If you want to see results from your videos online, you need to bring your A-game to Video Production Equipment.
As videos are proving to be one of the best ad strategies, the internet is packed with competitive videos, and it’s down to a game of “may the best video win”. The first step toward creating quality videos that kick all the other competitors out of the park is by investing in quality video production equipment.
If you’re a newbie in video production, chances are you need all the help you can get to produce professional-quality videos. Luckily, we have compiled a checklist of some of the video production gear that should make up your arsenal before you can get the video quality that only experts can boast of.
Camera
Of course, your camera is the first on the list of filmmaking equipment.
Although there is a wide range of options to select from, many creators prefer to use DSLR, mirrorless cameras, and other cameras with prime lenses capable of shooting in 4K. But you don’t need to have cinema cameras from your very first day of practice. If you’re in a pickle and looking to reduce the cost of video production, you can use your smartphone camera for filming. Don’t expect to get the same professional shots you would get when you use a camera, but with the right tips and tricks, you should get decent shots with your smartphone camera.
Tripod
No matter how stable you consider your hands or your camera to be, you need tripods for maximum stability.
With a tripod, even the lowest quality camera produces a higher quality video. Tripods can be a bit on the expensive side, and we would suggest that beginners start with the basic ones like Switchpod, Gorillapod, or MeFOTO. Switchpod is recommended because it is lightweight and compatible with almost any camera or phone.
Gorillapod, on the other hand, is one of the most versatile tripods out there and can work in several situations, even when you need to get those hard-to-reach shots.
High-Quality External Microphones
Many video cameras and even phones have great built-in microphones and audio pickup, but since you want your sound quality to be as clear and professional as possible, you need to invest in high-quality external sound equipment.
An external microphone is one piece of equipment that does much for the quality of your audio; especially if you’re filming video lessons, interviews, live streams, or any video that involves a lot of speech.
Luckily for you, you don’t have to break the bank to purchase some quality external microphones.
Rode VideoMic Go costs around $100 and is a great shotgun mic for beginners. It has great audio quality, while still small and versatile. Lavalier microphones are another option that delivers high-quality sound without being too expensive or bulky. These microphones can be attached to the collar, and are perfect for shooting your high-quality video where the subjects are active or moving around a lot.
Lighting
You might have the most expensive camera, but without proper lighting, your final video might have poor quality. If you’ve ever seen a movie or a video with bad lighting, you know how off-putting the experience can be.
Getting the perfect lighting is not so easy, especially for beginners, because you can’t figure out what makes perfect lighting, or the right lighting equipment to use. If you’re just starting and not ready to part with thousands of dollars, we would recommend a reflector to take advantage of ambient light, and all you need to do is set it up properly to reflect light.
While a reflector is one of the most affordable options for a beginner, you can also go for a more advanced lighting option like Neewer 3-Pack 2.4G LED softbox which offers 3 dimmable LED lights and softboxes for making aesthetically pleasing shots.
Editing/Production Tools
Needless to say, you could have the most quality video camera and lighting equipment, but still end up with a subpar final video if you don’t have the right editing and post – production software.
With just some basic video editing software, your video quality could transform from amateur level to professional level. Mastering editing your video is not easy and could take ample time, especially if integrating visual effects, but we think the process is well worth the final result. You can get started with some tutorials to put you through the basics of editing out vocal pauses, inserting texts, and transitioning between cuts.
Video quality is great, but remember that a good-looking video devoid of content will fall flat. First, figure out your content, and then move on to the film production stage where you will need video production equipment. You can begin with your smartphone if you’re on a tight budget, but once you’re ready for a commercial shoot that makes you money; you will need to consider investing in quality gear.
