Which Vlogging Camera Should You Buy in 2026?
Given the fact that this website is quite literally a one man band there is absolutely no way I can keep up with the camera market.
That’s why you don’t see any camera reviews or even all that much camera news here… its just all a bit much for little ol’ me!
Anyhoo, what I do know are a few pretty good sources for that kind of thing and one of them is the crew at Think Media.
Recently they covered some choices for cameras or “devices” suitable for Vlogging in the present market.
If you are looking for something like that then this would be a good start.
IsoBuster 5.8 Released
Good news from Peter at Isobuster for this week with the release of Isobuster 5.8.
If you are not familiar with it, this is my absolute “go to” software for file recovery from just about any form of media going.
I originally started using it years ago for CD and DVD files recovery but since then Peter has expanded the capabilities of it way beyond those early days.
These days it can deal with all forms of optical disc, flash media, hard drives, SSDs and disc image files which in itself is astounding given the vast range of variations that are used for those items.
- You can see see it for yourself at Isobuster.com
Sketch Animation in PowerDirector
Sketch Animations is a feature in CyberLink PowerDirector that many users probably overlook.
I would say the reason for this is that like many features, unless you have already seen it in action, you just never think of it as a possibility.
So here’s a demonstration in PowerDirector of just one way that you can use this feature to enhance an existing title or written instruction.
Edit Videos Faster with AI (Filmora Speed Editing Guide)
If you have been following along with the Friday Roundup over the past few years you would know that I am quite specific in how I approach A.I. and video editing.
Originally I pretty much dismissed it as it was largely useless in the overall task of editing.
Its main value was to make cool looking stuff for the marketing department so that people would buy software!
As far as actually using it went… not much use at all!
However over time as the A.I. models have developed we now have a decent set of tools to make editing easier faster.
What we don’t have is a replacement for you and I getting an idea, shooting the majority of footage for that idea and editing it into a watchable video.
Here’s a look at using A.I as a tool in Filmora and not an end unto itself.
How to Film YouTube Videos on Your Phone (Start to Finish)
When I was first roped into becoming the official videographer in my family, the gear available to me was pretty basic.
I did OK with that level of stuff for quite a while until my brother-in-law decided to conspire with my wife to make my life hell.
I guess they thought I was getting just a little too comfortable so he convinced my wife that the way to improve the videos we were making was to buy a good camera.
Until then I had been using a Samsung phone for all the shooting that needed to be done.
Two years later I am now very, very well educated thanks to YouTube on dealing with the intricacies of shooting with my Sony ZV-E10!
Unfortunately through that process of learning, I have discovered that the problem was never the phone!
The actual problem was that I wasn’t using the phone as well as it could be used.
So in the spirit of not making your life miserable, here’s a full start to finish rundown on how to use a smartphone to shoot quality video.
How to Create Cinematic A.I. Transitions
This is a great introduction into using A.I to produce assets that are tailor-made for your projects.
The example used here is the creation of transitions but it doesn’t have to stop there.
Now be warned, this video uses a number of A.I. models that are in the “paid for” category but that doesn’t mean you have to use those ones exclusively.
The important point here is the work flow, what you need to provide to the A.I. model and most importantly, the prompt you write to get it to do what you want.
Tom Antos Creates a Disaster Scene With a Leaf blower and AI!
It’s been a while since I added anything from Tom Antos the reason being that his output dropped for a long time because he has been making movies!
I’m sure he feels that’s good for him but personally I think it’s a bit selfish really.
Anyway I wanted to post this one because it is a great insight into how at a professional level, A.I. is viewed.
As you watch the video which is pretty cool in itself, notice that Tom mentions two main concerns or cautions using A.I.
First is that his own creativity is not usurped by the use of A.I and a second point which is more of an ethical argument.
He actually says a few time that he wants to direct the A.I. based on his own ideas and creativity rather than letting the A.I. model base it results on the work of others.
A Teleprompter Setup with a Twist
This is an interesting take on doing live presentations especially those where you have one or more people Zooming or using OBS in on a call.
The difficulty in that scenario is that the audience will show on a computer monitor to the side while your camera will usually be setup directly in front of you.
That results in your eyes constantly making and breaking contact with the audience each time you look at the monitor then back at the camera.
The solution to this given in the video you can see below completely solves that problem but of course comes at a cost.
I think he mentions that the prompter he uses comes in at around U.S. $300 because it includes a small monitor screen as well, which is pricey unless this is your livelihood.
However the entire thing got me thinking and I realized you don’t need to go that crazy!
If you have a one of those teleprompters that mounts in front of your camera or phone then you are off to a good start!
If not you can always get one and they are quite cheap like this one HERE.
At least look for something that will accommodate a small tablet sized remote screen.
Then look for a cheap camera monitor that takes HDMI connection like this one HERE.
That’s the camera monitor I use and it suits this purpose perfectly.
The fact that it connects by HDMI means you can add it as a second monitor to your computer, mount it on the teleprompter and you have effectively reproduced what’s in the video for about $200 less.
Negative Space: The Key to Cinematic Composition
No I haven’t lost my mind and have become so deluded that I think I am talking to a bunch of fully pro cinematographers on this site!
The video below explores and explains the use of negative space in cinema and the effect it has on scenes and subsequently the audience.
You and I will not be shooting vast landscapes with the tiny figure of our protagonist located somewhere in the void BUT!
What this does teach us from our point of view is that it is not necessary to fill our frames with unnecessary clutter just for the sake of filling it!
Key Takeaways
- This week we discuss vlogging camera recommendations for 2026, referencing Think Media as a key resource.
- The release of Isobuster 5.8, which is essential software for file recovery across various media types.
- Exploring the Sketch Animation feature in PowerDirector and how it’s often overlooked by users.
- Insights on using AI in Filmora for faster video editing without replacing the creative process.
- Lastly, emphasizing the importance of negative space in cinematic composition for effective storytelling.
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