The 5 Best Cameras for TikTok to Take Your Content to New Heights

Believe it or not, the LUMIX G9 mirrorless camera was released before TikTok launched in the United States. But, when the camera first came out in 2017, its specs were impressive for even today’s standards, and thanks to a myriad of software updates, the camera is just as good (if not better) than the competition.

The 20MP camera has everything you’d want in a TikTok camera: good ergonomics that make it feel like an extension to your hand, a solid, but durable magnesium body, 5-axis image stabilization for smooth footage, a plethora of excellent video features, and a mic input for clean audio.

The LUMIX G9 comes with a flip-out LCD touchscreen that’s perfect for solo recording. It records 4K UHD footage at 24, 25, 30, 50, and 60p rates (The higher the frame rate, the smoother and sharper your video will appear). Whether you want to record video or shoot photos, this camera has your back and is hands down one of the best, most affordable cameras worth buying.

The Canon EOS R8 is an affordable entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera that packs the same full-frame 24.2MP sensor and the same DIGIC X processor as the Canon R6 Mark II camera, but at a price that’s $1,000 cheaper. But in all honesty, you’re not missing out on much. Its battery life is shorter, you can’t record in 6K, and the camera doesn’t feature in-body image stabilization.

Despite these minor shortcomings, the R8 is a highly approachable and capable camera that’s comfortable and easy to use. The Canon has impressive autofocus performance for stills, and it stands out from its peers when it comes to recording video. Not only does it shoots 4K video at up to 60p, but it also has connectors (and inputs) for attaching accessories like microphones or lights.

Overall, the Canon EOS R8 is an excellent compact hybrid camera perfect for beginners thanks to its full-frame sensor, fast autofocus system, and video capabilities.

For those looking for a compact camera perfect for vlogging that’s a step up from a smartphone, consider the Sony ZV-1F. Pair one with a ring light and you basically have a content creation studio. The pocketable camera weighs in at just 8 ounces, making it perfect for digital nomads, concertgoers, and students.

The ZV-1F has a wide-angle fixed prime lens (20mm) so you’ll be able to capture your environment well or get more people in the shot. For those who prefer solo shots or talking heads, don’t fret! It has a 5X digital zoom, too, for those close-up shots of your subjects. Our favorite thing about the camera though is Sony’s signature Eye AF (autofocus) feature that follows subjects’ eyes to ensure they will always stay in focus.

The camera seamlessly captures vertical video, as well — no editing required. Sony has a companion app called "Imaging Edge Mobile Plus" that makes it easy to transfer your content from the camera to your smartphone so you can publish your videos to TikTok almost immediately after shooting them.

With so much to love, you’re probably wondering why the Sony wasn’t named our best overall pick. Unfortunately, the camera doesn’t offer users RAW capture for photos, it lacks optical stabilization, and its fixed lens hinders the camera slightly. But all in all, it’s an affordable and portable camera that likely will offer an increase in image quality over your smartphone.

This TikTok-ready action camera is equipped with a taller sensor that was created with vertical video in mind. Most action cameras shoot in 16:9 or even 4:3, but the HERO 11 Black records in 8:7, which makes it easier to record and share videos on TikTok. You can even crop the footage to 16:9 — perfect for YouTube or Vimeo!

The camera has industry-leading, gimbal-like digital image stabilization tech on board. It enables the HERO11 Black to capture incredible content that’s in a league of its own in terms of smoothness. Of course, it’s completely waterproof and drop-resistant so you can take it on any adventure that life throws at you.

The GoPro HERO 11 also offers users a free companion app dubbed “Quik” that makes it a breeze to transfer video and photos to your smartphone for a seamless editing experience. There’s even an automatic edit feature onboard so you won’t have to spend hours hunched over your smartphone making a highlight reel.

Any TikToker looking for an easy-to-use action cam that’s built to last will fall in love with the GoPro HERO 11.

The iPhone 14 Pro is the camera of choice of First Find’s social media manager Steven Morea, who you may know as @aprilf00lsday on TikTok.

He said the iPhone makes it easy to capture high-quality videos (4K at 60fps) and its portability means he can shoot and edit on the go whenever inspiration strikes without the weight of a bulky camera.

“The editing tools, such as Action Mode, Cinematic Mode, and exposure, help me quickly and easily enhance my footage all without having to transfer files to a computer,” Morea said. “Even if I do have to transfer videos, I can use AirDrop, which is so much easier than an SD.”

During our tests with the iPhone 14 Pro, we were blown away by its all-day battery life and appreciated its waterproof build. Its screen is incredibly bright, too, which comes in handy while editing videos outdoors. If you want even longer battery life, consider shopping for the 14 Pro Max instead, which offers 26% more juice.

We can’t recommend the S23 enough for TikTokkers who are in search of a portable smartphone camera with a large and immersive display so they can record and edit content on the fly.

Our senior tech editor Stefan Vazharov called the S23 Camera’s 200MP snapper “an absolute game changer.” It’s one of the few smartphone cameras capable of 8K video recording and it’s so powerful that it captures images with resolutions up to 16,320 x 12,240 pixels. It also has a 100X digital zoom that will blow your mind.

The base model S23 Ultra packs 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage so you’ll have plenty of storage space for all your high-resolution videos. Its selfie camera performs fantastically as well, with a sharp edge and high-quality blurred background that’ll convince viewers you’re shooting with a DSLR.

If you’re on the fence about shopping for an iPhone or S23 Ultra, we think users who prefer to fine-tune their settings should opt for the S23 Ultra given the flexibility of the Android operating system, but if you’re already locked into Apple’s ecosystem, the cameras on the iPhone 14 Pro are still impressive, but its zoom and video recording capabilities aren’t as strong.