The best cameras and lenses for YouTube video success

Simeon Quarrie is a successful video storyteller with more than 9,500 YouTube followers. His day job involves enabling major international brands such as Barclays, Unilever and Burberry to engage with internal and external audiences, while his YouTube playlists range from business advice for production companies to educational videos for filmmakers and behind-the-scenes (BTS) videos from his shoots.

If you're a professional content creator like Simeon, a travel vlogger making videos on the move, or have a fashion and beauty channel, what's the essential kit you'll need to make engaging video content for your audience? Here, Simeon reveals what's in his own YouTube kitbag, while Canon product specialists John Maurice and Paul Atkinson also offer their technical insight.

The EOS C70's built-in ND filters also ensure that Simeon can shoot outdoors on a sunny day while still achieving the shallow depth of field he prefers.

Paul Atkinson, Canon Europe Professional Video Product Specialist, says: "Self-shooters using the Canon EOS C70 can be confident the autofocus is always going to follow you. You also have two XLR mic inputs and the option of four-channel audio, so combined with a massive dynamic range, you can really push up your production values with this camera."

John Maurice, Canon Europe Senior Product Marketing Manager, adds: "The EOS R5 and EOS R6 Mark II are full-frame cameras, which give a higher production quality than APS-C models. They also open up a wide range of lens choices, including RF lenses, and EF lenses with an adapter. You can shoot 4K movies at 120fps on the EOS R5 (60fps on the EOS R6 Mark II) and use the resolution to re-frame and provide a punch-in."

The EOS R6 Mark II introduces several video upgrades that are beneficial for creating YouTube content. The reliable Dual Pixel CMOS AF, for example, has an updated algorithm for improved subject tracking. If you're presenting a piece to camera, then the autofocus will keep you sharp as you move through the shot. Detect only AF, which is a variation of the EOS C70's Face only AF, can also be activated to ensure the camera won't refocus on the background if you walk out of the frame.

"Another useful feature for presenters is what we call recording emphasis," adds John. "This displays a red box around the screen to show that the camera is recording. It serves the same function as a tally lamp on a video camera and is very reassuring."

John highlights the benefit of the camera's recording emphasis frame marker as well: "YouTube is predominantly known as a 16:9 format, but it also supports vertical video. The EOS R6 Mark II will detect if you're shooting vertically, but the aspect marker will allow you to frame appropriately if you're shooting a different format for social media, such as 1:1 or 9:16."

Content creators can also take advantage of the Canon Camera Connect v3 app to start and stop recording remotely, as well as changing shooting settings – perfect when you're presenting to a camera that isn't within reach. Connect the smartphone or tablet to the camera via a USB cable, and you can enjoy video control and playback in the app with minimal lag.

Paul says that YouTubers who create short films or music videos would benefit from this professional quality. "With the EOS C200, you're shooting in a really high-resolution format, Cinema RAW Light – therefore you've got maximum control and dynamic range.

"The EOS C300 Mark III takes image quality, colour depth and colour reproduction to another level," Paul adds. "Plus, the 4K Super 35mm DGO sensor is a game-changer when it comes to filming images in situations with a wide dynamic range. Both these cameras shoot footage that needs post-production work, but some people prefer to do that for a higher quality result."

"You've got a mic input, so you can attach an external microphone to the hotshoe, and it's also got an electronic viewfinder. A lot of content creators are hybrid shooters who take pictures as well as video, and the viewfinder provides that traditional camera experience while also allowing footage and images to be reviewed."

A dozen scene modes ensure that the EOS R50 is an easy first step for content creators who are upgrading from a smartphone. It also features Hybrid Auto, a mode which enables a short movie to be created just by shooting stills.

The EOS R50 introduces a new movie feature for close-up product demos, which is perfect for recording 'unboxing' videos on YouTube, suggests John. "If you're speaking to the camera and hold the product near to the lens to point out some details, the EOS R50 will prioritise and focus on the object. When the camera detects that the object has been removed, it will go back to focusing on your face."

The EOS M50 Mark II has a 3.5mm socket for connecting an external microphone and a hotshoe on which you can mount it. It also has a vari-angle touchscreen that enables you to shoot from different angles, or to see yourself while shooting vlogs.

It has a 180º tilting screen and, like the Canon EOS M50 Mark II, a 3.5mm microphone jack, which enables you to get good audio quality. The camera supports vertical video and has the option of Face Select and Track autofocus, which keeps you and your other subjects sharp in the frame.

Over its lifetime, functions have been added to the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III through firmware updates including Video Blog Recording Mode, which specifically tunes the AF mode to be more responsive to changing scenes and dynamic capture. Zebra, level and aspect marker overlays are available, allowing you to assess the framing and exposure of your footage, and 24fps has been added for users preferring this frame rate.

If you're looking to host a live event on YouTube, the Canon EOS M50 Mark II and the PowerShot G7 X Mark III both support a high quality 'Clean' HDMI output, which can be plugged into video capture cards or HDMI to USB adapters for a clean or graphic-free video feed directly into your streaming software. If you don't have an adapter, both cameras are supported by the Canon EOS Webcam Utility software, which enables you to plug them directly into the USB port of your PC or Mac. Direct streaming is also possible from both cameras, but you need a YouTube account with at least 1,000 subscribers.

As well as providing a clean HDMI feed, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, EOS R8 and EOS R50 all support the industry-standard USB Video Class (UVC) and USB Audio Class (UAC) for livestreaming. "This means they too can be plugged directly into a computer and operated as a webcam, streaming video and audio via USB-C," adds John.

Discover the full range of cameras that offer clean HDMI output in our regularly updated guide on which Canon cameras have which features.

Paul adds, "Some people will want a wide-angle view if they want to show a lot of context – a travel vlogger, for example. If so, consider the ultra-wide RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM or the RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM."

You can find out more about what Canon RF lenses have to offer today's filmmakers, with our guide to the best RF lenses for shooting video.

Simeon personally likes a focal length of 35mm when talking to camera. "The RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM is great, because you've got wide context, you can use 35mm or 50mm for talking heads and you have the ability to go to 105mm for detail shots."

When shooting with the EOS C200, Simeon's go-to lens is the CN-E35mm T1.5 L F, a premium cinema lens that offers exceptional 4K image quality and a very shallow depth of field.

If you're only shooting for YouTube, Paul recommends lenses such as the CN-E18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS S and the CN-E70-200mm T4.4 L IS. "They're eminently suitable because they're compact, lower-cost lenses with a reasonably wide maximum aperture and absolutely outstanding optical quality," he says.

The growing range of Canon Cinema EOS equipment and EOS R System cameras and lenses presents professional vloggers and content creators with the perfect way to upgrade the production values of their YouTube content. Removing the technical barriers of shooting, recording and streaming high-quality video means that filmmakers can focus on what really matters: creating engaging content for audiences around the world.

¹ Requires an internet-connected wireless network with a speed of at least 6Mbps plus a YouTube account with at least 1,000 subscribers.