Vlogging camera + external mic
Discussion
Depends on your budget, but you are looking for a camera with a flip-out screen and an external microphone input. The flip out screen allows you to see what yourself when you're recording, so something like the Sony a6x00 series if you want to be able to swap lenses to suit what you're doing or the ZV1 which is a dedicated vlogging camera.
As for the mic, I think all the cool kids are using the Rode Video Micro, it's fairly small, doesn't need power and is fine for the ranges you'd be filming yourself at.
As for the mic, I think all the cool kids are using the Rode Video Micro, it's fairly small, doesn't need power and is fine for the ranges you'd be filming yourself at.
I'm in a similar market - but instead of vlogging, I conduct/host a lot of video conferences. I started out with my laptop camera which was absolutely terrible, and then my son showed me DroidCam - an app I could load onto my phone and laptop which allows my laptop video conferencing to utilise the phone's camera wirelessly. Phone cameras are a revelation over the crap cameras laptops have.
Then I moved on - I have a number of GoPros, so I bought a video switcher (an Atem Mini) and used the HDMI output of the GoPros into that which was better still (and gave me alternative angles - useful for showing people bits of kit I'm reviewing for them or for showing a load of stills I've created), although the GoPros are possibly not as good as my Pixel 2XL or my iPhone in low light (I do a lot of nighttime VCs). But the phones aren't that great in low light either really and I don't want to work all night with the main light on.
To address the low light issue, I'm now about to step up to a proper camera but as I am not into photography, I'm mindful of not spending where it's not needed. I have read and watched on YouTube many reviews and come to the conclusion that a Sony A5100 with a Sigma f1.4 16mm Prime lens is what I need. It's not latest kit but that means I can get the camera and lens for about the same price as a more current camera body alone... and I've saved a fortune this year from not commuting.
I have also addressed the lighting - after experimenting with various diffusers in front of an LED torch, I recognised how you can get light onto your face without it being intrusive or overly bright. So now I have a panel light on order.
For audio I prefer wearing a headset, and I have a few. None of their mics are nearly as natural sounding as a condenser mic (my son has one for his gaming and streaming) but they are clear and they are in sync with the picture. Wearing a headset means I don't cause feedback to my conference attendees too. I have a few different types and move between them as I feel like a change. I have wired phone-type earphones with an in-line mic, a Jabra "telephone operator" single ear headset with a boom arm mic, a pair of Bose QCii and a couple of other nondescript over-ear wired types (gamer headsets).
If I were vlogging, I would certainly prefer condenser mics over dynamic - mainly for the rejection of non-direct sound (there is ALWAYS someone cutting their lawn around here, always with a petrol lawnmower). There are a number of Neewer mics on Amazon for under £50 and they're great. For branded mics, Rode seems to be the choice of many vloggers these days. I've been looking for an excuse to buy a Rodecaster Pro and a couple of their mics just because it looks like lovely hardware but I really don't have a use-case for one.
Then I moved on - I have a number of GoPros, so I bought a video switcher (an Atem Mini) and used the HDMI output of the GoPros into that which was better still (and gave me alternative angles - useful for showing people bits of kit I'm reviewing for them or for showing a load of stills I've created), although the GoPros are possibly not as good as my Pixel 2XL or my iPhone in low light (I do a lot of nighttime VCs). But the phones aren't that great in low light either really and I don't want to work all night with the main light on.
To address the low light issue, I'm now about to step up to a proper camera but as I am not into photography, I'm mindful of not spending where it's not needed. I have read and watched on YouTube many reviews and come to the conclusion that a Sony A5100 with a Sigma f1.4 16mm Prime lens is what I need. It's not latest kit but that means I can get the camera and lens for about the same price as a more current camera body alone... and I've saved a fortune this year from not commuting.
I have also addressed the lighting - after experimenting with various diffusers in front of an LED torch, I recognised how you can get light onto your face without it being intrusive or overly bright. So now I have a panel light on order.
For audio I prefer wearing a headset, and I have a few. None of their mics are nearly as natural sounding as a condenser mic (my son has one for his gaming and streaming) but they are clear and they are in sync with the picture. Wearing a headset means I don't cause feedback to my conference attendees too. I have a few different types and move between them as I feel like a change. I have wired phone-type earphones with an in-line mic, a Jabra "telephone operator" single ear headset with a boom arm mic, a pair of Bose QCii and a couple of other nondescript over-ear wired types (gamer headsets).
If I were vlogging, I would certainly prefer condenser mics over dynamic - mainly for the rejection of non-direct sound (there is ALWAYS someone cutting their lawn around here, always with a petrol lawnmower). There are a number of Neewer mics on Amazon for under £50 and they're great. For branded mics, Rode seems to be the choice of many vloggers these days. I've been looking for an excuse to buy a Rodecaster Pro and a couple of their mics just because it looks like lovely hardware but I really don't have a use-case for one.
Apparently this is the new 'king' of vlogging cameras.
Sony ZV1
https://www.parkcameras.com/p/7014200K/compact-cam...
Sony ZV1
https://www.parkcameras.com/p/7014200K/compact-cam...
evenflow said:
Hi all
absolutely nothing fancy needed
In that case, I would stick with your phone and invest your money in a gimbal (powered one), light and external mic. Spend as much as is comfortable on each but you'd need not spend any more that £300 total.absolutely nothing fancy needed
They'll transform your film for the good at the cheapest possible cost.
The type of mic depends on the type of vlogging - as in:
- are you always in the same indoor location with the camera on a tripod?
- are you outside in the elements (ie wind, rain etc) shooting hand held?
- are you vlogging in a noisy area?
- etc
The type of vlogging you do - or specifically the location where you record audio - will have an influence on choice of the best mic at the best price.
If you're using a handheld DSLR I would be looking for a decent shotgun mic in a cradle mounted on the camera as it will have 'good off axis rejection' - meaning it will diminish sounds which come from around or near the subject, as long as you point the mic at the subject.
You could do worse than to start with the Rode range of mics for video:
http://www.rode.com/microphones/video
I would check out the Podcastage channel for some ideas of mic prices and applications:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOU-zTlankT-JjN3...
Also, check out Sound On Sound magazine/website, an amazing resource if you're serious about getting good audio recordings:
https://www.soundonsound.com
- are you always in the same indoor location with the camera on a tripod?
- are you outside in the elements (ie wind, rain etc) shooting hand held?
- are you vlogging in a noisy area?
- etc
The type of vlogging you do - or specifically the location where you record audio - will have an influence on choice of the best mic at the best price.
If you're using a handheld DSLR I would be looking for a decent shotgun mic in a cradle mounted on the camera as it will have 'good off axis rejection' - meaning it will diminish sounds which come from around or near the subject, as long as you point the mic at the subject.
You could do worse than to start with the Rode range of mics for video:
http://www.rode.com/microphones/video
I would check out the Podcastage channel for some ideas of mic prices and applications:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOU-zTlankT-JjN3...
Also, check out Sound On Sound magazine/website, an amazing resource if you're serious about getting good audio recordings:
https://www.soundonsound.com
StevieBee said:
evenflow said:
Hi all
absolutely nothing fancy needed
In that case, I would stick with your phone and invest your money in a gimbal (powered one), light and external mic. Spend as much as is comfortable on each but you'd need not spend any more that £300 total.absolutely nothing fancy needed
They'll transform your film for the good at the cheapest possible cost.
Pedal_Loud said:
I use an EOS M50 and Rode Video Micro.
Not perfect and the picture isn't great and it crops 4k but otherwise so far so good.
Probably pick them up for a decent price used now.
Off Topic, but I think yours is struggling to focus on your face a bit because of the reflections in your glasses is confusing the camera Not perfect and the picture isn't great and it crops 4k but otherwise so far so good.
Probably pick them up for a decent price used now.
You can see when a reflection goes onto your glasses it hunts for focus in this segment
https://youtu.be/muk0aJgSW2s?t=122
Camera AF looks for horizontal lines that make up a face, failing that they look for straight lines which is why it's picking up the stitching on the rear seats, a small LED panel light will help a lot.
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