VLOGGING
Laura Bingham: conquering the Essequibo River
Adventurer Laura Bingham led the world’s first descent of the Essequibo River and vlogged the experience on a PowerShot G7 X Mark II.
VLOGGING
Share your passion and personality: how to start vlogging today
Vlogging how-to: winning vlogging tips
You've found your niche, a beautiful location and an interesting story to vlog about. You may have all of the ingredients for the perfect vlog, but do you know what kit to choose and how to film your video to a high enough standard to please savvy audiences?
In this vlogging how-to, we reveal seven tips for beginners and for vloggers wanting to improve the quality of their videos. Find out how you can capture quality footage that will keep your viewers coming back for more – how to get steady (shake-free) and sharp footage, the importance of creative framing, and what you need to capture crisp and clear sound. Whether you're shooting on a Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, the updated Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, the Canon EOS M50 or Canon EOS 250D, here’s what to consider when creating your first vlogs.
1. When choosing kit, balance camera and sensor size
A camera with a larger sensor will give you better quality images, but when you’re vlogging it’s important to balance sensor size with the overall size of the camera. For example, a PowerShot G series camera with a built-in lens, such as the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, is the most compact and portable. However, a mirrorless camera or a DSLR with interchangeable lenses will give you a greater variety of lens options.
Having both a smaller and a larger camera will cover you when shooting for different purposes and will also give you additional camera angles in your vlogs.
2. Use a wide-angle lens
Many vloggers use wide-angle lenses because they can be used in tight spaces such as a bedroom or kitchen to show as much of the scene as possible. A 24mm lens is good for that purpose, but an ultra-wide lens is even better. So if you’re shooting with a DSLR with APS-C sensor camera such as the Canon EOS 250D, pairing it with an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens such as the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens means you can fit more into the frame, while the Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers similar capabilities with the mirrorless Canon EOS M50.
Whichever lens you decide to use, flip up your camera's screen to help you position yourself in the frame to make filming selfies and low-angle shooting a breeze. Many cameras, such as the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, can also be connected via Bluetooth to the Canon Camera Connect app on your smart device to film or shoot yourself remotely.
3. Decide your resolution and frame rate
The demand for video is rising, and with it the expectations for quality. However creative your content may be, if the footage lacks detail it's worth improving. Look for cameras with Full HD or 4K video – Full HD is a good standard to set, but 4K will give you even more detail, allowing you to crop and stabilise your footage without compromising quality. Shooting in 4K doesn’t mean you have to publish in 4K, but remember that 4K footage will take more time to edit and upload.
The option to shoot in 4K is no longer limited to professional cameras. It is starting to appear in small yet feature-rich cameras, such as the Canon EOS M50. However, the most important thing to consider is what frame-rate will suit your subject. 60 frames per second (fps) is best for action vlogs and will give you an option to do slow-motion effects. 30fps or 25fps will be fine for everything else. For even more detailed slow-motion footage, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III offers fast frame rates up to 120fps when shooting in Full HD.
4: Keep your footage steady and in focus
The compact size and light weight of cameras such as the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, Canon EOS M50 and Canon EOS 250D make them ideal for recording movement. A captivating vlog should take the audience on a journey with you – whether it's through a city's cobbled streets or showing your reaction to unwrapping your latest purchase – and movement can be key to that. Rather than shaky, distracting footage, make sure your shots are smooth so that viewers can focus on your exciting location or interesting story.
To keep shots steady, support the camera from underneath with the palm of your hand and grip it at the side. If you need extra support, a grip accessory that attaches to the camera body, giving you something to grip on to, can be a useful addition. Good tech also helps a lot: for crisp and steady movies, use a camera that features Image Stabilization, which makes your footage clearer and easier to watch, such as the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II. The camera’s 5-axis, Dynamic IS is designed to counteract camera shake even when you're running, panning or shooting at full zoom.
As a vlogger, your face is the thing people will look at, so keeping it in focus is crucial. Canon’s Face Detection technology can automatically track your face and keep it in focus.
5: Pan with purpose
Moving the camera horizontally during shooting, or ‘panning’, will allow your audience to see through your eyes – to be there with you as you look across a sweeping bay or a skyline filled with eye-catching buildings. Excessive panning can be disorienting, but when done in moderation it can add interest and drive the narrative.
Use panning sparingly, without rushing, and keep horizons level. If you don't have a tripod, place the camera on something stable – such as the edge of a bench or a table – and move it steadily, with purpose, slowly to the side. Some cameras, such as the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, are also equipped with a level indicator that helps you to achieve level horizons easily.
6: Plug in an external mic for better sound quality
Most cameras that shoot video will offer acceptable sound quality, but if excellent sound is important to your vlogging, consider plugging in an external microphone. An external mic is particularly useful when you’re working outside, because the camera’s built-in mic is likely to record distracting background noise such as wind, whereas you can reposition external mics to help block this out. If you want to use an external mic, look for a camera with an external mic socket, such as the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III.
7. Use Wi-Fi for sharing
Many cameras on the market today, including the Canon EOS M50, provide integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, giving you the ability to share and back up wirelessly wherever you are in the world. Cameras such as the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II even feature a Wi-Fi button, making saving and sharing simpler than ever before.
The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for an always-on link with your smart device – plus, connect via Wi-Fi to your smart device or network with internet access and you can Live Stream to your YouTube channel.
Written by Natalie Denton