Updated: July 8th, 2025

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
• A self-contained vlogging kit: Canon PowerShot V1
• For ambitious vloggers and videographers: Sony ZV-E10 II
• Best high-end vlogging pick: Sony ZV-E1

Best camera for vlogging on the move: DJI Osmo Pocket 3

Photo: Richard Butler

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

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.

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

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: Sony ZV-E1

Full-width 4K/60p, 120p with minor crop | Auto cropping/framing modes | Subject recognition AF

It has pretty much everything a vlogger would need: Sony's class-leading autofocus, a front tally light, a stabilized sensor, 4K/60 with no crop and excellent rolling shutter performance. It also has features that make shooting alone easier, such as its auto framing mode that dynamically zooms in on the subject in a frame, much like a cameraperson would, and the product showcase mode that overrides the face detection AF when you're clearly trying to show the camera something.

Read our initial review of the Sony ZV-E1

A cheaper competitor

If your budget doesn't quite stretch as far as the ZV-E1 requires, the Panasonic S9 may be a decent option that costs around $1000 less. It, too, has a stabilized, full-frame sensor, though it lacks a headphone jack and some of the vlogging-specific features Sony includes. While its sensor can shoot at higher-than-4K resolutions for more flexibility in post, its slower readout means you'll have to deal with a crop when shooting 4K/60, and will have to be aware of rolling shutter.

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.