Tech Talk: This camera ain’t doing it

Recently, along with the podcast, I have also been doing videos here and there on YouTube. Here is an example of one:

All my life, I have had the worst luck with cameras. Currently I am using my phone and a Nikon CoolPix L830. I was super pumped when I got the camera a few years ago. It gave me the DSLR body I wanted, without having the bulky lenses, and the screen adjusted to help me take pictures.

It takes great pictures, but video, there are some issues. I am typically filming myself, and though the screen adjusts, it doesn't adjust so I can see it if I am facing the camera. So I can't really see myself, and I can't see if any adjustments need to be made. This was a lesson I learned with the most recent video that is coming out. The entire thing is blurry. It is insane. I am still going to post it because it took me forever to make and edit and practice makes perfect.

I do not have the ability with this camera to add an external mic. Not a big deal when I was just doing pictures, but now that I am making videos, I need an external mic. The microphone on this camera is not doing me any favors. For now, I am connecting a mic to my phone, and making a loud noise so that I am able to sync up the sound in editing. I am a big proponent of working smarter, not harder, and it seems to me that a smarter option would be a camera that has the ability to have an external mic.

So What am I Thinking About Purchasing?

I am the absolute queen of impulse purchases. I see something that is close to what I need, and I grab it, and a few months later down the line, I find out it does not have all the features that I want or need. I am trying not to make that same mistake with a camera, because let's face it, cameras are pricey as hell. I am not made of money and I cannot purchase a new camera every two years because I realize that a bell and whistle that I need, I didn't get because I picked the first thing that caught my fancy.

So far, this is what I know I want/need

1. Movable screen so I am able to see myself when I am vlogging
2. Ability to add an external mic
3. I would like a small form factor, something I can shove in my purse and go and won't hurt my wrist to hold up for an extended period of time.
4. This isn't a requirement, but if I could get a small form camera that has interchangeable lenses, that would be cool.
5. Bluetooth capability.
6. Under $1000 closer to under $700 would be ideal
7. Really good stabilization. I waddle. It's a fact of life. I have waddled my whole life and so video tends to be shaky.
8. I would like something possibly over a year old so that it has a lot of tutorials out for it that I can read and learn from.
9. Common form factor storage card - Please no cameras with their own proprietary storage card. That gives me a headache. There is no need for it. SD is here, other forms of SD are here. PICK ONE AND USE IT!
10. I need to be able to do 4k vlogging.

I don't have a pixel requirement because in this day and age, most cameras will give you what you need in the pixel department.

With these 9 things in mind I have started looking at cameras.

The first one is the Sony ZV-1

As you can see straight off the bat, it has the screen that I require. It has the ability to hook up an external mic, and from the videos that I have watched on it, it takes great pictures and video.

This one is the newest of the ones I have been looking at and has the highest price at roughly $800.00. I cringe at that cost. However, if you look on YouTube it has some of the best reviews. People even revisit it in videos and still enjoy it months later.

The next one is the Canon G7X Mark III.

This has everything that the Sony has. It is older, so it doesn't have all of the new shiny bells and whistles, but I don't know if I even want the bells and whistles. Its viewing screen does pull out so I could see it, but all I have seen thus far is that it pulls out above I believe. I like the ones that swing out to the side, but that isn't a deal breaker, you know? It has the small form factor and it clocks in price wise at around $650. which is a touch better, but what am I giving up for that extra money? Will I regret it when I discover I need something else?

The final one is killing me. It's the Canon M50.

This one is a little larger, but still has a small form factor that won't hurt my wrist. It has interchangeable lenses. You can buy it with one or two (obviously the price goes up if you buy it with two. It has the swing out screen, and also runs about $650.00 (with the single lens). It's killing me because this is the one I would immediately impulse buy, but I am trying to be the adult I know I can be and do my due diligence so I am not staring at other cameras when they come out. It also does not do 4K, which is a thing I will need.

I have watched this guy's videos and will continue to do my research.

Do you work with cameras? Do you have opinions? I'd like to hear it!