You might want to get into the wonderful world of videography, or simply would want to boost your film-making skills. But the key is – Gears, gears, gears! Filmmakers love their gears.
But there is a huge range of gadgets and gizmos available, so it can be daunting knowing where to start.
Luckily, we’ve put together the must-have gears for a film-making kit, so you are prepared.
Tripod: You can always use a good set of sticks, my friend. These affordable and portable pieces will help you to take perfectly steady shots, and also allow you to direct without worrying about having enough hands to hold your camera too.
Lenses: Yeah…duh. You need lenses. However, don’t be satisfied with that kit lens. You might want to take a look at some older vintage glass for unique bokeh, tones, and other visual goodies. Having a number of lenses will mean you’re prepared for any shot you might need.
Gimbal: A gimbal is an essential piece of kit if you’re looking to capture action shots or sweeping panoramas. By attaching your camera or camera phone to a gimbal, moving shots are stabilized, so you can give a really high quality feel to your films.
Color Chart: Your camera isn’t a damn genius… it knows what to tell you, how to read, and identify color but it needs extra help. That’s why having a color chart on the set is super important.
Key Light: Lighting is more important than your camera. Period. Have a good lighting kit with you when capturing videos to add a professional and cinematic feel for your work. You are likely to need a number of different lighting options for your different shots, so try to consider your environment and shoot list so you can have the appropriate tools to hand. Don’t forget light reflectors too when buying your lighting.
Wireless Mic: When filming a video, it’s not just the video quality you need to think about – sound quality is very important too. A beautiful film can be ruined by crackly or muffled sound, so it’s important to get it right.
The type of microphone you need will depend on what you’re filming. Wireless microphones are great for voice over or interviews, whereas for dialogue, you may need to invest in a professional boom instead,
Camera: Oh man, this is the million-dollar question, right? What kind of camera should you get? The one you can afford, I guess. Buying cameras is like buying a car- eventually, they get replaced by more advanced, prettier models, so you might as well get something that has great mileage.
Here’s the thing about lists like this- every single one is different. Some filmmakers might tell you that you need to have a light meter, while others might say that you need a camera cage and there might be some people who say that you don’t need either of those things or anything other than a camera and lens, for that matter.
The truth is, once you start shooting stuff on a regular basis, you’re going to realize what pieces of gear you need.
If you travel a lot, maybe having a really nice and rugged gear bag is like the most important piece of gear you have. If you shoot outdoors a lot, maybe having a big ol’ 5-in-1 reflector is your crown jewel.
At the end of the day, use this list as a guide as you begin to think about what you need to make films. Start out small but START!
