10 Best Cameras for Streaming

Top 10 Best Streaming Cameras

So, is there a single perfect camera for streaming? In this post, I’m reviewing different options for each type of camera commonly used for streaming purposes (like action cameras, DSLRs, camcorders or webcams). Just pick one of the cameras below to increase the number of your followers and subscribers with the help of professional video content.

1. Logitech C922 Pro Stream

FixThePhoto editors’ choice

Focus type: autofocus | Lens technology: Full HD glass | Built-in mic: stereo | Cable length: 3.3 ft

Beginner streamers usually opt for webcams due to their reasonable prices and overall convenience. There is nothing better than a webcam for chatting online or streaming video games, basically live streaming anything while sitting in your armchair.

I would recommend Logitech C922for anyone who is just starting to stream videos or is currently shopping for a better camera.

You can easily attach it to the top of your monitor or place it onto a tripod (this will allow you to use more creative angles and framing). You will be able to stream in 1080p Full HD at 30fps, but there is also a mode to stream 720p at 60fps.

Additionally, the camera has dual microphones and you will get stereo audio (this means you don’t need a separate mic) and also a 7.3 in tripod.

If that doesn’t convince you, the camera also has a handy background replacement feature (you have probably seen it in action while watching Twitch streams), so you don’t need to get a green screen.

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2. Razer Kiyo Webcam

Specifically designed for Twitch streaming

Number of lights: 12 white LEDs | Color Temperature: 5600K | Cable Length: 5 ft

Unlike other more high-end modern cameras, Razer has decided to fully concentrate on the quality of the picture, which is really important for game streamers and vloggers.

One of the best features of this camera is its “Light Ring”, which is a ring of 12 LED lights around the lens. There are 12 settings of brightness, which means you will be able to find the best one for the environment you record in.

This type of lighting not only makes sure your face is bright and clearly visible in the video, but also eliminates reflections from the screen on your face. Setting up the camera is also super easy.

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3. Logitech BRIO

Best resolution camera for streaming

Cable Length: 7.2 ft | Digital Zoom: 5x | Focus type: autofocus

If you are looking for a webcam that will show every single pixel, then Logitech BRIO is definitely the device you should consider. It will capture the tiniest smiles and frowns on your face; the full HD quality is maintained throughout the entire stream. HDR support guarantees that the colors will be bright and true-to-life even if the light in the room is quite low.

The fast frame rate is also preserved regardless of the lighting, which means you will be able to stream your videos without lagging. If you often use a camera for video calls, the picture from BRIO will be sharp, smooth and natural.

The field of view can be changed from 90°, allowing you to show more of what is around you, to a narrower of 65 or 78°, which means that only you will be in focus.

The final advantage is that Logitech BRIO is compatible with Windows Hello, so you will be able to use it for face recognition.

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4. Mevo Plus

Best wireless webcam for streaming

Min operating temperature: 35.6°F | Max operating temperature: 77°F | Lens Aperture: f/2.8 | Exposure Compensation: ±2 EV range, in 1/2 EV steps

Mevo Plus is a wireless webcam that was developed with streaming peculiarities in mind. It can be controlled with the help of a mobile application (both for iOS and Android) and its main feature is the ability to zoom in or pan, which creates the effect of shooting from several cameras.

In addition, the Autopilot feature will edit the stream for you to show the best shot (it is done with the help of face recognition and scene analysis). This will definitely boost the quality of your video streams.

It’s the best camera for Facebook Live, Vimeo, LiveStream, Twitter or YouTube due to the excellent Sony CMOS lens that has a 150° angle. Streaming video quality is limited to 1080p, but you can use it to record 4K videos offline and upload later. The built-in mic has decent quality but you can also use a separate one and get better audio.

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5. Go Pro Hero 8

Best live streaming action camera

Max Video Bit Rate: 100Mbps (2.7K + 4K) | Video File Format: MP4 (H.264/AVC), MP4 (H.265/HEVC) | Battery: 1220mAh

When choosing the best camera for live streaming, you probably don’t think about an action one. However, taking into account such factors as a frameless design and a variety of Mods that can be used with it, Go Pro Hero 8 becomes more than just a camera for action videos.

First of all, the quality of the video is amazing; it is shot in ultra HD with a Hypersmooth 2.0 feature to stabilize the footage. Besides that, the camera can be controlled with the voice, which makes it extra convenient.

Since an action camera is designed to be used in rough conditions, it has superior noise and wind reduction, giving you high-quality sound as a result. You can go to the official website of the developers to learn how to live stream with a GoPro you will be able to send 1080p videos straight to YouTube, Facebook, etc.).

Since Hero 8 doesn’t have a front-facing display, you will have to deal without it or invest in one, which is definitely a minus.

• Learn what is the best GoPro alternative.

6. Canon Vixia HF R800

Best camcorder for streaming beginners

LCD Screen: 3.0-inch| Min Operating Temperature: 23° | Max Operating Temperature: 113°F 60% | Frame Rate: 60P/30P/24P

Canon Vixia HF R800 live streaming camcorder is a great device to spice up your live streaming experience. If you have just started out, this model will be an excellent choice taking into account its affordable price.

You can even purchase several cameras to shoot from different angles and record multiple video streams. Of course, your stream won’t look professional, but it will be still great.

This camera for live streaming is lightweight, compact and portable. Near, far or in between, this camcorder will capture every moment, due to its powerful optical zoom.

Also, HF R800 has backlight correction in the Highlight Priority mode, which allows shooting bright and high-quality footage. With slow and fast motion features, it is possible to play around with recording speed to get better results.

Even if you aren’t quite sure what you are doing, this camcorder will provide maximum efficiency. When choosing shooting modes and recording formats, you will see explanations on the screen. Thus, even novice users will quickly figure out how to record spectacular videos.

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7. Canon XA11

Features a high-quality lens

Optical Zoom Ratio: 20x | Maximum Aperture: f/1.8 to 2.8 | Minimum Aperture: f/16 | Focal Length: 3.7 to 73.4mm

If you are searching for a lightweight and compact HD camcorder, Canon XA11 will be a nice choice. It features 1/2.84" HD CMOS Pro sensor, 20x optical zoom lens with an aperture range of f/1.8 – f/16. Considering such great specifications and affordable price, Canon XA11 stands out from other best streaming cameras currently available on the market.

Apart from good visual quality, this camcorder offers excellent sound. It has a 2-channel audio microphone adapter with dual XLR input which allows you to considerably improve your audio.

It is worth mentioning that Canon XA11 features a fairly small sensor compared to other cameras. Consequently, it shows poor performance in low-light situations.

• Read about the best low light cameras.

8. Panasonic Lumix G7

Affordable mirrorless camera for streaming with a flip screen

Aspect Ratio: 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 | Sensor Type: MOS | Recording Limit: Up to 29 Minutes, 59 Seconds | Focus Type: auto and manual focus

If you are an experienced video streamer and want to seriously improve the quality of the content, consider choosing mirrorless or SLR cameras. With such a device, you will be able to experiment with settings to add a blurry background.

The distinctive feature of Panasonic Lumix G7 is a fully-articulated touch screen, which is perfect when you are shooting yourself. Also, a screen with a tilt allows you to easily set up your shot and you will immediately see whether the exposure is wrong or you are out of focus.

If you are in search of the best camera for streaming, you should consider such factors as an external microphone input, the ability to output real-time image to the external monitor/recorder via HDMI as well as the ability to record smooth and high-resolution videos. Fortunately, Lumix G7 has all these features.

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9. Sony A7 III

Professional camera for streaming videos

Recording Limit: Up to 29 Minutes | Video Encoding: NTSC/PAL | Operating Temperature: 32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C | Battery: 2280 mAh

Sony A7R III is a powerful camera for streaming that is worth paying attention to. Due to its great performance and fantastic capabilities, A7R III sets a new benchmark for full-frame cameras.

If you are searching for a device that is capable of making your streams professional and catchy, this camera will be a great choice. Despite being rather expensive, Sony A7R III can produce first-class video quality, so you will be definitely satisfied with the result.

The AF function works just excellently, so your viewers won’t miss any detail while watching your live feed. There is no need to set big-time lighting equipment while streaming with Sony A7R III. Thanks to a full-frame sensor, this camera shows awesome performance even in low-light situations.

• Read about the best mirrorless cameras for video.

10. Canon 80D

Best DSLR for live streaming

Recording Limit: Up to 29 Minutes, 59 Seconds for Full HD | ISO Sensitivity: 100 to 12800 | Battery: 1865 mAh | Operating Temperature: 23 to 113°F

If you are looking for the best DSLR for streaming, pay attention to Canon 80D. This model is popular not only among YouTubers but well-known gamers like Pewdiepie as well. Apart from producing incredible image quality, Canon 80D live stream can stream in full HD 1080p at 60fps. Moreover, you will be blown away by the AF system of this camera.

With an excellent flip-out touchscreen, you can adjust the settings and see yourself during your live session. Moreover, responsive controls allow you to easily set the focus just with a single tap on the LCD.

Canon 80D has an anti-flicker feature which is great for fixing uneven colors or exposure while shooting under a flickering light source.

One of the main drawbacks of this camera is that it can’t output a clean image via HDMI. Nevertheless, you can do it by using the manual focus.

• Check out the list of the best video tripods.

List of the Best Streaming Cameras

Image	Name	Features
	Logitech C922 Pro Stream OUR CHOICE	Low-light correction The ability to replace the background Full stereophonics	Check PRICE →
	Go Pro Hero 8 BEST ACTION	Durable body Compact Top-notch video quality Voice control feature	Check PRICE →
	Canon Vixia HF R800 BEST CAMCORDER	Long battery life Lightweight and portable Has a microphone jack and flip screen	Check PRICE →
	Sony A7 III BEST MIRRORLESS	Works great in low-light situations Excellent image quality Outstanding grade performance	Check PRICE →
	Canon 80D BEST DSLR	Features anti-flicker shooting Flip-screen Great battery life	Check PRICE →

How to Choose a Camera for Streaming?

Sometimes picking the best camera for live streaming may seem a real challenge. That is because many users often don’t know what features to consider. If you are going to stream live feed, pay attention to these main points before making a purchase.

Video Quality and Low Light

Video Quality. Recording videos of excellent quality is a must for streaming cameras. Compression can significantly degrade the quality of the live streaming video, so it is better to pick a camera that is capable of recording videos in Full HD 1080p resolution. Since the resolution of modern displays has increased, shooting in standard definition (SD) just won’t work for you.

Low Light Performance. If you are going to live streaming in dim light conditions, a camera with the ability to reduce noise levels in poor lighting situations will definitely come in handy.

Clean HDMI Output and Flip Screen

Clean HDMI Output. In case you are not streaming with webcam, it is necessary to connect to a capture device that will clean up the HDMI output. This way there will not be any camera menu/interface in your image. Consider choosing a device that can turn off the information (ISO, aperture, shooting speed, recording time) that is usually displayed on the screen. Unfortunately, not all devices have this feature.

A flip screen. The best cameras for streaming should have a flip screen. This allows you to make shooting easier since you can accurately frame the scene. A camera with a flip screen is especially useful when you are streaming a video of yourself. The ability to see and control your camera during live video session is useful when you don’t have monitoring software. Besides, you can adjust settings using the touch screen controls.

External Power Supply and Heat Dissipation

External power adapter. It is possible to live stream for hours, but your camera’s battery can’t last forever. That is why it is necessary to connect your camera to an external power adapter.

Ability to run for a long time without overheating. Just like computers, your camera accumulates the heat as you are using it. Good heat dissipation is a must to prevent your device from turning off during the live stream session.