You may be wondering what equipment to use to film videos for your channel. If you’re just starting out, you may want to take a more cost efficient route, like your phone camera. However, if you’re looking to upgrade your current video quality, you can definitely consider more expensive equipment.
Here are a few camera suggestions from lowest to highest cost.
1. Your phone camera
A common misconception is that you need to have expensive, HD equipment to successfully start a channel when this is not the case at all. Especially if you’re starting on a budget, there is no need to buy a seven hundred dollar camera to produce great content. As mentioned in a previous post about starting a channel on a budget, you should value content above equipment. Your phone camera is totally fine to use to film videos. The quality is not bad at all, and especially for vlogging, it is the most convenient. In fact, many vloggers simply use their iPhone camera to vlog.
You can also “upgrade” your phone camera by buying external clip-on lenses, such as a clip-on fisheye lens that mimics the wide-angle lens of a GoPro. This saves a lot of money so you don’t have to buy another camera altogether. So, a phone is definitely a plausible camera for filming good YouTube videos.
2. A digital camera
A small digital camera lying around your house is also a very viable option for vlogging and making videos. You’re not filming a travel ad for a resort, nor are you expected to lug around a heavy, expensive camera as you daily vlog. Your channel is at liberty to you.
Recording discussion vlogs or just daily outings is totally fine with an average, inexpensive digital camera. It is much more convenient to carry around, and it’s probably a lot easier to navigate.
The author of this post filmed a travel vlog with a (quite old) digital camera she found in her desk drawer, and the footage came out just fine!
3. A GoPro
More and more people these days are filming with GoPros. One great perk of the small camera is that it’s pretty much indestructible. It’s waterproof, small, encased, and can be attached anywhere. GoPros are more versatile as opposed to regular cameras. They can be securely strapped onto helmets, worn on the chest, attached to airplane wings, and really anything you can think of. So, people like to use GoPros for more adventurous travel vlogs. The sound quality is also great, so you can really do anything with a GoPro.
If it’s within your budget, or if you’re considering investing in a more high-quality camera, definitely consider getting a GoPro because of its durability and great quality. The wide-angle view is also unique to many other camera angles.
4. Canon Rebel T5
Any Canon camera in the Rebel series is the best of the best. This is a very, very expensive camera, but it comes with many more features. You can really play around with the focus, exposure, depth of field, etc. with a Canon Rebel, so definitely go for this if you’re looking for professional equipment for a big-budget project. This is quite bulky, so it isn’t great for daily vlogging, but it’s great for taking photos and recording high-quality footage.
If you’re a filmmaker, you should go for this camera among the four suggestions. Whereas a YouTube vlogger can get away with using pretty much any kind of camera, an independent filmmaker eager to promote his or her art should save up some money to get a professional camera that will cover a great quality film. You get the quality you pay for, so your subject will be much sharper and clearer with this camera than with your phone camera or a regular digital camera.
Remember that your content matters much more than the technical quality of the video does. Whether you’re filming with your phone or an expensive camera, the core of the video is the subject in front of the camera. So, start first with your ideas, then prepare the equipment. In general, your phone is just as good at filming as a GoPro or Canon. When you’re ready, both financially and artistically, feel free to upgrade camera quality, with the above in mind.
Interested in getting your YouTube video discovered by masses of targeted fans? Click this link: www.promolta.com
Angelina Hue enjoys listening to wide variety of music, from instrumental movie scores to alternative indie to Korean pop music. She also likes to make short films and write fiction.
Leave a Comment