the Best Camera For Your Travel Vlog – A Quick Guide
What makes a good travel vlog camera? In my experience, it has to be cheap and lightweight, but that is just IMHO, and you will see why I think this way later on. In this article, I aim to help you find the right camera for your travel vlog – especially if you ask yourself how to become a travel vlogger.
After blogging about my tech stack as a travel vlogger, I realized just how essential the right camera is for creating a great travel vlog and catching all those amazing moments. In that previous article, I also discussed several devices, such as a gimbal and an external microphone, which can improve footage quality. I will not mention them here again.
Which Camera to Use for a Travel Vlog?
I recommend using at least two cameras for travel vlogging, there are good reasons to do so. First, it provides a backup option in case one device fails while traveling (which it will – trust me). Second, no single device can effectively cover all use cases that you face on your travel adventures.
After two years of making travel videos, I can confidently say that there is no such thing as a “jack-of-all-trades” camera for your travel vlog. You will be better off investing in two devices to cover different needs. Let me explain using my current set of cameras.
My Stack of Travel Vlog Cameras
I mostly use my cell phone – currently a Xiaomi 11T Pro (not an iPhone) – though I hope to upgrade soon (but also not to an IPhone). I also use an Akaso Brave 8 action camera, primarily in a “selfie perspective” to share my thoughts when I reach a travel destination. The Brave 8 is compact and works without an external microphone, allowing me to share my thoughts unfiltered and without distractions. I also use it for scenes in challenging conditions, such as underwater shots during my Xiaoliuqiu trip.
In my very first YouTube videos, I used a webcam. However, since I am a travel vlogger most of my footage is captured on the go, so a webcam is not the weapon of choice for me. That said, if you are producing videos in a static environment, like an office or studio, a webcam is a very reasonable choice.
Find the Best Travel Vlog Camera Step by Step
To find the best camera for your travel vlog, I recommend following this checklist:
- How Much Space Do You Have, and How Do You Travel?
- Video Format, Resolution, and Technical Standards for Your Travel Vlog
- What Essential Built-In Features of a Travel Vlog Camera Do You Need?
- How Are You Managing Data and Backups for Your Travel Videos
- Budgeting for Your Travel Vlog Camera: How Much Can You Spend?
Travel Vlog Cameras: How Much Space Do You Have, and How Do You Travel?
You cannot change the weight and size of a camera. In my case, my travel vlog camera must fit in a cycling bag, and I often travel with only hand luggage. Space is minimal, especially since I also have to carry other essentials.
For example, during my road trip through Indonesia, all my belongings had to fit into a small backpack for a couple of weeks. Thus, I need a camera compact and rugged for my travel vlog.
Video Format, Resolution, and Technical Standards for Your Travel Vlog
The next factor to consider is the technical specifications you want your camera to deliver. I started producing full-HD videos (1920 x 1080 resolution) at 30 frames per second but soon realized I wanted to preserve my travel experiences in 4K at 60 FPS, it just looks better on the larger screen. Especially when traveling in Taiwan, where you have so much amazing nature, or when you go for a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia.
Also, think about the type of motion and stabilization you need. For example, paying for a waterproof action cam is pretty pointless, when you just taking videos in an office environment. But when producing travel videos, you often capture a lot of footage in motion. For example, I made a one-shot video where I crossed the Kinmen Bridge in Taiwan.
The lower the specs of your travel vlog camera, the less you need to invest. Avoid paying for features you do not need. This is often the case with “best-in-class” travel vlog cameras, such as a GoPro. They are great, but that comes with a big price tag. Additionally, ensure the camera records in a format and codec for audio and video that suit your editing workflow.
Essential Built-In Features of a Travel Vlog Camera and How to Work Around Their Limitations
No camera is perfect, but you can often compensate for its shortcomings with external devices. For instance, I find the built-in microphone on my camera unsuitable for travel vlogging. However, I was okay with this limitation since I planned to use an external microphone anyway.
Managing Data and Backups for Your Travel Videos
Consider how you will edit and archive your videos. Cameras have limited storage space, but you will generate heaps of footage. Plan how to store and transfer all that data. For example, my phone syncs footage automatically to Google Cloud, making data management seamless.
However, with my Brave 8 action camera, the process is more cumbersome. To fully utilize its video stabilization, you must transfer footage via the Akaso mobile app, which:
- Cannot run in the background
- Frequently crashes
- Drains the battery of both the camera and phone Brave 8 as travel vlog camera
This makes data transfer a hassle, but I still use Akaso Brave 8 as travel vlog camera, and that has to do with money – or the lack thereof.
Budgeting for Your Travel Vlog Camera: How Much Can You Spend?
While budget matters, it is crucial to prioritize features first. Once you have identified your “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves,” you can make decisions based on your budget. I do not earn a salary as a travel vlogger, so I produce my videos on a budget. This means I have to be okay with my flaws and sometimes buy used gear to save money.
This is exactly the reason why I do not use an iPhone or any other Apple devices. They for sure excel in many fields, but they are too expensive for me. BTW, if you aim to earn money as a travel vlogger, my blog about how to become a travel vlogger and get paid may help you.
Final Thoughts: Finding the Best Camera for Your Travel Vlog
I have mentioned that I hope to upgrade to a new phone soon, as my current one is showing its age. The battery is weak, and the front camera does not support 4K video. Still, using a phone as my primary travel vlog camera has worked well for me so far.
When choosing a travel vlog camera, it is important to consider how it integrates with your overall tech stack. For example, I recently invested in DaVinci Resolve Studio for editing and have been using a NAS server for storage. Especially the Studio version of DaVinci Resolve helps me overcome the limitations of my cameras. I will dive deeper into my tech stack in a future blog post, so stay tuned for that update!
If you are interested in more travel vlogging tips, follow me on Facebook and YouTubef or content on traveling in Taiwan and beyond.
Happy vlogging!