Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Youtube vlogs/tutorials - recommended cameras

patent10021

patent10021

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Apr 23, 2004
3,537
813
I want to start creating content mostly in the space of Youtube vlogs/tutorials. It will be mostly in studio but I also want to include video from where I live and work in Asia because there are always amazing sights.

I'll mostly be shooting in a small room with a couple of square LED lamps and rings etc that seem to be popular with vloggers.

If I'm shooting indoors could I get away with good lighting and just an iPhone? As I mentioned I will be shooting outdoors later on and also be doing street interviews.

From what I've seen so far people are just using video and audio from iPhones or lower end prosumer cameras.

Let's say I wanted to create content that was both raw studio footage with pretty outdoor street footage. A cross between Unbox Therapy + Casey Neistat.

Would the MBP web cam + iPhone be good enough?

What do you recommend?
 
With the camera quality from iPhones these days, yes of course.
Good lighting is key.
Almost all of my videos are filmed indoors, with separate LED lighting panels. Granted I use a DSLR, but I also shoot many clips with my iPhone since its always with me, and when placed in the video it blends in nicely.
 
alldataback_com said:
any LED light recommend? interesting about this.
Click to expand...
Before you buy anything, I suggest you do a search on YouTube for "three point lighting tutorial" and look at some of those tutorials. What specific lights you use is less important than understanding what you are trying to accomplish with them.
If then you determine that you need to get lights, look for ones on a stand with a soft box or umbrella.
 
alldataback_com said:
any LED light recommend? interesting about this.
Click to expand...

Echo the above poster, although I found soft boxes too big!!
I got rid of my soft boxes and replaced them with a set of Aputure Amaran H528W's - if you check some of my YouTube videos you'll see the results.
 
For vlogs, a camera that has a "flip around" display is the most useful, to let you see yourself as you record.

Canon DSLR's have this feature, very nice.
Their "dual pixel" technology and touchscreen interface makes it child's play to select and fine tune your focus point in the middle of recording.

Also be aware that Canon will have a new mirrorless coming out at the end of this month with 4k video (as well as 1080p):
http://www.canonrumors.com/canon-eos-m50-more-images-and-specifications/
 
  • Like
Reactions: eyeseeyou
Everyone is talking about cameras. Video is easy especially if you can have lights placed where you need them

The harder part is AUDIO. Almost all the beginner Youtubers I see have just horrible audio recording. The absolute worst thing you can do is use on-camera audio or the microphone in the cell phone. It is essential to place the microphone closer to the source. A lav mic is great (the kind that clips to a shirt) and if you are doing off camera voice over then you can use a big condenser mic that is just inches from your mouth.

Viewers will put up with poor video but poor audio makes you work seem amateurish and cheap.

You need to think about audio and spend on audio at least as much as video.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BeechFlyer and eyeseeyou
ChrisA said:
Everyone is talking about cameras. Video is easy especially if you can have lights placed where you need them

The harder part is AUDIO. Almost off the beginner Youtubers I see have just horrible audio recording. The absolute worst thing you can do is use on-camera audio or the microphone in the cell phone. It is essential to place the microphone closer to the source. A lab mic is great (the kind that clips to a shirt) and if you are doing off camera voice over then you can use a big condenser mic that is just inches from your mouth.

Viewers will put up with poor video but poor audio makes you work seem amateurish and cheap.
Click to expand...

Lighting and audio.

Someone once said that viewers can deal with video that isn’t super sharp but will get turned off by poor audio
 
alldataback_com said:
any LED light recommend? interesting about this.
Click to expand...

The brand is unimportant. What matters most is the physical size. You generally want the largest size recite you can get, tow feet wide if you can get it. It you can't afford lights make them. Get some sticky back LED tape and stick it to a large sheet of foam core board. Stop it in an art portfolio case when not in use Cost $30 each, tops.

The other thing to watch is color temperature. The temperature of al the lighting has to match. I use "daylight" or about 5,000K
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back