diff --git a/.changeset/sixty-ears-tan.md b/.changeset/sixty-ears-tan.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0404a468
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/sixty-ears-tan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"jspsych": patch
+---
+
+add a default `mimeType` of `"video/webm" to `initializeCameraRecorder()`
diff --git a/docs/plugins/initialize-camera.md b/docs/plugins/initialize-camera.md
index 69ce273d..c236f9fe 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/initialize-camera.md
+++ b/docs/plugins/initialize-camera.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ button_label | string | 'Use this camera.' | The label for the select button.
 include_audio | bool | false | Set to `true` to include an audio track in the recordings.
 width | int | null | Request a specific width for the recording. This is not a guarantee that this width will be used, as it depends on the capabilities of the participant's device. Learn more about `MediaRecorder` constraints [here](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Media_Streams_API/Constraints#requesting_a_specific_value_for_a_setting).
 height | int | null | Request a specific height for the recording. This is not a guarantee that this height will be used, as it depends on the capabilities of the participant's device. Learn more about `MediaRecorder` constraints [here](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Media_Streams_API/Constraints#requesting_a_specific_value_for_a_setting).
-mime_type | string | null | Set this to use a specific [MIME type](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/MediaRecorder/mimeType) for the recording. Set the entire type, e.g., `'video/mp4; codecs="avc1.424028, mp4a.40.2"'`.
+mime_type | string | null | Set this to use a specific [MIME type](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/MediaRecorder/mimeType) for the recording. Set the entire type, e.g., `'video/mp4; codecs="avc1.424028, mp4a.40.2"'`. When provided with the default value of `null`, jsPsych will search for a compatible container/codec combination, with [common types listed here](../reference/jspsych-pluginAPI.md#initializecamerarecorder). If none are found, jsPsych will default to `'video/webm'` as the MIME type.
 
 
 ## Data Generated
diff --git a/docs/reference/jspsych-pluginAPI.md b/docs/reference/jspsych-pluginAPI.md
index b7fa6005..35bfcbd0 100644
--- a/docs/reference/jspsych-pluginAPI.md
+++ b/docs/reference/jspsych-pluginAPI.md
@@ -507,7 +507,9 @@ None.
 
 #### Description
 
-Generates a `MediaRecorder` object from provided `MediaStream` and stores this for access via [`getCameraRecorder()`](#getcamerarecorder).
+Generates a `MediaRecorder` object from provided `MediaStream` and stores this for access via [`getCameraRecorder()`](#getcamerarecorder). By default, `mimeType` is set to the first compatible container/codec combination found in a list of common types, or `"video/webm"` if no supported combination is found. 
+
+The common container/codec combinations that jsPsych checks for are `"video/webm;codecs=vp9,opus"`, `"video/webm;codecs=vp8,opus"`, `"video/mp4;codecs=avc1.42E01E,mp4a.40.2"`, `"video/mp4;codecs=h264,aac"`, and `"video/mp4;codecs=hevc,aac"`.
 
 #### Example
 
diff --git a/examples/extension-record-video.html b/examples/extension-record-video.html
index 29cf9ee5..5008fd0e 100644
--- a/examples/extension-record-video.html
+++ b/examples/extension-record-video.html
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@
     const jsPsych = initJsPsych({
         extensions: [
             {type: jsPsychExtensionRecordVideo}
-        ]
+        ],
+        on_finish: function() {
+          jsPsych.data.displayData();
+        }
     });
 
     const initCamera = {
diff --git a/packages/jspsych/src/modules/plugin-api/MediaAPI.ts b/packages/jspsych/src/modules/plugin-api/MediaAPI.ts
index 6dabb447..9eea34db 100644
--- a/packages/jspsych/src/modules/plugin-api/MediaAPI.ts
+++ b/packages/jspsych/src/modules/plugin-api/MediaAPI.ts
@@ -284,11 +284,38 @@ export class MediaAPI {
   private camera_recorder: MediaRecorder = null;
 
   initializeCameraRecorder(stream: MediaStream, opts?: MediaRecorderOptions) {
+    let mimeType = this.getCompatibleMimeType() || "video/webm";
+    const recorderOptions: MediaRecorderOptions = {
+      ...opts,
+      mimeType
+    }
+
     this.camera_stream = stream;
-    const recorder = new MediaRecorder(stream, opts);
+    const recorder = new MediaRecorder(stream, recorderOptions);
     this.camera_recorder = recorder;
   }
 
+  // mimetype checking code adapted from https://github.com/lookit/lookit-jspsych/blob/develop/packages/record/src/videoConfig.ts#L673-L699
+  /** returns a compatible mimetype string, or null if none from the array are supported. */
+  private getCompatibleMimeType(): string {
+    const types = [
+      // chrome firefox edge
+      "video/webm;codecs=vp9,opus",
+      "video/webm;codecs=vp8,opus",
+      // general
+      "video/mp4;codecs=avc1.42E01E,mp4a.40.2",
+      // safari
+      "video/mp4;codecs=h264,aac",
+      "video/mp4;codecs=hevc,aac",
+    ]
+    for (const mimeType of types) {
+      if (MediaRecorder.isTypeSupported(mimeType)) {
+        return mimeType;
+      }
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
   getCameraStream(): MediaStream {
     return this.camera_stream;
   }