Stevie Richards, host of The Stevie Richards Show on the Chase Brogan channel, runs a home studio built around a Sony FX30 with a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens and a dummy battery, a setup he priced at over $3,000 at the time of recording. His question for the YoloCam S3 was simple: for under $200, can you get comparable quality in the same spot, through the same Elgato Prompter XL, into the same Ecamm Live and RODECaster Video workflow? His answer, repeated several times in the video, was that he was “really impressed” and that the S3 “might be the camera I use now.”
The Setup and the Price Gap
Stevie first mounted the S3 on his Apple Studio Display using the magnetic mount, then moved it into the Elgato Prompter XL using a quick-release plate on the mount’s tripod thread, in the exact spot normally occupied by the FX30. He noted you could buy roughly 15 YoloCam S3 units for the cost of his FX30 rig.
Two optical differences stood out immediately. The S3’s lens is 24mm equivalent, wider than the Tamron’s 28mm at its widest, and its aperture is f/1.85 versus the Tamron’s f/2.8. He called both “better” numbers for a desk camera, while noting that the wider view means you will often punch in digitally.
The One Con: No Built-In Microphone
Stevie was upfront that the S3 is a dedicated webcam without a built-in microphone, which he suspects helped keep the price under $200. His view is that nobody should rely on webcam audio anyway. Any podcast mic, wireless system, lav, USB mic or audio interface will work through OBS, Ecamm Live, RODECaster Video, Zoom, Teams or Google Meet. He mentioned the YoloCam S7 as the step-up option, but at $800 it costs as much as four S3 units.
Out-of-the-Box Results Through the Prompter XL
With zero manual settings, the S3 fed 4K 30 fps into Ecamm Live. Because the S3 is much smaller than the FX30 and lens, placing it in the same spot left the prompter’s frame visible at the edges, so he demonstrated the digital pan and zoom available in Ecamm Live, RODECaster Video, OBS and YoloLiv’s own software to clean up the framing. He could also simply slide the tiny camera closer.
His reaction to the default image was emphatic: “This looks really, really good… I haven’t done any manual settings.” He contrasted this with the FX30, where he shoots S-Log3 and applies a LUT in Ecamm Live. Another practical advantage: over USB-C, his FX30 is capped at 1080p in Ecamm Live, while the S3 delivered a stable 4K 30.
YoloLiv Compose Settings He Explored
Scenes can be saved per workflow, for example one for Ecamm Live, one for OBS and one for RODECaster Video.
Aspect ratio switches between 16:9 and 9:16; he records many vertical Cameo videos and praised being able to rotate the S3 on its magnet for full-resolution portrait video instantly.
Frame rates available were 25, 30, 50 and 60; he noted 24 fps was not offered.
Color styles include Sony, Canon (warmer) and a neutral profile. He initially liked the Canon look, but concluded it was close to oversaturated and went back to the cooler Sony profile to match his FX30.
Vignetting correction can be toggled; he keeps it corrected.
Focus modes are continuous, AF-S, face and manual. He prefers continuous so holding up a product pulls focus to it and back.
Zoom and presets: he set a wide framing as preset A and a punched-in framing as preset B, then switched between them live, describing it as the “punch in, punch out” edit he would normally do in Final Cut, now done in real time via hotkeys or a Stream Deck.
Exposure: ISO around 400 to 800 (he uses 640 or 800 for the show) with shutter at double the frame rate. White balance manual at 5600K to match his lights, though auto “doesn’t do a bad job.”
Color grading has Fast and Professional modes plus HSL controls. He had asked YoloLiv about a log profile and was told a software update was planned, which delayed his review; in the end he said, “I’m not missing it at all.”
Stevie’s Verdict
He “highly recommends” the YoloCam S3 under $200 as “a strong contender” against a $3,000 rig, and said it is “pretty darn close to the FX30 with a lens.” He plans to compare it with the S7 next. For context he recalled the Logitech C920 from the Skype era and called the S3 “10, if not more than 10 times better.” Whether for Zoom, Teams, Meet, FaceTime, Ecamm Live, RODECaster Video or OBS, at $199 he “can’t say enough good things about this.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the YoloCam S3 fit in an Elgato Prompter XL?
Yes. Its 24mm field of view is supported by the Prompter XL, and the mount’s tripod thread takes a quick-release plate.
Can the YoloCam S3 output 4K to Ecamm Live?
Yes. Stevie ran 4K 30 fps into Ecamm Live, whereas his FX30 over USB-C was limited to 1080p.
Does the YoloCam S3 support 24 fps?
Not in the version he tested; options were 25, 30, 50 and 60.
Does the YoloCam S3 have a log picture profile?
Not at the time of review. He said he did not miss it.
Can you create live punch-in zoom presets?
Yes. Compose supports zoom presets triggered by hotkeys or a Stream Deck.
This article is based on an independent review published on the Chase Brogan channel. Watch the full video for the Prompter XL comparison.
33 total views, 9 views today
Sharon, a member of YoloLiv, has a great interest in the live streaming industry and is learning to write articles related to live streaming.
