Disclaimer:
This list comes from personal experience, hearsay, research and/or educated guesses. You are responsible for the purchases you make, and this list is only for reference, to be used as a starting point.
Not all information is complete, correct or up to date.
Links maybe to affiliates where I earn a commission for any purchases (you don’t get charged extra).
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My Gear
Camera Accessories
Rigs and Support
Cameras
For the First-time Student and Beginner
This combination is a powerful system with great image quality, excellent low light performance, and a lens with a 28-112mm 35mm equivalent reach at a constant f/2.8.
If you have more money to spare, I suggest upgrading to the Sony Alpha a6600 (Amazon, B&H). This gives you S-Log3 and even better image quality and features.
“Zero Budget” Films
As of 2021, the Panasonic GH5 (Amazon, B&H) still excels for cinema-quality (as much as possible in this budget) work. For one simple reason: The alternatives force you to compromise your vision in some way. The GH5 can handle anything.
Check out my short film, Fight Night, made on the Panasonic GH5:
Here’s my comprehensive guide that shows you how to get cinematic images.
Corporate Videos and Documentaries
Feature Films
$100,000+:
Arri Alexa LF or SXT or Red Monstro or Red Gemini
65mm digital:
Arri Alexa 65, Panavision DXL2 (both are rental only)
How do you decide whether to pick an Arri Alexa or a Red camera? Here’s a guide I made for you:
High-speed Filmmaking in 4K
PROFESSIONAL 120 FPS:
Red Monstro or other Red camera
For up to 938 fps you need a Phantom Flex4K:
The resolution is 4096 x 2304. It’s a Super 35mm sensor with an ISO of 250 (Rec. EI 800 – 1000). Expensive to rent and operate.
Check out my short film below shot at 100 fps on a Red Dragon.
Action Camera
Drones Cinematography
For high-end cinema work it is advisable to use a professional camera and a drone built for it. Hire a professional.
Internet Video and VLogs
Lenses
It’s impossible to recommend lenses, because there’s no such thing as “the best lens”. Lenses are like paintbrushes and color – you choose the one that you like.
- For great autofocus performance, use the lenses from the manufacturer itself. There isn’t a case where a third-party lens focuses faster and more accurately than a manufacturer’s lenses. Check out our dedicated Sony and Canon lens guides.
- For low budget (but still decent lenses), I prefer Nikon D lenses (Amazon, B&H) or the Rokinon DS (Amazon, B&H) line.
- For low budget cine lenses that are tough and professional enough for regular shoots, I prefer Zeiss CP.3 (non-XD) (Amazon, B&H) and Zeiss CZ.2 zooms (Amazon, B&H).
- For the best cine lenses, check out the dedicated guide to cine lenses.
If you force me to pick one prime set and one zoom as “the best”, these are my personal favorites:
Audio Gear
Shotgun Microphones
I’ve been using my Sennheiser ME66/K6 (Amazon, B&H) for over 13 years and it is still going strong. It’s an excellent low budget shotgun microphone for all kinds of ENG, documentary and corporate work.
Further Reference: Five budget boom microphones that won’t let you down.
On-camera Shotgun Microphones
Wireless Systems with Lavalier Microphone
Wired Lavalier Microphones
Production Mixer/Recorders
I’ve also heard great things about the Aaton Cantar X3.
Headphones
The Sennheiser HD 380 Pro is what I’ve been using for 7+ years now. It’s brutally honest. Sadly, it has been discontinued and the newer 300 Pro isn’t getting good reviews.
If I were to replace mine, I’d pick the Sony. It the industry standard.
Audio Post Software
- Free: Audacity
- General all-purpose – Adobe Audition CC or Fairlight in Resolve.
- Industry standard – Avid Pro Tools
Studio Mixer
- Only for basic editing stations – Avid S3 or S6
- Industry standard console – Neve DFC. This is what it looks like:
Studio Reference Monitors
- Cash-starved – Yamaha MSP3
- Basic for small spaces – Yamaha MSP5
- Top of the line – Genelec 8xxx series
Sound Cards and Interfaces: M-Audio
Lighting Equipment
Here are my preferences:
Tungsten/Halogen
- Single: Arrilite 750 Plus with a Chimera softbox and grid (Amazon, B&H)
- Kit: Arri Softbank II Fresnel Kit (Amazon, B&H)
- For extreme spot lights and precision: ETC Source 4 750W Spotlight (Amazon, B&H)
- Low budget lighting that gets the job done: Lowel DV Creator Kit (Amazon, B&H)
LED
- Low Budget Panel – Yongnuo YN900 (Amazon)
- Low Budget Fresnel – NanGuang CN-60F
- Medium budget but high quality panel – Aputure Tri-8c (Amazon, B&H)
- Spotlight – Dedolight DLED 4.1 (Amazon, B&H)
- Top of the line LED fresnel – Arri L7-C LE2 fresnel (Amazon, B&H)
- Top of the line LED panel – Arri Skypanel (B&H)
- Small high-quality on-camera light: Cineo Matchbox (Amazon, B&H)
Fluorescent: Kino Flo Diva (Amazon, B&H) – Important: I no longer recommend fluorescent fixtures.
HMI
- Arri M-series (Amazon, B&H)
- For documentary and smaller work: Joker 400 W and 800W fixtures (B&H)
- For fashion work – Broncolor Para reflectors
Calibration Systems
- Basic – XRite i1Display Pro
- Top of the line – LightSpace CMS with a Klein K10A probe
External Recorders
- Most versatile recorder: Atomos Shogun 7 (Amazon, B&H)
- Cheap and does the job: Atomos Ninja V (Amazon, B&H)
Production Monitors
- Tough production monitor and best bang for your buck: SmallHD 702 (Amazon, B&H)
- Professional monitors with most accurate color: FSI (C and D series) and Sony (Amazon, B&H).
- Top of the line monitors: Sony OLED series (Amazon, B&H)
- Best studio monitor in the world: Dolby Reference PRM-4220 monitor
Electronic Viewfinders
Support and Camera Movement
Tripods and Fluid Head systems
- 11 Fluid Head Options for Every Budget – from $80 to $5000+
- The 6 Best Lightweight Carbon Fiber Camera Tripods for Fluid Heads
- Best Video tripods: Sachtler (Amazon, B&H)
- Best table-top tripod: Pedco Ultrapod II (Amazon, B&H)
Dollies and Sliders
- How is a dolly different from a slider?
- Which is the best Camera Slider? A Comparison of 18 Camera Sliders for Travel and Timelapses
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