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I would purchase things that are relatively affordable (this tascam lav works great with auto levels and is totally worth the money) and rent things like lenses (and camera if you don't have something that's decent) that you'll definitely need but are a large upfront cost.

My essential gear would include:

• Camera (needs to be HD, but you don't need a $3k camera if you're just starting out.)
  
  
• Lenses- at least a wide and a decent zoom. For us, we just run a Canon 24-105 for most of the day (it's a beast of a lens and you can almost get away with only that) but it's also good to have something like a 70-200 so you can get closer shots if/when you're at the back of the ceremony. You can definitely rent these, and they're probably the best thing to rent starting out.
  
  
• Tripod and monopod. I would have a tripod just to be able to be locked down for the ceremony (sometimes it's exhausting trying to keep a monopod stable for a 30+ min ceremony) and run the monopod the rest of the day. Benro make a decently affordable monopod or you can go with this Manfrotto monopod. We have two of the Manfrottos and they are the best. I can't speak for the quality of the Benro because I haven't used their monopod, but they have a great warranty and great customer service on their stuff.
  
  
• A video light. You will absolutely need a light on your camera. I've been in ceremonies and receptions that seemed like they were barely candle lit. You will probably never run a light during a ceremony but you'll definitely need it during receptions. Luckily LED lights are cheap these days. Something like this light or even this little light will be fine starting out. I run that cheap little light with the included orange filter on it almost every wedding and it works great.
  
  
• Microphones. You should have one on camera mic (for ambient noise for the whole day) and one lav mic (for the groom during the ceremony).
  
  
• Audio recorder. I would definitely have this along with some different cables. You can buy cheap cables for now from Monoprice or something. A recorder like this tascam will probably be fine for now.
  
  I also want to add- DO NOT BE AFRAID TO BUY USED GEAR especially from Adorama or B&H as long as it's listed in good condition. Everything I've bought used from those companies (when listed in good condition) has felt brand new.
  
  As far as advertising- the only thing I've seen really work for people is showing up to those Bridal shows and handing out cards and just talking to people. Besides that it's just word of mouth. But you'll need work to show potential brides. If you have never shot a wedding, I would reach out to wedding coordinators on WeddingWire/The knot/ anywhere you can and offer your services for free for one wedding. We did this and it was how we got started. Now I probably messaged 30+ coordinators and only one responded, but we built a great relationship with her and got our first 5+ weddings that way. The way I worded it was basically "we'd like to film a wedding for someone who did not intend to have a videographer (i.e wasn't in their budget at all). We want them to be aware that this is our first wedding and we do know how it will turn out."
  
  Anyway, I'm really rambling here. Hope this info was helpful. We've been shooting weddings for the last 3 years- so long enough to know what we're talking about but short enough to remember how we started and what we did wrong.

Congratulations on the grant!

Great list, but with a £5000 budget, you might want to think about graduating from compromise still/video cameras to a Super 35, interchangeable lens camcorder.

And you don't have to blow your budget on an URSA Mini 4.6K to do it.

For [£2940.52, you can get a JVC GY-LS300 4K/UHD/2K/1080p Super 35 camcorder] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=301510090765&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229508&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg) with built-in XLRs, a built-in ND filter, dual card slots, a top handle, power zoom capability, built-in wi-fi and live streaming to the web.

With the new v2.0 firmware update, it records to 4096x2160 Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) 4K, as well as 3840x2160 Ultra High Definition, 2048x1080 DCI 2K and 1920x1080p HD.

It also has a flat LOG profile, which increases its dynamic range

This is an 8-bit camera (like the 5D Mark III), but it has 4:2:2 color subsampling and will stand up to grading pretty well.

Here's a UHD file shot with cine gamma (before the J LOG release):

• [“Honmonji Temple” in GY-LS300 by moribun] (https://vimeo.com/139214323) (downloadable if you're a Vimeo Plus or Pro member [if you're not, you can sign up [here] (http://vimeo.com/pro/new?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=prosubscribe-cj-vimeo-bizlander-300x250-20130424&utm_campaign=7696)])
  
  Here's a nice J-LOG piece from Dan Chung at newssshooter.com:
  
  
• [JVC GY-LS300 4K J-Log Vision] (https://vimeo.com/138523082) (not downloadable)
  
  And here's a very quick J-LOG camera shelf test at 4096x2160 Cinema 4K resolution from Gert Tetzner at avmediafactory:
  
  
• [JVC GY-LS300 Firmware 2.0 J-log ungraded] (https://vimeo.com/140984524) (downloadable for Vimeo Plus and Pro)
  
  A few more examples of what this camera can do:
  
  
• [GY-LS300 UHD 4K w/ Canon 70-200 and 85mm lenses] (https://youtu.be/QYCdxMrvAoA)
  
  
• [EVS’s test footage for the JVC GY-LS300 4K super 35 Cinema camera] (https://youtu.be/S47dceBcuJI)
  
  ...and 1080p on Vimeo:
  
  
• [JVC GY-LS300 Camera Test] (http://vimeo.com/122736335)
  
  
• [Breathing in New Life] (http://vimeo.com/120445118)
  
  A very nice overview from Zacuto:
  
  
• [First Look at JVC's GY-LS300] (http://vimeo.com/121192570)
  
  A review from Videomaker:
  
  
• [JVC GY-LS300 - Hands On Review] (https://youtu.be/imHg6sVKztE)
  
  And a couple of useful reviews from Rick Young's Movie Machine:
  
  
• [One of a kind - shooting with the JVC GY-LS300] (http://vimeo.com/133929950)
  
  
• [Shooting with the JVC GY-LS300 & Micro Four Thirds Lenses] (http://vimeo.com/136918105)
  
  I have shot with this camera - it is an easy-to-use, very high quality Super 35mm camcorder and a very good value for your money.
  
  You might also want to consider saving a couple of hundred quid with a 27 lb. capacity [£102.03 Ravelli AVTP Professional 75mm bowl tripod] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00139W0XM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00139W0XM&linkCode=as2&tag=hybrcamerevo-21) instead of an 11 lb. capacity Manfrotto head.
  
  I have had the Ravelli for over 3 years - the head has two handles and a fluid level - and is very smooth. Plus, the sticks are solid and very tough. Another good value for your money.
  
  [Here] (https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMFTZRKGROL4NFLSKfeZG8hkokRfgYUjO0StXVpgTIJ-1CUn7PAu1q1jdrrW7mhnQ/photo/AF1QipPGEx_mZeT1z2M9Y_lauMR-ofLh0NzPm-oKP0Rq?key=dmplaWhzaFd2TnpvalBGdHFMamZYN3FmUTAweExR) is a picture of the LS300 on my Ravelli. A very nice combination and highly recommended.
  
  With a pro camcorder, you won't need the external recorder or the shoe shock mount.
  
  Hope this is helpful, good luck with your freelance videography business and best of the holidays!

yeah, i'd do that with any camera tbh and keep the in-camera audio as a back up, just because the pre-amps on consumer cameras tend to generate a lot of hiss.


if that's the case-- if you want sharper video and 60p for slow mo/a better camera for whenever you want to shoot stills, either the a6000 or its cheaper sibling the a5100 are great options. the a6000 is a little easier to use ergonomically because of its hotshoe and viewfinder, and only about $100 more. The a6000 doesnt have a mic jack, but there's a pretty decent shotgun stereo mic that sony makes that plugs directly into the hotshoe to work for about $100.

i'd also definitely recommend going for the native 50mm 1.8 or 35mm 1.8 with OSS in them-- they're not too pricey, especially used, and the stabilization and video AF in both are surprisingly decent.

Panasonic also has some really good options, namely, you can get a used GH2 or G6 for under $300, both of which do great video.



But I'm not going to recommend either of those. Instead, I'm going to recommend the EOS M. You can get one with the pancake 22mm f/2 kit lens for under $300, easily. Yes, it's soft 1080p, but:

>1: it has a mic jack and hotshoe, and with magic lantern, you get pre-amp control, audio levels, and focus peaking to fix its ergonomic failings


>2: its image quality in stills mode is excellent


>3: that leaves you with as much as $250 (even less!!!) for other lenses and or lights + mics + etc


>4: it's mirrorless, so you can adapt basically any mount for it


>5: its the canon menu system, so you're used to it, and if you're shooting for web, soft 1080p is ok-- basically all video on the web is upscaled 720 at best with Youtube's garbage compression & Vimeo's very wise move to default at 720p for streaming. More importantly, canon has great out-of-the-box skin tones, decent 3rd party options for flat profiles, and does skin tones better than anyone (though samsung comes close).

>6: with the amazing 22mm pancake lens, you can literally fit it in your pocket, with a sharp, fast, wide lens. don't underestimate that. I'll never, ever be getting rid of my EOS M for that very reason.

if you're willing to chance it with a no-return ebay listing, this is an insane deal for it at $200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-M-18-0-MP-Digital-Camera-Black-Kit-w-EF-M-STM-22mm-Lens-Extras-/301852333911?hash=item4647cd1757:g:xmcAAOSwUV9WntSq


edit: here's a listing that does offer returns and isnt expiring in 25 minutes: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-M-18-0-MP-Digital-Camera-w-EF-M-STM-22mm-Lens-SN401090-Near-Mint/252261698510?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150604093004%26meid%3D9cc556ced6ae4eb2988415606b2afa1e%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D321987815557&rt=nc


Edit 2:

If you go with the eos M + 22mm at $250, that leaves you with:


-$125 for a solid ravelli video tripod (less if you search CL or ebay)


-this Takstar mic for $30-- it's 90% as good as a Rode/AT, and its actually easier to work with in post (which you'll need to do with in-camera audio) http://www.amazon.com/Takstar-SGC-598-Recording-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B00E1D2LTA

-this 50mm f/1.8 manual focus lens for approx. $30 http://www.ebay.com/itm/CANON-LENS-EX-50-MM-1-1-8-/262261014275?hash=item3d0ff97f03:g:oHMAAOSwNSxVdKLd (requires a cheap adapter for an additional $16: http://www.amazon.com/Fotasy-AEMFD-Mirror-Camera-Adapter/dp/B00ACYTWFI/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1453854045&sr=8-2&keywords=ef-m+fd)

this LED camera light for $30: http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER%C2%AE-Dimmable-Digital-Camcorder-Panasonic/dp/B004TJ6JH6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453854327&sr=8-3&keywords=led+camera+light

This hotshoe extender for $12: http://www.amazon.com/Movo-HVA20-Heavy-Duty-Accessory-Microphones/dp/B00HTWF7MS/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1453854366&sr=8-11-spons&keywords=hotshoe+extender&psc=1

and finally, this cold-shoe grip + extender, for using this tiny camera on the go with a mic for $30:
http://www.amazon.com/Movo-SVH6-Stabilizing-Extender-Olympus/dp/B00YQD94RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453854193&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=cold+shoe&psc=1

This is a little over $500, so you could drop 1 or 2 of the accessories, but this will do way more for you for your money.

As far as specs go, the only difference is in price and in variable aperture. Variable aperture is something I work with on a daily basis but would be a great thing to not have to deal with. IMO, just an annoyance. Light will likely not come into play because you already can just switch to your 55 f/1.8 for low-light. Other than that, I think it comes down to focal length. Do you want to have the 18-30 range or will you not miss it because you already usually shoot at 55?

I would not consider it "easy" to get good slider shots but also not hard. It largely depends on your slider and experience with the slider. Gentle hand + smooth slider = great shots. I think that it would be better to invest in good lenses, a good tripod, good mics, and good lights before getting a slider as you can make an equally good video without a slider.

Yes, here are some cheaper options. However, I should note that the mic I recommended has a "+20dB" setting that can allow you to turn down the pre-amps in your camera or recorder and get better, cleaner audio. Most other mics do not have the feature. The mic I recommended has a bunch of younger brothers. The rode videomic that I have. Great mic, no boost setting, a bit bigger than I would like. The rode videomic go, no battery required mic, pretty cheap. Some people say it is no better than just for scratch audio and barely better than on-board mics, I can't speak to the claims. I'm not trying to scare you away from it, just letting you know what is out there. The rode videomic micro, a super small mic, more intended for small cameras or smartphones, I don't know how good the audio quality is. Outside of the Rode brand family, there is also the Shure LensHopper that is often said to rival the videomic pro. It comes in two different versions, one with a built-in audio recorder, and one without.

Let me know what else I can help with!

First, let me preface this by saying that I'm fairly new to the video arena myself (coming from event photography), so take my comments with a grain of salt:

1. As has already been mentioned, the footage is definitely very shaky. Buy or make yourself a shoulder rig - this can be done for as little as $40-50 and an afternoon of building. If you want to buy something that looks über professional, I would seriously recommend GiniRigs. (More on that below.) If you can't afford one or it isn't a big financial priority right now, google "DIY DSLR shoulder rig" or go take a look at DIYPhotography.net, which is a great resource even if you aren't particularly handy.
   
2. Your focus isn't locking in very well. Racking focus from out to in looks great, but racking it slightly too far and then having to come back looks amateurish. Also, there are a number of shots that just aren't in focus at all. Given how sharp some of the focus is, it looks out of place.
   
3. I agree that with AssMolasses (and now I'm sure THAT comment is going to bite me in the ass in search results later) in that your brightly-lit kitchen looks great... with one exception: the flame of your stove. I want to see those flames! Unfortunately, they're being washed out by the white stove surface. Plan exposure to enhance whatever your subject is. It doesn't have to match 100% - just make sure it doesn't look mismatched, either.
   
4. Keep an eye on subject movement. A number of the objects with which you're interacting shake and jitter during shots. (For example, turning on the sink water, grabbing the kettle, etc.) It clearly isn't the camera - that's nice and stable (tripod) when this occurs. But you're jolting the objects a little, which makes the entire thing look less smooth. Slow down just a little. Take a look at coffee commercials that involve people actually making the coffee - movement is often slowed down a bit. Think about how you would be moving if you were just waking up and it was lazy Sunday morning. Don't think about being rushed to get out of the house, or about how you'd feel once you drank the coffee - imagine that you have set aside your entire day just for the process of making and enjoying the coffee, and move accordingly.
   
   Shoulder rigs
   
   Ignore the rest of this post if you aren't interested in buying a shoulder rig - the remainder is commentary on which rig I bought, why I bought it, what's on it, and how I put it together.
   
   I would recommend GiniRigs. The following will sound a bit like a plug, but I really do think they're a great value for the money. As far as I can tell, they're basically copying some of the more popular designs out there at a fraction of the cost, but better quality than I'd expect from, for example, a cheaper Chinese knockoff.
   
   I recently bought a shoulder rig and slider package from GiniRigs for just over $500 that looks like something from Zacuto, but for a quarter of the price. The package included their Advanced Extreme 17 rig and their G8 Slider for $499 (the slider was essentially free), and I also added an extra 1.6g kg counterweight for 60% off. Shipping was $30, which is kind of insane considering I ordered the kit on a Friday and got it on Monday - from Korea. It's worth noting that the kit also came with a follow focus that GiniRigs normally sells for around $300. This follow focus appears to be modeled very closely after Cinevate's "Durus" follow focus (which goes for $1,400), and it is really similar to it. My total, out-the-door cost including shipping was $668.40 for all of the above.
   
   Build quality was generally very good, though one particular thumb knob was a little sticky. (Note: your thumbs will be sore for days after you first build, teardown, and re-build your rig. Don't worry - it gets better, kind of like learning to play the guitar.) The really cool thing about their rigs is that they aren't really "rigs" per se - they're a collection of parts that, once assembled, make a rig - kind of like Legos or an Erector Set. The Advanced Extreme 17 rig has enough parts to make around a half-dozen different rigs, ranging from a simple single-handle shoulder-rig to a full-blown, double-handled, counterweighted rig with a cage around 7/8 the diameter of the camera. (Buy an extra body arm if you want 100% coverage.)
   
   About which rig to build: I built something roughly akin to what you see in the photo, with a couple of modifications due to counter-weighting a particularly heavy camera kit: a Nikon D800 with either the 14-24 f/2.8, 24-70 f/2.8, or 70-200 f/2.8, plus a Sennheiser ME 66/K6 in a Rode Blimp (sometimes in the housing, sometimes using a Rycote Softie) connected to a Tascam DR-100 (which is about to be replaced by a Zoom H6, and a Neewer 160-LED video light. However, with all of that gear, even a 1.2 kg + 1.6 kg counterweight on an extra-long pair of 15mm shoulder bars isn't sufficient to counterbalance it. I don't find myself using the cage for much more than the top handle, so I'll probably be removing it to conserve weight and be (slightly) less prominent.
   
   Here is a decent video review that helped me make my buying decision. This is very close to the rig I purchased - GiniRigs seems to regularly revise the specific parts that come with their rigs. Speaking of prominence, listen to the reviewer's commentary at 4:23 on the rig grabbing attention when he was shooting an event - this can be a factor.
   
   One note about making sure you're actually buying GiniRigs from the right folks: apparently GiniRigs has an impostor who is buying and reselling their gear and pretending to be them. They told me that they were mid-lawsuit about a month ago, and that the Facebook Profile as well as http://ginirigs.com/ (which seems to have gone down - maybe they won the lawsuit?) was by the impostor. For "real" products with an actual warranty, buy from GiniRigs-USA.com or, if you're in the UK, GiniRigs.co.uk.

For under $1000, I would say go with a mirrorless camera instead of an actual camcorder. They're made for photos, but Panasonic has done a fantastic job with their cameras in this price range and they shoot really high quality video. The advantage with these is they're light and portable, plus you can change your lenses either using a zoom lens or a prime lens, and there's room to increase your video quality and sharpness in the future somewhat with better lenses, whereas with a camcorder you get what you get and there's no upgrading it.

To answer your question, yes, anything you buy now will be digital, typically the consumer cards save everything on an SD card. As far as the versatility to get a vintage look and still do short films, you can do a lot with post-processing as long as your camera takes good quality video. By that I mean look into color grading.

A good camera at this price range is the Panasonic G85. This camera shoots at 4k resolution (3840x2160) at 30 frames per second, and can do HD video at 60 frames per second. It also has fairly good image stabilization, plus you can always film 60fps and slow the footage down for more cinematic shots. Another great feature is that it's weather sealed, so you can use it outside in less than ideal situations without completely destroying the camera.
This camera is my top choice for under $1000. If you want to see a good review of this camera, check out this one my DSLR Video Shooter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2OWv6pWVM

Hey, I took a quick look at that video and it doesn't seem like it would be too difficult to match that style of production. It looks like he might be using two cameras to film (one wide shot for him speaking to the camera, one lowered and tighter shot focused on the action on the table) but you could replicate this by using one camera with a zoom lens and a tripod that tilts down.

Affiliate links below

As for budget camera that fits this niche, I would recommend getting a refurbished Canon 80D (https://amzn.to/2EiB0OP). There's nothing flashy about this camera but it is very user friendly and offers a lot of good video features in an affordable body. It's over your $700 camera budget but not by far. If that budget is a hard limit then I would recommend going down to the Canon SL2 (https://amzn.to/2ElJ40Z) which offers similar features but generally lower quality and one area that it really lacks compared to the 80D is the autofocus.

For both of these you would want to upgrade out of the kit lens to something that opens to a wider aperture because the style you are emulating uses a lot of out of focus elements. I would suggest eventually going to the Sigma 18-35 1.8 (https://amzn.to/2SyGZE6) but try to find a used one because buying used lenses is a great way to save money.

For lighting, I recommend just getting one good light to start, a reflector/bounce board kit and watching some tutorials. You can do a lot with 1 light and a good understanding of the basics.

Something like this for the light: (https://amzn.to/2SyGZE6)
Cheap light stand: (https://amzn.to/2H7nnoy)
Reflector kit: (https://amzn.to/2Syi6si)

So all in to start you would be looking at about $1100-1200 and if you want to upgrade down the road the best place to do that would be in high quality lenses

That really depends on a lot of different factors, including to what extent you want to replicate this and your currency type, etc. It's definitely going to be in the range of about 5000 if not more, no matter what your currency is (And that assumes you only get two cameras). I will leave prices out of it for now, you can look the prices up yourself in whatever currency denomination you use.

Also, I am going to have to make some assumptions. I strongly suspect they have used more than one camera in this setup, I would suggest two at minimum but my guess is three judging by the three specific frames that never change. I'm also going to assume you want to replicate it as closely as is possible but not break the bank completely (Because lets face it if price was an issue you wouldn't be asking).

I will link to Amazon websites for the products, they may have prices that appear in pounds sterling if Amazon does not redirect you. I'm hoping the post won't get caught by Reddit's spam trap because of all the Amazon links.

So I will begin with the ancillary stuff first before moving to the big outlays, the cameras and lenses.

SOUND EQUIPMENT

I believe this is one area you want to splash a little more cash out here, bad audio equipment is bad no matter what your skill level. So to that end:

1 x Recorder device: Zoom H6

2 x Lavalier mics: RØDELink Filmmaker Kit

2 x XLR adaptor for mics: RØDE VXLR 3.5mm Minijack to Male XLR Adapter (x2)

LIGHTING

This is kind of hard to recommend as it depends on your scene. I really don't know how they lit the scene. I am taking a guess that they lit from behind the cameras but added a little bit of side light for contrasts as the light is pretty flat. I can't guess as to how many lights they used either. You will just need to buy as much lighting as you need to light your interview space. I use these lights and they are fine for a not overly large room, but again, you will need to buy as many as you will need (I would suggest at minimum 3).

3 x Aputure HR672S

1 x Neewer® 3 unit 6ft/75 inch/190cm Photography Tripod Light Stands

Camera equipment

The meat and potatoes I guess. I would surprisingly advise you to cut back a little bit here. I'd be perfectly happy to say you can probably achieve the exact look with a intermediate camera and decent glass rather than spending thousands and thousands on full frame cameras. However as I said earlier, I strongly suspect they used two cameras, and more likely 3. That means if you want to replicate it without a lot of fuss that breaks up and disturbs the interview, your gonna have to bite the bullet and buy more than one camera which given they are the most expensive things is what is gonna rack your price up.

Either way I would recommend the Sony A6400 for the camera body. It's an absolute astounding price point considering what it can do. You need good glass though, so I would recommend getting Sigma lenses that are good but a bit cheaper. The exact lens I cannot recommend because it depends on your environment, but if you where trying to replicate the video these are the lenses I would go for, I'm not going to add any more Amazon links for this in case the Reddit spam filter auto bins my post but I am sure you know where to look.

3 (If necessary) x Sony a6400 APS-C mirrorless DSLR
3 x Camera tripods (You can't go wrong with anything from Manfrotto but remember to get one with bubble level indicators, it makes life much easier.)
Intermediate-low zoom lens for the close-ups and at least one widescreen lens for the dual seat/speaker scene (I think 24-70mm lens would suffice and something a bit lower than 24mm for the widescreen)

ACCESSORIES

There will be a few other accessories. I'm willing to bet there are either mains adaptors for the cameras, or additional batteries at the very least. There is also likely field monitors (You will definitely need one of those for each camera if your a one man band operation in order to monitor the footage) and lots and lots of electrical extension cords (Those ones that have long leads that you wind up are good)

Now with all the above being said, I am sure you could do it a lot cheaper, a heck of a lot cheaper, and I am sure you could do it a lot more expensively as well. However with the recommendations I've made I think you could replicate the video in terms of quality of potential output, ignoring talent for the moment which is also super important obviously.

Edit: Are you related somehow to the video in some way? I notice the similar names Peeters?

Yes, you will have to sync audio in post. It's pretty easy to do, just record on the recorder, record video, and then clap your hands in front of the screen. Then it's a snap matching things up.

The only tricky thing about a shotgun/recorder combo is that you sort of need a boom pole to go with it, as well as someone to hold it (unless you have a stand). A shotgun mic is really only as good as you get it to your subject. Granted, they are very very good, but it will be difficult without a boom pole and someone to help you out.

Taking that into consideration, it might be better to get a nice lavaliere microphone like this one instead. I used to have that mic paired with the H1N, and that combo was a great way for me to get started (and only cost $150). Lavs are actually better for interviews as it isolates the sound, in case something is going on in the background that you cannot control.


I'd personally get a Lav, H1N, and the Videomic. The videomic mounted on the T3i will serve as a very good backup/ambient microphone, and the lav/H1N combo will be great for main capture of your interviewees.

The 50mm lens outperforms the kit lens in sharpness, low light performance, and durability. It's the best value-for-your-dollar out there.

Once you get audio taken care of you'll have a good enough setup to get going. H1 is a good choice for audio and if you can swing it get this to go with it. It's a cheap lavaliere mic but sounds pretty decent for the price.

Those kinds of lights aren't the best, since a lot of light is spilled (wasted) out the sides since CFL bulbs put more light out the sides and not out the end (into the umbrella). But they are certainly better than nothing if that's all you have and can't buy better gear. Since you’re going for daylight balanced bulbs, I would definitely try to arrange it so you’re getting sunlight from a window to at least act as your fill light. Ideally you’ll start with a room with a ton of windows and sunlight. Then you can use your lights to add modeling to the subject.

Camera settings are subjective and dependent on the environment. You want to start with a good guess and adjust from there using your histogram for exposure. Don't trust the LCD. I'm sure you know that if you're a photographer. If it were me, I would start with f4 or f5.6 and try not to go wider than that. It can be a real challenge to keep the subject in focus if they move at all when you're shooting wide open. Set your desired shutter speed. And start at minimum ISO. Is it too dark? Then bring up the ISO until you have a good exposure. Is it too bright? Then choose from the following: stop down the aperture, increase the shutter speed, or move your lights farther away.

Not sure about software. I use FCPX. If you have a mac, iMovie should be more than adequate for this.

A question before I start; will you be using an editor to sync things up in post or would you rather take things together(audio and video) and have them all sorted out at one time?

Here's a list of things that I think would be beneficial, but not an encompassing list. If you're trying to go for a cheap list that could still get the job done, I find that these items have decent reviews on Amazon and websites and they do offer a good starting point for a budget.

1. The Camera: Canon EOS M2 ($250)
   
   I feel like the Canon EOS M2 would be a strong contender. It is actually a mirrorless camera that has the same sensor as that of the more expensive T3i. Due to it's lack of popularity with photographers due to the slower autofocus, it has seen multiple price reductions. Although it contains autofocusing issues in the photography modes, it's video modes are what really helps this camera out. You have a good starting lens with an 18-55mm lens, which may be wide enough for that room at 18, but it could even be close enough for a closer image. You can even be more technical and add in other features. Also this camera has a direct mic-in line for use of an external mic, like the shotgun mic below.
   
   
2. The Audio: Zoom H1 Portable Audio Recorder $99 OR TAKSTAR SGC-598 $29.99
   
   Audio is key here. You want to be able to hear the pastor as he gives sermons, so you have two general models. You can place the portable recorder closer to him, giving you crisp audio at a very minimal distance, or you can attach a shotgun microphone to the camera and pick it up from a distance further away. The only thing is, would you rather have the camera do it all for you or would you rather have to sync up the audio in editing? The Zoom mic is nice because you can purchase one of these ($21.38) and mic the pastor up before service to give a very crisp lapel audio.
   
   
3. The SD Cards: Sandisk 64GB 80mb/s ($22.49)
   
   This should be a given.
   
   
4. Power and Adapters: AC Adapter ($15.50) OR 2-Pack Spare Batteries($28.99)
   
   You can choose to have it either plugged in the whole time during recording, or you can have it run off of batteries. Your personal preference.
   
   
5. Tripod: AmazonBasics 60" tripod ($23.49)
   
   You requested a tripod for the ease of use.
   
   Given that you live in the US, after taxes, you're essentially looking at a $500 setup for all of that equipment. That may not be the best equipment for people or even be suggested by anyone else here, but that is just my $0.02.
   
   
   Source: Use the EOS M1 and most of the gear listed.

Don’t forget a mic. this mic should be all you need to get started. It’s a great mic that punches well above its price class. But please don’t forget about audio. I know you stated “I won’t do much of that” but audio is so damn important and this mic is so cheap that you can’t afford not to pick one up. Even for tiny bits of audio it will make your stuff sound 1000times better and audio is often what separates the people with pretty images from people making truly great videos. And definitely a big factor in what separates amateurs from professionals. I guarantee you’ll use/need/want quality audio way more than you think. For under 30$ bucks it will be the best investment you make. Much more important than a new camera IMO.

I’m gonna go against the grain here and say that there are plenty of cameras you could’ve gotten that are better for video than the t7i. Not to say that you shouldn’t have bought it, but I will say that you should’ve done your homework. Don’t be spontaneous with your purchases. I did the same thing as you and bought a cheap camera, because I just wanted anything to get myself started.

Here’s a list of cameras I would buy before buying a t7i:

Panasonic G85 - $700

Panasonic G7 w/kit lens - <$500

Sony A6300 - <$800

Used Panasonic Gh4 - $600? Maybe

If you could save a little, I’d go for the GH5 or the BMPCC 4K or the XT-1, or maybe a used Sony.

There’s so many options out there. I’m not trying to get you down or anything. I just think you can do better for the money. You can probably get great footage from the rebel. It is true that you have to have a good eye for film. But it doesn’t hurt to have some nice machines to help along the way. Good luck, friend.

Edit: I like what one of the people in the comments said. Go shoot your videos. It’s only a waste if you don’t use it.

I know it's been stereotypical to jerk off to the Panasonic G7, but after using it for two years as both a dedicated video and photo camera I've became extremely comfortable using it and can vouch for its superiority. This is the first camera I recommend to family and friends, and at $500 nothing can compare to it.

I'd recommend with the spare cash picking up the 25mm f1.7, its fabulous for the price and produces some amazing results.

Heres my website if you want to check out what I've done with the camera.

I would ask for gift cards, i.e. Amazon and B&H, or money. You can save these up and get nicer equipment or build your own rigs. But a nice Tripod can make a huge difference. But honestly, it all depends on what you film. Such as me, I often shoot on locations so lenses with a faster aperture do more than a set of studio lights. Here are my recommendations for basic stuff to ask for Christmas:

CN-160 LEDs - about $30 (http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER%C2%AE-Dimmable-Digital-Camcorder-Panasonic/dp/B004TJ6JH6/) and of course some NP-F970 Batteries go along well for about another $22 (http://www.amazon.com/Halcyon-Replacement-NEX-EA50UH-DCR-VX2100-HDR-FX1000/dp/B008X9L6ZS/)

Extra batteries - The off-brand batteries work well. I have two and they are great

Extra Memory Cards - I highly reccommend Lexar as my SanDisks don't work insanely well anymore.

Stabilizer Rigs - The Mantis Rig Is A Great Rig for everything (especially starting) and is only $33 (http://www.amazon.com/Mantis-Folding-Rig-Fotodiox-Transformable/dp/B00AUKBV7G) Or if you want to get a glidecam-style I suggest the Laing P-4S stabilizer which is like $275 and includes a bag and weights (http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Release-Plate-Laing-Stabilizer/dp/B00G3TCYQK/)

And My Best Piece of Lighting Equipment - A Reflector which you can get for like $20. (http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-43-Inch-Collapsible-Multi-Disc-Reflector/dp/B002ZIMEMW/) There's plenty of different sizes, too.

From reading the other comments I'm guessing you don't so I would either get a used camera or use your phone. The budget of yours is quite limiting to fit in audio, lighting and a decent camera however it may work if you get a slightly older camera.

I would get the t3i body only which you can get at an average of $300. This has an articulating screen, good for interviews, and is still a good beginner camera years on from when it was released. The lens I would get is the YONGYUO YN50mm f.18 which is an cheap autofocus lens at a fixed distance to achieve the best quality.

For microphones I would reccommend the Takstar SGC-598 which is really cheap and surprisingly good. You can put this on a mic stand and get it as close to both the interviewer and the interviewee for the best sound. You will then need a wire to connect it to the camera. However if you have extra money you can save up for a Zoom h1 which you plug the mic into and it records seperately for better audio.

All in all this kit will cost you $500 for just the audio and no lighting. This would cost you about $50 extra for softboxes however if you shoot in daylight it will be much easier and require less lighting.

Another kit you could try is using your phone for video and then buying just audio and lighting. For this I would get the Rode Videomic Pro, the Zoom h1, a mic stand, a softbox lighting kit (2 lights) and any other things like memory cards etc. This would cost you around $400.

Congratulations on purchasing the GH5, it's a great camera for the price and will help you learn a lot.

I'd like to forewarn you... MKBHD shoots his videos in 8K on a RED cinema camera. No GH5 will ever be able to match that resolution or image quality. But... YouTube compression in mind? You can get pretty damn close.

Before you start buying lenses, make your decision about which system to adopt (EF vs. M43) carefully. There's a saying around here that goes something like "a camera is temporary, but glass is for life" meaning that investing in lenses should be done so carefully because you will have them for a long time.

I'm not sure what your budget is, but for a hobbyist/beginner, staying on the micro four-thirds side will be cheaper.

A great lens that's cheap, has a sharp image, and can produce a very similar result to what MKBHD makes is the Panasonic 25mm f1.7. Fast prime, basically M43's "nifty fifty" (keeping in mind the 2X crop factor).

That lens will get it done. To produce a product similar to MKBHD, you are better off spending your money on good audio equipment and good lighting. Your camera with that lens should be enough to get you there with those things in mind.

Im new to the game as well, but so far these are the things I have picked up for my G6:

first, i bought a G6 kit that came with some handy stuff

I have also purchased

A slightly better tripod

A flood light

Battery pack for said light

Variable ND Fader for filming out doors

Rode shotgun Mic

Zoom H1

Lav mic to go with the H1

Headphones to listen for levels

Triple Mount Hot Shoe

Backpack to hold everything

This is just a fun lens, and its cheap the 50mm means its a 100mm equivelent, so its for really tight portraits, but the low aperture is good for low/light and for a very shallow field depth. When I am able to use it, this lens produces the most popular results when i post them online.

new strap cause the one that comes with the G6 sucks!

What i want to get:

A bigger zoom lens I am mostly interested in videography(weddings etc), and this would be good for back of the house shots)

The M 3/4's "nifty fifty"

It sounds like what I was recommending is a reasonable starter and you can look at adding and improving the video kit as you gain experience.

Have a look at some beginner tutorials on youtube how to use room lighting, how to frame a shot and how to set your audio levels.

Without knowing budget, it's a bit hard to know what to look at recommending equipment wise. Order of priority for spend would be camera 1st, audio 2nd, tripod 3rd. You will need all of these, however value for money will change with different size budgets.

If you are willing to buy 2nd hand, you could make the budget go further, but some business might not want to do this.

Here's a quick budget as an starter example only, you can go cheaper and you can go more expensive and you can add more items (bags etc) as you need to.

Camera + storage card $1000-1500 Canon XA11 (Amazon link)

Mic $450-600 Sennheiser G3 wireless lav mic (Amazon link)

Tripod $100-200 Ravelli video tripod (Amazon link)

The linked items are for illustration purposes to give you a starting point, there may be better options - go read/watch reviews as this is a fast changing market. If you are in the US, B&H are a well known and respected video retail brand (I am not affiliated with them at all), give them a call and get their advice for your budget, then go and research their suggestions.

If you do go with a wireless mic solution make sure you buy a set which transmits on a frequency suitable for your country as this does change around the world and check if you need a licence (there are usually some frequencies which are free to use, but might be more prone to interference).

If I had to choose, Rode VideoMicPro but I wouldn't use either and get the Rode SmartLav+, it's way cheaper and sounds better than either of these, plus it's a portable solution.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EO4A7L0/

The best beginner audio advice is the closer you are to your mic, the better you'll sound, that's why movies use boom mic setups (which is the best way to use the Rode VideoMicPro, just overhead, as close as possible). Used traditionally, the VideoMicPro will pick up echos from the wall behind you, boom'd it will be much better.

Let me trow my two cents into the ring.

When you say HQ video I assume you mean 1080p. That can be had much cheaper and that at good quality. More than good enough for a studio setting and interview work.

This is a good perspective by Casey Neistat on gear you need:
https://youtu.be/nLSUrTxquyE

With that being said, what most people forget is that lighting, the audio, knowing how to setup and just a little prep that can make all the difference.

In all honesty you could just buy this:

• CANON VIXIA R500
  
  
• Photo Studio Lighting Kit-3
  
  
• Rode Videomic
  
  
• Zoom H2n
  
  
• RODE invisiLav
  
  Now you are at $790.96. Bottom of your budget. Now make improvements on your kit. Maybe get a whole different camera, get another light, or additional Zoom Audio recorders. The H1 is my backup to a H4.
  
  Buying a high end camera is no guarantee that you get good video if all other factors are not right!
  
  Most important are the people that will do the interview. Do yourself a favor and broswe some youtube videos like these:
  
  https://youtu.be/LWpwgDqSkQw
  
  https://youtu.be/E26xv-bZfUU
  
  
  Best of luck!

I've been meaning to write up a guide for this...

If you Google around for cheap light kits, you'll see a lot of "clamp light" builds. I recommend skipping those. Knockoff LED panels have gotten good enough that I think you're better off buying them instead. The clamp lights, to me, are more pieces and trouble to set up, tear down, and travel with than they're worth and they look extremely amateur, which is a problem if you're doing corporate work.

Before you begin, the key to remember is that the smaller the frame, the more cheaply it can be lit. Shoot tight to make your cheap lighting go further and look better.

First, use the sun. Position your subject as if the sun is your key - around to the side a bit so you get some light wrapping. Then bring in your popup light modifier and stand and set it up to diffuse the sun. This almost always looks great and is very cheap and easy to set up.

Next, get a bucket of CN160s and some knockoff Sony NP batteries. Shoot a few of them through your diffusion ring to get a bright enough key, then bounce the rest of them off of white foamcore to get nice fill lights and to fill in the room.

$200 or so will get you pretty well set up - less depending on how many LED panels you want. It's hardly the BEST kit, but it's an excellent, effective, and compact CHEAP kit.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1208931-REG/panasonic_lumix_dmc_g7_mirrorless_micro.html

I'd recommend a Lumix G7. This is $600 and comes with a stabilized, wide-ish zoom lens and a RODE mic. Better yet, get the one with the $100 gift card and use it towards a decent shotgun mic like an AT875 to run into your recorder. Blows canon dslr's out of the water in terms of video features. Great for run and gun because it's well laid out and intuitive to use.

Get a decent tripod like this: http://www.amazon.com/Ravelli-AVTP-Professional-Camera-Tripod/dp/B00139W0XM/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1458693144&sr=8-6&keywords=video+tripod

Maybe pick up a decently fast wide panasonic OIS lens.

Spend the rest on a solid rail-based shoulder support rig and any additional accessories.

If you think you'll be filming a lot of single subject interview typew things where theyre not moving around a ton, look into a lavalier kit. Make sure you have good headphones, like these: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRV6-Studio-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1458693500&sr=1-2&keywords=sony+mdr

Hi /u/gentlemen2bed - I would not get either a camcorder or a DSLR. With an £800 budget, if you want to produce videos like this:

Travel Video

http://vimeo.com/88543042

http://vimeo.com/86145944 (shot with a power zoom lens)

Short Documentary

http://vimeo.com/73561266

http://vimeo.com/87978429

http://vimeo.com/78507820

Music Video

http://vimeo.com/88584840

http://vimeo.com/84436275

Slow Motion/Sport

http://vimeo.com/76503135



...I recommend you get a [£349.99 (body only) Panasonic DMC-G6 DSLM (mirrorless) camera] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=321361307155&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229508&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg), with a [£177 14-42 Power Zoom lens] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=331159594681&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229508&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg). All of the videos above were shot with this camera.

The G6 has a large sensor and interchangeable lenses like a DSLR - but it also has a built-in electronic viewfinder, fast video autofocus and is compatible with power zoom lenses, like a camcorder.

It also has manual audio gain control and on-screen LED meters for sound. You can plug professional XLR mics like this [£159 Rode NTG2] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00093ESSI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00093ESSI&linkCode=as2&tag=hybrcamerevo-21) into it with a [£22 Hosa MIT-156 XLR to 3.5mm transformer/adapter] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FC4YR58/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00FC4YR58&linkCode=as2&tag=hybrcamerevo-21) and a [£16 Polaroid shock mount] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008D5HW4G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B008D5HW4G&linkCode=as2&tag=hybrcamerevo-21).

I started out shooting video with camcorders and DSLRs, but I have given them up for Panasonic DSLM cameras. They really are the best of both worlds.

Hope this is helpful!

Bill

For what you're describing, the video camera sounds like it would be sufficient.

Rode's are OK, but I think they're a bit overpriced and not all that awesome for the price. For the money, Takstar makes a widely-touted knockoff that many people feel sounds better. It sells for about $25. Link here: https://www.amazon.com/TAKSTAR-SGC-598-Interview-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1537758700&sr=1-5&keywords=video+microphone

You also might consider a wired lavaliere mic. There are several on Amazon from about $20-30. I always have a few as backups and frequently use them as primaries, too. Here's one that's pretty highly rated: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Omnidirectional-Recording-Conference/dp/B01AG56HYQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1537758700&sr=1-6&keywords=video+microphone

Best of luck!

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SECTION | CONTENT
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Title | G85 vs A6500 - Best option for film making? Max Talks EP#4
Description | Which camera is the right fit for you? Filmmaking, Vlogging, and Videography G85 Amazon➡ http://geni.us/jEyA76A A6500 Amazon➡ http://geni.us/bffB4nA If you enjoy our content please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $2 a month helps us make more and better content for you! https://www.patreon.com/MaxYuryev -------------------------------------------------------------------- This Review was Shot using: Camera on Amazon➡ http://geni.us/bffB4nA Lens on Amazon➡ http://geni.us/dmcMpa Mic on...
Length | 0:10:14


SECTION | CONTENT
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Title | Panasonic G85 OWNS the Sony a6500 in almost every way...except one
Description | This is just a quick update after shooting my first ever video on the Sony a6500 since deciding to try and switch to it from my Panasonic G85/G7/GH4. I'll just keep walking you guys through what I'm learning as it happens if that's cool with you! New Sony camera & lens: http://amzn.to/2owhmEU Must-have other lens for new camera: http://amzn.to/2pJlBiv Mic I use on my vlogging rig: http://amzn.to/2oQcvBU My bendy-tripod: http://amzn.to/2pkAJ8R Old main Panasonic camera: http://amzn.to/2pJl5AU F...
Length | 0:07:41






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Scrubbing through the video I noticed that the camera auto exposes the shot to compensate for the backlit shelves so the fix for that would be to shoot with auto-exposing off or just shoot in manual since you’re staying the same distance away from the camera. That would fix the irregular lighting but it wouldn’t fix the lighting. To fix the lighting you could get an LED light rack that you could attach to your camera’s hot shoe: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075N4CJYX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vlZKAbKWY98MZ
This would help you get more light on your face, acting as a fill light and would make a big difference in clearing out the shadows. Audio is more of a get what you pay for kinda thing. I really like the Rode SmartLav + which you can connect to your smartphone and with the Rode app you can record some pretty quality audio that is comparable to 300+ dollar lavs. Shotguns are good too but I typically use both to help match the audio on each recording devices. The smartlav is a great piece of equipment for only $75 and it doesn’t get much better than that and would completely take away the whirs and and sound annoyances. Here’s the link to the Lav: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EO4A7L0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7pZKAb2BFD9BK

Thanks for your answer !

GH4 is definitely the way to go.
I forgot to say that i also owned this speedbooster-like that i used for my GH2.
The main concern that i have is witch lens is good for landscape, i saw some people said that the SLR MAGIC 12mm T1.6​ is very good, and i'm also afraid that a non-zoom lens is not versatile when you are hiking in the moutains or climbing.

I'm not against buying a Metabones Speedbooster XL, my travel friend use a 6D for photography, if we can share lens. I saw the SIGMA ART 18-35 F1.8​.

It's giving me headaches !

Actually it's Bonne chance ! (or you are a huge fan of Taken)

Yes, a good mic will definitely help. The best way to get good audio is to just get the mic closer - even a $1000 microphone will sound awful if it's not close to your subject. Because of that, I'd recommend picking up something like the £52 Rode SmartLav+ and connecting it to your phone with the 3.5mm > Lightning adapter that comes with the iPhone 7.

If getting the mic close to your subject isn't possible, the Rode VideoMic Me is around the same price as the SmartLav+ but clips directly to the phone. It's supposed to plug in to the headphone jack of the phone and hang off the side of the phone, but people have gotten it to work with not much hassle on the iPhone 7.

I hope this answers your question, if you have any more please feel free to ask.

I do this as my job. Some things you could work on:

1. You need better equipment. Im not sure what youre filming on but if you would like to take this at all seriously you'd be better suited buying a setup. Something like a t3i, 10-22mm lens, 50mm lens, and this light: http://www.amazon.ca/NEEWER%C2%AE-Dimmable-Digital-Camcorder-Panasonic/dp/B004TJ6JH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394350978&sr=8-1&keywords=camera+light
   
   
2. Your timing is off- it is extremely important that you match up the song with the video perfectly.
   
   
3. Dont film people dancing in empty spaces.
   
   
4. Steady your hand/learn proper panning techniques.
   
   If it's just fan footage none of this is really important.

It might be pretty under budget, but I got recommended the Rode Videomicro over on the /r/videography subreddit and have been loving it. It's just a standard shutgun mic, pretty small, comes with a fur and an antishock mount.

So far I've used it for filming crowds, which it handles decently, done some range testing outside with people talking, which it does very well, and I've done a voiceover for a documentary-like piece. The mic was really nice overall, but it suffers from phantom power, in that you have to use the camera's preamp, which is decent on the G7, I'd say.

$59 in the US, from Adorama.

[58€ in the EU, from Amazon.] (https://www.amazon.de/Rode-VIDEOMICRO-VMMICRO-VideoMicro/dp/B015R0IQGW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465681346&sr=8-1&keywords=rode+videomicro)

There's also the Videomicro's bigger brother, the Videomic. Don't really have experience with that one, but if reviews are to be believed, it does what the Videomicro does, just bigger and better. It's battery powered, also.

91€ in the EU from Amazon, although I couldn't find an option in the US for under a hundred.

Just my $.02

there are a few ways depending on what recorder you're using; lets break down the 2 options

Option 1-
The H1 Route - http://amzn.to/2fQdkCW ($91)
XLR to TRS 3.5 cable - http://amzn.to/2gLdfoC ($10)

This route is pretty simple, the cable will connect to the sound board via XLR, join that to the 3.5 entry of the zoom, record, keep track of levels, do a sound check from the mic they'll be using to see if it's connected, this path will cost you $101

Option 2-
The H4 Route - http://amzn.to/2gNcB7T ($189)
XLR male to female - http://amzn.to/2fQgmY0 ($7)

Simple as well, connect xlr cable from DJ's board to your recorder; the h4 allows greater control of levels and organization.

this will cost you $196.

It's pretty simple, definitely get there early, talk to the DJ and dj's are always happy to walk you through it (at least the one's i've worked with)

If you want to see more of our gear, check us out at www.indiemarchfilm.media

Hope this helps!

If you're looking for some cheap video lighting to help brighten up a shot I would recommend searching on Amazon for LED panels. They can range from small and cheap to bigger, brighter, and much more expensive. I would search around and try and find something that's in your price range. They can certainly be useful to help add some light in an interview setting or you can use them mounted on top of your camera if you're shooting an event in the dark like a wedding reception or a nightclub.

I'd honestly still go to the pros for this one, or at least cheap ambitious student film makers. Local high schoolers even. As a working freelancer/producer, I've had inquiries for "DIY"/mobile studios for clients to setup up themselves and they've botched every single one of them.

If your clients are seriously that hellbent on saving costs and time, then I like Hybrid's suggestions for tech. On top of that, I would add an LED panel for keylighting and this handy tutorial by Realm Pictures for setup.

But honestly, from my experience, this much knowledge/tech will baffle the non-savvy so really feel your way out on this and try to steer them towards finding help. Hopefully a solution is found! GL!

Try and get a small set up for that price instead of just the camera. Get her a camera, a tripod, a microphone, and if you can a light as well.

The Nikon D5100 is a great DSLR that can do 1080p. It's got a 3.5mm microphone port so they'll be able to plug in an external mic for better audio. A tripod like this will be great as it's sturdy, can go up to 1.4m and has a spirit level on the head. These microphones are brilliant. This light pack even includes 2 lights and 2 tripods for them.

Hope this helps (and the UK links work).

Just FYI those spiked feat 90% of the time are retractable by rotating the rubber "foot" (don't know what else to call that) that surrounds the spike part.

I have two 70Ds and as my stationary's and an A7sii as my A cam as well and I use these for my 70ds: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NOGR0A?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

I would never use these tripods as my primary because of the head style but they work great for stationary. I also sometimes use them to hold my audio recorder or use both to stabilize my slider. I got them on sale as an Amazon daily deal for $95 though.. so..

If you want another relatively inexpensive video head that Raveli is great value: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00139W0XM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

> Is there a loss of quality when plugging high quality mics into a lower-end camera's jacks?

Generally yes, but not always. It's more a usability thing. If you're shooting abroad with no way of repairs or replacements, an XLR will be a lot more rugged and reliable than a molded jack. Additionally, pro camcorders provide phantom power so you don't need to put batteries in the microphones meaning one less consumable to worry about.

You've linked to a lav microphone - but be aware that the one you've linked to requires a powered preamp, and will not work on standard 'mic ins' on consumer level equipment. Lav mics are great - they don't produce as 'natural' a sound as a shotgun microphone (due to the proximity to the chest giving emphasis to low end frequencies), but they do produce reliably clear, understandable sounds. There are, however, a few reasons why I personally would shy away from using one for your project:

• They're a bit awkward to use with subjects that are not used to appearing on camera. You need to give at least some mild coaching to make sure they don't move their head around too much, fidget with their clothes, or touch the microphone (which may be difficult if you don't speak the language very well!)
  
• They're fragile
  
• They only capture good audio for the person they're attached to, meaning that you'll need more than one if you want to do an interview-style conversation, or a conversation between multiple parties (and then you'll require some kind of mixer)
  
  If you'd like to go that route, then a nice affordable option is the ATR3350. Make sure you pack batteries though!
  
  
  

I would say not bad for your first job. The first thing is the audio, do your best to never use audio that isn't a Lav mic or a shotgun/boom mic very close the subject. If you're forced to use the Zoom, buy a dirt cheap XLR mic to plug into like this one XLR Mic.

Also wouldn't hurt to invest in a dirt cheap light panel like this one Light Panel and stand as well which you can get on Amazon for less than 50 bucks. The shots looked under lit and could have benefited from a different background, a window is never a good idea and didn't really fit the subject matter. Maybe shooting them in a lab setting would have been better since it's relative to the subject. You want to create a feel or mood when you create a video and the more you can put them in a medical environment, the more legit they will seem.

Lastly, the shot of the person working in the lab never fully racked into focus, focus is critical with big clients and every shot has to have a crisp focus.

Hope I wasn't too harsh, it beats the first videos I ever created by a mile. Good Luck.

Yes, thank you that helps alot! I was looking abround some more and found these things

phone cage with 2 lenses

light - and maybe the charger/softbox combo

And a mic

Total price would be around $200 so I can work with that. And yes I will just have to show them the ropes a bit on how to get the best possible video.

Thanks so much for your help!

Hello /u/reypro - with your budget, I would get a Panasonic FZ200 and a top mounted professional shotgun mic. If you can get close enough to your subjects, you should be able to hear what they are saying.

Here's a list of the equipment you would need:

• [Panasonic DMC-FZ200 - £340] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008N8NXT6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B008N8NXT6&linkCode=as2&tag=hybrcamerevo-21). This camera has a constant f2.8 lens, so it is good in low light, a larger sensor than most camcorders and a 2.5mm microphone input jack. Here is what it can do in a studio setting:
  
  http://youtu.be/98QV1eN5rhQ
  
  
• [Rode NTG-2 professional shotgun microphone - £129] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00093ESSI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00093ESSI&linkCode=as2&tag=hybrcamerevo-21). You will also need a single AA battery. This mic does a pretty good job of picking up sound in a noisy environment, as demonstrated here (in Spanish, please select CC for subtitles): http://youtu.be/vhHN6F-pPFY
  
  
• [Hosa MIT-156 line matching transformer/XLR to 3.5mm adapter - £23] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FC4YR58/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00FC4YR58&linkCode=as2&tag=hybrcamerevo-21)
  
  
• [Hosa GMP-467 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter - £2.42] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000QU3JN4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B000QU3JN4&linkCode=as2&tag=hybrcamerevo-21)
  
  
• [Shock mount to attach the mic to your camera while minimising handling noise - £10.29] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KXQIY86/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00KXQIY86&linkCode=as2&tag=hybrcamerevo-21)
  
  If you set the camera to "iA" (Panasonic's automatic mode), you should have a simple, autofocusing camera with a power zoom that even a novice can use to produce usable video and sound.
  
  Hope this is helpful and good luck with your interviews!

I like that they don't use tape and are more affordable. You can get more creative with the ability to switch lenses also. If you're on a budget, something like the nifty fifty (~$125) is good to start off with. When you have a better budget, the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 (~$800) will be available soon and may be worth saving up for.