The Best Vlogging Cameras for 2025

The Sony ZV-E1 is, hands-down, the best built-for-vlogging camera we’ve tested. It records full-frame 4K videos with the option to blur backgrounds; records clear audio internally with support for digital add-on microphones; and unlocks access to the broad Sony lens system. It also includes features made just for content creators, such as a widescreen CineVlog look, an autofocus mode for product reviews, and an AI-based camera assistant that adds production value to self-recorded footage.

The ZV-E1 has loads of features to help solo creators get more engaging videos. For instance, it can automatically punch in for a tighter frame, while still tracking your movements, and it includes several beyond-basic stabilization modes. Sony does its best to make the camera’s features easy to understand too, which is helpful for newcomers, though the price and pro-level capabilities make this an equally compelling pick for creators with existing know-how.

The Fujifilm X-S20 is an exceptionally capable camera for video thanks to its stabilized sensor, nearly full-width 4K60 recording option, and front-facing display. It supports F-Log recording with 10-bit 4:2:2 color for expert editors, and vloggers who prefer a ready-to-share clip can use Fuji Film Simulations for easy creative looks. Plenty of lenses are available, too, including the wide XF 8mm F3.5, meaning you have freedom in your choice of angle.

The X-S20’s major selling point over lesser priced cameras is its stabilized image sensor. Vloggers who like to record handheld or from a monopod will appreciate the stability it adds versus entry-level cameras that rely entirely on digital stabilization. We especially like that it provides different types of stabilization, including a tripod mode for static shots plus the more common mode for scenes where the camera moves freely.

Aerial shots can spice up any vlog. They do well for B-roll and establishing locations, so it’s worth thinking about adding a drone to your toolkit. The best one for vloggers is the DJI Mini 4 Pro. It records 4K60 video and supports 10-bit Log color, along with HDR HLG. Its camera can also twist to accommodate landscape and vertical perspectives. If you’re new to flying, be happy to know you don’t have to register this model and that its 360-degree obstacle avoidance system helps keep it safe in the skies.

The Mini 4 Pro is for drone-curious creators. It’s intuitive to fly, packs a lot of safety features, and churns out excellent footage. If you vlog for fun you’ll be able to use it without having to register with the FAA. The Mini 4 Pro supports Remote ID if you use it with an extended life battery, so FAA license holders who work for outlets with monetized YouTube channels or who otherwise receive financial compensation for drone work can use it too.

The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is an action cam first and foremost, but it also offers a lot to vloggers, including a front-facing touch display, 10-bit HDR video, excellent battery life, world-class stabilization, and easy support for DJI’s excellent Mic Mini wireless audio system. The Osmo’s wide-angle lens captures an immersive view of your surroundings, and since the camera is rugged and waterproof, it’s a good option for adventurous vloggers.

Your vlog can certainly benefit from the creative shots that the tiny, mountable Osmo Action 5 Pro can get. Its waterproof build and slow-motion recording options also come in handy for outdoor and nature work, as well as speed-ramped action.

The dual-lens Insta360 X5 probably shouldn’t be your only camera for vlogs, but it’s unique in its ability to grab mind-bending hyperlapse footage and give your viewers a true sense of your surroundings. It can go pretty much anywhere, too, thanks to a rugged, waterproof build. Video capture tops out at an impressive 8K resolution at 30fps and looks clearer in dim light than the outgoing X4.

Consider the X5 if you want to add some special effects shots to your vlogs. It offers the rare combination of excellent hardware and powerful, easy-to-use software. Insta360’s full-featured mobile app makes the X5 especially appealing for vloggers who cut video on a phone or tablet.

You can get excellent footage from any flagship smartphone, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a step above the rest. Each of its three rear cameras offers different angles of view, so you can cover angles from ultra-wide to short telephoto, and each supports 4K60 recording. The main lens features optical stabilization, and it encodes video using Apple’s superlative ProRes compression, a feature you can’t get with an Android phone.

Apple puts all of its best camera features into the Pro Max making it the ideal smartphone for content creators, influencers, and vloggers. If you are most comfortable shooting, editing, and posting vlogs from a mobile operating system, you simply won’t find a better device for your vlogs.

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 puts its large Type 1 sensor camera on a 3-axis gimbal for smooth, stable, and hassle-free video, so you can easily get smooth, handheld footage from a camera with a sensor that’s large enough to soften backgrounds in self-recorded clips. The Pocket supports 10-bit 4K60 with standard, HDR HLG, or D-Log M color, and does 3K60 vertical recording for social platforms, too. It’s easy to change aspect ratios as well; just twist the touch screen 90 degrees. Excellent battery life and a strong accessory library complete the package.

The Pocket 3 is the camera to get if you work handheld and want tripod-quality stabilization without the fuss of external accessories. You can get started vlogging right out of the box with the basic edition, but more advanced creators should opt for the $979 Creator Combo, which includes an extended-life battery, a wide-angle add-on lens, a tabletop tripod, a wireless mic, and a carrying case.

The Sony ZV-E10 II is an impressively small mirrorless vlogging camera that puts video features at the forefront. Its APS-C image sensor records 4K60 video and provides effective digital stabilization for handheld recording (with a crop), while a three-capsule stereo mic picks up clear, dynamic audio. The E-mount lens system is another benefit; dozens of compatible lenses open up creative options that just aren’t possible with a fixed-lens camera.

The ZV-E10 II is best for creators with an established following or who have a decent budget for lenses and accessories on top of the camera. Tech know-how isn’t a requirement, however, as Sony provides one-button access to useful features like background defocus, product showcase autofocus, and wide-screen recording with cinematic color tones. Simply put, the ZV-E10 II makes it easier to improve the look and production value of your vlogs, even if you’re not an expert.

Sony established the vlogging compact concept with the original ZV-1 and improved on that formula with this Mark II version. The updated camera includes an extra-wide 18-50mm lens for more effective digital stabilization, 8-bit 4K30 video, and a three-capsule mic for clear audio. On the downside, neither the battery life nor the rear screen is very good.

If you want a small, all-in-one solution for video, the ZV-1M2 is a suitable pick. You don’t have to worry about changing lenses with it, and the built-in mic works surprisingly well in most scenarios. Vlog-friendly features like Face Priority Metering, Background Defocus, and Product Showcase also make it a clear upgrade over a smartphone.

If you can’t handle the ZV-E1’s high price, consider the crop-sensor Nikon Z 30. It takes the imaging engine from the photo-centric Z 50 and puts it in a design that’s more conducive to video and vlogs; it skips an EVF and in-body flash in favor of a swing-out LCD and excellent microphone (though add-on mics remain an option). However, video tops out at 4K30 and relies on digital stabilization, so you’ll want a gimbal for most handheld recording.

The Z 30 can roll better 4K video than a phone or small camera, plus it offers the creative flexibility of interchangeable lenses. It doesn’t do as much as high-end options, but is a solid starting point for vloggers who want a camera that can change lenses and has an excellent built-in microphone. We just wish you could get the Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm F3.5-5.6 PZ VR ($359.99) lens bundled in a kit—it’s an ideal starter zoom for this camera after all.