Streaming Tech Video

The Best Camera for Streaming to Twitch

Are you also searching for the perfect camera to bring your Twitch Streams to the next level? Upgrading from a…

Are you also searching for the perfect camera to bring your Twitch Streams to the next level? Upgrading from a webcam with a dedicated camera can make a huge difference to your production quality and also stream experience. Here are my favourite recommendations for the best camera for streaming both on a budget and more pro side.

Prerequisites

Before choosing the camera, have you already made sure you have a good lighting setup? I highly encourage you to first check out my guide on how to make a budget friendly alternative to the Elgato Key Light here before upgrading your webcam. As mentioned before, upgrading your camera but having bad lighting will not improve your video quality. You can get amazing results, just by having good lighting and a simple Logitech C920 webcam.

You will also want to read my previous article and learn how to use a camera together with a capture card for your stream.

Top picks for the best streaming camera

Here are my recommendations for the best cameras for live-streaming. All cameras have met the requirements for streaming by having clean HDMI output, min. 1080p 60fps signal, and are always on by having unlimited runtime.

Sony Alpha a5100 with 16-50mm Lens

Sony Alpha a5100 Mirrorless Camera with 16-50mm lens

A solid choice: the Sony Alpha a5100 is the perfect entry camera for streaming, at a budget friendly price.

The Sony Alpha a5100 is a great choice, coming in at a more budget friendly price point of around 350-450€ depending where you purchase it, and can also be picked up for cheaper when buying used.

The camera features a great kit lens, with a focal length of 16-50mm covering a wide range of different styles. You can easily use this camera for a close but wide talking head shot at 16mm, but also a more interview style at 50mm.

It features a clean 1080p 60fps output, and is already well recognised in the streaming community as a solid choice.

Recommend accessories:

  • Sony AC-PW20 Dummy Battery and AC Adapter: Amazon
  • Sigma 16mm F1.4 Lens: Amazon
  • Elgato Cam Link 4K: Amazon

Fujifilm XT-30 with 18-55mm F2.8-4 Lens

Fujifilm X-T30 for Streaming

My personal favourite: the Fujifilm X-T30. Capable to capture crispy video up to 4k 30fps.

Looking for a big bump in quality from the perviously mentioned Sony? Then look no further than the Fujifilm X-T30 Mirrorless Camera. It’s one of my favourite choices, and features impressive specs at an extremely competitive price point.

Being able to capture 4K video at 30fps this camera will be perfectly paired with the Elgato Cam Link, and will prepare you for creating high quality 1080p live streams and 4K YouTube videos.

The kit lens is a great value, and you get the choice between different focal lengths. My recommendation is to go with the XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 as it features OIS, making it great for vlogging, while you’re not streaming.

Not the right camera for streaming for you?

No problem, you can also try to find a suitable camera by searching for one that meets the following requirements:

  • Clean HDMI Output
  • Unlimited runtime / Always on

If you are unsure which camera supports this, Elgato has made a very helpful “Camera compatibility checker“, where the company and the community has tested many cameras from Sony, Canon, Panasonic, GoPro, FujiFilm, Nikon and BlackMagic Design.

Also make sure to check out my previous articles, to learn how to set up your stream and also lighting.

Let me know in the comments what you think and which camera you would choose.

Happy streaming!

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