Best Camera Equipment for Beginner Bloggers

best camera equipment for beginner bloggers

Now that I’ve officially stepped up my camera game (be sure to add me on Snapchat: notanothrblonde for BTS action), I can talk about what I would have done differently as a beginner blogger searching for camera equipment.

Let me start by saying I have spent hours upon hours researching the best cameras for the things I want to do and I, along with every other blogger, am sad to report that there is no perfect camera.

Canon nor Nikon nor Olympus makes a camera that is suitable for every situation. In fact, from a business/entrepreneurial standpoint it’s quite brilliant because it gets people like us to buy all these different cameras, lenses, gadgets, etc. until we have as much stuff as the store…

When you reach the pro level, sure, that might be the case but for now you just need the basics. In fact, I’ll do you one better, I’m going to share the bare minimum camera equipment for beginner bloggers plus the next step up for those of you who just want to dive right in.

best camera for bloggers

I’ve heard over the years that the camera doesn’t matter nearly as much as the lens. While this is true, if you’re setting out to be a photographer and really want to master that skill, then the camera matters just as much as the lens. However for beginners, you really just need a killer lens and an ok camera.

Currently, I have a Canon EOS Rebel T3i with a 50mm 1.8 lens. Had I known what I know now about cameras I would have gotten a little higher quality of a camera just so I wouldn’t have to switch later on, which is what will happen unless you have the money to dish out for the top of the line equipment right when you start.

Looking back, I probably would have gone for the Canon 7D Mark II since that’s what bloggers usually upgrade to anyway. I don’t see a point in learning one camera then another then another.

However, for bloggers on a budget, the Canon 7D Mark II isn’t affordable, which is why I went for the Canon T3i. I still have my T3i and use it primarily for my blog photos because like I said before the lens matters more than the body (for me at least) and I have a great lens.

The 50mm lens is incredible for all bloggers (beginner or pro). It’s cheap ($120 or so) and gives you the blurred background (bokeh effect) all bloggers strive for. Get it, it’s great.

Though, I will admit that most of my Instagram and blog pictures are taken with my iPhone. The iPhone has come so far that the quality is just as good as a DSLR’s. Now the iPhone 7 camera has a setting where you can actually blur the background.

A blogger friend of mine posted this stunning picture on Instagram and I said “omg you got a new camera, what kind is it?!” and I was shocked when she said it was the iPhone 7. I literally had no clue.

However, I’m sure if you asked a pro photographer they would be able to pick things out that we can’t but since you’re a beginner, either the t3i or your iPhone will do just fine for blog pictures.

blogger-obsessions

BEST VLOG CAMERA

I thought I would be able to use my T3i for videos as well… which I can but since the lens is “fixed” (can’t zoom in or out), the camera has to be super far away otherwise you only see half of my face. Putting your camera far away for videos is annoying because 1. The sound quality won’t be as good unless you get an external mic and 2. It’s a pain in the ass to get up every 5 seconds to adjust things.

That’s why just recently I got the Canon EOS M5 with the 18-150mm lens, a rode video mic and Gorilla tripod. I learned my lesson last time and just went all in and got what the pros use. This camera is best for vlogging because it’s small, lightweight, and relatively easy to use. But it’s actually a more expensive than the T3i, despite it being smaller. For me, the quality was worth it and so far it’s been the best investment I’ve made.

I chose the Canon EOS M5 after like 20 YouTube video reviews. I looked at what the king of vlogging, Casey Neissat used and beauty vlogger Alex Gargazano and they use the Canon M5, which means I’m in good shape.

 

Conclusion: Go with Canon, always. Regular blog photos can be done with a canon rebel (any series) or the iPhone. Vlogging is best with canon eos m3.

What camera do you use for blogging? Share in the comments!

xx

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16 Comments

  • Reply
    Cinnamon
    06/27/2017 at 3:38 pm

    Thanks so much for Sharing this information! I try to read differing articles about cameras, reviews/insights from other bloggers, etc. – appreciate that this is right to the point. I purchased the Canon Rebel T6, and it’s comforting to know it sounds as if I’ve made the right decision. You confirmed for me what the next lense purchase should be as well (soon).

    • Reply
      Brittany
      06/29/2017 at 2:03 pm

      Is Cinnamon your real name? If so, that’s amazing. And yes a Rebel T6 is just fine for starting… like I mentioned in the post it’s all about the lens more so than the camera but if you can afford both, great. Otherwise, I recommend investing in a lens over the camera body. Let me know what you go with next and thanks so much for reading! xx

  • Reply
    Femmy Rona
    06/27/2017 at 6:25 pm

    I’ve been using a Nikon, LUMIX and iPhone for my photos. LUMIX was really good for blog photos but I stopped using it for couple of years and then my nieces got hold of it and now it’s a hot mess.

    Nikon is too bulky so it’s a pain to carry it on a regular basis so I try and avoid it

    So I’m left with iPhone, which I use 95% of the time for everything. But I’m looking to invest in a camera which will take good photos and record videos (incase I decide to dive into YouTube) and one that’s light enough to be carried around everywhere.

    Everybody recommends cannon so I guess cannon it will be but for now I gotta save some monies

    • Reply
      Brittany
      06/29/2017 at 2:07 pm

      Haha kids will do that! Can’t leave anything nice laying around. Canons are incredible so I highly recommend a Canon and their point and shoots have increasingly become better quality so you won’t have that bulk anymore. However, you can’t argue the quality a Canon 7D Mark II carries… it’s so good! But it’s big and bulky and will cost you upwards of $2500 depending on what lens you choose. Let me know what you go with! And thanks as always for reading. xx

  • Reply
    Daeyz
    06/27/2017 at 9:23 pm

    As I am looking to invest in a camera, love all your input. Thank you!

    xx,
    Daeyz
    http://www.daeyz.com

    • Reply
      Brittany
      06/29/2017 at 2:09 pm

      That’s awesome Daeyz! Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks so much for dropping by! xx

  • Reply
    Nikki
    06/29/2017 at 2:07 pm

    I have a Sony A5100 that I use for vlogging on my youtube channel and I love it!! It’s a great vlogging camera but not so good for pictures. I want to start taking high quality pictures for my blog and was looking into the rebel. Luckily I just switched to the iphone 7 so maybe I’ll wait it out a little more!!
    xx Nikki
    Nikki recently posted…3 Supplements I Can’t Live WithoutMy Profile

    • Reply
      Brittany
      07/03/2017 at 5:16 pm

      Yes! I’ve heard the Sony’s are amazing as well for vlogging I just don’t have experience with them. You should be golden with the iPhone 7 for pictures… try the portrait feature to get that bokeh (blurred background) effect. Tag me in your next pic so I can check it out! xx

  • Reply
    Cara Lynn
    06/29/2017 at 8:08 pm

    I really liked this post. The reason being is when I asked for a camera for Christmas, I researched and researched only to have a bunch of very different opinions thrown at me. Eventually, I just went with the Canon SL1. It’s super light and very good at what it needs to do. As for a lens, I love my 18-5omm, but my fixed 60mm 1.4/f is key to my bokeh background photos. I would love to make a suggestion for a post about your photo editing process.
    Cara Lynn recently posted…Bradley’s Weekend Back HomeMy Profile

    • Reply
      Brittany
      07/18/2017 at 2:18 pm

      I’ve never heard of that lens, but good to know! Thanks for sharing. And I will 100% do a post on editing photos for you, doll. xx

  • Reply
    Karmin Battle
    07/11/2017 at 9:31 am

    You are da bomb girl!!!

    • Reply
      Brittany
      07/12/2017 at 11:28 pm

      Takes one to know one my love! xx

  • Reply
    EileenEdit
    07/12/2017 at 7:36 am

    I intend to vlog more and learn to edit that now too so I invested in the Canon EOS M5 along with the Rode mic but I find it very hard to vlog with the screen that articulates downward. I ordered a little slab that will allow me to put two cameras on it either side of with the tripod in the middle but even then, I could not see myself when vlogging. VERY annoying. It take great pix and vids but not of myself so I bit the bullet and just invested in a point and shoot Cannon G7 Mark 2. Much better but I won’t be able to swap lenses nor plug my Rode mic in it. Extremely portable and discreet when vlogging though! Trial and error…

    • Reply
      Brittany
      07/18/2017 at 2:24 pm

      Oh wow, Eileen you really went hard on the camera equipment! Good for you. I think the flip down screen is a blessing and a curse. It’s great when you’re just holding the camera but when it’s on a tripod you can’t see anything. Unfortunately, there is no perfect camera that has it all, though I wish there was! Thanks for your comment and let me know if you ever have any questions! xx

  • Reply
    Shai-li Barak
    01/09/2018 at 9:28 am

    I really enjoyed this post! I kept filming videos with my prime (fixed) 50mm lens and didn’t understand why the sound quality was so bad (even with a rode external mic). I’ll try using a different lens and bringing the camera in closer. Do you have any tips in terms of lighting when filming a video indoors (at night for example), and can you please do a post on using photographers as a beginner in blogging? (As in – did you first hire someone? Did you ask a friend or know someone who is a photographer? How often did you do shoots? etc).
    Thanks! xx

    • Reply
      Brittany
      01/25/2018 at 11:18 am

      Of course, I’ll do a post on all that stuff! Thanks for the great request. Keep hustling! xx

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