For content creators, trying to find the best budget vlogging camera is a perennial challenge. You want 4K, you want a lightweight build, you want the flexibility of a mirrorless lens system – but you’ve also got one eye on costs, and don’t want to blow the budget.
It’s a tricky decision even before you factor in the potential savings to be found on the used market. Which presents a dilemma – do you go for a new mirrorless camera, pushing against the upper limits of the budget in order to get the latest tech? Or do you opt for an older second-hand model, saving yourself a bundle, but potentially getting something that’s a little outdated?
In my opinion, there’s no single right answer here – it depends on your needs and priorities. To show you what I mean, let’s look at an example and compare an older and newer camera, the Nikon D5600 vs the Nikon Z30 for vlogging.
The Nikon Z30 is Nikon’s premier entry-level vlogging camera. Small, lightweight, 4K-capable and affordable, it’s the quintessential flip-screen camera for beginners, with a sharp, bright monitor that flips around to make self-filming easy. Available for £699 in a kit with Nikon’s 16-50mm, it’s also one of the most affordable mirrorless vlogging cameras around. Nikon Z30 reviews were very positive, and it’s well-regarded as a strong starter vlogging camera.
However, it might be that your budget doesn’t stretch that far. In which case, you may want to consider the Nikon D5600. This capable DSLR uses the same-size APS-C sensor as the Nikon Z30, but it’s available for around £290–£350 on the used market, depending on condition. For vloggers, a good choice of lens to match is the Nikon 10-20mm f4.5-5.6 G AF-P DX VR Nikkor, a wide-angle zoom costing around £160. That means you could get a capable vlogging setup for as little as £450 all-in.
Is it worth buying used cameras?
The Nikon D5600 is definitely a capable camera for YouTube – many YouTube videos have been made on it. Like the Z30, it has a flip-out screen, a 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen making framing and composition easier. However, it doesn’t shoot 4K – just Full HD 1080p at a 60p frame rate. Now, 4K is not essential, as many YouTube viewers will only ever watch in Full HD. But it is definitely useful, and makes the decision here a little more complicated.
Autofocus is also a factor. The Nikon Z30’s snappy phase-detection autofocus is much better for video than the older AF system on the D5600. Obviously that’s not a factor if most of your vlogging is done at home or in the studio, but if your content is a bit more ‘out and about’, it could present an issue.
Is the D5600 outdated for video? Honestly, a little. But it can still shoot fantastic-looking content, and many great videos have been shot on it. If your budget stretches to the Nikon Z30, the mirrorless camera is definitely the better buy for content creators. But the Nikon D5600 will still get the job done – and do so at a significantly lower price. Ultimately, both of these cameras are some of the best budget vlogging cameras you can get for under £700, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with either.
Take a look at our extensive range of second-hand products here!
About the Author
Jon Stapley is a London-based freelance writer and journalist who covers photography, art and technology. When not writing about cameras, Jon is a keen photographer who captures the world using his Olympus XA2. His creativity extends to works of fiction and other creative writing, all of which can be found on his website www.jonstapley.com
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