoomed-in than wide-angle lenses, but less zoomed-in than telephoto lenses.
Telephoto Lens
Out of all the other ranges in focal lengths, telephoto lenses will appear the most zoomed in. This can be beneficial for the shooter who wants to get a closer shot of a scene without having to physically be in close proximity to the scene. Objects that are further away in the background also appear larger and closer than they would appear on wide-angle or standard lenses.
Vlogging With Each Focal Length Group
You can get your talking head footage using lenses from any of the three focal length groups. Depending on how you plan to vlog most of the time, though, one of the three focal lengths might be more suitable for you.
When to vlog with a wide-angle lens
Wide-angle lenses are the most commonly used lenses for vlogging. Wide-angle lenses are great when you need to be close to your camera. This might be the case for you if your recording space is small or if you want to film yourself as you hold your camera up with your own hand.
Being close to your camera not only gives you the option to use your camera’s built-in microphone, but it also gives you the option to make use of camera-mounted shotgun microphones.
When to vlog with a standard lens
Standard lenses are great when you have more space to be further away from your camera. The perspectives in your shot will look more natural through a standard lens, making your talking head footage feel more corporate or professional. You’ll also be able to get blurrier backgrounds using a standard lens versus a wide-angle lens.
Being further away from your camera, however, means that you’ll have to use a separate microphone positioned closer to you.
When to vlog with a telephoto lens
As telephoto lenses are even more zoomed in, you’ll need to be even further away from your camera to fit yourself inside your camera frame. Why would any vlogger ever need to be that far away from their camera? One word… teleprompter. If you want or need to stick to a script, you’ll have to be far away enough from your camera that it doesn’t appear like your eyes are scanning left to right. You then close in the distance with a telephoto lens.
In the above video, Marcos Rocha compares different focal lengths for talking head videos. Which focal length range do you like the look of?
Crop Factor
Focal lengths in camera lenses are measured in millimeters. You can vlog yourself handheld with a 24mm lens on a camera with a full-frame sensor (the sensor is the piece of hardware inside your camera that turns the light it receives into a digital image). But if you use a 24mm lens on a camera with a smaller sensor, like an APS-C sensor or even smaller Micro 4/3 sensor, more of you will get cropped out (see below).
In order to make up for the cropping that occurs, you will need to use a wider lens on cameras with smaller sensors to get the same shot you’d get with a full-frame camera.
Focal Length Equivalency Table
This table shows you the focal lengths needed to achieve the same shot between cameras with different sensor sizes. In order to take a shot as wide as the shot I took of myself with the 24mm lens on my full-frame camera, I would need a 15mm lens on an APS-C sensor camera or a 12mm lens on a micro 4/3 camera.
| Focal Length / Sensor | Full Frame | APS-C | Micro 4/3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 16mm | 10mm | 8mm |
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 18mm | 11mm | 9mm |
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 24mm | 15mm | 12mm |
| Wide | 35mm | 22mm | 18mm |
| Standard | 50mm | 31mm | 25mm |
| Telephoto | 70mm | 44mm | 35mm |
| Telephoto | 100mm | 63mm | 50mm |
| Telephoto | 200mm | 125mm | 100mm |
Aperture
The next thing to consider when you’re looking for a lens is the aperture, the hole (often adjustable) within the lens that lets light in. Aperture for camera lenses is measured in f-stops (f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.0) - the smaller the f-stop number, the larger the aperture (bigger hole letting even more light in).
Because larger aperture lenses let more light in, they need a shorter time for cameras to compose an image. This is why larger aperture lenses are also called “fast” lenses.
Fast lenses are more expensive because they cost more to produce. There’s a lot more that goes into them, including larger and higher quality glass elements.
But do you even need a fast lens?
Vlogging With a Fast Lens
Pros of Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- Better low-light performance
- Better autofocus performance
- Better “bokeh” (out-of-focus areas, like your background, having that nice blurry look that you see in a lot of movies)
Cons of Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- More expensive
- Moving subjects more likely to get out of focus when shooting with a large aperture
- Better continuous autofocus performance needed when shooting moving subjects with a large aperture
Optical Image Stabilization
Finally, you’ll have to decide whether or not you want your lens to have built-in optical image stabilization (OIS).
OIS is very beneficial to have on a lens if you’re a vlogger who films mostly handheld footage. Although this technology adds to the price of your lens as well, it can greatly help you to capture smoother footage that may otherwise be shaky. Nikon calls this technology “Vibration Reduction” (VR) for their lenses.
In the above video, you can see how much OIS can help to stabilize your footage. MicBergsma simultaneously compares the footage between two GoPro Hero5 Blacks, one with OIS on and one with OIS off.
If, however, you are shooting most of your vlogs on a tripod, you won’t need a lens with OIS.
Looking for ways to set up your talking-head shot for YouTube with any of these lenses? Check out our post on 4 Ways To Set Up Your Talking-Head Shots For YouTube .
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
The staple of any vlog is the talking headshot, a shot of the speaker talking directly to the audience. You can compose this shot with different kinds of lenses for your interchangeable lens camera.
But which kind of lens is the right lens for you as a vlogger?
In this article, I’m going to help you figure that out.
- Part 1: Three Focal Length Groups: Wide, Standard, Telephoto
- Part 2: Vlogging With Each Focal Length Group
- Part 3: Crop Factor
- Part 4: Focal Length Equivalency Table
- Part 5: Aperture
- Part 6: Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- Part 7: Optical Image Stabilization
Three Focal Length Groups: Wide, Standard, Telephoto
There are three main ranges in focal lengths that camera lenses can be categorized into wide, standard, and telephoto.
Wide-Angle Lens
Wide-angle lenses can “see more.” They allow more of your scene to fit inside your frame. Objects that are closer to the lens appear much bigger while objects that are further away appear even smaller. Perspectives are also enhanced, making close objects and people that just make it into the sides of the frame appear more stretched out. Out of all the other ranges in focal lengths, wide-angle lenses will appear the least zoomed in.
Standard Lens
With standard lenses or normal lenses, you won’t get the stretched out objects or enhanced perspectives that you get from wide-angle lenses. Instead, standard lenses are meant to see scenes as the natural human eye is meant to see them. If you shoot a scene with both a wide-angle lens and a standard lens from the same position, you’ll notice that less of the scene fits into your frame. Standard lenses will appear more zoomed-in than wide-angle lenses, but less zoomed-in than telephoto lenses.
Telephoto Lens
Out of all the other ranges in focal lengths, telephoto lenses will appear the most zoomed in. This can be beneficial for the shooter who wants to get a closer shot of a scene without having to physically be in close proximity to the scene. Objects that are further away in the background also appear larger and closer than they would appear on wide-angle or standard lenses.
Vlogging With Each Focal Length Group
You can get your talking head footage using lenses from any of the three focal length groups. Depending on how you plan to vlog most of the time, though, one of the three focal lengths might be more suitable for you.
When to vlog with a wide-angle lens
Wide-angle lenses are the most commonly used lenses for vlogging. Wide-angle lenses are great when you need to be close to your camera. This might be the case for you if your recording space is small or if you want to film yourself as you hold your camera up with your own hand.
Being close to your camera not only gives you the option to use your camera’s built-in microphone, but it also gives you the option to make use of camera-mounted shotgun microphones.
When to vlog with a standard lens
Standard lenses are great when you have more space to be further away from your camera. The perspectives in your shot will look more natural through a standard lens, making your talking head footage feel more corporate or professional. You’ll also be able to get blurrier backgrounds using a standard lens versus a wide-angle lens.
Being further away from your camera, however, means that you’ll have to use a separate microphone positioned closer to you.
When to vlog with a telephoto lens
As telephoto lenses are even more zoomed in, you’ll need to be even further away from your camera to fit yourself inside your camera frame. Why would any vlogger ever need to be that far away from their camera? One word… teleprompter. If you want or need to stick to a script, you’ll have to be far away enough from your camera that it doesn’t appear like your eyes are scanning left to right. You then close in the distance with a telephoto lens.
In the above video, Marcos Rocha compares different focal lengths for talking head videos. Which focal length range do you like the look of?
Crop Factor
Focal lengths in camera lenses are measured in millimeters. You can vlog yourself handheld with a 24mm lens on a camera with a full-frame sensor (the sensor is the piece of hardware inside your camera that turns the light it receives into a digital image). But if you use a 24mm lens on a camera with a smaller sensor, like an APS-C sensor or even smaller Micro 4/3 sensor, more of you will get cropped out (see below).
In order to make up for the cropping that occurs, you will need to use a wider lens on cameras with smaller sensors to get the same shot you’d get with a full-frame camera.
Focal Length Equivalency Table
This table shows you the focal lengths needed to achieve the same shot between cameras with different sensor sizes. In order to take a shot as wide as the shot I took of myself with the 24mm lens on my full-frame camera, I would need a 15mm lens on an APS-C sensor camera or a 12mm lens on a micro 4/3 camera.
| Focal Length / Sensor | Full Frame | APS-C | Micro 4/3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 16mm | 10mm | 8mm |
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 18mm | 11mm | 9mm |
| Wide (Handheld Selfie-Safe) | 24mm | 15mm | 12mm |
| Wide | 35mm | 22mm | 18mm |
| Standard | 50mm | 31mm | 25mm |
| Telephoto | 70mm | 44mm | 35mm |
| Telephoto | 100mm | 63mm | 50mm |
| Telephoto | 200mm | 125mm | 100mm |
Aperture
The next thing to consider when you’re looking for a lens is the aperture, the hole (often adjustable) within the lens that lets light in. Aperture for camera lenses is measured in f-stops (f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.0) - the smaller the f-stop number, the larger the aperture (bigger hole letting even more light in).
Because larger aperture lenses let more light in, they need a shorter time for cameras to compose an image. This is why larger aperture lenses are also called “fast” lenses.
Fast lenses are more expensive because they cost more to produce. There’s a lot more that goes into them, including larger and higher quality glass elements.
But do you even need a fast lens?
Vlogging With a Fast Lens
Pros of Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- Better low-light performance
- Better autofocus performance
- Better “bokeh” (out-of-focus areas, like your background, having that nice blurry look that you see in a lot of movies)
Cons of Vlogging With a Fast Lens
- More expensive
- Moving subjects more likely to get out of focus when shooting with a large aperture
- Better continuous autofocus performance needed when shooting moving subjects with a large aperture
Optical Image Stabilization
Finally, you’ll have to decide whether or not you want your lens to have built-in optical image stabilization (OIS).
OIS is very beneficial to have on a lens if you’re a vlogger who films mostly handheld footage. Although this technology adds to the price of your lens as well, it can greatly help you to capture smoother footage that may otherwise be shaky. Nikon calls this technology “Vibration Reduction” (VR) for their lenses.
In the above video, you can see how much OIS can help to stabilize your footage. MicBergsma simultaneously compares the footage between two GoPro Hero5 Blacks, one with OIS on and one with OIS off.
If, however, you are shooting most of your vlogs on a tripod, you won’t need a lens with OIS.
Looking for ways to set up your talking-head shot for YouTube with any of these lenses? Check out our post on 4 Ways To Set Up Your Talking-Head Shots For YouTube .
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Explore Top 12 Gear: Best On-the-Go Flip-Screen Cameras
12 Best Vlogging Cameras with a Flip Screen
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
A flip screen is a very important feature on a camera for vloggers. With a flip screen, you can preview whether or not your shot is composed the way you want it to be, all in real-time. Below is our top list and review of the twelve best vlogging cameras with a flip screen.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A VLOGGING CAMERA
1. Fully articulated screen (flip screen)
2. Good continual autofocus while recording video
3. Good focus priority through face recognition
4. Touch to focus
5. Good low-light performance
6. external mic jack, hot/cold shoe bracket
7. optical image stabilization
8. good battery life
Check out my full list of 10 Things To Look For In A Vlogging Camera to understand the importance of these camera features.
THE 12 BEST VLOGGING CAMERAS WITH A FLIP SCREEN (2018)
| Camera | Release Date | Camera Type | Flip Screen Type | Mic Port | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CanonEOSM50 |  |
February2018 | Mirrorless | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| PanasonicLumixDC-GH5S |  |
January2018 | Mirrorless | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$$ |
| CanonEOSM100 |  |
August2017 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | No | $ |
| CanonEOS6D Mark II |  |
June2017 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$ |
| CanonEOS RebelSL2 |  |
June2017 | Compact SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $ |
| CanonEOS RebelT7i |  |
February2017 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| CanonEOSM6 |  |
February2017 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | Yes | $ |
| NikonD5600 |  |
November2016 | Compact SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| SonyCyber-Shot DSCRX 100 V |  |
October2016 | Compact | Flip Up | No | $- |
| PanasonicLumixDMC-G85 |  |
September2016 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | Yes | $- |
| CanonEOS80D |  |
February2016 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$ |
| CanonPowerShotG7 X Mark II |  |
February2016 | Compact | Flip Up | No | $ |
|
Best daily vlogging camera with a flip screen: Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX 100 V If you want to use a compact camera with a flip screen, Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-RX 100 V is an exceptional daily vlogging camera. This camera’s 20.1 MP Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor with a maximum of 12800 in ISO sensitivity, can record footage in UHD 4K at 30 or 24 fps. The lens on this camera, a non-interchangeable Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T lens, performs well even under low-light conditions. With its fast hybrid AF system with 315 phase-detection points and an anti-motion blur mode, you can expect your shots to be accurately focused. The Sony RX 100 V packs so much power into such a small, portable camera, making it a great daily vlogging device. PROS - Light and easy to carry around - Produces high-res videos CONS - Short battery life - Lacking a touchscreen |
|---|---|
|
Best cheap vlogging camera with a flip screen: Canon EOS M100 The Canon EOS M100 is another great small vlogging camera with a flip screen. This mirrorless camera shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. Its 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 7 image processor will accurately lock the right focus and produce videos with rich detail. The camera’s ISO sensitivity goes as high as ISO 25600. Even in difficult light conditions, this camera will be able to capture a scene. You can control and navigate through the difficult functions of this camera using its 3-inch touchscreen LCD. This camera has a flip screen that flips upward so that you can see yourself while you vlog. With built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, you can also transfer your videos seamlessly to a computer without any cables. If you don’t want to spend a fortune but still want to produce videos with great picture quality, the Canon EOS M100 is the best entry-level camera for daily vlogging that’s currently on the market. PROS - Affordable - Great connectivity options CONS - Lacks advanced video recording features - No viewfinder |
|
Best entry-level mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS M100 The Canon EOS M100 is the best entry-level mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging. In case you missed it, check out my review on the Canon EOS M100. |
|
Best mid-range mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS M50 The Canon EOS M50 is already regarded as one of the best mirrorless cameras for vlogging though it has only been on the market for just a few months. This mirrorless camera comes with the newer DIGIC 8 Image Processor that find a focus for your footage even better than the last generation’s image processor. You can crank up the ISO sensitivity to ISO 51200 with the Canon EOS M50. The Canon EOS M50 can shoot UHD 4K videos at 23.98 fps. You can also capture 720p slow-motion videos at 120 fps. PROS - Has an external microphone port - Has a 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder CONS - No image stabilization - Battery life could be longer |
|
Best professional mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S When Panasonic made its Lumix DC-GH5, it was a hybrid camera that performed equally well in both photo and video. In response to customers’ interest in a video-focused camera, Panasonic released the GH5S. This camera is equipped with a micro four-thirds sensor and can shoot UHD 4K and DCI videos at 60 fps, up to 150 Mbps. If you want to capture slow-motion footage, you can shoot full HD 1080p videos at 240 fps as well. With its 10.28MP multi-aspect ratio MOS sensor, you’ll be able to produce high-quality videos even under very challenging lighting conditions. In a fraction of a second, this camera can also automatically grab focus during your video with its advanced depth-from-focus technology. It is also equipped with a microphone jack so that you can record better audio while shooting with this camera. The GH5S has a fully articulated touchscreen so that you can compose your shot from any angle. PROS - ISO sensitivity goes up to 204800 - High video bit rates CONS - Expensive - The camera body weighs about 1.5 lbs |
|
Best entry-level DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS SL2 If you’re looking for a low priced entry-level vlogging camera with a flip screen, the Canon EOS Rebel SL2 is the best option. You can precisely and quickly grab focus during video recording with its 9-point AF system and dual pixel CMOS AF technology. The camera powers these functions with its DIGIC 7 image processor. You can shoot up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps with its 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and crank the ISO up to ISO 51200 in case you need to shoot under low light conditions. If you want better audio for your vlogs, you can connect an external microphone to the SL2’s microphone jack. PROS - Microphone jack - Wi-Fi connectivity CONS - No 4K video support - Optical image stabilizer could be better |
|
Best mid-range DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS 80D The 80D is the best camera to go with if you’re looking for a mid-range DLSR vlogging camera with a flip screen. It is equipped with a 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor, comes with the DIGIC 6 image processor, and shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. For low lighting conditions, you can set the camera’s ISO to as high as ISO 25600. The 80D is great for autofocusing during video recording as it comes with a 45-point all cross phase detection autofocus system and a dual pixel CMOS AF system. PROS - Feature-rich - Continuous AF feature performs beautifully while recording high-res videos CONS - Just one SD card slot - PC sync connection features could be better |
|
Best professional DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon 6D Mark II The 6D Mark II is currently (at the time of writing this review) the only full-frame DSLR camera that comes with both a fully-articulated screen and a microphone jack. It is equipped with a 26.2 MP full-frame CMOS sensor, comes with the DIGIC 7 image processor, and shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. The 6D is also equipped with the same 45-point all cross-phase detection and dual pixel CMOS autofocusing system as the 80D. If you’re wanting to vlog with a full-frame camera, the 6D Mark II is the best option. PROS - ISO sensitivity goes up to 102400 - Amazing touchscreen controls CONS - No 4K video recording option - No USB 3.0 |
Want to compare even more cameras? Check out…
12 Best Vlogging Cameras (2018)
Top 11 Cheap Vlogging Cameras (2018)
7 Best DSLR Cameras For Vlogging (2018)
8 Best Mirrorless Cameras For Vlogging (2018)
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
A flip screen is a very important feature on a camera for vloggers. With a flip screen, you can preview whether or not your shot is composed the way you want it to be, all in real-time. Below is our top list and review of the twelve best vlogging cameras with a flip screen.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A VLOGGING CAMERA
1. Fully articulated screen (flip screen)
2. Good continual autofocus while recording video
3. Good focus priority through face recognition
4. Touch to focus
5. Good low-light performance
6. external mic jack, hot/cold shoe bracket
7. optical image stabilization
8. good battery life
Check out my full list of 10 Things To Look For In A Vlogging Camera to understand the importance of these camera features.
THE 12 BEST VLOGGING CAMERAS WITH A FLIP SCREEN (2018)
| Camera | Release Date | Camera Type | Flip Screen Type | Mic Port | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CanonEOSM50 | |
February2018 | Mirrorless | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| PanasonicLumixDC-GH5S | |
January2018 | Mirrorless | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$$ |
| CanonEOSM100 | |
August2017 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | No | $ |
| CanonEOS6D Mark II | |
June2017 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$ |
| CanonEOS RebelSL2 | |
June2017 | Compact SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $ |
| CanonEOS RebelT7i | |
February2017 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| CanonEOSM6 | |
February2017 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | Yes | $ |
| NikonD5600 | |
November2016 | Compact SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| SonyCyber-Shot DSCRX 100 V | |
October2016 | Compact | Flip Up | No | $- |
| PanasonicLumixDMC-G85 | |
September2016 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | Yes | $- |
| CanonEOS80D | |
February2016 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$ |
| CanonPowerShotG7 X Mark II | |
February2016 | Compact | Flip Up | No | $ |
|
Best daily vlogging camera with a flip screen: Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX 100 V If you want to use a compact camera with a flip screen, Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-RX 100 V is an exceptional daily vlogging camera. This camera’s 20.1 MP Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor with a maximum of 12800 in ISO sensitivity, can record footage in UHD 4K at 30 or 24 fps. The lens on this camera, a non-interchangeable Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T lens, performs well even under low-light conditions. With its fast hybrid AF system with 315 phase-detection points and an anti-motion blur mode, you can expect your shots to be accurately focused. The Sony RX 100 V packs so much power into such a small, portable camera, making it a great daily vlogging device. PROS - Light and easy to carry around - Produces high-res videos CONS - Short battery life - Lacking a touchscreen |
|---|---|
|
Best cheap vlogging camera with a flip screen: Canon EOS M100 The Canon EOS M100 is another great small vlogging camera with a flip screen. This mirrorless camera shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. Its 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 7 image processor will accurately lock the right focus and produce videos with rich detail. The camera’s ISO sensitivity goes as high as ISO 25600. Even in difficult light conditions, this camera will be able to capture a scene. You can control and navigate through the difficult functions of this camera using its 3-inch touchscreen LCD. This camera has a flip screen that flips upward so that you can see yourself while you vlog. With built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, you can also transfer your videos seamlessly to a computer without any cables. If you don’t want to spend a fortune but still want to produce videos with great picture quality, the Canon EOS M100 is the best entry-level camera for daily vlogging that’s currently on the market. PROS - Affordable - Great connectivity options CONS - Lacks advanced video recording features - No viewfinder |
|
Best entry-level mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS M100 The Canon EOS M100 is the best entry-level mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging. In case you missed it, check out my review on the Canon EOS M100. |
|
Best mid-range mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS M50 The Canon EOS M50 is already regarded as one of the best mirrorless cameras for vlogging though it has only been on the market for just a few months. This mirrorless camera comes with the newer DIGIC 8 Image Processor that find a focus for your footage even better than the last generation’s image processor. You can crank up the ISO sensitivity to ISO 51200 with the Canon EOS M50. The Canon EOS M50 can shoot UHD 4K videos at 23.98 fps. You can also capture 720p slow-motion videos at 120 fps. PROS - Has an external microphone port - Has a 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder CONS - No image stabilization - Battery life could be longer |
|
Best professional mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S When Panasonic made its Lumix DC-GH5, it was a hybrid camera that performed equally well in both photo and video. In response to customers’ interest in a video-focused camera, Panasonic released the GH5S. This camera is equipped with a micro four-thirds sensor and can shoot UHD 4K and DCI videos at 60 fps, up to 150 Mbps. If you want to capture slow-motion footage, you can shoot full HD 1080p videos at 240 fps as well. With its 10.28MP multi-aspect ratio MOS sensor, you’ll be able to produce high-quality videos even under very challenging lighting conditions. In a fraction of a second, this camera can also automatically grab focus during your video with its advanced depth-from-focus technology. It is also equipped with a microphone jack so that you can record better audio while shooting with this camera. The GH5S has a fully articulated touchscreen so that you can compose your shot from any angle. PROS - ISO sensitivity goes up to 204800 - High video bit rates CONS - Expensive - The camera body weighs about 1.5 lbs |
|
Best entry-level DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS SL2 If you’re looking for a low priced entry-level vlogging camera with a flip screen, the Canon EOS Rebel SL2 is the best option. You can precisely and quickly grab focus during video recording with its 9-point AF system and dual pixel CMOS AF technology. The camera powers these functions with its DIGIC 7 image processor. You can shoot up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps with its 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and crank the ISO up to ISO 51200 in case you need to shoot under low light conditions. If you want better audio for your vlogs, you can connect an external microphone to the SL2’s microphone jack. PROS - Microphone jack - Wi-Fi connectivity CONS - No 4K video support - Optical image stabilizer could be better |
|
Best mid-range DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS 80D The 80D is the best camera to go with if you’re looking for a mid-range DLSR vlogging camera with a flip screen. It is equipped with a 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor, comes with the DIGIC 6 image processor, and shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. For low lighting conditions, you can set the camera’s ISO to as high as ISO 25600. The 80D is great for autofocusing during video recording as it comes with a 45-point all cross phase detection autofocus system and a dual pixel CMOS AF system. PROS - Feature-rich - Continuous AF feature performs beautifully while recording high-res videos CONS - Just one SD card slot - PC sync connection features could be better |
|
Best professional DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon 6D Mark II The 6D Mark II is currently (at the time of writing this review) the only full-frame DSLR camera that comes with both a fully-articulated screen and a microphone jack. It is equipped with a 26.2 MP full-frame CMOS sensor, comes with the DIGIC 7 image processor, and shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. The 6D is also equipped with the same 45-point all cross-phase detection and dual pixel CMOS autofocusing system as the 80D. If you’re wanting to vlog with a full-frame camera, the 6D Mark II is the best option. PROS - ISO sensitivity goes up to 102400 - Amazing touchscreen controls CONS - No 4K video recording option - No USB 3.0 |
Want to compare even more cameras? Check out…
12 Best Vlogging Cameras (2018)
Top 11 Cheap Vlogging Cameras (2018)
7 Best DSLR Cameras For Vlogging (2018)
8 Best Mirrorless Cameras For Vlogging (2018)
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
A flip screen is a very important feature on a camera for vloggers. With a flip screen, you can preview whether or not your shot is composed the way you want it to be, all in real-time. Below is our top list and review of the twelve best vlogging cameras with a flip screen.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A VLOGGING CAMERA
1. Fully articulated screen (flip screen)
2. Good continual autofocus while recording video
3. Good focus priority through face recognition
4. Touch to focus
5. Good low-light performance
6. external mic jack, hot/cold shoe bracket
7. optical image stabilization
8. good battery life
Check out my full list of 10 Things To Look For In A Vlogging Camera to understand the importance of these camera features.
THE 12 BEST VLOGGING CAMERAS WITH A FLIP SCREEN (2018)
| Camera | Release Date | Camera Type | Flip Screen Type | Mic Port | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CanonEOSM50 | |
February2018 | Mirrorless | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| PanasonicLumixDC-GH5S | |
January2018 | Mirrorless | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$$ |
| CanonEOSM100 | |
August2017 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | No | $ |
| CanonEOS6D Mark II | |
June2017 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$ |
| CanonEOS RebelSL2 | |
June2017 | Compact SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $ |
| CanonEOS RebelT7i | |
February2017 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| CanonEOSM6 | |
February2017 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | Yes | $ |
| NikonD5600 | |
November2016 | Compact SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| SonyCyber-Shot DSCRX 100 V | |
October2016 | Compact | Flip Up | No | $- |
| PanasonicLumixDMC-G85 | |
September2016 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | Yes | $- |
| CanonEOS80D | |
February2016 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$ |
| CanonPowerShotG7 X Mark II | |
February2016 | Compact | Flip Up | No | $ |
|
Best daily vlogging camera with a flip screen: Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX 100 V If you want to use a compact camera with a flip screen, Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-RX 100 V is an exceptional daily vlogging camera. This camera’s 20.1 MP Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor with a maximum of 12800 in ISO sensitivity, can record footage in UHD 4K at 30 or 24 fps. The lens on this camera, a non-interchangeable Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T lens, performs well even under low-light conditions. With its fast hybrid AF system with 315 phase-detection points and an anti-motion blur mode, you can expect your shots to be accurately focused. The Sony RX 100 V packs so much power into such a small, portable camera, making it a great daily vlogging device. PROS - Light and easy to carry around - Produces high-res videos CONS - Short battery life - Lacking a touchscreen |
|---|---|
|
Best cheap vlogging camera with a flip screen: Canon EOS M100 The Canon EOS M100 is another great small vlogging camera with a flip screen. This mirrorless camera shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. Its 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 7 image processor will accurately lock the right focus and produce videos with rich detail. The camera’s ISO sensitivity goes as high as ISO 25600. Even in difficult light conditions, this camera will be able to capture a scene. You can control and navigate through the difficult functions of this camera using its 3-inch touchscreen LCD. This camera has a flip screen that flips upward so that you can see yourself while you vlog. With built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, you can also transfer your videos seamlessly to a computer without any cables. If you don’t want to spend a fortune but still want to produce videos with great picture quality, the Canon EOS M100 is the best entry-level camera for daily vlogging that’s currently on the market. PROS - Affordable - Great connectivity options CONS - Lacks advanced video recording features - No viewfinder |
|
Best entry-level mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS M100 The Canon EOS M100 is the best entry-level mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging. In case you missed it, check out my review on the Canon EOS M100. |
|
Best mid-range mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS M50 The Canon EOS M50 is already regarded as one of the best mirrorless cameras for vlogging though it has only been on the market for just a few months. This mirrorless camera comes with the newer DIGIC 8 Image Processor that find a focus for your footage even better than the last generation’s image processor. You can crank up the ISO sensitivity to ISO 51200 with the Canon EOS M50. The Canon EOS M50 can shoot UHD 4K videos at 23.98 fps. You can also capture 720p slow-motion videos at 120 fps. PROS - Has an external microphone port - Has a 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder CONS - No image stabilization - Battery life could be longer |
|
Best professional mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S When Panasonic made its Lumix DC-GH5, it was a hybrid camera that performed equally well in both photo and video. In response to customers’ interest in a video-focused camera, Panasonic released the GH5S. This camera is equipped with a micro four-thirds sensor and can shoot UHD 4K and DCI videos at 60 fps, up to 150 Mbps. If you want to capture slow-motion footage, you can shoot full HD 1080p videos at 240 fps as well. With its 10.28MP multi-aspect ratio MOS sensor, you’ll be able to produce high-quality videos even under very challenging lighting conditions. In a fraction of a second, this camera can also automatically grab focus during your video with its advanced depth-from-focus technology. It is also equipped with a microphone jack so that you can record better audio while shooting with this camera. The GH5S has a fully articulated touchscreen so that you can compose your shot from any angle. PROS - ISO sensitivity goes up to 204800 - High video bit rates CONS - Expensive - The camera body weighs about 1.5 lbs |
|
Best entry-level DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS SL2 If you’re looking for a low priced entry-level vlogging camera with a flip screen, the Canon EOS Rebel SL2 is the best option. You can precisely and quickly grab focus during video recording with its 9-point AF system and dual pixel CMOS AF technology. The camera powers these functions with its DIGIC 7 image processor. You can shoot up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps with its 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and crank the ISO up to ISO 51200 in case you need to shoot under low light conditions. If you want better audio for your vlogs, you can connect an external microphone to the SL2’s microphone jack. PROS - Microphone jack - Wi-Fi connectivity CONS - No 4K video support - Optical image stabilizer could be better |
|
Best mid-range DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS 80D The 80D is the best camera to go with if you’re looking for a mid-range DLSR vlogging camera with a flip screen. It is equipped with a 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor, comes with the DIGIC 6 image processor, and shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. For low lighting conditions, you can set the camera’s ISO to as high as ISO 25600. The 80D is great for autofocusing during video recording as it comes with a 45-point all cross phase detection autofocus system and a dual pixel CMOS AF system. PROS - Feature-rich - Continuous AF feature performs beautifully while recording high-res videos CONS - Just one SD card slot - PC sync connection features could be better |
|
Best professional DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon 6D Mark II The 6D Mark II is currently (at the time of writing this review) the only full-frame DSLR camera that comes with both a fully-articulated screen and a microphone jack. It is equipped with a 26.2 MP full-frame CMOS sensor, comes with the DIGIC 7 image processor, and shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. The 6D is also equipped with the same 45-point all cross-phase detection and dual pixel CMOS autofocusing system as the 80D. If you’re wanting to vlog with a full-frame camera, the 6D Mark II is the best option. PROS - ISO sensitivity goes up to 102400 - Amazing touchscreen controls CONS - No 4K video recording option - No USB 3.0 |
Want to compare even more cameras? Check out…
12 Best Vlogging Cameras (2018)
Top 11 Cheap Vlogging Cameras (2018)
7 Best DSLR Cameras For Vlogging (2018)
8 Best Mirrorless Cameras For Vlogging (2018)
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
A flip screen is a very important feature on a camera for vloggers. With a flip screen, you can preview whether or not your shot is composed the way you want it to be, all in real-time. Below is our top list and review of the twelve best vlogging cameras with a flip screen.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A VLOGGING CAMERA
1. Fully articulated screen (flip screen)
2. Good continual autofocus while recording video
3. Good focus priority through face recognition
4. Touch to focus
5. Good low-light performance
6. external mic jack, hot/cold shoe bracket
7. optical image stabilization
8. good battery life
Check out my full list of 10 Things To Look For In A Vlogging Camera to understand the importance of these camera features.
THE 12 BEST VLOGGING CAMERAS WITH A FLIP SCREEN (2018)
| Camera | Release Date | Camera Type | Flip Screen Type | Mic Port | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CanonEOSM50 | |
February2018 | Mirrorless | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| PanasonicLumixDC-GH5S | |
January2018 | Mirrorless | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$$ |
| CanonEOSM100 | |
August2017 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | No | $ |
| CanonEOS6D Mark II | |
June2017 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$ |
| CanonEOS RebelSL2 | |
June2017 | Compact SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $ |
| CanonEOS RebelT7i | |
February2017 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| CanonEOSM6 | |
February2017 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | Yes | $ |
| NikonD5600 | |
November2016 | Compact SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $- |
| SonyCyber-Shot DSCRX 100 V | |
October2016 | Compact | Flip Up | No | $- |
| PanasonicLumixDMC-G85 | |
September2016 | Mirrorless | Flip Up | Yes | $- |
| CanonEOS80D | |
February2016 | Mid-size SLR | Fully Articulated | Yes | $$ |
| CanonPowerShotG7 X Mark II | |
February2016 | Compact | Flip Up | No | $ |
|
Best daily vlogging camera with a flip screen: Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX 100 V If you want to use a compact camera with a flip screen, Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-RX 100 V is an exceptional daily vlogging camera. This camera’s 20.1 MP Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor with a maximum of 12800 in ISO sensitivity, can record footage in UHD 4K at 30 or 24 fps. The lens on this camera, a non-interchangeable Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T lens, performs well even under low-light conditions. With its fast hybrid AF system with 315 phase-detection points and an anti-motion blur mode, you can expect your shots to be accurately focused. The Sony RX 100 V packs so much power into such a small, portable camera, making it a great daily vlogging device. PROS - Light and easy to carry around - Produces high-res videos CONS - Short battery life - Lacking a touchscreen |
|---|---|
|
Best cheap vlogging camera with a flip screen: Canon EOS M100 The Canon EOS M100 is another great small vlogging camera with a flip screen. This mirrorless camera shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. Its 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 7 image processor will accurately lock the right focus and produce videos with rich detail. The camera’s ISO sensitivity goes as high as ISO 25600. Even in difficult light conditions, this camera will be able to capture a scene. You can control and navigate through the difficult functions of this camera using its 3-inch touchscreen LCD. This camera has a flip screen that flips upward so that you can see yourself while you vlog. With built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, you can also transfer your videos seamlessly to a computer without any cables. If you don’t want to spend a fortune but still want to produce videos with great picture quality, the Canon EOS M100 is the best entry-level camera for daily vlogging that’s currently on the market. PROS - Affordable - Great connectivity options CONS - Lacks advanced video recording features - No viewfinder |
|
Best entry-level mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS M100 The Canon EOS M100 is the best entry-level mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging. In case you missed it, check out my review on the Canon EOS M100. |
|
Best mid-range mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS M50 The Canon EOS M50 is already regarded as one of the best mirrorless cameras for vlogging though it has only been on the market for just a few months. This mirrorless camera comes with the newer DIGIC 8 Image Processor that find a focus for your footage even better than the last generation’s image processor. You can crank up the ISO sensitivity to ISO 51200 with the Canon EOS M50. The Canon EOS M50 can shoot UHD 4K videos at 23.98 fps. You can also capture 720p slow-motion videos at 120 fps. PROS - Has an external microphone port - Has a 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder CONS - No image stabilization - Battery life could be longer |
|
Best professional mirrorless camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S When Panasonic made its Lumix DC-GH5, it was a hybrid camera that performed equally well in both photo and video. In response to customers’ interest in a video-focused camera, Panasonic released the GH5S. This camera is equipped with a micro four-thirds sensor and can shoot UHD 4K and DCI videos at 60 fps, up to 150 Mbps. If you want to capture slow-motion footage, you can shoot full HD 1080p videos at 240 fps as well. With its 10.28MP multi-aspect ratio MOS sensor, you’ll be able to produce high-quality videos even under very challenging lighting conditions. In a fraction of a second, this camera can also automatically grab focus during your video with its advanced depth-from-focus technology. It is also equipped with a microphone jack so that you can record better audio while shooting with this camera. The GH5S has a fully articulated touchscreen so that you can compose your shot from any angle. PROS - ISO sensitivity goes up to 204800 - High video bit rates CONS - Expensive - The camera body weighs about 1.5 lbs |
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Best entry-level DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS SL2 If you’re looking for a low priced entry-level vlogging camera with a flip screen, the Canon EOS Rebel SL2 is the best option. You can precisely and quickly grab focus during video recording with its 9-point AF system and dual pixel CMOS AF technology. The camera powers these functions with its DIGIC 7 image processor. You can shoot up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps with its 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and crank the ISO up to ISO 51200 in case you need to shoot under low light conditions. If you want better audio for your vlogs, you can connect an external microphone to the SL2’s microphone jack. PROS - Microphone jack - Wi-Fi connectivity CONS - No 4K video support - Optical image stabilizer could be better |
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Best mid-range DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon EOS 80D The 80D is the best camera to go with if you’re looking for a mid-range DLSR vlogging camera with a flip screen. It is equipped with a 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor, comes with the DIGIC 6 image processor, and shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. For low lighting conditions, you can set the camera’s ISO to as high as ISO 25600. The 80D is great for autofocusing during video recording as it comes with a 45-point all cross phase detection autofocus system and a dual pixel CMOS AF system. PROS - Feature-rich - Continuous AF feature performs beautifully while recording high-res videos CONS - Just one SD card slot - PC sync connection features could be better |
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Best professional DSLR camera with a flip screen for vlogging: Canon 6D Mark II The 6D Mark II is currently (at the time of writing this review) the only full-frame DSLR camera that comes with both a fully-articulated screen and a microphone jack. It is equipped with a 26.2 MP full-frame CMOS sensor, comes with the DIGIC 7 image processor, and shoots up to full HD 1080p videos at 60 fps. The 6D is also equipped with the same 45-point all cross-phase detection and dual pixel CMOS autofocusing system as the 80D. If you’re wanting to vlog with a full-frame camera, the 6D Mark II is the best option. PROS - ISO sensitivity goes up to 102400 - Amazing touchscreen controls CONS - No 4K video recording option - No USB 3.0 |
Want to compare even more cameras? Check out…
12 Best Vlogging Cameras (2018)
Top 11 Cheap Vlogging Cameras (2018)
7 Best DSLR Cameras For Vlogging (2018)
8 Best Mirrorless Cameras For Vlogging (2018)
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
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- Title: "In 2024, Mastering Shots A Vlogger’s Lens Compendium"
- Author: Joseph
- Created at : 2024-05-31 13:50:17
- Updated at : 2024-06-01 13:50:17
- Link: https://youtube-stream.techidaily.com/in-2024-mastering-shots-a-vloggers-lens-compendium/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
