Looking for the best camera for your blog? Here’s everything you need to know.
Since we’ve been getting more questions lately on what photography gear we use, we figured it’s about time to talk about the best cameras for bloggers.
We used to run a wedding photography business just shy of a decade, so a lot of our gear is on the higher end, but we also wrote out some great options for those of you starting out that want to improve your images for your blog. Though they sometimes help, it’s not about the camera. It’s about the photographer.
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Last Updated: March 8, 2024
The Best Cameras for Bloggers
The best camera is the one you have access to! As you get more into it, you may want to upgrade your gear, but don’t feel the need to get the best gear right away. It’s better to work on your photography skills rather than think the gear will make everything better.
Vlog Camera / Point & Shoot →
Canon G7X – We used to use our Canon G7X all the time to vlog. We don’t vlog as much anymore so we don’t carry it with us, but it’s still an amazing camera. They have newer versions now, but it’s still one of the best point and shoot cameras out there. We took all our Gold Strike Hot Springs outing photos and video on the G7X. Check out our vlog footage from the hike below.
Another great option is the Sony RX-100, another camera we used quite a bit. It was great for slo-mo shots.
DSLR / Mirrorless Camera →
We recommend the Canon Rebel Series and the Nikon D5600 as great entry-level DSLRs if you’re looking to get your feet wet with DSLR photography. We used to shoot with the Canon 5D Mark IV.
We currently use a Canon R5 for most of our photos on the blog but would only recommend it if you’re seriously getting into photography or want to bring your photos to the next level. My personal preference has always been Canon over Nikon because of color. We’ve also tried the Sony mirrorless cameras and didn’t love the colors, although a ton of creators use them now. They all have their pros and cons and are very comparable.
Camera Lens Guide
Now that you know about the best cameras for bloggers, we can talk about lenses. A good rule for photographers is to invest in lenses over camera bodies. Lenses don’t depreciate in value as camera bodies do, and investing the same amount of money in nicer glass will make more of a difference in photo quality than upgrading to a nicer body.
We recommend starting off with the first two lenses listed here which covers most types of photography you would use for your blog. After you get a good handle on these two, the others are for more specialized photos.
Canon 50 MM F/1.8 II (Nikon’s + Sony’s Versions) →
Although our eyes work differently than lenses do, this is almost the equivalent focal length of what we see (on a full-frame camera). Almost every beginner photographer starts out with this prime lens. It gives you the pretty blurry background when shooting at 1.8. I started out with this lens and eventually upgraded a few years later to the 1.2L.
Canon 24-70 MM F/2.8L or 24-105 mm F/4L (Nikon’s + Sony’s Versions) →
These are great versatile lenses great for lifestyle or travel photos. We used the 24-105 as our sole lens while hiking Machu Picchu a few years back. Having the ability to zoom is great if you can’t be as mobile. The 24-70 is the better lens, but both are great depending on your budget.
Canon 35 MM F/1.4L (Nikon’s + Sony’s Versions) →
We’ve been using this as our main lens the past few years and have gone on some trips with only this lens.
Canon 70-200 MM F/2.8L (Nikon’s + Sony’s Versions) →
When we went to the Galapagos, 90% of our photos were taken with a 70-200. You should use this lens anytime you’re shooting objects far away like wildlife. It’s quite heavy, so I don’t recommend taking it on a hike unless you’re dedicated to taking wildlife photography.
We’re thinking about selling it to pick up a 100-500mm. We recently took it on Safari and to Antarctica and love it!
100 mm F/2.8L Macro (Nikon’s + Sony’s Versions) →
We use this lens for macro photography, which is great for shooting jewelry or smaller products. As far as macro lenses go, I’ve had a much better experience using this than our 50 mm macro.
Tripod →
We’ve used a lot of different tripods over the years. Our current favorite is the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod, but for more options, check out our full post.
I like to be mobile with just my camera, so most of the time I’m not using a tripod. However, when we do hikes to waterfalls or astrophotography, we bring one along so that we can get our slow shutter shots like the one below.
See More: 5 Best Travel Tripods That Are Lightweight and Easy to Use
iPhone →
They say the best camera is the one you have with you. We don’t always enjoy lugging around a giant camera. Most of our Instagram Reels are taken from an iPhone. We also took only our iPhone on our kayaking adventure in Key West.
Pro Tip: Pair your phone with this lightweight tripod and the Peak Design Mobile Kit. It’s such a good set up!
Film →
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend film cameras as the best cameras for bloggers, since the turnaround time is not fast enough for this digital age, but I included it on the list in case you are looking to get back into film like I am. Jacob recently got me the Canon AE-1, and it’s a great camera to start out with if you’re wanting to shoot film. :) I’ll have to do a post when I finally develop my film.
Accessories
There are a few accessories that are helpful for shooting:
- Shutter Remote – You use a shutter release remote for long exposure photography (for example the one above) so that you don’t move the camera with your finger on the shutter. We use this one with our camera. (P.S. Also pick yourself up an ND filter for long exposure shots in the day, so you don’t have to shoot at high aperture).
- Studio Background – If you’re doing product reviews, this seamless background will make your life so much easier. We bought this professional tabletop studio kit to shoot products for reviews since it’s not legal to be pulling images from online without permission. The quality is pretty good for the price. See our full review here.
See More: 25 Best Gifts for Photographers // Photography Gift Guide
Camera Bags →
We love our backpacks! They help us keep all our gear safe and stowed away when we’re out and allow us to be hands-free when needed. Our current go-to is the Wandrd PRVKE. Check out all our favorite backpacks in our full post here.
See More: We Found the Best Camera Backpack of All Time
Editing Software
- Adobe Lightroom – Does all my color correcting and 99% of my edits.
- Adobe Photoshop – If you’re shooting more products/lifestyle/portraits on your blog, it’s great to have if you want to remove blemishes on faces or take out a piece of trash in a landscape, etc. Content-Aware is amazing!
- iMovie – When Jacob was starting out in editing video, he used mainly iMovie to edit. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles but can do most simple video edits. Many of our massive youtuber friends used iMovie until they could hire a team to shoot and edit videos.
- Adobe Premiere Pro – Premiere is the industry standard for video editing. It’s great if you need a more in-depth editing process with precision in cutting, the ability to color correct, and manipulate footage.
- Capcut – A great phone app for editing video. There’s plenty offered on the free version but you can also pay for additional features.
Planning Checklist
- Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
- Download these helpful language apps.
- Arrange a rental car for your trip.
- Get airport lounge access.
- Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
- Get a new backpack for your trip.
- Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
- Don’t forget your in-flight essentials.
What type of photos do you like to shoot most? Are there any others that should be added to our list of the best cameras for bloggers?
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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
Follow on Instagram (E + J), YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest.
