The best gaming cameras can accurately capture your commentary and intense reactions as you play online. The most popular gamers tend to garner a large and interactive audience, who enjoy watching the streamer battling through in-game challenges or real-time reactions when replying to comments and messages.
The better the video (and audio) quality of your streaming setup, the more likely audiences will enjoy your content and hopefully want to stick around, and if that’s the aim for you in growing your streaming channel, then investing in a decent gaming camera is one of the first steps.
Other things to consider when setting up your channel and gaming space, including checking that you have a suitable internet connection to support the high-speed demands of your console or PC.
You'll also want to have some decent hardware, such as the latest and best graphics cards, and if money is no object then definitely consider investing in one of the best 8K monitors to have a supreme visual advantage over your opponents in-game, as well as for your gaming setup. Having a dual-monitor setup may also be a smart choice, for multitasking while you game and checking the group chats.
Arguably the most crucial part of your setup will be the camera, and there's so much choice that it can be overwhelming. We have plenty of guides on the best webcams for home working, as well as the best 4K webcams, not to mention the best Mac webcams for Apple users.
Whether you’re looking for a gaming camera that’s affordable, or are willing to stretch to a premium price point, take a look below at some of the best gaming cameras you can buy right now. Our guide contains both regular webcams for straightforward ease of use, as well as a camcorder and mirrorless camera options for more professional-looking image quality.
Jase Parnell-Brookes
Jase Parnell-Brookes is an award-winning photographer, educator and writer based in the UK. They won the Gold Prize award in the Nikon Photo Contest 2018/19 and was named Digital Photographer of the Year in 2014. After completing their Masters, Jase has spent a good chunk of two decades studying and working in photography and optics. Now the Channel Editor for Cameras and Skywatching at Space.com, their speciality is in low-light optics and camera systems.
Camcorders offer a viable alternative to the webcam. Use this model to shoot on location, then capture live streaming footage in 4K. Read more below…
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Building on the reputation of the Razer Kiyo, the Kiyo Pro nearly doubles the price tag of its little brother and has dropped what’s likely the most defining characteristic of the previous model: the ring light.
While the ring light was a good idea for low-light shooting, Razer has instead focused on improving the low-light performance of the image sensor – which makes sense, as most game streamers have their own lighting setup anyway. Full HD at 60fps gives smooth video quality, and the composition can be tailored to suit thanks to the adjustable field of view on the wide-angle lens giving three options of 80, 90, and 103 degrees – perfect for fitting in a little more of the background, or cutting it out.
The premium quality of the MX Brio is obvious from the outset, with a satisfying metal body and an integrated cover in the lens: just twist to open or close. The good vibes extend to the MX Brio’s performance: our reviewer called its 4K output some of the best webcam footage he’d seen. The picture should be excellent straight out of the box, but you can fine-tune exposure, white balance, color saturation and more with the accompanying app.
You can choose one of three crop angles that extend right out to 90 degrees, giving your audience a great view of any special backgrounds you’ve set up for streaming, and dual microphones capture compelling audio quality.
The MX Brio is unquestionably overkill for a Zoom call, but when you have a devoted audience you want to look your best for, this webcam will repay your investment.
If you’ve just done a double-take at this webcam because it looks familiar, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was the C920. The C920S has everything that model has, but also includes a privacy shutter that folds down over the lens when not in use – handy for those paranoid about hackers.
On the whole, though, the C920S is a superb webcam at a reasonable price. It shoots 1080p for the detailed video quality but is limited to 30fps, which is fine for more casual users. It also has decent low-light performance, but off-camera lighting is recommended for those in darker environments.
The very basic gaming camera that has only one real purpose
Specifications
Video resolution: 1080p
Maximum frame rate: 120fps (limited) but mostly 60fps
FOV: 80 to 120
Dimensions: 198 x 121 x 70mm
Connectivity: Included cable
Weight: 317.5g
Reasons to buy
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The only native PlayStation 5 camera
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1080p output
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Built-in background removal
Reasons to avoid
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Not compatible with PlayStation VR
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Extremely limited in what it can do
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Cannot be used for in-game party chat
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No built-in microphone
If you own a Playstation 5 and intend to stream from it, we have some bad news for you. Sony does not allow compatibility for any other webcams to be used with the PlayStation 5 console, other than the PlayStation 5 HD Camera. "That's not so bad," you might be thinking – but this camera had so much potential, and is extremely limited in what it can do.
I feel so strongly about the wasted potential of this camera that I even wrote an article complaining about it that goes into much greater detail - see the 5 things I wish the PS5 Camera did better. Thankfully, you can use the existing PS4 camera with the PlayStation 5 console via an adapter, but it's limited to 720p resolution.
One of the only perks of owning a PS5 HD Camera includes its built-in background removal tools, but even this has been reported to be extremely buggy and temperamental, requiring the purchase of a green screen separately. It's also pretty easy to stream with for newcomers to the practice: simply press the Create button on your DualSense control pad to start live streaming video, also offering picture-in-picture broadcasting.
Sony is packing huge specs into a tiny form factor with the A7C. A compact camera capable of live streaming (after enabling the MTP function in the menu), it boasts a full-frame 35mm image sensor for insane detail capture.
It’s an online gamer's workhorse too, able to shoot 24.2MP stills and record 4K UHD video at 30fps for extra content needed when setting up a streaming channel and website. If choosing lenses we recommend the 28-60mm kit lens for gamers who like to adjust the composition occasionally. The Sony A7C comes with a hefty price tag, but it’s worth it for the flexibility.
When paired with the EOS Webcam Utility software the Canon EOS M50 Mark II becomes a webcam behemoth. The power of the camera lies in its ability to change lenses, making it ideal for online gamers who are really into their cinematography. Pair the camera with a wide aperture EF-M lens for shallow depth of field and creamy bokeh-filled backgrounds which set video quality apart from the rest.
It does have a microphone built-in, but online gamers using this camera to stream via the utility software will need a separate microphone as it doesn’t process audio – although gamer headsets are commonplace and normally have a Britney-style mic anyway.
Once past the initial fiddly setup procedure, this camcorder/live-streaming camera is an excellent choice for those who want to take a step-up in video clarity. A maximum resolution of 4K UHD tops out at just 25fps, but drop that down to Full HD and it jumps up to 50fps for smoother footage.
The real benefit of this camera lies in its lens. A fixed 26.8-536mm lens brings loads of compositional options into the mix for online gamers and although it’s a tad overkill for a bedroom, it can double as a handy capture device for on-location recording should you wish to supply additional content without having to purchase a second camera.
A 720p webcam offers decent video quality that's usually good enough for Zoom calls with friends or video conferencing with colleagues. However, to create streaming content for a public audience, you should really look for a webcam with 1080p or higher resolution.
Beyond that, you're getting into 4K territory (see Best 4K webcams). While it might seem like a no-brainer that more resolution is better, in practice, you may find that your internet connection struggles to broadcast a 4K or even Full HD image without stuttering. Ideally, a webcam with multiple resolution options is the best buy. That way, you can choose the most appropriate resolution for your current connection, and you’re futureproofed as bandwidth increases.
What about using a camera I already own, or buying a camera that does more than just streaming?
Compact, mirrorless, and DSLR cameras have long been capable of being used as live streaming cameras, albeit through a series of convoluted adapters and capture cards – but recent firmware upgrades and additional software developed by the manufacturers themselves have allowed users to easily connect their cameras to the computer and live stream without any additional hardware.
Using a ‘proper (non-webcam) camera is definitely a viable option for gamers wanting enhanced video quality, especially when considering the myriad of options that interchangeable-lens cameras offer. Fancy streaming with a fisheye lens?
While it’s more expensive at first, it'll be so worth it in the long run. What you really need most from these cameras is a flip-around 180-degree screen, for the benefit of being able to see yourself being filmed, vlog-style, for focus checking.
You might even be able to use a DSLR or mirrorless camera that you already have at home. For example, the Canon EOS Utility software lets you live stream with over 40 different Canon cameras via USB, even going back as far as the EOS 60D, or the Rebel T5! Sony, Fujifilm and Panasonic have similar webcam utilities.
We test the best webcams by putting each model through its paces, carrying out tasks such as video calls, conference sessions, streaming video and making recordings of ourselves. Image quality is a cornerstone of our testing process, and so we pay attention to what the picture looks like in practice, and don't just rely on the specs on paper, such as resolution and frame-rate. We look at color and clarity under varying lighting conditions, including natural and artificial light, bright and dark, as well as scrutinising sound quality.
Jase Parnell-Brookes is an award-winning photographer, educator and writer based in the UK. They won the Gold Prize award in the Nikon Photo Contest 2018/19 and was named Digital Photographer of the Year in 2014. After completing their Masters Jase has spent a good chunk of two decades studying and working in photography and optics shooting and writing all over the world for big-name brands and media outlets. Now the Channel Editor for Cameras and Skywatching at Space.com their speciality is in low light optics and camera systems.
