If I were to start vlogging all over again, I would simply use my phone. This is what I recommend to people looking for a cheap vlogging camera. However, sometimes people don’t have a phone with a good camera or don’t want to use it for vlogging for whatever reason.
If you’re one of them, don’t worry, there are some relatively cheap cameras that you can use for vlogging. I’ve owned tons of cameras and I know pretty much all the good offerings there are for vloggers.
Here’s the list of the best cheap vlogging cameras so you can start as soon as possible. Bear in mind that prices vary all the time, so sometimes they might be above the threshold I’m marking for each.
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My Top 5 Favorites
These are my best choices, but you’ll find more cameras that are worth considering below
Table of Contents
Best Under $500
Sony DSC-HX99
The Good
- Affordable compact with the basics
- Flip-up screen​​​​​
- Image stabilization
- Pocketable
The Bad
- Not good for low light
- No external mic port
Flip Screen: Yes | Type: Compact | Stabilization: Yes | Mic Jack: No | Resolution: 4kp30 | Weight: 242g (0.53 lb)
The Sony DSCHX99 offers really good value to vloggers. It’s just like asking for a camera that has all the basics a vlogger needs and only that, so they can pay less and save on extra features they don’t care about.
Although it is still missing the external microphone port, you can’t ask for much more for this price:
It offers 4kp30 recording, flip-up screen, image stabilization, wifi, and even time-lapse features with Sony’s photography app.
You will get a camera that can record the top resolution before 4k, which will also allow you to play a bit with slow motion. And you will also get really smooth video while walking thanks to its image stabilization.
Knowing all this, I should mention its two weakest points. The first is audio. It’s not much worse than other cameras on this list, but it’s a shame its microphones aren’t located on the front. This would help vloggers a lot because it picks your voice better and you are not in danger of covering the microphone with your hands while recording yourself.
The second thing is the lens. It’s not a fast lens since it has an aperture of f3.5 to f6.4. Taking into account that it has a small point-and-shoot CMOS sensor, this combination is not good for low-light recording. It will lose a lot of quality indoors, so make sure to use it outside or with a good lighting kit.
Its price isn’t the cheapest on this list, but I find it has a good balance for vloggers and it still can be considered a cheap camera.
Its low-light performance is not bad, but it’s not the best at this price either. This is not a surprise due to its small size and cheap price.
Canon EOS M200
The Good
- 4k video recording
- ​Cheap action camera
- ​Small and can be attached to your body
The Bad
- 4k is cropped
- No external mic input
Flip Screen: Yes | Type: Compact | Stabilization: No | Mic Jack: No | Resolution: 4kp30 | Weight: 299g (10.55 oz)
The Canon EOS M200 has been a popular choice for a few years now among beginners. It offers a range of features that make it an excellent option for those looking to start vlogging without breaking the bank.
The EOS M200 is equipped with a 24.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 8 image processor. It can record 4K—with a crop—video while having a 3.0-inch 180-degree tilt-type touchscreen LCD. This screen can be flipped upwards, making it easy to frame yourself while vlogging.
In terms of connectivity, the EOS M200 excels with its built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. These features make it easy to transfer your footage to your computer or smartphone, allowing for quick editing and uploading. This can be a significant time-saver for vloggers who need to get their content online as quickly as possible.
Another good thing is that it is a Canon, so it takes advantage of its excellent eye-tracking autofocus for a lower price. Bear in mind that it doesn’t you can’t connect an external mic, but the built-in microphone is not too bad.
Canon EOS Rebel T7
The Good
- Affordable DSLR
- Good battery duration
- Good in low light
The Bad
- Heavy
- No external mic port
- No flip screen
Flip Screen: No | Type: DSLR | Stabilization: No | Mic Jack: No | Resolution: 1080p30 | Weight: 475g (1.05 lb)
The Canon EOS Rebel T7 is an excellent beginner camera at an affordable price, but with a few disadvantages.
The T7 weighs 1.75 pounds (with the battery and SD card) and measures 5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1 inches. Its rubber-encased grip makes it easier to hold. All buttons and dials are clearly marked, but aside from the lens release button, there are no controls on the front plate.
The Wi-Fi and NFC, along with the Canon Camera Connect app, allow you to transfer photos to your phone and share pictures when you’re away from home.
The T7 supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory. The battery charges outside the camera in an included wall charger. It has a battery life of 500-shots. Although when using the optical finder, that number drops to 240 shots in using Live View
With a 24-megapixel sensor and Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS II lens, the T7 offers full HD (1920 x 1080 ), HD (1280 x 720 ), and SD (640 x 480). Movies record in MPEG4 AVC H264, which delivers MOV files, making sharing easy. While the video quality is good, the audio isn’t as impressive. You’ll get decent sound unless it’s windy, and there are sound adjustments for that.
The bad thing about it is the lack of a flip screen. This will make it harder for you to record videos because you can’t be sure that you’re inside the frame. Also, since it’s a heavy DSLR, we don’t recommend it for traveling. It’s better as a YouTube camera that you set up on a tripod.
Best Under $400: GoPro HERO11 Black
The Good
- 4k video recording
- ​Cheap action camera
- ​Small and can be attached to your body
The Bad
- Fixed fish-eye lens without zoom
- You may have to buy a lot of extra accesories
Flip Screen: No | Type: Action | Stabilization: Yes | Mic Jack: Yes | Resolution: 5.3k60 | Weight: 12.3 oz
GoPros aren’t for every situation, but they are pretty cheap cameras that give you a lot for your money.
This little camera can record crips 5.3k60 video with the limitation of having a really small sensor and wide-angle lens.
Used for long periods, the fisheye lens can even make some of your viewers sick, so it’s definitely a camera that I’d use only for what it was made for: sports and action vlogging.
However, I think you can get started with one until you have money for a better, proper camera. The GoPro will always be useful in some situations anyway.
This Hero 11 version has an improved microphone when compared to previous versions, can record in higher quality, and has a new sensor that lets you zoom in, crop, change digital lenses, adjust aspect ratios, and more.
I recommend you use it with an external recorder or microphone to get the most out of it.
Best Under $100: Logitech C922
The Good
- Good autofocus
- Best image quality under $100
The Bad
- Can’t use it without a computer
Type: Webcam | Stabilization: No | Mic Jack: No | Resolution: 1080p30
The Logitech C922 webcam was made for streamers and offers 1080p recording at 30fps, as well as 720p at 60fps. The image quality is fantastic. Its HDR delivers a more professional quality picture. For bloggers and streamers, the C922 is an excellent choice. The only drawback is that the quality drops remarkably when recording in 720p.
The noise reduction smoothes out most of the detail and there doesn’t seem to be a way to fix that. It also has two microphones for better sound quality. One of the best features is the automatic background replacement, which lets you choose what you want viewers to see, although it doesn’t work in every environment.
It has a 78-degree range of view and an autofocus feature, including light correction, to ensure everything comes out perfectly.
The C922 also comes with a tripod as well as a mount for your monitor. The mount is sturdy and is sure to keep the webcam in place during streaming. When it comes to price, quality, and easy use, the C922 is an excellent choice for streamers and YouTubers just starting out.
​Conclusion and More Options
​If you are thinking about getting something a bit more expensive ​or want more options, know that these ones aren’t the only good cheap cameras.
​You can find more cameras according to your budget by navigating through the site. Here are some articles you may want to read:
- ​Best Vlogging Cameras Under $100​​​
- ​Best Vlogging Cameras Under $200​​​
- ​Best Vlogging Cameras Under $300​​​
- ​Best Vlogging Cameras Under $500​​​
When calculating your budget, remember to save a little bit for your microphone, which is even more important than your camera.
Will has been a full-time content creator since 2014. He’s an audio, video, and tech hobbyist dedicated to reviewing products and giving you the best tips he knows to grow your audience.