YouTubers use a lot of different cameras. It’s hard to summarize all of them quickly, but the most common are ones like the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and the Sony a7S II, which offer a good compromise between price and quality.
I’m Caleb, and I have more than four years spent as a photographer. My experience has taught me what gear is useful for different types of photographers, and in this article, I’ll look over some of the most commonly used cameras for YouTubers.
If you’re interested in discovering the gear behind some of your favorite videos, keep reading below.
What Kind of Cameras Do YouTubers Use?
Before getting into specific models, we should look at the general categories of cameras YouTubers use.
Excluding Panasonic and their micro four-thirds format, the competition in the video space is between DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
There’s a larger debate around which of these formats is better, but we won’t get into all the details here. It would take too long, and what’s important in this conversation is video performance.
In the video area, mirrorless cameras have a bit of an edge. They tend to have faster and more accurate autofocus, which helps prevent blurry footage when the camera is changing focus.
Also, mirrorless cameras are usually smaller than DSLRs — sometimes significantly so. This is another upside for some types of YouTubers, like vloggers, since it makes these cameras easier to carry around while recording on the move.
With that being said, DSLRs are still widely used, even for video recording. Many of the most common YouTuber cameras are DSLRs, partly because the shift towards mirrorless is only a relatively recent trend.
Also, many newer DSLRs have better autofocus systems, making them more competitive in the video than their mirrorless counterparts.
What Cameras Do YouTubers Use?
There’s no universal top camera for YouTubers. YouTubers have recorded popular videos, from phone cameras to expensive Hollywood-style setups. But a high price tag doesn’t necessarily make a camera the best option for making videos.
But if you look at enough YouTuber camera setups, some trends stand out. The most common cameras seem to be the ones that offer a good compromise between price and performance.
After all, small to medium-sized YouTube channels will naturally have a tougher time splashing out thousands of dollars for a top-of-the-line camera body and even more for lenses and other equipment.
1. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II is perhaps the most common model to come up in YouTuber equipment lists. Many YouTubers either use it right now or used it earlier in their career. For example, Pewdiepie and FouseyTUBE use the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II.
It’s a point-and-shoot camera, but the respectable resolution and the 1080p recording quality allow it to compete with interchangeable lens DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.
The camera was more or less marketed to content creators. Several of its features, from the recording quality and image stabilization to the adjustable screen, are well-suited to their needs.
Because it’s not the most high-end camera, the G7 X Mark II is also affordable compared to more professional alternatives. Many YouTubers eventually move on from it and upgrade to better options, but the Mark II is undeniably a good starting option.
2. Canon EOS 70D
The Canon EOS 70D isn’t nearly as ubiquitous as the PowerShot G7 X Mark II, but it’s also commonly used by content creators because of its decent capabilities and reasonable price. Zoella, a popular vlogger, uses it for her YouTube channel as an example.
Since the 70D has been succeeded by the more capable 80D and 90D, the price has dropped a lot since it first came out. However, it still has a 20.2-megapixel sensor and can record in 1080p.
Granted, the latter is limited to 30 frames per second. But if you’re buying the 70D over a newer model in the first place, you’re already choosing to sacrifice a bit of performance for a good price.
The 70D can use all the Canon EF lenses, and upgrading to a higher quality lens later on can quickly provide a boost in quality for someone that picked the 70D as a starter camera.
A lot of YouTubers don’t use this as their primary one but have the model in their collection as a decent alternate option.
Some camera setups, after all, require multiple cameras. And many YouTubers don’t have the funds to buy more than one high-end camera.
3. Sony a7S II
The Sony a7S II full-frame mirrorless camera was pretty clearly designed for video. It has only 12.2 megapixels for still photography, but has a 4K max resolution for video. In fact, Sony claims that the a7S II is the world’s first full-frame 4K camera.
Designing the a7S II around video paid off for Sony, as it has become another widely used camera model for YouTubers, such as Jon Olsson, Tanner Fox, and Tanner Braungardt.
Sony has come out with better models since the release of the a7S II, but it doesn’t look like this one will go away anytime soon.
It’s more expensive than the other cameras on this list, but it handles a more specific role.
While the price is higher than entry-level cameras and even a lot of older high-end cameras, it’s still a decent deal compared to top video cameras that can go over $3,000 in price.
The successor to this model, the a7S III, is one of those cameras that broke the $3,000 mark in its release price.
It’s safe to say that, until the price drops in the future, most YouTubers that want a Sony video camera will choose the older a7S II.
FAQs
Here are some of the other frequently asked questions about YouTuber cameras.
What Cameras Do YouTubers Use For Vlogging?
The most common cameras for vlogging aren’t too different from the cameras on this list. However, mirrorless cameras are a bit more popular with vloggers than other types due to their autofocus and smaller size.
What Cameras Do YouTubers Use For Gaming?
The cameras used by gaming YouTubers vary greatly, but DSLR cameras are a bit more common with this crowd. The slower autofocus doesn’t matter as much when the camera is being used as a stationary face cam.
What Is The Best Camera For YouTube Beginners?
There’s no universal best camera for YouTube beginners, but the price and performance have made the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II arguably the most popular option for that demographic.
What Cheap Camera Do YouTubers Use?
A lot of older camera models can serve as cheap YouTube cameras. The EOS 70D is one of the more popular cameras like this because it still has relatively good performance.
Conclusion
YouTubers use a lot of different cameras, but cheaper entry-level and midrange options like the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and the Canon EOS 70D are very popular thanks to their accessibility.
From starter cameras like these, many YouTubers move on to better options after growing their channels — including specialty video-focused cameras like the Sony a7S II.
Have you ever recorded a YouTube video? Which camera model did you use? Tell us in the comments.
