What Is The Best Webcam For YouTube Camera Recording?

Tired of YouTube videos that look like they were filmed on a potato? Ready to step up your content game? Then you, my friend, need the right webcam.

These days, video content is everywhere, and poor quality content stands out like a sore thumb. Quality is the difference between amateur hour and that polished, professional look that makes viewers hit subscribe.

So, what's the magic bullet? What's the best webcam for YouTube?

In this article, you'll learn about:

• What to look for when shopping for a YouTube webcam

• Whether your built-in laptop webcam is enough for recording quality content

• Ten of the best webcams on the market for recording YouTube videos

• How lighting plays such an important role in video recording

Factors to consider when looking for the best YouTube webcam

Alright, it's time to get a bit technical. Choosing the best YouTube webcam isn't about grabbing the fanciest one. There are a few key things to consider – let's break 'em down!

1. What’s your budget? (This is the most important part.)

2. Do you plan to record for long periods of time?

3. Will you be sat down or on the move?

4. Have you already got an iPhone 13 (or after)?

5. Do you use a Mac or Windows?

6. Are you going to record in 4K?

And many, many other things as you browse our list of webcams for YouTube recording.

Sure, there are DSLRs. And, yes, they really are the bomb.

If you’re in the market for one of these, here’s what some familiar YouTubers use to shoot their videos:

• Peter McKinnon (5.91 million subscribers): Canon EOS R5

• Casey Neistat (12.6 million subscribers): Sony RX 100 VII or the GoPro Hero9 Black

• Emma Chamberlain (12 million suscribers): Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II then the Canon EOS M50 Mark II

• Pokimane (6.59 million): Streams with a Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Camera (Using a SELP 1650 16-50mm EPZ Lens)

• TommyInnit (14.8 million subscribers): Sony A7III and a Logitech c922 Webcam

• MrBeast (245 million subscribers): Multiple cameras used, including the Sony FDRAX53 HD, the Canon EOS 1DX Mark II, and the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II.

And here's a video from 2023 from Think Media with their breakdown of other YouTubers and why they use the cameras they choose to use.

The truth is, if you’re able to fork out for a DSLR camera or action cam, a sensible option is the GoPro HERO10 Black. If you plan to record online videos in an office environment but also plan on shooting outside or on the move, GoPro has been leading this market for years.

This will also future proof yourself since they deliver the best quality possible from a handheld device meaning you won't need to invest or upgrade your tech for a long time. We're talking years to come.

But what if you’re a part-time YouTuber or don’t have the budget for one (yet)?

Fortunately, the webcam market has seriously upped its game since the advent of YouTubing as a genuine career.

Vendors used to providing mediocre equipment for work from home calling now provide HD and even 4K experiences from a clip-on camera that sits atop your laptop. Alternatively, you could also think about renting equipment first to get a better idea of what you're looking for.

Best laptop webcams & cameras for YouTube recording

You might be tempted to roll with your laptop's built-in webcam. "It's there, why not?" you may ask. Here's the deal: Laptop webcams are notoriously bad. They're designed for convenience, not quality. Think grainy footage, murky lighting, and awkward angles.

BUT, this really depends on the laptop you have.

Rolling Stone recommends the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 as the best built-in webcam on a laptop. 

However, starting at £999, it’s probably not the right option when you’re in the market for a webcam. 

Sure, some DSLRs come in way more expensive than that; but there are plenty of affordable webcams available at a more reasonable price.

If you want to level up your YouTube game, you'll need a dedicated external webcam.

Which camera is best used for YouTube?

1 - iPhone

Let’s start with a curveball.

If you already own an iPhone, then you might already have the webcam you’re looking for. The iPhone 13, for example, comes with a 12MP camera system including telephoto, wide, and ultra wide angle lenses.

The digital zoom is up to 15x so if your camera setup is a little further away than sitting at a desk, there’s no compromise on camera quality.

If you think about it, how many Instagram pros shoot everything on their iPhones these days? 

It’s a no-brainer if you’ve already got one, and makes total sense if you’re in the market for a new phone too. Here's how to use your iPhone as a webcam.

See how Justin Simon, Senior Content Marketer at Metadata.io, looks in his latest video below, using Reincubate to make adjustments and add effects specifically for YouTube.

Price: around £500 (If you go for an iPhone 13. Older models will cost more!)

2 - Logitech Brio

Logitech has long been a specialist in at-home, mountable laptop webcams. Its current top of the range clip-on webcam is the Brio. And at a modest price of £149, you’ll do well to find better.

Under the hood, you’ve got RightLight 3 and high dynamic range (HDR) technology which automatically adjusts in low light, direct sunlight, or high contrast lighting conditions.

You get a 5X Zoom, autofocus (which actually works), and that all-important 4K recording (4 times better quality than a traditional webcam. There's even noise cancelling tech, up 90fps for streaming, a privacy shade, and more.

If you’re on the move a lot, this is the ideal pocket-size webcam at an affordable price.

Price: around £150.

3 - Logitech C930e

The predecessor to the Brio is the C930e, and if you aren’t planning on recording in 4K, is still a worthy contender for YouTube recording via webcam. Essentially, you get most of the benefits from the Brio, just for half the price, making this the most budget friendly yet high quality entry on this list.

Features include 4X Zoom, autofocus, and is USB plug and play. Considered the yardstick for budget laptop webcams for a long time, there’s still life in the old dog yet.

EposVox has a great comparison video of the older C922 and the C930e which gives you a clear idea on how far the technology has come. Placing them side by side is a neat idea for comparing the two and, therefore, this is a strongly recommended watch.

Price: around £79.

4 - Logitech C920

I'm a massive fan of the C920 and when I started recording online videos, this is the model I started with.

It's a little dated now and, as you can see from the models above, there are newer, more capable versions of this camera out there, but in my heart, it's still worth a mention.

If you only plan on making a few YouTube videos, or perhaps will be screen recording more so than recording via camera, the C920 ticks a lot of boxes. Just pop yourself in a little box in the corner, where the rest of the screen is the content you're screen recording, and this will do just fine.

This model is lightweight, plug and play, and you can record in 1080p, use the low light correction, and you can use Logitech software to tweak both audio and video settings once you’re connected.

Price: around £52.

5 - Logitech StreamCam

The StreamCam is where things start getting serious. This sleek model is a content creator's dream, packing a serious punch for its size.

You get that crisp 1080p at 60fps goodness, buttery smooth video, and smart AI-powered autofocus tech ensures you're always the center of attention.

Plus, it plays nice with vertical video formats – perfect for feeding your Instagram or TikTok feeds alongside YouTube. The USB-C connection delivers a rock-solid signal, and Logitech's software lets you get creative with tweaking settings.

If you're ready to take your content creation to the next level, the StreamCam has your back.

Price: around £98.

6 - Elgato Facecam

With stats like 1080p/60fps and an 82 degree field of view, the Elgato Facecam has everything you’d expect from a basic webcam for YouTube recording.

But this gets an inclusion for its built-in heatsink for longer recording sessions. If you’re planning on recording video footage hours-long or live streaming for long durations, the heatsink ensures your camera doesn’t overheat.

If you’ve watched regular YouTubers or streamers who’ve disappeared from their screen for a period of time while recording, it’s likely because their camera overheated.

This is clearly the reason for buying this webcam as it lacks things like autofocus and doesn’t come with a built-in microphone.

Online forums also express concerns over the tones of reds when captured. 

But, if you don’t include reds in your recording setup, have an external mic, aren’t moving around a lot, and stream or record for long periods of time, the Elgato Facecam is worth considering.

Price: around £130.

7 - Poly Studio P15

As the winner of “Best In Show” at ISE 2021, the stand-out feature of the Poly Studio P15 is its automatic camera framing that lets you move with confidence.

If you’ve ever been on a call and moved away from your desk for a second then come back to an out of focus camera, you’ll know how annoying this is. You definitely don’t want that when recording YouTube videos.

It connects via USB so there’s no time spent with configuration. It supports up to 4K and has a high-quality built-in speaker (Poly also specialises in office audio equipment so you’d expect that as standard).

The one negative about the Poly Studio is the amount of real estate it takes up. At 17 inches wide, it’s wider than most laptops. But if you’re using a monitor or have somewhere to mount it, the Poly Studio P15 is a superb option.

Price: around £400.

8 - Trust Gaming GXT 1160 Vero Full HD Webcam

Looking for a no-nonsense webcam to get you started? The Trust Gaming GXT 1160 Vero offers solid basics. You get Full HD video, a built-in mic for those quick chats, and a handy stand that works on laptops or desks.

The automatic white balance means you'll look decent even in tricky lighting.

It's a solid choice for beginners dipping their toes into Twitch, Skype, or YouTube without overspending.

Price: Around £44

9 - Tenveo 20X Optical Zoom

Alright, if you're ready to get fancy, the Tenveo conference camera is the way to go. This beast has a monster 20X optical zoom, so you can hone in on details or pull back for a wide shot. It delivers crisp 1080p at 60fps, and the pan/tilt action is smooth as silk, perfect for those cinematic transitions.

Plus, with HDMI, USB, SDI and RJ45 connections, you're covered for pretty much any setup.

This is serious gear for serious YouTubers, live streamers, or anyone running video in a church, conference room, or lecture hall.

Note: Since this is a pro-level camera, there's no built-in mic, so you'll need to handle audio separately.

Price: around £389.

10 - Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam for YouTube

It may feel like it’s becoming a Logitech love-in but for a good reason.

Logitech has taken its prolific plug and play webcam series and created a version specifically for streaming and YouTube recording.

You can record at 1080p with 30fps or 720p with 60fps and it includes a 78 degree field of view.

But what makes the C922x built for YouTube is its hyper fast streaming setting to ensure no lag and no drops in footage. Full HD streaming captures all the details, bright, natural colors, and fluid video—perfect for gameplay streamers.

Price: around £70.

A Note on Lighting

Whether you opt for a DSLR, a new webcam, or even a new laptop like the Surface Pro 3, make sure you look after your lighting too. This is the absolute key for good video quality, and even if you spend a small fortune on a camera, it won't deliver if your lighting isn't right.

Ben Johnson’s “Lighting for YouTube Videos” video has nearly four million views for good reason. Have a watch below:

Now get your webcam (and lighting) and start recording your next YouTube video!

How much is a good quality camera for YouTube?

Don't let the price tags scare you! You can definitely snag a great YouTube camera without breaking the bank. Here's the thing: good quality is relative.

A great camera for a beginner might be around $100, while a seasoned pro might go for something closer to $1000. It depends on your needs and how serious you plan on getting with your YouTube channel e.g. making lots of talking head videos, running Youtube ads with your face in the ad, etc.

Do you need a camera to start a YouTube channel?

Yes, but you can definitely start with whatever you have on hand. If you have a smartphone, you already have a pretty powerful camera in your pocket. Most modern smartphones can shoot high-quality video, often at 1080p, or even 4K, and they usually have decent built-in microphones.