When you are just starting out, you don’t want to spend lots of money on cameras.  If you are just starting out, you are probably not sure if you are going to do this for long haul.  What if you spend lots of money on camera gear and you find out this isn’t something you want to do.

The truth is that in order to really see any result, you have to commit to vlogging for very long time.

When you are just starting out, best bet is to use whatever camera you have lying around the house.  I’m sure you have some sort of cameras you’ve been using.  If you don’t have any cameras, you can always use your smartphone.  Now days, everyone owns smartphone, and most of the smartphone is able to shoot videos.  One thing I don’t recommend to use it the webcam built into your PC or laptop.  Most of these webcame are not in high definition and it is not in right video format.

But if you need to purchase a camera, here is top 7 best cameras for the beginners.

Few things you need to look for when you are deciding to purchase a camera.

  1. First it should is able to shoot 1080p HD.  This is the standard high definition video format.
  2. Second, it needs to have decent microphone built-in.
  3. Third, it should have pretty decent zoom capability.
  4. Lastly, it should have flip LCD screen where you can see yourself.  Unfortunate, most of the cheaper cameras don’t have flip LCDs. But there are few out there.

1. Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS ($205)

Canon Powershot ELPH 360 is very good camera for beginner, or for vloggers who want a very reliable and compact camera to carry around where ever you go.

Canon Powershot EPH has all the stand feature for capturing video.  12x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer helps you capture images with flexibility and ease.  Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC allows for easy sharing and transferring of images and videos. 20.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor combines with the DIGIC 4+ Image Processor to help deliver stunning image quality even in low light. 1080p HD video capabilities.  Also it has very good built-in mic to record all your audios.

Best part is the price.  You can purchase Canon Powershot ELPH 360 from Amazon for around $200.

2. YI 4K Action Camera ($199)

The YI 4K doesn’t look much but it is surprisingly capable budget camera that does lot more than you think.

It records video in 4k.  This is probably the best 4k camera in this price range.

It also has Built-in 2.19″ LCD touchscreen with 640 x 360 high resolution for easy previewing and shooting with scratch resist glass. Rechargeable 1400mAh high capacity 4.4V lithium-ion battery records up to 120 minutes of 4K/30fps video with a single charge. Built-in Bluetooth and high speed 5GHz/2.4GHz Wi-Fi support.

Most importantly, you can purchase YI 4K action camera under $200 from Amazon.

3. Nikon COOLPIX S6900 ($170)

One of the best feature of Nikon Coolpix S6600BK is the flip LCD screen that lets you see yourself when you vlog.  Not too many cameras under $200 has this feature.

But is not all.  It has 12x optical zoom that effectively doubles your reach.  Target Finding AF for accurate, intelligent autofocus.  Full HD 1080p videos with stereo sound.  Built-in Wi-Fi that allow you to wirelessly share photos to a compatible smartphone. 

Did we mention that you can find this camera under $200?

4. Canon PowerShot N ($279)

The Canon Powershot N doesn’t look like tradition point-and-shoot camera.  But PowerShot N functions like any other point-and-shoot camera that’s out there on the market. That’s why it makes really good vlogging camera.

Besides lack of external mic input, the camera has got everything that is basic to record a high quality video. Besides most of the point-and-shoot camera in this price range don’t have external mic input.

It can record up to 1080p, it has optical stabilization, and its lens covers a lot of focal length, and just enough of what you’re going to need as a vlogger.  I also features built in Wi-Fi for wireless transfer of images to social networking sites. 

With all these features, flip LCD screen is one of the best feature. It flips 90 degrees, so you can watch yourself while shooting your vlog.  This is something you don’t see too much in cameras with this price range.

What sticks out is the size of the camera.  It fits better in your pocket than any other camera on this list, so you carry it anywhere.

You can purchase this camera around $200 at Amazon.

5. Sony DSC-HX50V/B

Sony DSC-HX50V/B is another great camera for vloggers who are just starting out. It is another point-and-shoot camera which performs efficiently.

Some of the core features are:

  • 30x optical zoom with Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
  • Full HD 1080/60p with dual record of stills and movies Full manual & dedicated EV control dial allow more creativity Capture the decisive moment with up to 10fps
  • Multi interface shoe attaches flash, light, and mic Incredible battery life of approx. 400 shots 3.0″ LCD (921k dots) with high resolution viewing Take stunning images with Intelligent Sweep Panorama mode-up to 360 Degree

Unfortunately, it lacks basic Wi-Fi connectivity, support for external Mic and other basic utilities.  But that is something very common on point-and-shoot cameras at this price range.

You can purchase this camera in Amazon

6. Your smart phone

Last you can always use your smartphone.  Now days everyone already has smartphone and most of the smart phone as great video camera built-in.  For example, iphone 6s has great camera built-in and it even has 1080p with 120ftp slow motion capability.  So don’t hesitate to start using your smart phone to get it started on your vlog or your Youtube projects.

6 Best Beginner’s Vlogging Cameras under $200 in 2017

3 thoughts on “6 Best Beginner’s Vlogging Cameras under $200 in 2017

  • December 11, 2017 at 4:43 am
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    I’m using canon g7x for vlogging and i’m facing some problems but i have question to you, should i ask here ?
    Happy Vlogging

    Reply
    • December 11, 2017 at 5:07 am
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      I suggest joining our Facebook support group. We have over 8k members and many are very helpful. Link to the group is in Vloglikepro.com website on the side bar.

      Reply
  • February 25, 2019 at 7:33 am
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    Canon and Nikon are the best prize winners in this list of top vlogging cameras under 200$. Fujifilm is like an underdog here that creates good cameras because of their innovational work in this field. We usually expect a Wi-Fi, 4k, front mic and a flip screen when we are talking about a small budgeted camera. But the most important thing that is sidelined is the audio recording. For low rating camcorders, it is best to purchase an external audio device and a microphone to solve this audio problem. Also, you can add lightning setup kits for meeting your low lightning photography needs.

    Reply

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