The best cameras for DIY music videos and content: go pro with your visuals

If you’re looking to make filming music videos and content a joyful experience, instead of the slog of trying to keep up with the content and algorithm machine, getting yourself an intentional piece of technology that is purpose-built for amazing photos and video could be a game-changer for you. Welcome to Headliner’s guide to the best cameras for DIY music videos.

If you’re thinking, ‘But why wouldn’t I just use my phone?’ That’s an astute question, and you can certainly stick to your smartphone if that’s working nicely for you. However, a lot of musicians and creatives are tired of being stuck to their phone for so many daily tasks, and are finding a lot of fun in using intentional technology — it really is great to get out and film without emails and notifications popping up on the screen. And, of course, many of the cameras below will offer much greater photo and video quality. Some even have the dual-purpose of providing brilliant audio, if you’re looking to get great audio for live music, jamming, and talking videos.

If you want to level up your quality and experience of capturing videos and content for your music, below are our hand-picked, excellent options to help you do so.

The best budget options on the second-hand market

Canon EOS 300 film camera

Yes, Instagram has really leaned into video content for some time now, following the success of TikTok. But Instagram was originally a photo app, and there is absolutely still a place for it there. In fact, photo content has made a pretty big comeback to socials, perhaps as a reaction to people becoming tired of the pressure to create high-quality reels and TikToks. Enter film photography, the beauty of which is that it’s the opposite of disposable content; it’s created on real, physical film. You can’t see it instantly, as you have to have your film developed first, and the analogue tech gives you that warmth that Instagram has been trying to digitally emulate ever since the app was created, pre-Zuckerberg takeover.

And one of the best starting points into the world of film photography is the Canon EOS300, a beginner-friendly film camera that you can grab from eBay and other sites for as little as £/$30. Its auto-mode makes this type of photography much less challenging for beginners, automatically sensing if the flash is needed, for example. Of course, you lose the instantaneous convenience of the digital cameras below, and video isn’t an option. But if you want a cheap-as-chips camera which provides the kind of image quality the apps are all trying to copy, and enjoy an intentional practice away from your phone, the Canon EOS300 is a fantastic option. When looking on eBay, Facebook marketplace, or elsewhere, checking the listing says ‘tested and working’ is key, and a listing with all the accessories, like a lens cap, strap, and ba,g is a huge bonus.

Camcorders: Mini DV and Digital

It’s not just film cameras that have come back into vogue — with many people becoming tired of being tied to their phones for everything,‘90s and early ‘00s camcorders have also become hot property on the second-hand market. Just like the film aesthetic mentioned above, there are many Instagram and TikTok filters trying to capture that slightly lo-res, grainy aesthetic of camcorders. Which begs the question: why not just go for the real thing? Especially when you can grab one for £/$30-80.

When it comes to retro camcorders in particular, there are two types to consider: analogue camcorders or digital/analogue hybrids that rely on tapes, and the fully digital camcorders that followed. As you can imagine, the latter is much more convenient — you usually film some music video content, take out an SD card, and stick that into your computer. With the former, you will need accessories, for example, the tapes, and a special cable to convert the tape footage to your computer. But if you’re fully set on that true analogue warmth, this is your option. Some, however, love the specific early ‘00s vibes of the first digital camcorders.

Here are some excellent options to explore. Again, ‘tested and working’ is key with places like eBay, and try to find a listing with as many included accessories as possible.

Canon MD Series (e.g., MD101, MD120) - Recording to tape, these are common consumer models, perfect for a budget-friendly way to get the classic tape-meets-digital Mini DV aesthetic.

Sony DCR-PC Series (e.g., DCR-PC110, PC109) - Also an analogue/digital by relying on tape. Their compact, vertical design is ideal for a unique and portable shooting style.

Sony DCR-SR Series (e.g., DCR-SR45, SR88) - Very popular hard-drive-based camcorders from the mid-to-late 2000s. They have a classic camcorder form factor and record directly to an internal hard drive, making them much faster and more convenient to work with than tape. They are plentiful on eBay. 

JVC Everio GZ-MG Series (e.g., GZ-MG130, MG275) - Also offer the digital convenience, recording to an internal hard drive. The JVC models often have a slightly different look that many find appealing for that early-2000s aesthetic.

The best modern options for DIY music video cameras

Zoom Q2n-4K

Now here is a DIY music video camera that might just give you the zoomies. Zoom are known best as one of the leading names in field recording microphones, AKA mics you take out for remote music recording, or capturing the sounds of the countryside or a bustling city. The Q2n-4K is a microphone-meets-4K camera thrown into one DIY music content-ready product. That makes this a very strong option indeed — the problem with your typical smartphone or camera is the inbuilt microphone, if there even is one, is that it won’t be good enough to record anything requiring high-level audio.

With a name like Zoom on the camera, you can banish those fears right away. The very visible mic (it looks more microphone than camera) gives you a stereo microphone with Zoom’s usual high standard of audio levels. In terms of the camera itself, besides the 4K quality mentioned in the title, the camera was created with recording rehearsals, jams, busking, and live performances in mind. It doesn’t have stabilisation, so your best bet is to find a nice surface to set it up on and then leave it there. In terms of video quality, there are much stronger options below, and it won’t quite match up to the top smartphones out there. But if you need a decent level of visuals coupled with excellent audio on the go, make haste and get one of these. Especially when you can get one for less than £/$200.

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GoPro Hero 13 Black

If the Zoom above isn’t the best camera for music content or a DIY music video where you will be moving around a lot and need run-and-gun shots, then say hello to a camera that most certainly is built for that life. GoPro are one of the biggest names in ‘action cameras’, often partnering with athletes for their video content, and vloggers needing dynamic videos for their active lives. This camera earns its heroic title by being shockproof and waterproof, and its built-in stabilisation makes it perfect for POV footage and videos where you are moving around quickly. It allows you to quickly optimise your videos for all the mobile apps. And, as many of us musicians are focused on the music and not wanting to lug a big, bulky camera around with lenses and accessories, this is an excellent portable option to consider.

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DJI Osmo Pocket 3

Whether you’re a DJ, a classical cellist, or in a band, here is a camera for music videos that ticks a lot of boxes. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a two-in-one solution that saves a lot of pennies on the cost of buying a camera and a gimbal (a camera accessory that keeps footage stable and not shaky) separately. It captures silky smooth footage even while you're buzzing around. Its intelligent ActiveTrack 6.0 system does an epic job of keeping the frame centred on a subject. This makes it a perfect option for music videos with dynamic shots and lots of movement, and the same goes for similar styles of content, live performances and rehearsals — especially if you have a frontman in a band who runs around like a lunatic. The wide screen makes monitoring nice and easy, and it can record in 10-bit D-Log transforms for pristine video quality. Plus, it’s small and beautifully portable.

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Sony ZV-E10 II

If you’re more than happy to splash the cash on one of the very best cameras for music videos and content, you could do drastically worse than to go with Sony. The high-end ZV-E10 II is often hailed as being one of the best vlogging cameras ever made, and with good reason. It’s a mirrorless camera with a very powerful processor and sensor combo. Expect gorgeous 4K 30p video quality, and options like Cinematic Vlog mode, allowing you to get mega creative. The autofocus is a godsend if you’re a novice and don’t have the time to become an amateur film director. The battery is very impressive, also, so you needn’t worry about it dying during filming.

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How much do I need to spend on a camera for music videos and content?

As you can imagine, there’s no set price as an answer to this question. You can get one of the second-hand cameras and camcorders at the start of this article for less than £/$50 and have a wonderful time creating videos and photos with the retro vibe that Instagram continues to love. If you have a bit more budget and want more flexibility and a more premium experience, then the more expensive items above will give you this in abundance.