Budget Friendly Videography Kit for Beginners 2014

 


Overview

Camera

At the heart of every videography kit is the camera. Here are some common features that videographers look for.

  • Full Manual Control (aperture, shutter, ISO, focus, white balance)
  • Interchangeable Lenses
  • 1080p24 for that “Film Look”

Here are three currently in production and relatively inexpensive camera choices that have those features.

Camera Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6KK
14-42mm f3.5-5.6 Lens
Sony A3000
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
Price ~$500 USD ~$530 USD ~$300 USD
Lens Mount EF-S and EF Micro Four Thirds E
Form Factor DSLR Mirrorless Mirrorless
Articulating Screen Yes Yes No
Crop Factor 1.6x 2x 1.5x
Focal Reducer Compatible No Yes Yes
Lossless Crop Zoom 3x None None
Hack Magic Lantern
by Trammell Hudson
None None
Slow Motion 720p60 1080p60 1080i60
Recording Limit 12 Minutes Continuous until card is full 29 Minutes
Memory Card SD, SDHC, SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC
Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo
Verdict The T3i is one of the most popular options out there which means there are tons of accessories, tutorials, and community support specifically for it. The 3x lossless crop zoom comes in handy. Magic Lantern unlocks many video features like auto movie restart and bitrate control. If you value recording length above all else, then the G6 is a great option for you. 1080p60 is rare in an interchangeable lens camera at this price point. Being mirrorless lets you use a variety of lenses from different mounts via inexpensive adapters. Being mirrorless also lets you use a focal reducer which makes budget lenses have similar low light performance to premium lenses. The Sony A3000 is one of the least expensive options out there which makes it a great learning camera to experiment with the basics of exposure and different lenses. The mirrorless advantages mentioned earlier apply here also.

Audio

Good audio separates the professionals from the amateurs. A common workflow for videographers is to capture audio from an external audio recorder with a video mic or lav mic. Then in post, sync the audio from the external recorder with the internal camera audio either manually or automatically with something like PluralEyes.

Zoom H1 Audio Recorder Rode VideoMic Azden EX-503 Lav Mic
~$95 USD ~$150 USD ~$20 USD
1 AA Battery 1 9V Battery Phantom Power
microSDHC
Tripod to Shoe Mount Adapter

Lighting

Capturing light is the essence of videography. You can achieve nice three point lighting with just the sun and a reflector.

Neewer 110cm 5 in 1 Collapsible Reflector Neewer CN-160 LED Video Light Cowboystudio Umbrella Continuous Triple Lighting Kit
~$20 USD ~$30 USD ~$60 USD
6 AA Batteries

Support

For the love of all that is good in this world, whenever possible, please use a tripod unless your scene calls for handheld or shaky movement.

Ravelli AVTP Fluid Head Tripod Vello Triple Shoe Mount V Bracket for Lights, Mics, and Audio Recorders Gaffer Tape
~$120 USD ~$30 USD ~$20 USD

Conclusion

Nowadays, ~$1000 USD can get you a decent entry level videography kit.

If that’s out of your budget, consider buying used, refurbished, and/or discontinued cameras from sites like Amazon, B&H, KEH, Canon, LensRentals.com, BorrowLenses.com, and craigslist. An EOS M, T2i, or GH2 may be older, but they still offer full manual control, interchangeable lenses, and 1080p24 for a great price.


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