There are so many cameras on the market for both professional and hobbyist photographers and videographers. In this post we’ll break down some great lower budget camera options for people who want to post videos to YouTube. This information is intended for people starting out in the camera space and isn’t a recommendation for professionals.
BEST CAMERAS UNDER $100
The cheapest options for anyone who wants to take video is an item that 99% of people already have… That’s a smartphone. Assuming you already have a smartphone that you’ve purchased in the last 2-3 years, you have a video camera that can film high definition video. If you don’t have money to spend on a camera you can create great videos using just your smart phone. If you do decide to use your smart phone to shoot videos you can greatly improve the quality of your footage with the following accessories:
- Tripod
or GorillaPod
- Good Microphone (because audio is as important as picture quality when it comes to making great videos
or 
A tripod allows you to get stabilized shots or have your camera sit perfectly still for interview style video. A Gorillapod not only helps give you stabilized footage but also provides a grip to hold your camera for moving shots, vlogging selfie footage, and more.
BEST CAMERAS – $200 to $500
If you have a small budget to buy a new camera then here are some great options for you to choose from. Each camera listed here is a great for entry level video camera you can use for making videos for Youtube. Each camera listed provides great quality for the price you are paying, they are compact and are all easy to use. The reason they are in the lower price bracket is because they don’t have good internal microphones to record audio and they don’t include advanced features used for more creative/ customized footage.
BEST CAMERAS – Over $500
The best camera for you is really going to depend what you plan on filming with it. Do you need something compact because you’re going to be carrying it in to remote areas with you? Do you need something that films really high frame rates because you’re capturing action sports? Do you want great picture quality for recording interviews?
Questions like these will help you determine what camera specs are most important for your purposes. Below is a list of cameras that capture incredible video quality and give you some strong creative features. I used a few of these for professional video projects so when moving up to this level of camera you are able to get create videos that are worth selling. There is a learning curve attached to using these cameras and if you aren’t familiar with how to shoot in manual mode then it might be best to learn on one of the lower budget options before jumping into this category of cameras.
HOW TO CHOOSE
The most important thing is to choose a camera that fits your budget. It’s very easy to talk yourself into buying the a camera way more expensive then you may have originally intended. Remember that it’s your content that makes your videos interesting and fun to watch. Cameras and picture quality just assist you in showcasing your content. You can always upgrade your cameras and learning on the lower level options is a good place to start.