Starting a YouTube channel - What camera?

OneTime

OneTime

OneTime

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16 Sep 2008
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532
Location
Southampton
Hi All,

I'm looking for some advice on starting my own YouTube channel and what camera to use for filming.
I'm a petrolhead and have been for many years, but my current career has absolutely nothing to do with cars and you know what they say, find a job in something you love doing and it won't feel like you're working at all. Well in order to one day achieve this I'm going to start with a YouTube channel and see where things go from there.

My budget isn't large as I'm also upgrading my PC at the same time in order to edit and create the videos (10 year old dual core), so I'll be starting a thread in the PC section soon. Based on this I think 4K is out of budget.

I'm looking for the below:

Camera - circa £500.
- Currently looking at the Canon G7X Mark II.
Memory Cards
Mic
Tripod
Camera Rail/Slider
Gimbal

My other half has a Sony DSLR so I'll be taking photos with that. This camera is purely for video.

Any recommendations for the above would be appreciated. I'm looking for the best "bang for buck" so to speak and will look to source things second hand as well to keep costs down.

If anyone has a similar YouTube channel I would love to chat.

Thanks,

OT
 
This is an addictive route you're starting out on.

Personally, I'd try get a unit that has a microphone input, otherwise you'll not be happy with the audio. The G7 Mk2 is a great camera, but no mic.

Same with my Sony RX100 - brilliant camera, crappy audio outside. I end up using a separate mic and joining up in post....Or....just sticking to using one of my units that has a mic input.
 
I mean, what is your actual goal? Just starting a YouTube channel is fine, but if you want more than a handful of views and half a dozen subscribers you need to put as much into it as you would any business. Pretty long gone are the days where anyone with a camera could earn some kind of money from YouTube... especially with the content you're talking about.

Most audiences will expect (or at least want) to watch production values that are up there with terrestrial and paid television. I run a production company and with all the years of experience, talented crew and 100k worth of kit I wouldn't touch YouTube with a barge pole in terms of trying to start a successful, profitable channel.

I'm guessing you don't have any photographic/video production background?

If it's just a hobby, go for it, but then I'd say just use your phone.
 
I have a Youtube channel with only a handful of videos but for some reason have just over 200 followers. I want to add more videos/followers and bought a GoPro 7 Black and Osmo Pocket.

I'm now waiting for the weather to improve and get out more. But from what I seen you have to be creative and keep at it a lot.
 
I would agree about making sure you have good audio more than worrying about the video. Especially in the early stages. You can get something like a Zoom H1n for the audio and then most video editing can automatically sync your audio track with your video footage (provided there is audio on the video too) and as said, maybe just start with your phone video (if it's a half decent phone). Make a few videos and see how things go.

Another option, depending exactly on your uses, would perhaps be a DJI Osmo Pocket which I believe can have a mic port added.

The other thing that isn't often thought about by 'amateur' YouTubers is lighting. If you're filming outdoors this perhaps wont be an issue, but indoors make sure you've got some half decent lighting :)
 
I've about 1k subs now I think. Took a strong uptake after I started putting a bit of effort in to the editing. Bit of a weird mix of a channel, everything from travel to tech - didn't really have any focus. Surprised it's got as far as it has tbh!
 
Hi all,

Thanks for you replies. I've replied to a few below but will take on board what others have said as well.

MacRS4 said:
This is an addictive route you're starting out on.

Personally, I'd try get a unit that has a microphone input, otherwise you'll not be happy with the audio. The G7 Mk2 is a great camera, but no mic.

Same with my Sony RX100 - brilliant camera, crappy audio outside. I end up using a separate mic and joining up in post....Or....just sticking to using one of my units that has a mic input.
Click to expand...

I plan on buying a separate mic, most likely a lavalier mic for the interview side of things and then some sort of RODE on camera mic for general filming. I will look out for cameras that support an external mic as I don't really want to have to record it separately and sync it up.

Russinating said:
I mean, what is your actual goal? Just starting a YouTube channel is fine, but if you want more than a handful of views and half a dozen subscribers you need to put as much into it as you would any business. Pretty long gone are the days where anyone with a camera could earn some kind of money from YouTube... especially with the content you're talking about.

Most audiences will expect (or at least want) to watch production values that are up there with terrestrial and paid television. I run a production company and with all the years of experience, talented crew and 100k worth of kit I wouldn't touch YouTube with a barge pole in terms of trying to start a successful, profitable channel.

I'm guessing you don't have any photographic/video production background?

If it's just a hobby, go for it, but then I'd say just use your phone.
Click to expand...

To be honest my goal is to meet new people and film cars. It is more of a hobby than a business. Yes I'd love to get a profitable channel up and running but the time and effort this will take I don't have. I don't have any background in photographic/video production so this is a new challenge for me. I've been watching YouTube videos for years and I'd like to do it myself now. I don't want to use my phone as I'd like it to look and sound as professional as possible, hence asking for advice. If in x amount of years time I only have a few followers but I've had the chance to film a lot of different cars and meet different people then I'll be happy. I do like to dream big and if this starts to gain traction then I may look to devote more time to it.

AndyCr15 said:
I would agree about making sure you have good audio more than worrying about the video. Especially in the early stages. You can get something like a Zoom H1n for the audio and then most video editing can automatically sync your audio track with your video footage (provided there is audio on the video too) and as said, maybe just start with your phone video (if it's a half decent phone). Make a few videos and see how things go.

Another option, depending exactly on your uses, would perhaps be a DJI Osmo Pocket which I believe can have a mic port added.

The other thing that isn't often thought about by 'amateur' YouTubers is lighting. If you're filming outdoors this perhaps wont be an issue, but indoors make sure you've got some half decent lighting :)
Click to expand...

I'm definitely looking at purchasing a decent mic. I've said above I want to ideally look at cameras with a mic input but will read up on having a separate sound recorder and syncing this in post production. Need to decide which route to take. Again I'm a bit of a perfectionist and really do want the quality to be high from the off, which is why I want to avoid using my phone. Most, if not all the videos should be outside so lighting shouldn't be a problem. I will keep this in mind though. I've been watching a few videos on filming and lighting is quite an important part.
 
I recently upgraded to a Canon 5300D - can't ask for more with that camera (for me anyway). I've never been particularly great with cameras or PCs for that matter, but the 5300D ticked the boxes for me, 1080p 50FPS video capability, mic input, screen that flips around pretty much wherever you want it. I've paired it with a Rode VideoMic Shotgun Mic - great quality microphone.

I also use a GoPro Hero 5 Black with the microphone adapter & Saramonic omni-directional microphone, again great for what I use it for (Automotive YouTube similar to you). I didn't have a budget to go at when first starting so I'm picking up new bits as I go along.

I'm focusing my efforts/money on the post-production side now as I'm currently using a laptop for editing which is way worse than average. I can assemble and edit the videos OK, playback through Premiere & using After Effects can be a bit of a nightmare, never-mind the render times (1 hour for a 10 minute video on average)

I'm doing the same as you, working a job that has 0 to do with automotive, however I come from an automotive background and I've always had a passion for it, balancing 1 per week upload with a standard 9-5 job and the like is difficult.

Good luck with it all and let me know how you get on with the computer side.
 
AndyCr15 said:
It does sound like it ticks a lot of boxes, but Google can't find it for me. Do you have a link? (I'm just being nosy really, I use 4K so it wouldn't actually be any use to me, but I can never find well priced cameras with a mic input)
Click to expand...

My bad it's a Nikon and not Canon, just goes to show how little I know (or remember!)

This is the link https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/camer...Q8xX2cS5Xo0kEIVpVevR0-qoOynuaQKcaAnLPEALw_wcB

I had the same issue, finding a decent camera with a mic input. I would have ideally liked 4K but not a necessity at the moment so I settled for a relatively high frame rate 1080p setting
 
JJB said:
I recently upgraded to a Canon 5300D - can't ask for more with that camera (for me anyway). I've never been particularly great with cameras or PCs for that matter, but the 5300D ticked the boxes for me, 1080p 50FPS video capability, mic input, screen that flips around pretty much wherever you want it. I've paired it with a Rode VideoMic Shotgun Mic - great quality microphone.

I also use a GoPro Hero 5 Black with the microphone adapter & Saramonic omni-directional microphone, again great for what I use it for (Automotive YouTube similar to you). I didn't have a budget to go at when first starting so I'm picking up new bits as I go along.

I'm focusing my efforts/money on the post-production side now as I'm currently using a laptop for editing which is way worse than average. I can assemble and edit the videos OK, playback through Premiere & using After Effects can be a bit of a nightmare, never-mind the render times (1 hour for a 10 minute video on average)

I'm doing the same as you, working a job that has 0 to do with automotive, however I come from an automotive background and I've always had a passion for it, balancing 1 per week upload with a standard 9-5 job and the like is difficult.

Good luck with it all and let me know how you get on with the computer side.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response. Sorry it's taken a long time to reply! I've just subscribed to your channel and will watch a few of your vids.
Currently looking at the Nikon D5600 as an entry level, learn the basics and get to know everything camera. Will most likely go with that or possibly a Canon of similar price. Been watching comparisons on YouTube.
Yeah I can see that it is difficult to manage to film, edit, upload and start over again week after week. I'll give it a go though!

Computer is now all sorted and I'm currently writing this reply on it.
If you're interested the spec is AMD Ryzen 2700x, MSI B450 Pro Carbon, Asus RTX 2060, Corsair Vengence 3200mhz, Corsair TX550 as well as a 2TB HDD for vids and images and a 500GB SSD for programmes. Runs like a dream!

I'll let you know once I have decided and pushed the buy button on a camera :)

Cheers
 
Panasonic are selling the FZ2000 for £699 on their Ebay outlet store. It comes with 1 year warranty. It has mic inputs, fully articulated rear screen (which is good for vlogging etc) and a built in NDfilter. Might be a tad outside your budget but it is a very good quality video orientated camera. The Panasonic GH5/s is regarded by DPRreview as their top camera for video https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/buying-guide-best-cameras-for-video
 
MartinPrince said:
Panasonic are selling the FZ2000 for £699 on their Ebay outlet store. It comes with 1 year warranty. It has mic inputs, fully articulated rear screen (which is good for vlogging etc) and a built in NDfilter. Might be a tad outside your budget but it is a very good quality video orientated camera. The Panasonic GH5/s is regarded by DPRreview as their top camera for video https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/buying-guide-best-cameras-for-video
Click to expand...

Hi Martin, thanks for your reply. I think the FZ2000 is a little out of my price range considering all the other gear I need to buy. I'm now looking at the Canon EOS M50 as from reviews it looks to be ticking all the boxes.
 
I have an M50. I think it's terrible :-/ but then that could be because of the other kit I have. The 4k is practically unusable as a vlogging camera, not to mention the focus in 4k being a real pain.

If you stick to 1080 it's probably workable?
 
OneTime said:
Hi Martin, thanks for your reply. I think the FZ2000 is a little out of my price range considering all the other gear I need to buy. I'm now looking at the Canon EOS M50 as from reviews it looks to be ticking all the boxes.
Click to expand...
No problem though bear in mind even the DPReview states that the M50 is not good for anybody interested in 4K video which MacRS4 seems to corroborate in his post.
 
MacRS4 said:
I have an M50. I think it's terrible :-/ but then that could be because of the other kit I have. The 4k is practically unusable as a vlogging camera, not to mention the focus in 4k being a real pain.

If you stick to 1080 it's probably workable?
Click to expand...

MartinPrince said:
No problem though bear in mind even the DPReview states that the M50 is not good for anybody interested in 4K video which MacRS4 seems to corroborate in his post.
Click to expand...

Yeah from the reviews the crop factor is ridiculous in 4k mode and the auto focus doesn't work in 4k either so only planning to keep it 1080p. To get a proper 4K mirrorless or DSLR it seems like you need to spend close to £1000 :(
 
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