Top 5 Affordable Cameras for YouTube

Are you a budding filmmaker on a budget? Or an influencer looking to make quality videos for your YouTube channel or Instagram? Cameras can be pricey, but you don’t have to be a millionaire to create incredible content with a cheap good camera for YouTube videos. How much is a good camera for YouTube? What is a good starter camera for YouTube? You can find quality cameras anywhere between $200 and $5,000 to fit your budget.

It’s easy to find an affordable camera for YouTube. Here are our reviews of the best affordable cameras for YouTube videos for your next YouTube video production.

#1. Panasonic LUMIX G7

The Panasonic LUMIX G7 is the best budget video camera for YouTube. Designed for beginners, this camera works for both photography and video filming. The layout is super user-friendly. This mirrorless, digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) enables you to change lenses easily for different shots.

The LUMIX G7 has incredible Ultra 4K video capabilities and you can shoot video at a resolution of 1080p plus up to 60 frames per second. The Ultra 4K video can record at 30 or 24 frames per second. The LUMIX G7 even has a 16MP Live MOS sensor so you can even enhance images already captured as well as deliver detailed images in a myriad of lighting conditions. Its battery performance is decent too! On one charge, the camera can record video for 90 minutes. If used minimally, the battery will last a whole day.

Additional camera features include silent shutter mode, in-built flash, panorama mode, a RAW processing engine, Wi-Fi remote control, 4K photo mode, camera mic, moveable screen, and more. Its menu enables you to adjust footage for better post-production editing. Pricing around $700, this camera offers both quality photography and video capabilities that enable you to take stills and shoot YouTube videos.

#2. GoPro HERO7

If your YouTube videos require lots of action shots or physical activities, this waterproof camera is one of the best budget video cameras for YouTube, pricing around $400. The HERO7 has a touchscreen as well as 12MP photo features, which is ideal for smartphone sensors. For YouTubers or Instagramer who want to live stream, the HERO7 even has live stream abilities.

When shooting your action shots, it has a streaming stabilizer so your video isn’t too shaky. For a small camera that fits in the palm of your hand, this camera has incredible 4K video capabilities. You can even shoot your video in slo-mo! The slo-mo feature will add some more pizazz to your video content. Also, the camera is even waterproof up to sub 30ft of pressure without needing a clunky case. So if you’re out on a boat or swimming, you don’t have to worry about your camera imploding if you get it wet.

Through the GoPro app or software, you can easily upload and edit your video on your smart device or desktop so editing is super user-friendly and simple. This feature will enable you to shoot videos, upload, and edit quickly so you can post your content to your YouTube channel. With its waterproof and 4K video features, the HERO7 is definitely one of the best affordable video cameras for YouTube.

#3. Nikon COOLPIX P1000

The Nikon COOLPIX P1000 has amazing features for its price, but it is more expensive than other best affordable cameras for YouTube at $1,000. If you’re looking for a budget camera, the Nikon COOLPIX P1000 boasts a great zoom capability so you can enlarge a picture 125 times and shoot from very large distances. You can shoot video in Ultra HD and 4K formats as well as in low light. It connects to WiFi for easy video uploading. Plus, this Nikon camera has an autofocus system and a clear LCD screen so you can easily see what you’re shooting. It even has a long battery life delivering you 250 shots on a single charge.

#4. Canon Rebel T7i

Canon cameras have been dominating the video space for years. Smaller than the average DSLR camera, the T7i is lightweight, compact, and can have its lenses interchanged. It has a fully rotating, flip-out LCD screen so you can easily see your content as you are shooting stills or filming videos. The LCD screen is also touch-sensitive. By simply tapping on the screen, you can quickly adjust settings as you are filming or taking photos. Also, the T7i has the Dual Pixel AutoFocus, so you can keep any object in focus by selecting it on the LCD screen.

The T7i has a hot shoe mount for a shotgun mic so you can purchase a mic to hook up to this camera. Most DSLRs have poor mics, so having an external mic is a must. You can easily hook it up to this camera! Plus, the T7i has an app so you can control it with a smart device. Despite all the incredible photography features, for video creators, this camera doesn’t shoot 4K, unlike some of its rivals. It does shoot in 1080p, however, and you don’t need 4K for the YouTube world. At $800, this camera is a bit pricier than others, but it has so many great features that make it an affordable camera for YouTube.

#5. Your Smartphone Camera

Content creation exploded when smartphones offered camera and recording features. While DSLRs and mirrorless cameras offer the best quality compared to smartphones, you can still create amazing video content on a smartphone camera. Smartphone cameras have vastly improved the technology over the years as well as more mobile apps have been developed that can edit and filter videos for even better-quality production. Sometimes you can’t even tell if the video was shot on a smartphone or a DSLR camera! Because it may be difficult to afford both a smartphone and a camera, we break down the different smartphone cameras for a cheap good camera for YouTube.

iPhone Camera

Since the release of the iPhone 6, cameras were now available on iPhones, which revolutionized the industry and smartphone technology. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the latest iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone Pro Max have the best smartphone cameras. While they are a bit pricey, they are a two-in-one package having both functionality and content creation abilities. Plus, a smartphone is something that you likely carry with you all the time. The smartphone cameras incorporate the triple camera unit of a telephoto, wide-angle, and ultra-wide lens with a macros lens of 2cm focus. For video making, the iPhone 13 Pro has HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 60 frames per second and has enhanced night mode. These features make this smartphone one of the best affordable cameras for YouTube.

Android Phone Camera

The Android phone camera also offers some handy features that an aspiring YouTube video content creator will find useful. Samsung’s Galaxy 22 Ultra and plus are some of the best budget video cameras for YouTube. At less than $1,000, the Samsung Galaxy 22 Plus boasts features like 8K video capture at 24 frames per second, advanced video stabilization, and an auto focus of up to 10 people. Then the Ultra features a 108MP main camera with a larger sensor that lets in more light.

Conclusion

While there are pros and cons with each camera, every single one of these cameras will enable you to transition from aspiring YouTube video maker to actually creating your own, unique video content. With this knowledge, now you can go out and buy the best cheap good camera for YouTube and become the video maker you’ve always wanted to be.

Based in Wisconsin, Gillespie Productions is a stellar YouTube video production company that works with clients from all over the US to make the best video content for your needs. Contact YouTube production company to learn more.