Video equipment recommendations for a tight budget

Mar 7, 2019 by

Guest Author: Branden Stanley

Five essential pieces of equipment every videographer needs

It's one of the most frequently asked questions I get: "How can we start creating videos without breaking the bank?" It’s also one of the most difficult questions, because there are infinite combinations of video equipment one could build. Here are five essential pieces of equipment you need to begin creating video content.

1

Let’s start with the camera.

If you're filming on a budget, I usually recommend starting with a DSLR or mirrorless camera. On the mid/low end, this means finding something like a Canon 80D, Sony a6300, or GH4. There are newer versions of some of these models, as well as older ones. On the higher end of the DSLR/mirrorless segment, try something like a Canon 5D MK IV or Sony a7iii.

You usually get what you pay for, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create something great with whatever you have.

2

Now onto lenses that work great for video.

Your first inclination might be to pick up a zoom lens. While zoom lenses might be enticing due to the flexibility they afford you, I would avoid zoom lenses while starting out. Not only are zoom lenses not nearly as optically refined as even many base-level prime lenses (i.e., a lens that has a fixed focal length), zoom lenses aren’t good in low light, and can make a cinematographer lazy. Lazy cinematographers don't create great videos!

As a production company with an inventory of over 100 lenses, I can tell you our team at Spirit Juice rarely (if ever) uses zoom lenses. There are exceptions to this, but typically we use prime lenses on every shoot. Of all the focal lengths, 24mm, 35mm, 85mm, and 135mm are the most-used because they cover almost everything we need on a daily basis.

If I had a budget crunch and needed to choose only two lenses, I would hands down pick up a 35mm and 85mm.

We have numerous videos that have been shot entirely on these two lenses, and most companies produce cheap prime lenses at these focal lengths that are still high in optical quality.

Aside from the better optical quality, using prime lenses refines your skills as you begin to think in a particular focal length. For example, I know exactly what a scene will look like on a 35mm lens before I even turn on the camera.

3

Next to consider is audio.

People often think that the visuals are the most important part of the video, but music and audio are equally as important.

A beautiful looking piece with bad audio will feel poorly produced.

Invest in a decent wireless lavalier or shotgun microphone from Rode or Sennheiser (I prefer shotgun microphones to lavalier mics for interviews because of the higher audio quality). If you are using a camera without decent audio inputs (usually mirrorless and DSLR cameras have terrible mic inputs), pick up a Zoom H4N or H6 and you’ll have a great setup. You can then match up the audio track with the video shots during the editing process.

4

Camera supports? Yes, you need a tripod.

Camera supports are often forgotten these days, but are incredibly important. While handheld video has become more of a norm, you shouldn’t rely on it entirely, nor shoot handheld while using a lens with a focal length over 50mm. Invest in a video tripod (or monopod at the very least). More expensive tripods generally provide smoother movements and more stable footage. Although, it is better to have an inexpensive tripod than none at all.

5

Always think about your lighting.

If you’re starting out on a budget, you can go one of two ways:

1. Purchase a light kit
2. Get creative and just use natural light

There are pros and cons to using natural light alone. On the plus side, it’s cheap. And if you film on cloudy days, or near sunrise and sunset, you can capture beautiful footage. Large bright windows will provide soft lighting to your scene as well. When filming in a church, sometimes stained glass or large windows provide enough light. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you simply can’t use natural light or it doesn’t make sense, it helps to have a full lighting kit.

I could talk all day about lighting and the different options, but let me just recommend finding a large diffused (also called soft) lighting source. This means either a softbox with a tungsten/fluorescent bulb, or an LED fixture that can be diffused.

While you certainly get what you pay for, in lighting it matters more how you use it and less what you actually have.

Cheap continuous light softbox packages on Amazon and B&H can produce excellent results, especially for interviews when lighting is important. One thing to keep in mind: be sure to know the difference between color temperatures. The sun and indoor lighting are often different shades of light. Do a bit of research to determine if you should purchase tungsten light sources or daylight-balanced lights. Or if you can afford it, get a light labeled “bi-color.”

Can you make a decent video with an iPhone?

There’s often a misconception that you need an expensive camera to make beautiful videos. While great cameras certainly help, the equipment doesn’t make the cinematographer…more important is the way the cinematographer uses the tools available. So can you create a decent video on an iPhone? Certainly! It can just be more difficult.

Things to keep in mind when filming on an iPhone are things I mention above, such as filming near sunrise or sunset or on a cloudy day (all three provide tremendous diffused light) and ensuring you’re filming a subject that is well lit.

Additionally, because the iPhone is so tiny, handheld footage often appears shakier than with a larger camera, which makes tripods and stabilization devices even more important. I would recommend looking into the DJI Osmo (or similar technology) for stabilization as this will increase the production value substantially. Be sure to look into dedicated iPhone filming apps as well, such as FiLMiC Pro which allow you to get every ounce of quality out of your phone camera. It really does make a difference.

Spirit Juice Studios is an Emmy award-winning video production firm based in Chicago that creates stunning video for Catholic faith organizations. Many of the techniques Branden mentioned above can be seen in their online video collection. Check it out and be inspired! Visit spiritjuicestudios.com.