Should you use the front or back camera for vlogging? Many creators ask the same question.
The front camera makes it easy to see yourself and adjust your framing while recording. The back camera, on the other hand, captures sharper, higher-quality footage - but unlike the front camera, you’ll need some tools to see yourself while filming.
Read on to see the full breakdown, so you can decide which camera is best for your vlogs.
Front camera for vlogging
The front or selfie camera is ideal for vloggers who want to see themselves while recording. It lets you monitor your composition and appearance in real time, making solo shooting and casual vlogs easier and more natural.
Pros:
🟢Perfect framing: You can see exactly what the camera sees, ensuring you’re centered and the background looks right.
🟢Direct connection: Enables natural eye contact with the lens, creating a more intimate feel with your viewers.
🟢Ease of use: No extra gear needed (like flip screens), making it perfect for spontaneous recording.
Cons:
🔴Lower quality: Smaller sensors mean lower resolution, less detail, and weaker performance in dim light.
🔴Wider angle distortion: Front cameras often have wider lenses, which can slightly distort your face or make your arm appear longer.
Best for:
✨Daily and casual vlogs: Talking-head videos, reaction videos
✨Personal and interactive vlogs: Sharing personal thoughts and engaging with viewers
✨Social media content: Instagram Stories, TikTok videos, YouTube Shorts
Back camera for vlogging
The back or rear camera is ideal for vloggers who want high video quality. It excels in detail, clarity, and creative control, but requires extra tools to monitor yourself while filming.
Pros:
🟢Highest quality: Larger sensors provide sharper images, higher resolution (e.g., 4K vs 1080p), better low-light performance, and wider dynamic range.
🟢Advanced features: Access to higher frame rates, optical image stabilization (OIS), and wider aperture settings for creative control.
🟢Depth of field: Produces a professional “blurry background” (bokeh), separating you from the environment.
Cons:
🔴The blind spot: You can’t see yourself while filming, which may lead to cut-off heads or misframed shots.
🔴Monitoring difficulty: Requires external monitors or a flip-out screen, adding complexity.
🔴Less convenient: Not ideal for spontaneous or solo recording without extra gear.
Best for:
✨Cinematic and travel vlogs: Travel vlogs, cinematic videos, artistic content
✨Action and dynamic content: Action shots, walking footage, slow-motion effects
✨Professional videos: Interviews, product showcases, beauty reviews
How to choose a front or back camera for vlogging?
Choosing the front or back camera for vlogging depends on your priorities of video quality or convenience. Both front and back cameras have their strengths, so pick the one that fits your needs.
If you prefer video quality, choose the back camera for vlogging.
The back camera is the best choice for vlogging when sharp, high-resolution footage and professional-looking results matter most. It captures richer colors, better contrast, and more detail, making it ideal for cinematic shots, travel vlogs, or any scenario where you want your video to look polished and visually impressive.
💡Tip for back-camera vlogging: Place a mirror in front of your phone to see yourself.
If you prefer convenience, choose the front camera for vlogging.
The front camera is perfect for vlogging when seeing yourself on screen, and quick setup is more important than high image quality. It allows you to monitor your framing, stay centered, and record confidently without extra equipment. This makes it great for solo vlogs, talking-head videos, live streams, or casual content where connection with the audience is key.
💡Tip for front-camera vlogging: Use a selfie stick and hold the phone at a good distance from your face to avoid distortion, especially with wide-angle lenses.
If you want both, use a phone monitor to turn your back camera into a front camera for vlogging.
Front or back camera for vlogging? A vlog selfie monitor screen lets you capture high-quality video while keeping filming convenient. This accessory allows you to see yourself when using the back camera for vlogging. It eliminates the “blind shooting” downside and makes vloggers use the back camera easily, just like the front camera.
Watch the video below to see how the SYNCO XView M4 makes using your back camera as easy as a front camera for vlogging.
👉For more tips on seeing yourself when using the back camera for vlogging, check out our guide on how to take a selfie with the back camera.
👉For more gear to improve back or front camera vlogging, contact the SYNCO selfie monitor supplier.