Recommended Gear

Recommended Gear

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

Cameras

For the First-time Student and Beginner

Sony Alpha a6400

(AmazonB&H)

Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD

(AmazonB&H)

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

CHEAP:
Panasonic GH5

(Amazon, B&H)

BETTER:
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro

(AmazonB&H)

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

LOW END:
Sony FX3

(Amazon, B&H)

HIGH END:
Canon C300 Mark III

(AmazonB&H)

Feature Films

< $20,000:
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro

(AmazonB&H)

< $100,000:
Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2

(AmazonB&H)

Arri Alexa 65

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

LOW BUDGET 120 FPS:
Sony FX3

(Amazon, B&H)

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

Camera and Drone:
DJI Mavic Pro

(Amazon, B&H)

Camera for Drones:
Red Komodo

(B&H)

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

CHEAP:
Sony Alpha a6400

(AmazonB&H)

PROFESSIONAL:
Sony FX3

(Amazon, B&H)

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 (AmazonB&H) or the Rokinon DS (AmazonB&H) line.
  • For low budget cine lenses that are tough and professional enough for regular shoots, I prefer Zeiss CP.3 (non-XD) (AmazonB&H) and Zeiss CZ.2 zooms (AmazonB&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:

PRIMES:
Arri Master Primes and Master Anamorphics

(B&H)

ZOOM:
Angenieux Optimo Ultra 12X

(B&H)

Audio Gear

Shotgun Microphones

LOW BUDGET:
Sennheiser ME66

(Amazon, B&H)

PROFESSIONAL:
Sennheiser MKH 416

(Amazon, B&H)

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

LOW BUDGET:
Rode VideoMic Pro+

(Amazon, B&H)

TOP OF THE LINE:
Schoeps CMC641

(Amazon, B&H)

Wireless Systems with Lavalier Microphone

LOW BUDGET:
Sennheiser AVX-MKE2

(Amazon, B&H)

TOP OF THE LINE:
Lectrosonics L Series ZS-LRLT

(B&H)

Wired Lavalier Microphones

AMAZING:
Sanken COS-11D

(Amazon, B&H)

EVEN BETTER:
DPA Microphones d:screet 4061

(B&H)

Production Mixer/Recorders

LOW BUDGET:
Tascam DR-60D II

(Amazon, B&H)

3 CHANNELS:
Sound Devices MixPre-3 II

(Amazon, B&H)

6 CHANNELS:
Sound Devices MixPre-6 II

(Amazon, B&H)

HOLLYWOOD QUALITY:
Sound Devices Scorpio

(B&H)

I’ve also heard great things about the Aaton Cantar X3.

Headphones

INDUSTRY STANDARD:
Sony MDR-7506

(Amazon, B&H)

WHAT I USE:
Sennheiser HD 380 Pro

Discontinued

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

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

Calibration Systems

Atomos Shogun

External Recorders

  • Most versatile recorder: Atomos Shogun 7 (Amazon, B&H)
  • Cheap and does the job: Atomos Ninja V (Amazon, B&H)

Production Monitors

Electronic Viewfinders

  • Best value for money: Zacuto Gratical (Amazon, B&H)

Support and Camera Movement

Tripods and Fluid Head systems

LOW BUDGET:
SCG T8

SCG Store

ENTRY-LEVEL PRO:
Cartoni Focus 12

(B&H)

OConnor Ultimate 2575D

GOLD STANDARD:
OConnor Ultimate 2575D

(B&H)

FOR PRECISION:
Arrihead 2

arri.com

Dollies and Sliders

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