Vlogging has become one of the most engaging ways to share your stories, thoughts, and interests with a global audience. Whether you're capturing everyday moments, showcasing travel experiences, or teaching something valuable, it allows you to connect with viewers on a more personal level.
There’s a wide range of vlogging equipment for beginners designed to help elevate your video quality and make the creation process smoother.
Here are the core items your vlogging setup should include:
- A camera
- A microphone
- A tripod
- Lighting
- Editing software
- Essential accessories
- Bonus gear
Cameras: The core and basic equipment to start vlogging
The camera is the heart of any vlogging setup. Whether you’re using a smartphone or a dedicated camera, focus on getting high-quality video and ease of use.
Smartphones: This is a good beginner camera for vlogging, perfect for casual vlogs, travel diaries, and spontaneous moments. Most modern phones shoot in 4K and include built-in tools for editing and uploading, making them an affordable and convenient all-in-one option for beginners.
Mirrorless Cameras: The go-to choice for most vloggers and creators today. They’re compact, allow interchangeable lenses, and deliver professional results. Still, many prefer sticking to one versatile lens for convenience during travel. The Sony Alpha 7 III with the SEL2870 lens is a great example—though you don’t need something that advanced to start.
Microphone: A good external mic can greatly improve your vlog’s audio
The most impactful upgrade for your vlogs isn’t the visuals—it’s the audio. Most smartphones and cameras only provide basic sound quality, so a dedicated microphone can dramatically improve your content.
For minimizing background noise—like in busy streets—a wireless lavalier mic is ideal. We recommend the Moman Coin.
This wireless button microphone clips easily to a lapel, scarf, hat, or almost anywhere, and connects to your phone or camera via the included receiver. It features noise reduction to keep your audio clean and clear, delivering crisp, professional results. The charging case provides up to 48 hours of total runtime—perfect for long vlogging sessions. Plus, it works well for both solo vlogs and two-person recordings
Tripod: An essential piece of travel vlogging equipment for beginners to keep shots stable
If you’re making videos, you might not want to hold your phone or camera the whole time. Setting it down on a desk, counter, or any stable surface opens up creative possibilities and gives you the freedom to use both hands—especially if you gesture a lot while talking.
Stability matters a lot in vlogging, since shaky footage can make viewers tune out. To get smooth, professional-looking shots, you’ll want gear designed for it.
For that, we recommend the Moman CL07. This lightweight yet robust tripod/selfie-stick combo works well both indoors and outdoors and includes hands-free Bluetooth control.
It offers adjustable height, full 360° rotation, and effortless positioning for all your vlogging angles. Its detachable monitor truly sets it apart, giving you a convenient way to check your framing and ensure great visuals.
Lighting: Crucial for making your videos look bright, polished, and engaging
Lighting is one of the most overlooked yet crucial aspects of vlogging, especially for beginners. Good lighting can transform ordinary footage into professional-looking videos, while poor lighting can make even high-end cameras look amateur. Here are several options for lighting for starting a vlog.
- Natural Light: Face a window for soft, even light; avoid harsh direct sunlight. Morning or late afternoon light is best.
- Ring Lights: Compact, easy to use, and softens facial shadows—perfect for desk setups and talking-head videos.
- LED Panels: Versatile, adjustable brightness and color temperature, ideal for more control in different environments.
- Softboxes: Diffuse light for a smooth, professional look—great for home studios.
Tip: Light your face evenly, avoid mixing light colors, and start simple—natural light plus a ring light often works best.
Moman PC8 RGB LED Light is a compact, on-camera light perfect for beginner vloggers. It offers a full color range (2500K–9000K) and dimmable brightness (0–100%) so you can easily match your lighting to any scene. With a high CRI of 96+, your colors and skin tones stay natural. You can control it remotely with the Moman Light app or via the built-in dial.
Editing software: An essential piece of vlogging equipment for beginners to turn raw clips into polished, share-ready vlogs.
Once you’ve captured all your travel footage, you’ll need editing software to turn it into a polished video for YouTube or TikTok. While professional tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro are options, there are plenty of free alternatives.
Mobile/Tablet Editing (Free):
- Vllo – Popular in Korea and used by creators like Darcie and Eyol.
- CapCut – A favorite among many TikTok creators.
Mac/PC Editing (Free):
- CapCut – Great for both TikTok and full-length YouTube videos.
- iMovie – Simple editor pre-installed on all Mac devices.
- Lightworks – Easy to use, though the free version limits exports to 720p.
- DaVinci Resolve – Highly recommended; professional-grade software that rivals paid tools. It has a steep learning curve but is extremely powerful.
Accessories: Optional items that make your vlog recording and editing more convenient
Here are more vlogging equipment for beginners to upgrade their vlogs.
- Headphones: Bring a pair so you can monitor your audio clearly without disturbing others—this is the simplest but most important step in checking sound quality.
- High-Speed/High-Capacity SD Card: Invest in fast, large-capacity storage. High-speed cards transfer files to your computer much quicker, and high capacity ensures you won’t run out of space in the middle of a shoot.
- Card Reader: A small but essential tool for staying organized. A card reader lets you move files from your camera to your computer quickly and reliably—far faster than wireless transfers or cables. Just make sure it matches your computer’s ports and your SD card type before buying.
- Spare Batteries: Video drains power fast, especially when traveling. Always purchase at least one extra battery when you get your camera, so you never miss a shot due to a dead battery.
Bonus: Use a phone screen monitor to shoot with your smartphone’s rear camera
Using your phone’s rear camera gives you better image quality than the selfie (front) cam. But when filming with the rear camera, you usually can’t see yourself or how you’re framed.
That’s where a separate monitor helps you preview in real-time. With a monitor attached, you’re free to move, gesture, speak naturally, and still keep track of framing, lighting, and background. It reduces flubbed takes: you’re less likely to realise halfway through that you were out of frame, too low, or just awkwardly positioned.
If you’re just starting out in vlogging and want an easy upgrade, consider the Moman XView M4. This compact monitor gives you a live preview so you can see yourself and your framing while filming. With a wireless P2P 5.8 GHz connection and latency under 0.04s, you get instant feedback and freedom to move around up to 50 meters away.
The magnetic mount makes it quick to clip on, and the three-hour battery life ensures you won’t be tied to a charger mid-shoot.
For beginners, this means more confidence in your shots, fewer wasted takes, and a smoother path to professional-looking content.
