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.
We also recommend completing your setup with one of the best ring lights available on the market right now and don't forget to check out our guides to the best microphones for vlogging and filmmaking, as well as the best headsets.
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 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.
The Quick List
Smooth 60fps video at 1080p and a generous maximum viewing angle make this a terrific choice – it’s great in low light as well. Read more below…
This upmarket webcam produces some of the best streaming footage our reviewer has seen, with a quality build to enhance your setup. Read more below…
This low-priced option gives you very decent 1080p footage, with the option of 60fps capture if you switch down to 720P, which will appeal to streamers. Read more below…
There isn’t a great deal of choice for PS5 owners: only this webcam and its predecessor for PS4 work with the popular console. Read more below…
Step beyond the confines of the webcam and connect a regular mirrorless camera like this small full-frame option from Sony. Read more below…
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…
Best gaming cameras
Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.
Best 1080p gaming webcam
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.
Read more: Razer Kiyo Pro review
Best 4K gaming webcam
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.
Read more: Logitech MX Brio review
Best-value gaming webcam
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 C922 Pro has everything that model but is particularly useful for streaming thanks to a 60fps mode. It also comes supplied for a tripod, which will help you with your set-up if you don't want to be looking directly and the computer screen. Be warned, though, there is no privacy cover with this one.
See our full Logitech C922 Pro HD review
Best gaming webcam for PS5
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.
PlayStation 5 HD Camera: why you need the PS5 camera
Best camera for gamers
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.
Read more: Sony A7C review
Best camcorder for gamers
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.
See our full Sony AX53 review and our guide to the best camcorders
How to choose the best gaming webcam
What resolution webcam should I get?
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.
How we test webcams
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.
Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World
