We’ve researched hundreds of YouTube videos looking for what cameras the most famous creators use every day. You’ll find out about the cameras used by people like Zoella, Connor Franta, Joey Graceffa, Trisha Paytas, and more.
Here we’ll try to explain why these famous YouTubers use these cameras, and why there are some options that are a common choice between them.
Table of Contents
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The Top 3 Picks Among YouTubers
These are by far the most popular choices among most YouTubers, regardless of how many subscribers they have:
Now, let’s see all the cameras we’ve seen so far.
Canon Powershot G7X
The Good
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
- Extremely light
- Great IS and external mic port
The Bad
- Not good for indoors
- Lack of Wi-Fi
- No internal Memory
This one is a daily vlogs camera because it’s small and you can take it anywhere comfortably and still record top-quality video. This one is actually one of the video cameras that Youtubers use the most. Only the newer Canon EOS M50 was able to beat it. The current model is the PowerShot G7X Mark III.
The latest version of this camera records 4k video like a champ. And not only that, it comes with a lens that even though you can’t swap for another one, you don´t need another one for vlogging.
Additionally, it has cool features for vlog. The ability to record a slow-motion video, a time-lapse feature, wireless connectivity, great autofocus, and a flip touchscreen.
The only thing this one lacks is a microphone port, but that’s because it’s a compact camera. To fix this, vloggers use an external recorder like the one I recommend here.
Here are some YouTubers who use or have used a version of this camera at some point:
Zoella
In a “What’s in my bag video“, she said that the G7X Mark II is the camera she will be using for her vlogs.
However, in a later video on her second channel, she specified she uses the Canon EOS 70D for videos that need the best quality. We’ve seen this is one of the common choices between YouTubers, so it proves that the 70D is a good camera for this job.
Faze Rug
In a video where he tests if this camera can hold a 100-foot drop inside a foam cube, you can see clearly he’s using the Canon Powershot G7X Mark II
CutiePie
She said in a video that she bought a new camera: the Canon PowerShot G7 X. She stopped using her DSLR because it wasn’t comfortable to carry around, which is the main reason the G7 X is getting so popular between vloggers.
Joey Graceffa
In his vlogging videos, you can see he uses the Canon Powershot G7X.
He previously used the Canon PowerShot s120, but it’s no longer available.
Roman Atwood
Roman has been using the Canon Powershot G7X for a long time. In fact, he’s owned several throughout the years, so it seems he really loves this camera.
Pewdiepie
Similar to Marzia, Pewdiepie has been seen using the G7X for vlogging. However, he mainly uses a camcorder for the videos he records from home, the Canon XA11. You can find more about all of his equipment here.
The DDG Family
You can see in their videos that The DDG Family likes small point & shoot cameras. The Canon G7X Mark II is the most popular for vlogging. So that one is probably his favorite camera.
Canon EOS 70D, 80D or 90D
The Good
- The most reliable autofocus (until the $3,000 mark)
- Fast, responsive, and has an articulating screen
- A wide variety of lenses is available
The Bad
- Heavy DSLR
- No 4k recording
- No image stabilization
When it comes to DSLRs for video, the first camera that comes to mind is the Canon EOS 90D. Its outstanding autofocus and image quality —and the fact that it’s one of the few good DSLRs with a flip screen— make it one of the best DSLRs for video recording in general.
DSLRs are usually a little bit bulky and require extra effort if you need to carry them around. But, they are the preferred kind of cameras of photographers and filmmakers for good reasons.
After all, you have a wide variety of lenses you can use to achieve different results, and they are trustworthy cameras with a really big sensor when compared to compact and, especially, camcorders.
This is what makes DSLRs really good for low-light conditions. They keep the image quality in good shape, even on foggy days.
Most of them aren’t exactly made for video, with just a few exceptions, and the 90D is one of them.
It has a really fast and accurate autofocus system. It also has a flip screen, which is one of the main reasons YouTubers like it. It is a fast, responsive camera that can record excellent video in low-light conditions. It also has a really good battery life (900+ shots) and like most DSLRs, a mic port.
It is one of those options YouTubers that record from home —although it has a fair weight and size for a DSLR— should consider if they want to invest good money in their equipment.
It is not the cheapest DSLR you can get, but it is the best for video before the truly expensive Canon EOS 5D.
Here are some YouTubers who use or have used a version of this camera at some point:
Aspyn Ovard
In a recent video behind the scenes you can see she’s using the Canon EOS 80D. This is the 70D successor, released in 2016. It is very similar, but it comes with a new sensor and processor. This makes the camera faster and has better image quality.
McJugger Nuggets
In an acted video uploaded on July 2017, you can see how his psycho dad character grabs his camera, a Canon 70D and throws it to the ground. There’s also a Canon Powershot G7X II in the video. Whether he has continued using a 70D for the following videos is uncertain.
NELK
You can see that they’re using the Canon EOS 90D in some of their videos.
Canon EOS Rebel
The Good
- DSLR made for video
- More up-to-date than the 80D
- Wide variety of lenses available
The Bad
- No in-camera stabilization
- There are cheaper cameras with 4k
When you start researching YouTube cameras, it’s probable that the most common name you will stump upon will be the Canon Rebel T3I.
This was, in fact, the most popular YouTube camera during its beginning years. This was thanks to being the cheapest lineup of DSLRs that were made for video, and they were a massive success.
The T3i is now discontinued, but the good news is that Canon has released a new version every year. Right now either the T7i or T8i are good options if you’re just starting out.
This lineup from Canon, as you already know, was made for video. The first thing that makes it stand out is its flip-out screen. It’s a DSLR that can record 1080p/30 video and that has, of course, a microphone input and a hot shoe to mount a shotgun microphone.
It’s still one of the most used DSLRs for YouTubers that are starting out. And the best thing is that it is Canon, so you have all the best lenses on the market available to use in a cheap body.
Famous YouTubers that used/have used Canon Rebel cameras:
Jenn Im
Channel name: clothesencounters
She said in her FAQ video that she uses the T3i (November 2012). While this was a long time ago, the T3i is a camera to keep for many years, so probably she hasn’t bought any bigger upgrade yet.
Trisha Paytas
Channel name: blndsundoll4mj
This YouTuber has appeared with a lot of different cameras in her videos. She uses a T3i for some of her videos. She’s been using it for 7 years now, so that tells you how long a Rebel camera can last. And for her vlog videos, she told her followers that she uses a Canon G7 X.
LaurDIY
Channel name: LaurDIY
According to the FAQ section in her Tumblr, she’s used a Nikon D3000, D3100, and the Canon T3i. She says she’s using the Canon 70D.
Connor Franta
Channel name: ConnorFranta
According to his last update, he uses a T3i DSLR camera. This is a popular camera among YouTubers for good reasons.
Sony a6400
The Good
- 4k APS-C sensor
- Probably the best autofocus in the market
- Lightweight and small
- Flip screen
The Bad
- No in-body stabilization
- Using a shotgun mic will hide the flip-up screen
Sony made this camera thinking about vloggers. This is the first camera from the a6 series with a flip screen—still waiting on one for the a7 series, please Sony!
It is a camera that almost feels like it uses all the technological advantages available.
It can record 4k video at 24/30 fps without any crop in an APS-C camera that is extremely light, small and easy to carry around.
It has almost everything you need for video: a mic jack, flip screen, and hot shoe, and there’s no 29-minute recording limit.
Although it’s sad that if you use a shotgun microphone you will end up hiding the flip screen with it, so you won’t be able to use it.
Nevertheless, the camera has amazing quality, and it comes with a new autofocus tech from Sony that gave this camera the fastest autofocus in the world.
It is one of the vlogging cameras with the most reliable autofocus, it’s small and records amazing video.
It’s sad that it lacks in-body image stabilization. But this isn’t a big deal for vlogging because you’ll use wide-angle lenses, which makes movement feel smoother, and you can always get a lens with optical stabilization.
YouTubers that have used it:
The Ace Family
The Ace Family uses a camera from the Sony a6 lineup in most of their videos. They’re probably using the Sony a6400 since it’s very popular among vloggers.
iJustine
At the beginning of the year, iJustine recorded a review of her new vlogging camera, the Sony a6400. She was using the Sony a6500 before, but this new version comes with a flip screen, which is a huge plus for vloggers.
5D Mark IV
The Good
- Great battery life and quality
- 4k recording
- Great autofocus
- Full-frame sensor
The Bad
- Heavy and expensive
- No flip screen
- No in-camera stabilization
The 5D Mark IV is the DSLR king. It has been for a while now, so the king is getting old. But it’s still a monster camera that can record incredible video.
It is a camera that has been used for indie films, so that tells you the kind of quality we’re talking about. It’s really good for its price, even though it’s pretty expensive for a consumer camera.
The 5D Mark III achieves amazing colors, has a huge battery, dynamic range, and is the most reliable autofocus in all DSLRs.
This is a camera made for professional work. It’s as simple as that, really. And that’s why it costs what it costs.
You get what you pay for, and the 5D Mark III will allow you to shoot videos of incredible quality even at night. It is a full-frame camera, which means that its sensor is much bigger than the 70D and T6i.
This makes the lenses you use capture a lot more space than in an APS-C camera. It makes zoom lenses useful in more situations, and it captures a lot of light, so that’s why it’s so good in every environment.
It’s, of course, environmentally sealed so it can handle the toughest conditions.
It is the kind of camera that all professional photographers and filmmakers use for their job.
Most YouTubers won’t need this kind of camera. In fact, with a 90D, it will be more than enough. This model is for creators who are going to record A LOT of highly demanding videos.
I would recommend it only if you’re an indie filmmaker, and if you know what you’re doing.
YouTubers that use this camera:
Jennxpenn
Channel name: jennpex
You can see that in a video from Dell where she featured that she’s using the Canon EOS 5D Mark III to record her videos. You can see in a recent video from May 2017 that she’s still using the 5D.
This is a really expensive camera and one of the best offered by Canon. The camera is way above the YouTuber level, but still, she certainly has invested a lot in her equipment.
Sony Alpha 7S III
The Good
- Small and lightweight for a full-frame camera
- 4k recording quality
- Sensor-Shift stabilization
- Amazing low-light performance
The Bad
- Very expensive
- Quite heavy for a mirrorless
For other brands, it became almost impossible to design a new camera that people would prefer over the well-established King Canon EOS 5D. That camera was just too good for the price.
However, Sony had the answer. The only way came through making a camera that could be just as good as the best on the market in a lot smaller and lighter package. That’s what they did with the Sony Alpha 7 cameras. And their answer for the best video performance came with the Sony A7S.
The A7S III is a full-frame camera that can take all the advantage of high-quality, fast lenses. This allows it to achieve an amazing Bokeh effect, and the lenses can capture a wider area, which is something really useful when you have to hold your own camera in “selfie” mode.
But probably the biggest thing about a full-frame camera is that it can record video in extremely dark conditions without losing much quality. You can go up to 409.6003 ISO, which is pretty ridiculous. This brings a lot of capacity to record in low-light environments.
Of course, this camera can also record 4kp120 video, which gives you slow motion in 4k. That’s something only the best of the best can offer.
It also has a beast dynamic range for high-contrast shooting and a reliable autofocus.
The bad part? Well, you better have a lot of money if you want to buy one. And if you just want a camera to take out with you, it’s probably better to just use a simpler vlogging camera that isn’t as heavy as a full-frame like this one.
YouTubers that have used some version of this camera:
Ricegum
Channel: RiceGum
He has used the Canon G7X before, but in a video uploaded to his 2nd YouTube channel on October 2016, he told us he got a new camera: the Sony a7S.
Jesse from BFvsGF
Channel: Jesse
The former BFvsGF channel used to use the Canon Powershot ELPH 330 HS when they were already big.
Now that they’ve separated, you can see Jesse using a Sony Alpha 7 camera on his personal channel. It looks like the A7S.
Tanner Fox
Channel name: MTflims
Tanner uses different cameras to produce his content. The main one he uses is the Sony a7S II, according to his video descriptions. He also uses the Canon G7X II as a travel camera, and his GoPro for his action videos
Jake Paul
Jake Paul is known as one of the biggest YouTube vloggers right now. It’s only natural that he will be using all the top equipment that is available. That’s why he’s been using the Sony a7S II for quite some time now.
Sony RX100
The Good
- 4k recording
- Pocketable
- Powerful daily vlogging camera
The Bad
- No external mic port
- Small sensor (worse for low light)
The Sony RX100 is a really small, compact camera that can imitate pretty well what a good larger sensor camera can do. It’s the main choice for many photographers who are tired of carrying all those heavy lenses and camera equipment around.
It comes with a really fast f/1.8 lens that helps in low light and counteracts the camera’s small sensor. It has many useful features for both photographers and filmmakers, like RAW capture, image stabilization, HDR mode, multiple focusing modes, fast-fps shooting, and even more.
The newer models of this camera — the last one is the Sony RX100 Mark V —- come with 4k recording and flip touchscreen.
This is why it has become a popular choice by vloggers in recent years, although it doesn’t seem as popular as its direct competitor, the Canon Powershot G7X Mark II.
It doesn’t have the most reliable video autofocus and best image stabilization of compact cameras, but it performs pretty well and can achieve beautiful 4k quality.
YouTubers that have used some version of this camera:
Faze Rain
Channel name: TrickShotting
In a video from his partner Faze Apex, you can see both using a Sony RX100. It’s unclear which version of the camera he’s using.
Our Favorite Choice: Canon EOS M50 II
The Good
- Made for vlogging
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Great autofocus
The Bad
- Crop and worse autofocus in 4k
As of late, many YouTubers, especially vloggers, have started using the Canon M50. It is a recent release, so most of the most famous haven’t updated their cameras, but it’s probable that as their current cameras start to get old, they start to replace them with what’s arguably the best current vlogging camera: the M50.
Remember, there are 5 things that make a fantastic vlogging camera:
- Flip screen
- Reliable, fast autofocus
- Good image stabilization
- External mic input
- Weight
The M50 is one of the few ones to have all 5 of them. But the funny thing is that it isn’t particularly great at any of them.
For example, the weakest point of this camera is the image stabilization. It uses a digital stabilization that crops in the image, making the frame smaller when you use it.
However, this is easily fixed because Canon’s lens lineup is arguably the best. Most of their lenses come with optical stabilization, so the camera doesn’t really need the in-body stabilization.
Also, even though the camera can record in 4k, it has its limitations. As soon as you record in 4k, the camera’s autofocus performance decreases, and the image gets cropped even more.
So this camera is in reality mainly a 1080p camera. If you use full HD, it will have, by far, the best performance.
The thing is that you might not want to record 4k for YouTube. If you check any YouTube channel’s analytics, you’ll find that 80% of people watch in 1080p on their smartphones. The public isn’t looking for a top-quality 4k video on YouTube. Handling heavy 4k files is a pain; you will need a good computer and a lot of storage.
So, since the M50 has excellent autofocus (in 1080p), the lenses have good stabilization, and the camera has a flip-out screen, and an external mic input, and it’s extremely small and lightweight, this camera is perfect for YouTube.
Combine it with a very affordable price (for a mirrorless camera), and you have the best choice for YouTube.
Most Famous YouTuber that uses the Canon EOS M50 (for now): Jatie Vlogs
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.