If you’re looking for a solid little vlogging camera and lens you need to check out the Sony a5000! This is probably the best vlogging camera on a budget with exception to one single fault…
- Sony a5000 Used on eBay
- Sony 16mm F2.8 Used on eBay
- Sony 16mm F2.8 New on Amazon
- Sony 16-50mm Used on eBay
- Sony 16-50mm New on Amazon
- Mini Handheld Tripod on Amazon
- Wired Lav Microphone on Amazon
This camera and lens combo is almost perfect.
You have a really solid APS-C sensor giving you decent low light performance and great shallow depth of field. The flip up screen is one of the best I’ve seen on cameras allowing you to EASILY check framing, exposure and focus.
The 16-50mm has stabilization (OSS) and at 16mm is perfect for arms length filming. For Sony cameras, this is probably the best vlogging lens out there for the price.
Finally, the not so good stuff. Really the only downside to the camera is the audio. There is no way to plug in a microphone leaving us with 2 options:
We can use the internal microphones which you can hear in the video. This isn’t optimal as we don’t have manual audio but as I talked about, I do enjoy not worrying about sound and focusing on filming. For casual filming I have no problem with this.
The Second sound option is to use your phone with the Lav microphone I linked to above. If you have a smart phone you can use a free recording app and that $12 mic and you’re done!
Either way, I’ve really enjoyed using this camera for vlogging and I shoot more BECAUSE OF it’s limitations.