Max. Recording Quality: 720p30| MP: 16 | ISO: 100 – 6400 |Flip Screen: No | Touchscreen: No| WiFi: No | External Mic. Port: No | Video File Format: .AVI | Sensor: 1/2.3″ CCD Sensor| Internal Memory: No | Battery: 250 shots | Focal Length: 25 – 900mm | Max Aperture: f2.9 (wide) – f6.5 (tele)
The Fujifilm FinePix S8600 is a camera near the $100 mark. Even though it lacks some useful features for vlogging, its cheap price makes up for it. This is why it’s considered one of the best cameras for vlogging if you want only the essential.
Even though you will see there are some downsides to using the Fujifilm FinePix S8600, I believe this is the best choice to start vlogging. It’s image quality is extremely good for the price, and it’s a good choice if you want to try out how everything goes with vlogging.
Let’s start with all the good things you’ll get with this camera.
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Why is the Fujifilm FinePix S8600 Good for Vlogging?
It can record in .AVI file format – This camera can record in a file wrapper format that is easy to edit. You won’t need a powerful computer to edit its video files. AVI files are also compatible with YouTube, so you won’t need to convert the file before uploading.
It has a full manual mode – Having a manual mode allows you to set your camera the best for a certain situation. You can improve your image quality by being able to set aperture and ISO manually. If you have the knowledge, which doesn’t take much time to learn, you can get rid of unnecessary grains on your image.
This is something rare in cameras in this price range. It’s a huge advantage for any situation, not only for vlogging.
It’s available for an extremely low price – Even though the camera lacks some helpful features, its cheap price makes it worth buying. You will be able to start recording good videos with it. This makes it a great camera to get as a vlogging first-timer.
Getting an expensive camera straight away is not a good idea unless you want to take this seriously. You might end up losing interest in it soon enough, so getting a good cheap camera is a good, low-risk start.
Its wide zoom range allows you to use it for different meanings – You are able to record with a wide-angle, which is useful when you need to record closer to the camera, and with normal focal length, which allows you to prevent perspective distortion.
This camera is famous for its amazing 36x zoom for a low price. Sadly, this is not a feature really useful for vlogging. But its image quality is still great for a camera under $200
What Will You Miss by Buying this Camera?
There are some features available on other cameras that you will be missing if you buy the Fujifilm FinePix s8600:
It can’t record beyond 720p30 – The difference between 720p and 1080p isn’t that great, but higher quality video is always welcome.
No WiFi – You will need to connect a cable or use a memory card reader to transfer your videos to your PC, and finally to YouTube.
No articulating screen –It’s always useful to have a way of seeing what you’re recording through the camera’s LCD. If you record yourself, you won’t be able to make sure you’re being focused by the camera until you see the result. This will lead you to waste more time planning your stage, as you will have to make sure you’re within the area recorded by the camera before starting.
No touchscreen makes setting things slower – Having a touchscreen makes navigation through the interface menu faster. Nevertheless, this is an uncommon feature in this price range.
If you want an alternative to this camera, check this list of cheap compact cameras.
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.