With the rise in recent years of vlogging content, more and more camera manufacturers are starting to produce and market "vlogging" cameras. But, what is a vlog camera? In this article, we will look at the history of vlogging, the rise of point and shoot cameras and what a good modern vlogging camera should consist of.
What is a vlog?
Before we dive into camera gear, we should first look at the genre itself. A vlog, short for "video blog," is a type of blog that is primarily created in video form. It is a form of online video content that documents someone's life, experiences, or interests. Vlogs often feature a vlogger, or person speaking directly to the camera, providing commentary, showing off their daily routine, sharing their thoughts or opinions, or taking viewers along on a journey or adventure. They are typically uploaded to video sharing platforms such as YouTube and can cover a wide range of topics, including travel, cooking, beauty, fashion, and personal stories.
History of vlogging
Vlogging started in the early 2000s with the rise of the internet, blogging and mass produced point and shoot cameras. As access to the internet became more readily available, people started to produce content known as blogs online. According to Oxford Languages, a blog is a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style. They can cover a wide range of topics, such as news, politics, entertainment, travel and personal stories. As the speed and efficiency of the internet and blog sites progressed, uploading video became more commonplace. Around this time, mass produced point and shoot cameras became more popular. Although point and shoot cameras were primarily intended for photography, they also enable users to capture video. In 2005, YouTube was founded, and it quickly became the most popular platform for sharing video content online. With the rise of YouTube, vlogging started to become more popular and mainstream. In 2015, Casey Neistat solidified the genre when he started his own vlog on YouTube. Although not the first vlogger, he became the most popular and well known creator in the field. Vlogging took off YouTube and became one of the platforms most popular forms of video content. Since then, the definition and production value of vlogging content has increased, allowing not only celebrities, but regular people, to become famous vloggers.
A Plastic Masterpiece
As stated above, the point and shoot camera made it possible for regular people to start uploading video content online. In a way, the point and shoot camera was accidently the perfect vlogging camera of the time. Here's why:
Cost - Compared to today's Mirrorless and DSLR cameras, point and shoots are cheap. Most point and shoot cameras of the early to mid 2000s were between $200 and $500.
Size - These cameras were small and compact, making them easy to carry around daily.
Digital Media - Digital technology, such as the electronic sensor and SD card, quickly made film obsolete. This technology made sharing content easier and less time consuming.
Ease of Use - Shooting video was relatively easy on most point and shoot cameras. All you needed to do was turn a dial to video, and the camera did most of the work for you.
What makes a Great, Modern Vlog Camera?
A lot of what makes modern vlog camera was carried over from lessons learned from point and shoot cameras. Also, advances in technology made shooting high quality video easier and cheaper on modern digital cameras. Here are some important considerations of a vlog camera.
Size and Portability
Depending on your vlogging style, size and weight maybe the most important consideration. Ideally, a vlogging camera should be small and compact.
Autofocus
A vlogging camera should have eye AF and/or subject tracking. These autofocus features reduce the risk of out of focus shots and allows for more ease of operation.
Image Stabilization
If you tend to do a lot of handheld vlogging, then you want a vlogging camera to have some form of image stabilization. This will reduce camera shake and vibrations and result in smoother video.
Shoots High Quality Video
The camera you use for your vlog should be capable of shooting whatever video format is deemed "standard" of the time. For example, 4K is the most common format as of writing this article. Most, if not all, modern cameras and cell phones are capable of recording 4K video. Shooting whatever format is standard, ensures that your video is on par with what other creators are putting out. While not required, shooting high quality video will keep your viewers engaged and not distracted by lower quality footage.
Flip Out Screen
Most vloggers operate independently. A flip out LCD screen on your camera will help make sure you are framed correctly and in focus.
Battery Life and Charging
Certain types of vloggers tend to record themselves for long periods of time, away from power sources. A camera with adequate battery life helps reduce unnecessary interruptions. Also, through advances in USB-C technology, it is possible to power a camera via an external source, such as a power bank. This feature is great for vloggers who are on the go and need to keep their camera ready.
Audio Options
Cameras have built in microphones that allow them to capture audio. However, the quality of sound these microphones produce is usually poor. Most vloggers have some sort of wired or wireless, external microphone attached to a microphone port that can greatly improve the quality of audio.
Lens Focal Length and Selection
A vlogging camera's focal length should be more on the wide side, around 16mm-24mm. This makes recording at arms length or in tight spaces easier. The longer the focal length, the harder it is to capture more of the scene and subject. Some cameras are interchangeable lens cameras, and allow for different lenses to be used. This gives the vlogger the ability to use different focal lengths for different style shots.
Ease of Sharing
Bluetooth and WIFI connectivity are features that allow for faster sharing sharing of videos. Instead of having to transfer video from a SD to computer, you can now transfer footage directly from your camera to a video sharing app.
What features do you look for in a good vlogging camera? Comment down below!
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