18. Nikon COOLPIX A1000
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 320g | 1/2.3 | No | No |
If you are considering the best camera under $300 for travel vlogging, thus take a look at Nikon A1000. This camera has a very tiny sensor 1/2.3″, but if you capture the images during daylight, thus it can produce some amazing looking shots.
One of the things I prefer about the Nikon COOLPIX A1000 is the EVF, its super tiny, but it gets the job done. Also, the A1000 had a flip-down screen for vlogging, one of the few 4K cameras to have such an element. Sadly, the camera has no mic jack, but the onboard mics are adequate.
17. Sony WX800
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 233g | 1/2.3 | No | No |
I want to tell you something up front, and I’m an ardent user of the Sony WX500 compact camera for the last 5 years. So, this new Sony WX800 had identical features set of WX500, but now with 4K Support. If you need the best compact camera with super long zoom + 4K Video + super-light body, the WX800 is the answer.
I love the xenon flash on this camera, which is not as harsh as compared to other Sony cameras. Overall, this camera is only around 200g, which means you can put in your pocket and forget it is even there.
16. Sony RX0 II
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 132g | 1 Inch | No | Yes |
I was extremely disappointed with the original Sony RX0, which lacked 4K, and a flip-up screen. Now finally, SONY is back with version 2.
First, the 3 major features of Sony RX0 II are 3.5mm mic jack, flip-up screen, and 4K internal recording. If you travel in a harsh environment or want to do hardcore vlogging on the streets of Johannesburg in South Africa, thus this is the perfect camera for you. Sadly, the stabilization in 4K is not that good, just buy an action cam gimbal for it.
15. Nikon Z50
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 450G | APS-C | No | Yes |
Now here is the best Nikon 4K vlogging camera with tons of video features baked in. I am personally using the Z50 for wildlife photography, and some quick 4K vlogs. The Nikon Z50 is hosting a large APS-C sensor inside, and it comes with a mic jack. The Nikon Z50 is also weather-sealed, but sadly the DX 16-50 kit lens is not weather sealed.
The 4K footage comes out of the Z50 is super sharp, but there is no IBIS, so you have to depend on the OIS in the DX 16-50 Kit lens. I will have to say, and the Z50 kit lens is the best pancake lens ever I had tested.
14. GoPro 8
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 126g | MFT | No (Advance EIS) | Yes |
The new GoPro 8 is a significant update over the GoPro 7, which was already substantial. If you need the ultimate best 4K action cam, then you just can’t go wrong with the GoPro 8. Thanks to the Hypersmooth 2.0 stabilization, finally, the EIS is very comparable to the actual gimbal. The GoPro 8 offers vivid colors out of the camera.
Also, you can use a 3.5mm microphone with an adapter or with a media mod. If you are going on an adventure and need somethings rugged under $300, GoPro 8 is the answer.
13 Olympus PEN-EPL9
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 380g | MFT | No | Yes |
If you are looking best 4K vlogging camera on budget with IBIS? The Olympus PEN-EPL9 is the perfect camera that tick all the boxes except lack of 3.5mm microphone jack. I have using the Pen 9 camera for the last 2 years. The build-it mics are very good unless there is a powerful wind that destroys the audio.
So, most of the time, I record the audio with clip recorder or lav mic, later I sync the audio in PowerDirector in post. The video quality comes out of this camera is just stunning thanks to the large micro fourth, third sensor. The 3-axis stabilization works wonderfully for its size. Overall, you just cannot go wrong with this best 4K travel MFT camera under $500.
12. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 304g | 1 Inch | No | Yes |
I want to be upfront; I returned my Canon G7X Mark 3 due to overheating. But the new firmware fixes the problem, here is my warning; do your diligence research on it. This is one of the few 4K compact camera with a 3.5I want to be upfront; I returned my Canon G7X Mark 3 due to overheating.
But the new firmware fixes the problem. Here is my warning; do your diligence research on it. This is one of the few 4K compact cameras with a 3.5mm audio jack. The Canon G7X Mark 3 is the perfect camera for photography thanks to build-in ND filters. Sadly, for me, the 4K overheating was a let-down. If the camera doesn’t overheat, I had kept it due to a very nice 4K video quality.
11. Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 340g | 1 Inch | No | No |
First, I want to talk about G7X III vs. G5X II; there is no mic jack on G5X Mark II. The pleasant news is G5X Mark 2 comes with a longer zoom up-to 120mm (35mm equivalent).
After returning my G7X Mark 3, I bought the G5 X Mark 2, which comes with an EVF viewfinder also. The Canon G5 X Mark 2 didn’t overheat in 4K, which is amazing to me. If you do not need a 3.5mm audio jack, then there is no reason to buy the G7 X III over the G5 X II. These compact canon cameras have a 1-inch sensor and produce stunning 4K videos and images.
10. Fujifilm X-A7
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 320g | APS-C | No | Yes (2.5mm) |
I am a tremendous fan of Fuji colors thanks to the X-Trans sensor, Fujifilm X-A7 has the Bayer sensor. It’s all depended on you, which Fuji sensor is best for you if your post-edit a lot of images then go with Bayer because of ease of use. If you want to use the images straight out of the camera, then go for the X-Trans sensor.
Now for the Fujifilm X-A7, which comes with a whopping 3.5 inch fully articulating screen. This screen has the 16:9 aspect ratio rather than the 3:2 or 4:3; due to that for 4K vlogging, this is the best. The camera comes with a 2.5mm mic jack, but I don’t see a problem, I’m mostly fine with using an adapter. But buy a good quality 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter because it can introduce hiss.
The Fujifilm 15-45mm is the perfect lens for vlogging; the OIS in the lens is the best in class in the Fuji lens lineup. Also, the 15mm is wide, which is 22.5mm in Full Frame. The images and videos are both very sharp out of the camera, and I wish I can turn a bit sharpening down for the 4K video.
9. Fujifilm X-T200
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 372g | APS-C | No | Yes |
This camera is the bigger brother of the Fujifilm X-A7. It has everything the X-A7 had, but it comes with an amazingly sharp EVF. Also, the Fujifilm X-T200 comes with a standard 3.5mm mic jack rather than 2.5mm on X-A7. If you want to save some money, then go with the X-A7.
If you want to buy the best 4K vlogging camera under $700, then just go with X-T200. One of the downsides of the Fujifilm X-T200 is preamps, which is very poor. If you are planning to use a 3.5mm mic, then use a microphone with its own preamps.
8. Panasonic Lumix G95
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 658g | MFT | Yes | Yes |
Some of the camera reviewers out there called G95 as the worst camera. The Panasonic Lumix G95 had already received a lot of hate without any satisfactory reason. The G95 is a minor upgrade to G85, but for me, there a few reasons to pay an extra $100 to $200 over the G85 to purchase G95. First, the increase in megapixels, the G95, comes with 20MP over the 16MP.
If you don’t know, the more megapixels are useful for cropping images. Second, the Panasonic Lumix G95 comes with a headphone jack, which the G85 lacked. I will say the G95 is an all-rounder camera thanks to a very rugged body and intense weather sealing. The 4K video comes out of the G95 is mind-blowing, plus you get the LUMIX V-Log L for free, which alone costs $99.
7. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 414G | MFT | Yes | Yes |
If there is one camera which I had fallen in love over the years is the E-M5 Mark 2. I loved the retro design, and here is a new successor to it; welcome the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III. First, if you need a super-fast drive for continuous shooting, then the Olympus E-M5 Mark 3 can do up-to 30 FPS.
Also, the body of this camera is very light at only around 400g, where the Panasonic G95 weighs around 500g. There is no flash on the E-M5 Mark 3, but you get an external flash in the box. The Olympus E-M5 Mark 3 had the sharpest looking 4K in the MFT world, and it can record up to 237 Mbps. If you ask me G95 vs. E-M5 III; I will advise you to spend more money and go with Olympus.
6. Canon EOS M6 Mark II
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 410g | APS-C | No | Yes |
The significant simple reasons to buy the Canon EF-M cameras are the lens. The EF-M had the best budget lens. Make sure to get the Canon EF-M trinity lens; 22mm F2, 11-22mm, and 28mm Macro. The Canon M6 Mark 2 comes with 32MP, which is very useful for cropping wildlife images.
The M6 Mark 2 has a 3.5mm mic jack and flip-up screen for vlogging. There is also a removable EVF if you need a viewfinder. The 4K videos out of the M6 Mark 2 is very cinema-like soft looks, and it’s not as sharp as other cameras on the list. I like the color rendition of it, which is perfect for travel videos.
5. Fujifilm X-T4
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 608g | APS-C | Yes | Yes |
If money is no obstacle for you, and you are okay with the weight, then go for the Fujifilm X-T4. This is the perfect travel camera of all time, which ticked all the boxes. It has IBIS, which rare for the large APS-C sensor. It also has a fully articulating screen, which is a blessing for us.
There is no camera that has a large sensor + IBIS + 4K/60FPS +articulating screen until now. As you know, I am a fan of Fuji’s vivid colors, and the ETERNA profile is perfect for videos. The X-T4 is a very pricey camera, but you get what you paid.
4. Sony RX100 VII
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 302g | 1 inch | No (EIS Only) | Yes |
Now, here is my favorite all-in-one pocket camera of all time. The major features of the Sony RX100 Mark 7 are the 3.5mm audio jack and the enhanced image stabilization in 4K. First, I want to get out of the way for the best mic for vlogging, get the Audio-Technica AT9912, which doesn’t require the hot shoe to mount. One of the downsides on the RX100 Mark 7 is lack of hotshoe, and I wish it would have the Multi Interface Shoe.
One of the major reasons to buy the RX100 Mark 7 is Active stabilization in 4K mode, it crops the video, but it’s still enough for vlogging. Also, you have a very long zoom from 24-200mm (35mm Equivalent), which comes very handy ones you are out in the jungle or bush. Overall if you need a perfect pocket 4K camera, then you just can’t go wrong with the Sony RX100 Mark 7.
3. Fimi Palm
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 120g | 120g 1/2.3 | Yes (Gimbal) | Yes |
This is a clone of Osmo Pocket, or is it?
I will say the Fimi Palm is not competing with Osmo Pocket due to a very different focal length. You get super ultra-wide with the Fimi Palm but at the sacrifice of video quality. One of the best features of this little ultra-wide 4K gimbal is the 3.5mm audio jack, which the Osmo Pocket lacked. If you compare the Fimi Palm to a large camera setup with an ultra-wide lens plus gimbal, it cost more than $1,200.
This is where the Fimi Palm comes handy, and it only less than $200. I will advise you to buy the both Fimi Palm for ultra-wide 4K videos and Osmo Pocket for the standard high-quality 4K footages.
2. SONY ZV-1
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 294g | 1 inch | No (Advance EIS) | Yes + MI Shoe |
This is a little beast; you get a Mi Hoteshoe, which means you can use any Mi Shoe microphones with. First, let me talk about the RX100 VII vs. ZV-1; the Sony ZV-1 had 24-72mm zoom but with an F1.8 aperture rather than F2.8 of RX100 VII.
Also, you lose the xenon flash & EVF on the Sony ZV-1, but again it makes with the brighter lens and ND filters. If you need the best 4K vlogging camera; where you can use the ECM-B1M or clip-on mic ECM-W1M. The footage looks very sharp and identical to RX100 Mark 7.
1. Osmo Pocket
| Weight | Sensor | IBIS | Mic Jack |
| 116g | 1/2.3 | YeYes (Gimbal) | Yes (with Adapter) |
One of the major revolutions in the 4K camcorder world is the entry of Osmo Pocket. The Osmo Pocket is a 3-Axis gimbal with a tiny 1/2.3 sensor, but it produces video very identical to large sensor mirrorless cameras. I just have fallen in love with the Osmo Pocket. Not even my LG V60 can match the ultra-sharp footage, which comes out of the Pocket.
One of the things I hate on the Osmo Pocket is the lack of a native 3.5mm audio jack, and I have to rely on the fiddly adapter. Most of the time, I use the onboard mics, which sound very good. When there are winds, then I Use the adapter with my tiny Audio-Technica AT9912 mic. Every traveler needs to have the Osmo Pocket with them, and this is an amazing 4K pocket camcorder.
