Find the Best Camera for your Blog with our Top Ten List of Blogging Cameras (updated 2020)
TL;DR Version:
The Top 10 Best Blogging Cameras
- Canon EOS 80D
- Nikon D750
- Canon EOS 70D
- Canon EOS Rebel T7i
- Nikon D5300
- Nikon D3300
- Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
- Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100
- Canon PowerShot SX700 HS
- Fujifilm FinePix XP80
A good blog needs the right camera
As more people discover the enjoyment of blogging, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to make your blog stand out.
New bloggers are often competing with hundreds of veteran websites with years of experience and a dedicated following – and if your site is focused on one of the most popular blog topics (health and beauty, food, travel and fitness) it can seem almost impossible to gain high traffic. However, one critical feature continues to play a make-or-break role in blog popularity – image quality.
Regardless of whether your blog is about dog-grooming or computer science, high quality images are absolutely necessary. Think about the last time you read an article online. The main image was likely what drew you in, persuading you to click the article and read further. Throughout, there were probably several images, sustaining your interest in the topic and complementing the written descriptions. Photos, taken by the blogger themselves, are necessary for a successful blog.
That being said, if the quality of the photos is poor, then they are likely doing more harm than good. Simply put, high-quality images indicate a professional and experienced blogger and low-quality images indicate a novice blogger.
If you want to invest in your blog, you must invest in the right camera. Different blogs call for different cameras – the travel blogger needs a lightweight, durable camera that can cope with wide landscape shots, whereas a beauty blogger needs a camera with an advanced macro setting for sharp close-ups. If you buy the wrong camera for your blog, one with a different purpose to what you need it for, you set yourself up for wasted time, money, and energy.
Because of this, our list is not a vague “Top Ten”. We have made it easy to discern which camera is right for your blog, by dividing the list into 6 DSLR cameras (numbers #1 to #6, for the more experienced blogger who needs a camera mostly for stills and home videography) and 4 point-and-shoot cameras (numbers #7 to #10, for both the experienced and beginner vloggers, and those who need a more portable camera).
DSLR or point-and-shoot?
The main decision you will have to make in choosing a blogging camera is whether to buy a DSLR or point-and-shoot. Each have their pros and cons, and each are suited to a specific photographic need.
Briefly, point-and-shoot cameras are most useful for on-the-go video blogging (“vlogging”), or adventure photography. The advanced auto settings are useful for capturing a high-quality shot quickly, and the smaller aperture of point-and-shoots are designed for sharp landscape photos. A lesser photo quality (in comparison to DSLRs) can be forgiven if the portability of the camera is essential for your blog.
DSLR cameras lend themselves to the more professional photographer, with more manual settings and interchangeable lenses allowing the photographer more freedom in his shots. However, they are rarely as lightweight or hardy as a point-and-shoot, so can be less convenient (and more expensive) than is worth it for the first-time blogger.
Research both options, and carefully consider the type of photos or videos that are needed for your blog. Cost will also likely play a factor in your decision: many of the DSLR options are considerably more expensive than their point-and-shoot counterparts. It is up to you whether your blog is worth the investment.
If you’re switching to DSLR for the first time, check out our article here for a comprehensive guide to beginner-level DSLRs.
Starting with the point-and-shoots, here are our favorite Blogging Cameras:
#10 Fujifilm FinePix XP80
Image via fujifilm.com
Sensor: BSI CMOS
Megapixels: 16.4
Burst Speed: 10 fps
Video: 1080p HD
Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes
The most affordable in our list, the Fujifilm FinePix XP80 is a good option for the beginner vlogger. Its impressive hardiness – waterproofing up to 15 m below sea level, shockproof to a 1.75 m drop, freeze proof to 10 °C and dust proof – makes this camera perfect for the adventure enthusiast or extreme sports athlete who wants to share his expeditions online.
Although the image quality is lower than the other cameras on our list (an average resolution of 16 MP), it is understandable due to its more reasonable price and toughness – you are paying for its practicality and durability. Saying that, however, the images would work fine on a webpage at normal size. Even with the 5x zoom, the quality is fairly well maintained, and Fujifilm have included optical image stabilization to prevent blurred photos.
The video capabilities of the FinePix are notable, with 1080p HD shooting and a useful movie editing feature which allows scene clipping and joining directly from the camera. For the vlogger on the go, this comes in very handy. Another impressive quality of the FinePix is its competitive continuous shooting mode of 10fps, with only a couple of seconds of preparation in between consecutive bursts.
Despite its lower image quality, the FinePix boasts extreme durability for a very reasonable price. For the adventurous vlogger just starting out, the FinePix is a great choice.
#9 Canon PowerShot SX700 HS
Image via canon.com
Sensor: BSI CMOS
Megapixels: 16.1
Burst Speed: 3.1 fps
Video: 1080p HD
Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes
A little higher up the price range is the Canon PowerShot SX700. With the extra expense, however, comes improved photo quality and a wider range of manual control. If you prefer to have a little more freedom in your photography than the regular point-and-shoot, a bridge camera such as this one is the camera for you.
With features such as a 30x zoom lens, built-in WiFi for easy sharing, and 1080 Full HD video, the PowerShot SX700 is our favorite for the travel blogger. A competitive 1 cm-minimum macro focus distance allows for impressive close-ups, adding variety to the conventional travel blog, and the GPS-to-mobile feature can tag the location of each shot.
A rubberized finger grip on the back, coupled with the button controls concentrated on the right side of the LCD screen make the PowerShot fairly sturdy to hold – even when using only one hand. This comes in handy for the travel photographer, who will often need a spare hand free in crowded cities!
Although the battery life is shorter than others on the market (clocking in at 250 shots), the camera does have an ECO Mode, bringing its lifespan up to 360 shots. If you are willing to carry an extra battery or two, the PowerShot SX700 is a good choice for the travel blogger/vlogger, producing high quality images for a very reasonable price.
#8 Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100
Image via sony.com
Sensor: Exmor CMOS
Megapixels: 20.2
Burst Speed: 10 fps
Video: 1080p HD
Wi-Fi connectivity: No
Our second favorite digital camera is the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100. Although quite expensive compared to other cameras in its department, it certainly delivers maximum value for its price. With a full range of manual controls as well as an impressive Auto-Mode, the RX-100 is an excellent portable alternative (or addition) to a DSLR for the more advanced photographer.
The RX-100’s most noteworthy feature is its extra-large sensor – 4x bigger than most compact cameras. The image quality is visibly better as a result, with no wide-angle distortion and retained focus with zoom. Also worth mentioning is the maximum aperture of f/1.8, allowing the professional defocused background commonly associated with DSLRs.
One of the drawbacks to the RX-100 is its weak flash. For home photography (flat-lays, for example), extra lighting equipment would probably be useful. Check out our article here for DIY lighting hacks.
The exceptional image quality is what earns the RX-100 a high spot in our point-and-shoot list, but its video features are also top-class. With its full HD 1080p video (compatible with iMovie and Final Cut Pro X), portability and large LCD screen (3” monitor), we rate the RX-100 as our second choice for both experienced and start-up vloggers.
#7 Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
Image via canon.com
Sensor: BSI CMOS
Megapixels: 20.1
Burst Speed: 8 fps
Video: 1080p HD
Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes
Approved by some of the best YouTube vloggers (including Casey Neistat and FunForLouis), the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II is our top pick in the point-and-shoot department. The daunting price tag is akin to a DSLR, but the quality of the Mark II means that it could easily be a DSLR substitute for professional photography.
For those that remember the first G7 X, there have been notable improvements to that design in the Mark II – with a better battery life, faster burst shooting (8 fps compared to the G7 X’s measly 1 fps) and a higher quality lens, the Mark II has reclaimed Canon’s spot as our top mirrorless choice for bloggers/vloggers.
The video quality is excellent, and with the addition of downward tilting to the touch-screen LCD screen (180° up and 45° down) it is obvious why the Mark II is a favorite among the best vloggers. For on-the-go sharing, Wi-Fi connectivity is available, and a rubberized grip on the back provides much-needed stability for one-handed shooting.
One minor downfall to the Mark II is its average sound quality. If you’re going to be shooting outside, in public places or where there will be wind noise, an external microphone would probably be worth getting.
The Canon G7 X Mark II’s excellent photo quality, useful video features and tilting LCD screen make this our first pick for a point-and-shoot camera. Whether you’re looking to up your blogging/vlogging game with a higher quality camera or you’re a full-time professional in the blogging world, the Mark II is worth the extra money for its high caliber performance.
#6 Nikon D3300
Image via nikonusa.com
Sensor: DX CMOS
Megapixels: 24.2
Burst Speed: 5 fps
Video: 1080p HD
Wi-Fi connectivity: No
First up on our DSLR section is the Nikon D3300. Despite being a few years old, the D3300 still holds its own against its upgrades (like the D5300 mentioned next), and for a price that’s on the lower scale of most DSLR cameras, the D3300 packs a lot into a cheaper package.
A huge plus to this camera is its portability. 25 g lighter than its predecessor, the D3300 weighs about 400g and has a collapsible lens, making it much easier to carry than many of its competitors.
One of the D3300’s weaknesses is its kit lens – its difficulty in manual focusing means that purchasing another lens that is more catered to your needs would be necessary for the professional blogger. Check out the Nikkor range of lenses here that are all compatible with the D3300.
The D3300 is great for DSLR beginners (check out our article on buying your first DSLR, in which this camera is also featured, here) as it features a comprehensive Guide Mode that is akin to a point-and-shoot.
Our favorite feature of the D3300, however, is its true pixel count. With 24.2 MP, the D3300 out competes most other entry-level DSLRs, and it’s reflected in the image quality. A small and reasonably priced camera, the D3300 is a great choice for the first-time DSLR user.
#5 Nikon D5300
Image via nikonusa.com
Sensor: DX CMOS
Megapixels: 24.2
Burst Speed: 5 fps
Video: 1080p HD
Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes
The Nikon D5300 is a little pricier of an upgrade to the D3300, but still quite reasonable compared to the latest models in its range. A welcome improvement is the addition of Wi-Fi connectivity in the D5300. Unlike the D3300 (where you needed to buy a WU-1a adapter), the D5300 marked Nikon’s first addition of Wi-Fi to their cameras, saving bloggers a lot of hassle.
The LCD screen has a whopping 1037 pixel points, so using it like a point-and-shoot is feasible, even in bright sunlight (and it swivels 180° too). Another impressive feature is the quiet shutter, producing little to no sound, allowing event photography or street photography to remain candid.
A main opponent to the D5300 is the Canon T5i, but the D5300 tops Canon in many areas – the D5300 is smaller and lighter than the T5i, has a higher resolution, and is almost half the price. It’s a winner in our books.
Despite the D5300 being one of Nikon’s older models, we still feel that it has a place among our top blogging cameras. Perfect for the beginner to intermediate DSLR user, this mid-range camera will produce high-quality content for your blog/vlog, while not breaking the bank.
#4 Canon EOS Rebel T7i
Image via canon.com
Sensor: APS-C CMOS
Megapixels: 24.2
Burst Speed: 6 fps
Video: 1080p HD
Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes
A good transition to professional photography, the Canon Rebel series is tailored toward those who want to master the range of manual control that DSLRs allow. The T7i is the latest addition to the range, and has become a popular choice since its release.
The image quality is excellent, reproducing vibrant colours and sharp focus. The auto-flash is a little overeager in dimmer environments, but you can always switch to the manual flash on/off if you will be shooting at night.
The kit lens that it comes with (18-135 mm) is quite versatile and proves itself to be capable in most situations. On the other hand, additional lenses from the Canon range (here) allow the specialized photographer much more freedom. If you are going to be investing in additional lenses, it helps that the T7i only weighs 530 g – good news for the travel photographer.
With a microphone input on the side and a fully rotating LCD screen, the T7i fulfills the intermediate vlogger’s needs and goes above and beyond – the 5-axis image stabilization feature, designed for video, minimizes blur from hand movement and is a welcome addition.
A possible setback to the T7i is the difficulty in setting up Wi-Fi (requiring several steps to connect the camera to a smartphone). Once it’s connected, however, the process is pretty quick.
Overall, the Rebel T7i is a great camera for the beginner-intermediate photographer – with easy-to-use auto settings and advanced manual control, the T7i earns its spot in 4th place.
#3 Canon EOS 70D
Image via canon.com
Sensor: CMOS
Megapixels: 20.2
Burst Speed: 7 fps
Video: 1080p HD
Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes
These next cameras are more tailored to the experienced blog photographer. The Canon EOS 70D is the perfect introduction to professional DSLR photography – with features like its AF Dual Pixel CMOS sensor, burst speed of 7 fps and ISO range of 100 to 25600, the EOS 70D is hard to beat.
Although the sensor is relatively small for a DSLR camera, the high pixel count still succeeds in producing sharp images. Additionally, the auto-lighting optimizer is brilliant for outdoor photography, evening the contrast and brightness of images and compensating for poor lighting.
Generally, the low-light performance of the EOS 70D is very good. Even with the higher IOS settings, an anti-noise feature allows for smoother night photographs than its predecessor (the EOS 60D) and most of its competitors.
The EOS 70D is also a good choice for action photography. With a competitive burst rate of 7 fps, wildlife or sport bloggers should achieve most of the shots they need with the 70D. Vloggers will also rejoice with the 70D – the AF technology is impressive, keeping subjects in focus even with fast movement.
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the more recent EOS 80D, the 70D is a worthwhile choice for the experienced blogger or vlogger, offering full manual control in a portable package.
#2 Nikon D750
Image via nikonusa.com
Sensor: FX CMOS
Megapixels: 24.3
Burst Speed: 6.5 fps
Video: 1080p HD
Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes
A camera geared to the enthusiast-professional level of photography, the D750 was Nikon’s Camera of the Year and comes in at 2nd on our list.
The D750, a full frame DSLR, is the perfect upgrade for someone wanting to take their photography to the next level. Despite this, it’s still lightweight enough to carry around easily, making it a top contender on our blogging list.
Pro vloggers will rejoice at the microphone AND headphone ports. The D750 also allows in-camera audio adjustments, and retains very accurate focus on the subject while filming, creating professional-looking movies incredibly easily.
Another bonus to the D750 is its Scene modes. With higher range cameras, these will often be eliminated, but the choice to keep some in the D750 was a good one, in our opinion. Although aimed at enthusiast photographers just breaking into the world of full-frame DSLRs, professional bloggers will appreciate modes such as Selective Color for allowing creative shots to be taken quickly or ensuring a consistent aesthetic theme across their photos.
Finally, the LCD screen (with the same resolution as its more expensive sister, the D810) can tilt, which is somewhat of a rarity on a full-frame. What more could a vlogger want?
#1 Canon EOS 80D
Image via canon.com
Sensor: APS-C CMOS
Megapixels: 24.2
Burst Speed: 7 fps
Video: 1080p HD
Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes
Our top contender on the Best Blogging Cameras of list is the Canon EOS 80D. It does clock in at a solid price tag, but if you’re willing to invest in a camera that will perform above and beyond for your blog, the 80D is our top pick.
With the inclusion of features such as a mirror vibration control (minimizing the blur effect sometimes created by shutter shock) and a mic and headphone jack (like the Nikon D750, very handy for vloggers), there isn’t much to complain about.
For those on the go, the 80D has an excellent battery life, lasting a full day of shooting with ¾ of its battery left. Couple that with its sturdy body, and travel photographers have the perfect camera to take on excursions.
Another helpful feature is the inclusion of programmable Auto settings. For example, the shutter speed default setting can be set higher if you know you will be shooting a sports event and want to capture sharp stills. When the manual control fiddling can be done at home, more shots can be taken at the event.
Excellent for both stills and videography, the tilting LCD screen allows great photos to be taken from awkward angles, a plus for any photographer.
With arguably the best dynamic range of all of Canon’s DSLRs crammed into a lightweight and sturdy body, it’s no wonder the 80D is our favorite for bloggers.
Conclusion
As blogging and vlogging become more ubiquitous, it’s imperative that your photos or videos are of high quality. To give your blog a fighting chance among the millions online, the right camera is the place to start.
By taking into consideration the cost, the purpose of the camera, and what you are willing to invest in your blog photography, finding a camera that suits you won’t be difficult, and we hope this list has helped.
However, that’s only the first step. What comes next is practice, practice, and more practice with your camera. The more time you invest in your blog photography (or vlog footage), the better your content will be, and your blog should soon witness the positive effects.
