Filming equipment suggestions for YouTube

[Gavin99799]

Hello OC3D,

I'm soon the move into a new house and convert the garage into a mancave/studio,

I plan on doing more youtube videos (build guides, tech news and the odd review or project)

I wish to poke your brains (or anyone's) for what equipment do you use, including camera, mic, lighting and any other,

Feel free to offer any other advice for me and my channel I know alot of work needs doing but its a step by step process,

Thanks for your time,

Gavin,

Geordie Tech Channel
GTC
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuFg_8-_swRjAF3iTGoTCQ

 

[RobM]

Don't take this the wrong way bud, but I would suggest working on you delivery and build your confidence up before spending on new gear.
It can get pretty expensive.
Much will depend on where you intend to take your channel if its going to just be a casual thing then need not spend so much, but if you want to grow to the point of being able to make some kind of living of it then it needs to be snappy and confident.

Script your videos and practice them before committing to film this will vastly improve your delivery because you will know what your going to say. The "umms" are only present because you are having to think your words as you go, scripted and practice will remove most of that. Think back to times where you may have had to present a power point in a set time and apply the same techniques.

Or you could for example with a build video just film the process and comment over it in post production.

I subbed to you as I am keen to see you grow.

 

[Gavin99799]

Thanks I know I need to work on scripting, its a casual thing but I wish to put some effort into it, the use of umm or errm is mostly confidence but sorry to say I've had a brain injury wish in the RN (hit and run while on deployment)

Ill be buying the house for cash and doing some work so money is not a major issue for equipment,

I think once set up my confidence will grow,

thanks for the sub and the advice and by your picture your ex forces also 0/

Regards,

Gavin,

 

[RobM]

Thanks I know I need to work on scripting, its a casual thing but I wish to put some effort into it, the use of umm or errm is mostly confidence but sorry to say I've had a brain injury wish in the RN (hit and run while on deployment)

Ill be buying the house for cash and doing some work so money is not a major issue for equipment,

I think once set up my confidence will grow,

thanks for the sub and the advice and by your picture your ex forces also 0/

Regards,

Gavin,

injury aside I reckon scripted and practice will help for sure and yeah I'm ex army

 

[Gavin99799]

injury aside I reckon scripted and practice will help for sure and yeah I'm ex army

The RN skipped rehab, medical discharge and alot of other things lol,

Any ideas on a good camera and mic?

 

[looz]

I'd look up second hand DSLRs on your area, since photography is a hobby many people try to pick up but end up selling their gear when they realise they never use it.

Pretty much and relatively recent DSLR can do good video, and 1080p isn't too demanding for optics either. You do want a plug for an external microphone, which is sometimes omitted from cheapest models. Feel free to link what you find here so they can be evaluated.

For a mic I recommend Røde VideoMicro. It's much better than internal microphones and costs like £35.

 

[Gavin99799]

I'd look up second hand DSLRs on your area, since photography is a hobby many people try to pick up but end up selling their gear when they realise they never use it.

Pretty much and relatively recent DSLR can do good video, and 1080p isn't too demanding for optics either. You do want a plug for an external microphone, which is sometimes omitted from cheapest models. Feel free to link what you find here so they can be evaluated.

For a mic I recommend Røde VideoMicro. It's much better than internal microphones and costs like £35.

Ill be spending about £4000 in a desktop (not trying to show off just to put into context), I after quality but not things overpriced, I after a wearable mic and directional for build guide or projects, good 4k cam with god fps and no juddering nice and smooth, im thinking about £300-400 for a cam, and max £100 for two mics

 

[looz]

I'm not sure you should aim for 4K, I think only 4K cams in that price range are gopros and yi cameras. Something like Nikon D3300 can do 1080p60 and has a jack for an external microphone. And there's heaps of objectives available for different purposes.

1080p does mean that you have to frame the shots more carefully since cropping ability is limited but you get that nice bokehhh with DSLR lenses and so forth.

I don't know a thing about wearable microphones but the Røde should work well for review work.

But honestly 2nd hand market is a pretty good option if you do your research.

 

[AverageNinja]

Ill be spending about £4000 in a desktop (not trying to show off just to put into context), I after quality but not things overpriced, I after a wearable mic and directional for build guide or projects, good 4k cam with god fps and no juddering nice and smooth, im thinking about £300-400 for a cam, and max £100 for two mics

Journalism student here. I specialize in written content, but I have filmed my fair share of items, too. Not gonna lie, I'm not an amazing videographer whatsoever, but I think I might be able to help you at least a little bit. Honestly, the image quality you're gonna get depends more on your skill as a videographer than the camera you use. You could have an Arri Alexa, but if you don't know how to use it, it's gonna look like a first gen iPhone. I'd continue using what you have, and work on your skills that way.

If you're adamant about getting a new camera, 4K at that budget is really pushing it, especially considering the fact that you're gonna need a lens, too. You might be able to find a used Panasonic G7 at that price, but don't count on it. 4k 60fps is completely out of the question at £400, too. Most camera's that offer that go for well over £1k. And when you're just starting out, you shouldn't spend that amount of money on a camera.

I do second a decent DSLR, like an older Canon. Maybe look at the Sony A6000, too. 1080p60, decent image quality (really good if you learn how to colour grade), and great for stills, too.

As for microphones, you're gonna struggle to find a camera at that price point which takes two microphones (DSLR's don't really offer that). So if you want to use two mics, you're probably gonna need a separate recorder (think Zoom H1).

Another good option would be to use a Rode Videomicro on top of your camera, and then buy a Rode Smartlav+. The Smartlav works with your mobile phone, so you could record audio through that and then sync it in post. It's not as hard as it sounds - clap your hands a few times loudly before you start recording, and use the waveforms to line the audio tracks up.

But like I said, I would probably use what you have now to improve. Learn how to properly compose a shot, and experiment with different camera angles. Learn how to use natural light to your advantage. Just keep trying, the nice gear will come. I've subbed to you too, can't wait to see you grow!

 

[looz]

The A6000 is great camera but it doesn't have a plug for an external mic out of the box, imo ruling it out as a cheap/beginner's option. The official Sony adapter doesn't come cheap, and external recording is just extra work you probably don't want now.

To emphasize what I said earlier, I think buying brand new gear, other than the microphone, would be a mistake. 1080p isn't demanding for any recent DSLR, and even for stills your entry level lenses (which you're limited to with the budget, which is sensible as a beginner) are the limiting factor, not the 24mp sensor which is so common nowadays. In best case scenarios most entry level lenses have effective resolution of 10mp or so, and even that is a huge resolution for anything but large prints.

I don't know what you guys use for 2nd hand trade (gumtree?) but I'd just search for DLSR and look for an affordable complete kit which hasn't been used much. Then check if it manages 1080p60 video (or even 30, which is much more common) and if it has a 3.5mm plug for an external mic. There's plenty available even in my sparsely populated area.

Then if the project kicks off think about investing into better gear. You'll know what you need at that point as well so it's a win/win. The channel's success won't depend on 4k60.

 

[AverageNinja]

The A6000 is great camera but it doesn't have a plug for an external mic out of the box, imo ruling it out as a cheap/beginner's option. The official Sony adapter doesn't come cheap, and external recording is just extra work you probably don't want now.

Forgot to mention that. There are workarounds that aren't expensive and allow you to record audio in-camera (and even add a headphone out for audio monitoring), but they're probably not ideal for a beginner as they can be finicky.

Also a thing worth keeping in mind is that when you buy a camera, you're also buying into an ecosystem of lenses (Canon lenses don't work on a Nikon without an adapter). So if you buy a Canon and get some better lenses later down the line, it'll be harder to switch to another brand down the line.

That's one of the reasons I suggested the Panasonic G7. It has a Micro Four Third lens mount, which has a wide variety of lenses available. A lot of great video camera's have been using MFT sensors, including cameras like the Panasonic GH-line and even Blackmagic Design's latest Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Dmitry from HardwareCanucks currently uses the GH5 (along with the Sony A7III), and in the past he has used the Panasonic G7.

That being said, you can't go wrong with a cheaper DSLR either. A former classmate of mine has shot a full-fledged documentary using a Canon 60d (released in 2010). That same documentary was broadcasted on national TV, and she now runs her own small media production company.

But again, like others have said, you shouldn't invest too much when you're still getting started. Upgrade your equipment if your channel actually takes off. Like he said, your success won't depend on 4k60.

I still film a lot of street interviews using my OnePlus 6 with some video gear I can borrow at my college, and the quality is more than good enough. I'm not alone in that, either. Loads of major publications have started utilising 'mobile journalism' (even BBC does it). Sometimes I even edit those interviews on that same OnePlus 6 with great results.

I've done the same with proper broadcast camera's which are massive and heavy, but if you're conscious about lighting and composition the quality difference isn't even that noticeable.

 

[RobM]

For mic you could ask what other tubers are using, I know Bryan Techyes uses a wearable and his sound quality is pretty good.
I have heard good things about blue yeti also

 

[Kei]

Best way to get multiple microphones is to use a small mixer. That's how I select between lavalier mic, desk mounted shotgun mic or headset mic. You could use an external recorder but then you would have to use a clacker for every shot and synchronise the audio to the pictures in post processing. Personally, I use a sony ECM-77B lavalier, sennheiser ME-66 shotgun and beyer DT-294 headset through a soundcraft spirit ES mixer.

As to the camera, personally, I used to use a proper Sony HVR-Z1 but that is now at an age where the picture quality lets it down as it's only HDV (1440x1080i50 anamorphic) or DVCAM (720x576i50) capable. Audio quality was superb and blows my nikon D810 away, however the nikon wins on picture quality.

 

[Gavin99799]

Thanks guys I'll look into these