The Best Camera Gear for New Content Creators
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time as a content creator, it’s that having the right camera makes the world of a difference. Whether you’re filming for a brand, vlogging, snapping pics for the gram or waking up at 5am to get the perfect beach sunrise pics, having the right equipment is kinda essential. Now, don’t get me wrong.. I do think that you can do everything from your iPhone (trust me, I did it for monthssss) but, if you’re reading this blog something tells me you’re thinking about a little level up in which I couldn’t agree more. So without further ado, let’s get into it — here’s a list of the best camera gear for new content creators <3
Cameras
“The OG for Newbies”
This camera is perfect for two types of people. Those who have never had a camera before and need something beginner friendly or those of you who are looking for something budget friendly, easy to use, and on the smaller/more compact side. Up until recently this was the camera I was using for pretty much everything! She’s a real one. Here’s what I think:
Pros: Super compact, great autofocus, designed specifically for vlogging. The perfect camera if you want something that won’t require you to mess with the settings too much.
Cons: No flash, so pics are just okay.. not BOMB AF but they’re also not terrible (if you’re in good lighting). Also, the battery life? I’ll be honest… definitely could be better. Whenever I plan on vlogging I always bring extra (charged) batteries.
“The Level Up”
When it comes to upgrading your vlog camera (or starting off with a bang), this bad boy is hands down the way to go! Definitely a bit more advanced, so if you’re new to all this it’ll prob be a great idea to hop on YouTube University and learn all you can before planning a content day with it. I also really like this camera because for it to be so advanced it’s still really compact and small enough to easily fit in your bag. A few more thoughts:
Pros: Low-light performance is 10/10, has a flip-up screen so you can look at yourself while vlogging, image quality is solid.
Cons: Autofocus isn’t the best (I just wish it was faster), there’s no external mic input.
“Adventure Time”
Funny story… My boyfriend won this at a local bingo game (how, I’ll never know), but it was maybe a month or two after the whole jump-in-the-ocean-in-Thailand-and-broke-my-phone situation, so his timing was absolutely perfect. Lol I “borrowed” it once and he hasn’t gotten it back since.. And never will. I loveeee using this little camera for my adventure-packed content! I’m heading to Panama as we speak and the GoPro is charged up and ready to go babes! My thoughts on this camera?…
Pros: Waterproof AF, compact, and it surprisingly has amazing battery life. The stabilization on it is also crazy good.
Cons: Low-light performance could be way better, and unless you get an external mic the audio is very much mediocre.
She’s #1 on My Wishlist
Unfortunately, I can’t claim this camera as a part of my collection.. at least not yet 😉
My friend has one though and every time we do anything together I literally beg her to bring it, that’s how much I love it! I’m gonna have to get one soon, but until that day comes, here are my biased thoughts:
Pros: tiny but POWERFUL, love the built-in gimbal — it makes all the shots so damn smooth, perfect camera for vlogging on-the-go.
Cons: The touchscreen is mad small lol (kinda sucks for people with bigger hands), this one is kinda niche.. but the lens isn’t interchangeable so that could be kinda ehhh depending on your preferences.
For The Main Character Energy Moments
Digital cameras are soooo back in, and ya girl is HERE. FOR. IT. OKAYYY??! I have a vintage Huji film point-and-shoot that I got off Etsy, but since I can’t find another one, I searched high and low to find one that’s the most comparable which makes it time for the Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 to enter the chat!
Pros: Gives you that nostalgic, vintage vibe without the hassle of needing any film. Perfect digi for cute, aesthetic shots.
Cons: She’s not very fancy, but that’s kinda the point. This is all for the vibeeees babes, not professional photography.
If you want a little budget-friendly alternative, check out this one on Amazon. Super similar but she’s cheaper!
Accessories
Don’t sleep on having the right accessories because they’re lowwwkeyyyy important too! The goal is to always work smarter, not harder and having QUALITY camera/filming accessories is the best way to make sure you’re doing that. Add these to your Amazon cart:
Good lighting is EVERYTHING. Even when I’m trying to film something in a room that’s already well-lit like inside my room, or bathroom, adding this light gives it that extra touch you need to make sure your content is crisp and clear.
Mannnn I used to have this BIG ASS tripod that, I willllll say — was def great quality… but it was so daggon big that I used to hate bringing it to places because it never fit in my bags. I’d literally leave it at home instead of bringing it with me (that’s how annoying it was), but I hated doing that too because I’d miss out on opportunities to get content. Finally, I decided to get a little compact travel one and I should’ve done it way frickin sooner because it got rid of those problems real quick lol. It’s compact, sturdy, and has lasted a pretty long time.. We’re going on about two strong years atp.
THIS IS MY BABY. BEST INVENTION EVER MADE I SWEAR! It makes transferring files from your cameras onto your phone/laptop/iPad sooo easy. I used to be so annoyed trying to figure out how to transfer them via the “wi-fi” these $1,000 cameras swear up and down they be having, that when I found this I literally didn’t know what to do with myself haha. The only thing I would say is to learn from my mistake and buy the one with the dual adapter (USB-C and Lightning) and not the one that has just one or the other — that way you can transfer to whichever device you want to without having to keep up multiple different ones.
So, likee…
Long story short, if you’re serious about taking your content seriously, it may be time to consider investing in a new little toy. It may seem iffy because I know your iPhone is probably getting you by, but I promise the right camera will not only make your life so much easier, but it’ll save you a shit ton of storage in your phone too hahaha. Of course, you don’t need all the stuff on this list, hell I don’t even have everything on this list.. But a solid camera, good lighting and a sturdy tripod is a damn good place to start!! I reallyyyy hope this helped, and as always if you have any other questions don’t EVER hesitate to reach out!
OH also, if you have any other favorite camera gear that you think I should check out? PLS let me know 🙂 I’m a GADGET GURLLLLL, so I’m always down to try new things!
Until next time,
-Dru <3