If you are out to produce videos that matter, then you have to have the right equipment. Even if you are just the family video maker or an experienced videographer, you have to make it a point to upgrade your video projects.
No video production team should begin shooting without their acquisition system or those gears that are needful for the shoot.
When you are tempted to rush to the nearest mall and buy the latest equipment – hold your horses. Beginners often commit the mistake of using their credit cards and buying high-end equipment that they don’t even know how to use.
You have to plan ahead and think about the purchases that you will make. You wouldn’t want to have expensive yet useless stuff in your cabinets so be sure to make a list of your video making essentials.
How Professionals Do Gear Shopping
Unlike newbies, professional video producers don’t just go out and start charging their credit cards for video gears. Video acquisition systems include camera support, video, lighting, audio, and other accessories.
There are four main levels for these video systems ranging from casual shooters to corporate video professionals.
The Casual Video Shooter
This is the first level of sophistication. These are those happy camcorder owners as well as those who go out of their way to record family gatherings and vacations. If you belong to this group, then all that you need is that basic camcorder plus a tripod.
The Serious Amateur
The next sophistication level features the serious amateur who spends his weekends creating video projects for his friends or family members. He can also be tasked to come up with occasional movies for the satisfaction of close friends or relatives.
Videographers who belong to this level need a camcorder complete with some special effects feature, a sturdier tripod, an external mic, or a camera-mounted mic. You will also need at least one light and some accessories.
Small Budget Video Professional
This is an expert who works with a small budget. He should own at least a three-chip camcorder, a sturdy tripod, some kind of camera support, an audio mixer, and wireless mic. It is also needful to throw in some location lighting, video accessories and gaffer supplies.
The Corporate Video Professional
This expert belongs to the highest level of sophistication as he produces industrial or corporate videos in a well-equipped facility. When you are at this level, you must have a dockable small-format camera, quality tripod complete with fluid head, color monitor, dolly, mixers, broadcast-type mics, full location lighting systems, gaffer’s kit, complete grip kit and utility dolly.
Here are examples of an expert’s gear list –
For the camera –
- Canon 7D
- Canon 5D III
- GoPro Hero3
For the lens –
- Canon 24-105 f4L
- Canon 16-35 f2.8L
- Canon 70-300 f35-5.6
- Canon 50mm f1.8
For lighting –
- Bescor On-Cam BiColor LED
- KinoFlo 4’ 4Bank Gaffer kit with shot bags and two C-stands
For audio –
- Zoom H4N Channel Recorder
- Sennheiser wireless mic system complete with lapel mic
- Rode On Camera Boom Microphone
For rig and support –
- Kessler CineSlider 3ft
- Kessler Pocket Jib Pro
For the monitor –
- 7” Marshall HDMI, 720p monitor
There are more high-end tools and gadgets to use out there. Learn about them and find out how they can make your videos more professional-looking.
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