Reviews

Rode Videomic Go

written by Peter

Having a good vlog doesn’t just come down to high quality video footage, that’s only a part of making great content. One of the most overlooked part of a video is the audio and ensuring that you’ve got a good microphone to capture your audio is key.

In this post we’re going to talk about one of the best microphones for vlogging if your camera has an external mic input port.

One of the most loved microphone brands for vloggers is Rode. Made in Australia these guys have been making high quality microphones for years and recently I upgraded my old rode Videomic for a new Rode Videomic Go.

Sale

Rode VideoMic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone with Integrated Rycote Shockmount

Delivers clear, crisp, directional audio with incredible ease of use
Rode designed the videomic go with a tight pickup area that focuses directly in front of the mic
Reduces other surrounding sounds, ensuring that your subject is isolated from background noise
The integrated Rycote lyre shock mount isolates the video mic go from bumps and vibrations
No complicated switches or settings and is powered by your camera's external microphone input, required

Build Quality

First thing that you notice about this shotgun mic is the colors. It comes with a black cover and a striking red ricote shock mount which you’ll definitely recognize as one of the main microphones that all the vloggers use. Build quality of this camera feels really solid and sturdy but it is extremely lightweight.

One of the best things about this camera for me is the fact that it doesn’t require any messing about as there are no switches, buttons or batteries required. You just mount it onto the camera, plug in the cable and away you go.

No Batteries Required

The Rode Videomic Go runs from the power coming out of the microphone port on your camera, so batteries are one less thing you have to worry about buying. My previous microphone used a 9v battery to power it, which wasn’t the best although it did seem to have slightly more options available on the mic itself.

It’s important to check that your camera does actually provide power through the microphone port as there are a few models that don’t and aren’t compatible with this microphone.

This lack of a battery has been reported that on some cameras it can cause the battery to run down quite a lot quicker, but I’ve not really noticed this on my Canon 80D.

Replaceable Parts

The cable for this camera is also completely detachable so if anything does go wrong with the cable you don’t have to go buying a full new microphone and can just buy a replacement cable. It looks pretty well built, so I don’t think that it’s going to be something that you will need to be worrying about.

So since setup is so simple, I guess it’s time to talk about the quality of the audio.

Audio Quality

The Rode Videomic Go captures audio between 100Hz – 16kHz, which is great as anything below 100Hz is usually just electrical noise and hums that you would hear from the camera.

In terms of comparing this microphone to the internal microphone, the rode videomic go is a huge step up when recording yourself due to the directional sound recording and the ability for this microphone to cut out echo and hiss.

It isn’t the best if recording yourself from more than six feet, but it’s definitely better than the built in microphone.

The best use for this camera would probably be for recording yourself directly in front of the camera from a few feet away. This is probably what you’re going to be doing if you are a vlogger, but if you’re looking to record audio in different situations to the ones I’ve already mentioned then perhaps a different setup would be better suited.

I’m pretty happy with picking this up and really think it will help improve my video shooting, if you’re thinking of grabbing this as a cheap microphone for youtube vlogging then feel free to drop any questions in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Sale

Rode VideoMic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone with Integrated Rycote Shockmount

Delivers clear, crisp, directional audio with incredible ease of use
Rode designed the videomic go with a tight pickup area that focuses directly in front of the mic
Reduces other surrounding sounds, ensuring that your subject is isolated from background noise
The integrated Rycote lyre shock mount isolates the video mic go from bumps and vibrations
No complicated switches or settings and is powered by your camera's external microphone input, required

7th December 2017 0 comment

Reviews

Olympus E-PL8

written by Peter

One camera that has been making waves among the blogging community is the Olympus Pen range and these cameras actually make some pretty great vlogging cameras too since they have so many of the features that a vlogger would look for when it comes to deciding on which camera to go for.

OLYMPUS PEN E-PL8 14-42mm EZ lens kit [White][International Version, No Warranty]

This version is originally intended for sale outside the US and may contain adapters, manuals, and warranties not compatible with US standards.
Compact size with stylish, distinctive design
3-Axis in body image stabilization
High-Speed 8.5 frames per second sequential shooting
Built in Wi-Fi for wireless uploading and sharing, also for remote shooting from a smart device

Flip Screen

The E-PL8 features a tilt screen that can flip a full 180 degrees, allowing you to keep an eye on yourself when filming. The unusual thing about this camera is that the screen actually flips down and sits below the camera rather than above like the Canon G7X Mark II does.

Nevertheless, the addition of a flip screen is a major benefit for a vlog camera.

Full HD Video Capture

One of the standards that any good vlogging camera should have is the ability to capture footage in 1080p. Now that’s not to say it’s a must have, but if you want your videos to stand the test of time, then having crisp clear full HD video is certainly going to help with that.

With the ability to shoot 1080p at a framerate of 30fps, this camera is more than suited for that challenge.

Light & Compact

As this is a mirrorless camera, that comes with the benefit of being small and compact so for those who don’t want to be carrying around a huge DSLR or holding something out in front of you that’s going to give you a sore arm in minutes, the E-PL8 is perfect.

Weighing in at 374g with battery and memory card, that’s a fair weight saving when compared to some of the main DSLR cameras.

Great Focus

The E-PL8 features over 80 contrast based focus points meaning that focus is quick and accurate. This is an extremely important feature for a vlogging camera to have as you don’t want to finish filming your videos to find out that the entire thing was out of focus.

Battery Life

This camera will keep you going when shooting on the move with an impressive 350 shots per full charge. That should be more than enough for anyone looking to film and entire day of vlog footage and have the ability to recharge the battery overnight. My recommendation for any vlogger though is to always carry a spare fully charged battery as you never want to run out of power when on the move.

So the Olympus Pen E-PL8 is a great blogging camera and it has been trusted by bloggers all over the world for years and I think I can safely say that going by the features above, it would make a great camera for vlogging too.

We’ve got the Pen E-PL7 and it’s a great camera if you want to take a lightweight vlogging camera when traveling so I can only imagine that the newer model is going to build on all the great features that I’ve used.

OLYMPUS PEN E-PL8 14-42mm EZ lens kit [White][International Version, No Warranty]

This version is originally intended for sale outside the US and may contain adapters, manuals, and warranties not compatible with US standards.
Compact size with stylish, distinctive design
3-Axis in body image stabilization
High-Speed 8.5 frames per second sequential shooting
Built in Wi-Fi for wireless uploading and sharing, also for remote shooting from a smart device

4th December 2017 0 comment

Canon Reviews

Canon EOS M6

written by Peter

The Canon EOS M6 is the latest model in Canon’s line of smaller compact mirrorless cameras and this one seems pretty well suited as a vlogging camera due to a number of key features.

Canon EOS M6 (Black) EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Kit

24.2 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor
High-Speed continuous shooting at up to 7.0 fps (up to 9.0 fps with AF lock)
Built-in Wi-Fi**, NFC*** and Bluetooth

Flip Screen

The first main feature that makes this a great suit for vlogging is the inclusion of a flip up screen in a similar style to the Canon G7X Mark II. This screen although not fully articulating does flip up to sit above the body of the camera and allow you to see everything you are recording when shooting handheld and aiming the camera towards yourself. For any vlogger this is a great feature to have and definitely gives it a tick in one of the most important boxes.

Great Autofocus

Canon produce some of the best autofocus seen in cameras to date and this one is no exception with the addition of dual pixel autofocus. What this means is that you’ll be confident that whenever you’re shooting with the M6, you’ll have you or your subject in focus using focus tracking where the focus point will actually follow your movements and adjust itself to keep that subject sharp and quickly recover should your position change quickly. The Dual Pixel autofocus is also one of the fastest and most accurate focus technologies on the market and you’ll struggle to find a system that works better on a consumer priced product.

Lightweight

Canon have packed one hell of an amount of fantastic features into a really small and lightweight camera body that weighs just 18.3 oz (520 g) including both the kit lens and the battery which compared to a larger DSLR like the 80D at 730g for just the body. That’s a lot less weight to be trying to hold out in front of you when shooting, whether on a gorillapod or even just hand held. I can tell you now that holding a DSLR out in front of you for extended period of times, gets pretty tiring quite quickly, so this camera definitely has a DSLR beat for that feature.

It’s also going to make this camera excellent for travelling, especially if you have luggage allowances when boarding a flight with just hand luggage. This camera will barely leave a mark on your overall weight, so charge it up and take it abroad with you for travel vlogging and making memories.

1080p/60fps Video

You know those clips of b-roll where it’s all slowed down and looks really silky and smooth, that’s usually recorded using a higher framerate and this camera will allow you to do that with the addition of 60fps video capture. This means that in every second, the camera will capture 60 individual frames to make up your shot. When slowed down, this gives you a lot more individual clips to work with than shooting in something like 30fps, so your slow-mo b-roll will look so much smoother. You can’t ask for anything better than that if you’re the cinematic vlogger type.

5-axis in-body Stabilization

Nobody likes shaky handheld footage in their video, whether it’s your own video or one that you’re watching on Youtube. That’s why the in-body stabilization is such a great feature. When paired with image stabilized lenses this camera provides some really smooth handheld shooting.

Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth

This camera could possibly one of the most technologically connected cameras that I’ve ever seen, with bluetooth, wi-fi and NFC connectivity abilities. Hook this camera up to your mobile phone and you can very quickly and easily transfer files from the camera directly to your mobile so that you can edit and upload whilst on the move without needing a computer.

External Microphone Input

A lot of vloggers want to attach an external microphone to their camera like the Rode Videomicro and you’ll be pleased to know that this camera has the ability to use an external microphone, although it’s maybe not as ideal as you think. One of the main issues with this camera is the fact that the flip screen flips up to the top and if you are to mount a microphone on the top it will actually block the view of the screen when recording yourself. Not a huge issue, but could definitely be annoying to those looking to combine hot shoe devices with the flip up screen.

So this camera is still relatively unknown or not really spoken about too much but given the number of features and the great price, it could potentially be one of the best vlogging cameras available at the moment. It’s almost built with that purpose in mind.

Canon EOS M6 (Black) EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Kit

24.2 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor
High-Speed continuous shooting at up to 7.0 fps (up to 9.0 fps with AF lock)
Built-in Wi-Fi**, NFC*** and Bluetooth

1st December 2017 0 comment

Canon Reviews

Canon G7X Mark ii – Flip Screen Canon Vlog Camera

written by Peter

One of the most loved vlogging cameras at the moment is the Canon G7X mark ii which has been top of the favorite cameras list for a lot of youtubers for over a year now. Following in the footsteps of it’s older sibling the G7X, this camera has everything that you could want from a compact vlogging camera, well apart from an external microphone port, but almost everything.

Canon PowerShot Digital Camera [G7 X Mark II] with Wi-Fi & NFC, LCD Screen, and 1-Inch Sensor - Black, 100 - 1066C001

The advanced video capabilities of the PowerShot G7 X Mark II camera can capture moments in the quality they deserve
Features a large 1.0 inch, 20.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor that helps capture high quality images and videos with a wide dynamic range. Autofocus system features tile autofocus and manual focus. Operating temperature is 0 to 40 degrees Celsius. Note charging time varies considerably depending on the remaining battery power
An aperture value of f/1.8 at the wide angle and f/2.8 when fully zoomed to a factor of 4.2x (24 100 millimeter), this lens equipped to capture a variety of situations with precision
High resolution, 3.0 inches LCD monitor that tilts up 180 degrees and down 45 degrees is ideal for self portraits and capturing pictures at high and low angles with ease
Built in WiFi for on the go convenience and the ability to easily post your images to select social networking and media sites

So what makes G7X Mark ii so special and so good as a vlogging camera for youtube?

The Flip Screen

One of the main selling points of this camera is the fact that it has a very convenient flip up screen that allows you to see everything that you’re recording and is especially helpful when vlogging handheld and on the move. You really don’t want to find out after hours of filming that you’ve been cutting the top of your head off or are out of focus the whole time do you? This solves that problem by letting you keep an eye on it all.

The Video Quality

The G7X Mark II allows you to shoot footage of up to 1080p, but that’s not all. This camera has an aperture range of f1.8 to 2.8 with the former being incredibly handy if you’re going to be shooting in low light and if you want to get that really nice depth of field (blurred background) shots when filming.

There’s also a handy built in 5-axis advanced dynamic image stabilization. What this means is that your footage when shooting handheld will be automatically smoother to a degree. Now we don’t mean that this will be able to cope with the camera being violently shaken, but for general movements and panning it will definitely help.

Battery Life

Battery life on the Canon G7X Mark II compact camera has been boosted by 25% compared to the older model and lasts approximately 265 shots when it comes to the photography aspect. Now this camera is favored by so many vloggers that it must be pretty good in terms of battery life when it comes to filming. I would always recommend that you should carry a backup battery as there’s nothing worse than being caught out with no extra power.

Control Ring

One feature that makes this camera quite unique compared to others is the addition of a control ring at the front allowing you to manually control different aspects of what you’re settings are for shooting like the aperture. You can also alter whether this is a smooth or stepped control allowing for tactile feedback when altering settings.

No External Audio

One of the major missing features on this camera is the lack of an external audio port for adding an external microphone, but being completely honest, I don’t really think that this is the type of camera you would want to attach an external microphone to. Those are more suited for larger DSLR cameras as the whole reason for buying such a small compact camera is just that, they are compact. Adding a big microphone would be defeating that purpose, but some may see this as a major drawback for the G7X Mark II.

Overall Thoughts

So the G7X vlog camera really ticks a lot of boxes if you can live without the external audio and it’s quite easy to see why it’s used by so many youtubers these days. If you’re thinking of investing in a solid compact vlogging camera with a tilt screen and with loads of great features whilst still being pretty portable then the Canon G7X Mark II is probably a good one to choose if you’re looking to invest in growing your youtube channel.

As always, any questions about this canon vlog camera then just drop them in the comments below and I’ll be happy to help.

Canon PowerShot Digital Camera [G7 X Mark II] with Wi-Fi & NFC, LCD Screen, and 1-Inch Sensor - Black, 100 - 1066C001

The advanced video capabilities of the PowerShot G7 X Mark II camera can capture moments in the quality they deserve
Features a large 1.0 inch, 20.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor that helps capture high quality images and videos with a wide dynamic range. Autofocus system features tile autofocus and manual focus. Operating temperature is 0 to 40 degrees Celsius. Note charging time varies considerably depending on the remaining battery power
An aperture value of f/1.8 at the wide angle and f/2.8 when fully zoomed to a factor of 4.2x (24 100 millimeter), this lens equipped to capture a variety of situations with precision
High resolution, 3.0 inches LCD monitor that tilts up 180 degrees and down 45 degrees is ideal for self portraits and capturing pictures at high and low angles with ease
Built in WiFi for on the go convenience and the ability to easily post your images to select social networking and media sites

28th November 2017 0 comment

Reviews Sony

Sony DSC-WX500 – Beginner Vlogging Camera with a Flip Screen

written by Peter

If you’re just starting out your youtube journey and don’t want to splash too much money on a beginner vlogging camera, then perhaps the Sony WX500 is the perfect starter camera for you. There are a number of reasons why this camera is great as a cheap beginner vlogging camera and I’ll give you a rundown of the reasons why.

Sony DSCWX500/B Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Black)

30x Optical/60x Clear Image Zoom ZEISS (Trademarked) Vario-Sonnar T* Lens. Playback Functions: Beauty Effect, BRAVIA Sync(Control for HDMI), 9/25-frame index view, Slideshow, Forward/Rewind (Movie), Delete, Protect, Motion Shot Video, TRILUMINOS Color*13, 4K image output.
18.2MP Exmor R (Trademarked) CMOS Sensor for superb low light images
Versatile video w/ high-quality XAVC S (Trademarked), AVCHD & MP4 formats
Simple connectivity to smartphones via Wi-Fi (Trademarked) w/ NFC
In the box: Rechargeable Battery Pack (NP-BX1), AC Adaptor (AC-UB10C / UB10D), Micro USB cable, Wrist Strap, Instruction Manual

Flip Screen

One of the main selling points for this camera as a vlogging camera is the fact that it comes with a flip screen, making it one of the cheapest vlogging cameras with a flip screen on the market at the moment. This is a great feature for vlogging as it allows you to film yourself and keep an eye on what you’re recording, just on the off chance that you’re completely missing yourself or are out of focus.

Full HD Video

With the ability to film up to a maximum resolution of 1080p at 50fps, this camera shoot high quality footage so that you can be sure the youtube videos you are creating look great on all devices and to all viewers.

This camera won’t be the best in low light as it only opens up to f3.5 at it’s widest. For those of you who aren’t too sure about what this means, the lower the f number the more light that the lens lets into the sensor, so if you’re planning on doing a lot of low light shooting then you’ll be looking for a camera with a smaller number in the “f” values or one that allows you to use lenses that can attach faster lenses.

Built in Wi-fi

Another great feature of the WX500 is the built in wi-fi capabilities which will allow you to send footage direct from the camera to your mobile phone if you’re looking to quickly share content to upload to your youtube channel and don’t have access to a laptop for editing.

Lightweight

There are some people who really don’t like the idea of having to drag around a big DSLR camera when they are vlogging on the move, so with the WX500 being such a small camera, this makes it ideal for vlogging whilst you’re traveling and just general day to day vlogging as it won’t take up too much space in your bag or pockets as well as not giving you extreme arm ache when holding it out in front of you to film.

Great Battery Life

This camera also benefits from fantastic battery life of around 400 still shots per full charge. This means you should get more than enough power for filming your vlogs. My recommendation would always to carry a backup battery, on the off chance disaster strikes and you’ve forgotten to fully charge your camera before setting off.

So there you have it, this budget youtube camera packs one hell of a punch for the price and as a starting vlogging camera you would be hard pressed to find others that give you so many great features in a similar price range.

As always, any questions about the WX500, then drop them in the box below, but if you’re looking for a cheap vlogging camera with a flip screen then this may be the one for you. I’d also be inclined to say this is one of the best vlogging cameras under $400 on the market in 2018.

Sony DSCWX500/B Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Black)

30x Optical/60x Clear Image Zoom ZEISS (Trademarked) Vario-Sonnar T* Lens. Playback Functions: Beauty Effect, BRAVIA Sync(Control for HDMI), 9/25-frame index view, Slideshow, Forward/Rewind (Movie), Delete, Protect, Motion Shot Video, TRILUMINOS Color*13, 4K image output.
18.2MP Exmor R (Trademarked) CMOS Sensor for superb low light images
Versatile video w/ high-quality XAVC S (Trademarked), AVCHD & MP4 formats
Simple connectivity to smartphones via Wi-Fi (Trademarked) w/ NFC
In the box: Rechargeable Battery Pack (NP-BX1), AC Adaptor (AC-UB10C / UB10D), Micro USB cable, Wrist Strap, Instruction Manual

27th November 2017 0 comment

Reviews Sony

Sony RX100 Mark V – The Best Vlogging Camera of 2018?

written by Peter

If you’ve watched any of the major vloggers at any point over the last year, you’ll probably have seen a few of them talking about their new camrera, the Sony RX100 V. It’s been used by the likes of Casey Neistat, Sara Dietschy and iJustine and there’s good reason that this camera has been trusted by some of the biggest names in vlogging.

Sale

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 V 20.1 MP Digital Still Camera with 3" OLED, flip Screen, WiFi, and 1” Sensor DSCRX100M5/B

ELECTRONIC VIEW FINDER: retractable Tru-Finder EVF provides sharp resolution, bright self-illumination, and high contrast to view shots and adjust settings through a ZEISS T* coated eyepiece.
AUTO FOCUS: World’s fastest (0.05 sec.) hybrid AF system (contrast + phase) which is great for action and wildlife photography
AF DETECTION: The most comprehensive phase detection coverage in a compact camera utilizing 315 Auto Focus points
SHOOTING SPEED: World’s fastest continuous shooting speed at 24fps3 w/ autofocus and auto exposure tracking to ensure exceptional high-speed photography
IMAGE SENSOR: 20.1 megapixel 1" Exmor RS stacked back illuminated CMOS sensor w/ DRAM for outstanding image quality and continuous shooting.Battery life(still images)(CIPA):Up to 330 shots / 165 minutes

4K Recording

Although this is classed as a point and shoot digital camera, this little pocket sized device packs one hell of a punch shooting video at a max resolution of 4k footage at 30fps. The RX100 V also shoots up to 120fps at a resolution of 1080p so you can be certain that if you love those silky smooth slowmotion shots, then this camera has you covered for those too.

Another great feature that this camera has to offer for vloggers is the fantastic low light abilities, this is mostly down to the maximum aperture of 1.8 at it’s widest. Having such a wide aperture also allows you to get that stunning blurred background or bokeh that vloggers love so much when shooting cinematic shots or even when just sitting in front of the camera and shooting yourself talking.

Flip Screen

The RX100 V also features a flip screen making it easier for you to keep an eye on yourself when vlogging on the move or just to ensure you’re in focus when filming. Although, this camera has over 300 focus points and almost DSLR quality autofocus it can sometimes be hard to not get yourself in focus.

Wi-Fi Capabilities

One of the other features that would be useful for people who vlog on the move is the inclusion of wireless capabilities. This will allow you to not only control the shot from your mobile phone, but also transfer the footage or photos to your phone quickly and easily to share online. I genuinely think there will be a time where vlogs will be edited on phones and done completely without the use of a laptop. That time may not be now, but it’s definitely coming.

If you’re a vlogger who wants to play about with the colour in post production then this camera has a feature that you’ll love. The RX100V has the capability to shoot in S-Log2. This means that there’s a higher dynamic range for greater colour correction abilities when opening the footage in your favourite editing software.

This camera isn’t without some drawbacks though which is a shame given the price. The camera has a limit when recording in 4K of only five minutes maximum in one clip to prevent overheating. This is probably not going to be a major issue given that there are few people who I can see uploading 4K vlogs in 2017/18, but it’s something to keep in mind.

The battery life on this camera is also not the best with some reporting that they’re only getting around 30 minutes of battery life when shooting in 4K, so it might be worthwhile buying some extra batteries if you’re going for the top video performance.

If you can live with shooting in 1080p or can pocket a few extra batteries, then this is definitely a fantastic vlogging camera to consider adding to your list, although you may find that you can get something better for your needs at a lower cost.

Sale

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 V 20.1 MP Digital Still Camera with 3" OLED, flip Screen, WiFi, and 1” Sensor DSCRX100M5/B

ELECTRONIC VIEW FINDER: retractable Tru-Finder EVF provides sharp resolution, bright self-illumination, and high contrast to view shots and adjust settings through a ZEISS T* coated eyepiece.
AUTO FOCUS: World’s fastest (0.05 sec.) hybrid AF system (contrast + phase) which is great for action and wildlife photography
AF DETECTION: The most comprehensive phase detection coverage in a compact camera utilizing 315 Auto Focus points
SHOOTING SPEED: World’s fastest continuous shooting speed at 24fps3 w/ autofocus and auto exposure tracking to ensure exceptional high-speed photography
IMAGE SENSOR: 20.1 megapixel 1" Exmor RS stacked back illuminated CMOS sensor w/ DRAM for outstanding image quality and continuous shooting.Battery life(still images)(CIPA):Up to 330 shots / 165 minutes

25th November 2017 0 comment

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