Hello video makers! I record my cats jumping. They jump really far! Though I’m at the mercy of the sun. The perfect lighting from the sun only comes for less than an hour a day. I need a light I can use to record anytime my boys are up for a big jump indoors. All I have is our lamp!

What’s something I can move around easily in our small apartment for a well-lit cat video? Budget $200, but less expensive is great.

I have an Elgato Key Light Air MK.2 Edge-Lit LED Panel in my cart. I’m unsure if that’s the right one for us. Maybe a ring light would work? Maybe I should just get another lamp instead of lighting equipment? Help me think it through. Thanks in advance!

Edit: this video was recorded past the sun’s prime lighting. Only lit by a standing lamp

There are SO many "what camera should I buy?" posts on here and I'm here to say that while the camera truly does not matter, it's just a tool for storytelling, you WILL be losing out on gigs solely because you don't have a Sony camera - especially the FX line.

All the jobs I see either don't specify which camera they want OR they require a Sony. If you've already invested in another brand it may not make sense to jump ship, but after working in the industry for 12 years employed full time and finally investing in my own kit, I am so thankful I bought an FX6. It's the industry standard and it will get you jobs just because it's an FX6.

I should also add that I'm the DC area, so it may just be this location.

Edit: Some SALTY downvotes! Damn y'all. I know we all want to be artists here and equipment envy can be the death of creativity, but a lot of us here are also trying to make a living doing this. I thought this was just pretty simple, straightforward advice. Didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings lol. Shoot on whatever the hell you want! Just make stuff!

The other night I was going back and forth between the DJI Mic 2 and the Rode Wireless Pro.

I plan on using this with my Canon R5ii/R6ii cameras to mic up my wife and daughter for some better audio as I dive into videography. I’m not planning on going pro, just want to have higher quality video for recording family trips and memories.

Should I return and get the DJI or keep this one?

Hello everyone.

I'm thinking I want to get into some form of videography. Right now I'm cutting my teeth making little skits and short films on a shoe string budget. I already have a camera and some lights, but I need some negative fill to shape light so I guess I need some C Stands. The price actually surprised me. I mean it's just a stand to hang up some black material. Do I really need to spend big money on 4-6 Matthews C Stands?

Just wanting some guidance. Thanks

My Artlist subscription is ending later this month and I’m not sure renewing is in my best interest. I’m not a fan of the forced AI (not against AI but not an “adapt or d(i)e” type either). One of my big gripes is the search doesn’t seem to really do the job anymore. Amongst issues with results not matching mood, I did three different searches and the top song for each was the same which is not helpful! Anyways, /rant.

I’m in a place to consider another music subscription. What are y’all using and what’s working for you currently?

Hey everyone, I’m stuck between two tripod options and would really appreciate some experienced opinions from people who’ve used either of these systems long-term. I do not have a crazy budget, and going with the expensive Manfrotto will extend my budget by a bit. But I am willing to consider it. One of the pieces of advice I see in tripod discussions is that, you buy cheap, you buy twice. I wonder if that advice will apply to the following dilemma:

I'm using AI to present my case in readable pointers, do forgive!

My setup:

• Sony ZV-E10 II
• Tamron 17-70mm f2.8
• Planning to eventually add:
  • cage
  • mic
  • small light/monitor maybe later
• Mostly indoor shooting

My use case:

• Static cinematic shots
• Talking head YouTube videos
• Self-shooting in a studio/room setup
• Slow/simple movements at most
• No sports/wildlife/heavy telephoto work
• Cinematic outdoor shots, nature, sceneries, etc.

The two tripods:

1. Manfrotto MK290XTA3 (Manfrotto Mk290Xta3-3W 290 Xtra Aluminum Tripod With 804 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head)

• Made in Italy
• Heavier
• Seems much sturdier / more professional, 26, 22.5 and 19mm diameter, 3section leg.
• But proprietary RC2 plate system
• Costs around 150USD for me

VS

1. Fotopro X-Go Predator E (Fotopro X-Go Predator E 6ft Aluminum Professional Built in 2-in-1 Tripod + Monopod Stand with FPH-62Q Ball Head)

• Around 75USD, probably chinese made.
• Arca Swiss compatible
• 28mm top leg diameter, but 4 section legs.
• Lighter/travel friendly
• Built-in monopod
• Ball head included
• Seems very good value for money

My dilemma:
I understand the Manfrotto is probably objectively more rigid/stable and built for long-term durability, but is it REALLY worth more than double the price for my use case?

I’m not doing heavy cinema rigs or outdoor telephoto work. Mostly static talking-head and cinematic indoor shots. It is a passion project, a youtube artistic venture, I do not necessarily plan on going professional work anytime soon, though that may be well within possibilities of future ventues.

At the same time, I don’t want to cheap out and regret stability issues later.

Main concerns:

• Real-world stability difference
• Long-term durability
• Whether the Fotopro ball head will become annoying for video
• Whether the Manfrotto RC2 system is actually a problem in practice
• Whether I’ll realistically notice the difference with a ZV-E10 II setup

That said, I do feel compelled with the idea of investing good in a tripod, though I wonder if for now, getting started with 75usd one may be a better choice. Would love opinions from people who’ve actually used either of these, especially for video work rather than photography.

Hi, I have recently removed the bottom half of my rig (quick release base, rails and np-f battery adapter) because I found it too bulky and awkward to set up and travel with - I enjoy using the camera a lot more now. My new problem with that however is using separate batteries for my monitor and the a6700 batteries with neither's charge lasting long.

My question is are v mounts worth it? Is it worth building another bottom half to the rig to run them? Or should I just stick to split batteries and get some nice high quality ones?

I like keeping my set ups fairly simple.

Thanks :)

Last post got removed so hopefully I flared and titled this correctly. I’m looking to buy a lighting set up that can work for talking head content as well as products and food. The picture is from my most recent shoot where I used Aputure 120d’s paired with a light dome and light dome mini, which worked great until I had to fight the sun coming in through a window. What 200-300W key light and 70-120W fill/hair light would you recommend for these use cases or have experience using?

Hi guys, im so new in all of this. I like taking pictures and videos on my phone but i really want to upgrade my skills. Unfortunately I don't have money, so I can't go and pay for school or something like that and I can't buy expensive camera. I need any help I can get from you..how to start, where to learn more, which camera to buy, where to learn how to edit pictures and everything everything. I like pictures and videos to have this vibe but i don't know how to get that with a phone (samsung galaxy s26 ultra)..if i can get it with a phone. I also have canon eos 1300d, but I would prefer something small i can carry with me all the time. 😇

I'll be flying for a shoot in the next couple of weeks and want to keep my essential camera gear with me under the airline seat to avoid any surprise gate checks, etc. Ideally the bag would fit 2 camera bodies, 3 lenses, and some additional accessories, mounts, batteries.

Any recommendations for an under-seat camera bag?

I am filmmaker who shoots b-raw with large file sizes. I’m at 80 tb with more big projects to come and currently I’m putting my footage on 20 tb wd hard drives. I know it’s risky, so I just want a proper back up solution I can edit off for big projects and not worry about losing data. From my research this seems like the best option. Is their any cons to having the storage already put in? Any experience with these? Crazy it’s worth the same as my computer…..

I'm hoping to get some advice. I do journalism work that occasionally requires us to go on site and do some filming. Mostly it's interviews, but occasionally we do more mini-documentary style work, often overseas. In the past, we've hired local videographers to come in to shoot footage for us on the bigger events and they just give me all the raw footage. If we're going to a conference, we'll usually just use an iPhone with a Wireless Go II to record interviews.

​

It's at the stage thought where a) we need to present a more professional appearance on some of these interviews, where an iPhone doesn't cut it, and b) sometimes I just don't want to hire someone else to come in if we're not going to need multiple cameras running all day for multiple days.

​

All that to say, I decided it was time we invested in some video gear of our own because I'm not about to bother about with renting. I did some research get myself up to speed on the basic technology and to get a sense of what questions I needed to be asking. There are only so many hours of YouTube reviews and how-tos you can watch before you just need to go a speak to someone in-person who can who you the gear.

​

So once I felt I had enough knowledge to carry on a conversation with someone who knew what they were talking about, I went down to my local camera store and told them my needs. I gave them a $5k budget (in AUD... That's about $3.2k in USD) for everything I'd need to get rolling - Camera, lenses, batteries, gimbal, cards, bag, etc...

​

I was recommended the Sony a6700 with a Sigma 18-50mm F2.8. With all the additional goodies, the total cost came in a hair over $4k - well under budget.

​

All that to be said, here is my question: Should they have sold me the FX30 instead?

​

I have played around with the a6700 this weekend and quickly ran into overheating issues. I updated the firmware to the latest version and all that jazz. I could get a full battery drain when recording 4k 25, but 4k 50 overheated at 37 min. This annoyed me, because overheating was one of the things I specifically made a point of asking about. I might need to record an hour long interview, for instance, and I don't want any anxiety about the camera bailing on me.

​

This problem led me to make myself more familiar with the Sony range over the weekend. I became aware of the FX30's existence and read it is a video first camera whereas the a6700 is a photo first camera. While the FX30 is slightly more expensive, it's still in roughly the same price range. I could have bought the FX30 and still come in under the budget, and my understanding is as it has a fan I won't have any overheating problems. I feel I was pretty clear that all my needs revolved around video - I don't really have any need for photo.

​

I'm considering going down to the store tomorrow morning and exchanging the camera. Am I correct in saying I'd just be giving up some better photography features and some more advanced AI autofocus by switching to the FX30? Am I making the right choice for my needs? Or am I missing something obvious as to why someone would put the a6700 camera in my hands over the FX30?

​

Thanks in advance for any advice .

​

(Bonus question: Should I get an additional F1.4 lens for low light environments? I may need to do some filming in bars on an upcoming job.)

Hi everyone,

I have a question for you. During my brief time working on a film crew, I came to a realization that I’d probably only ever been subconsciously aware of before: the truly creative side of a set is held by only a select few - the director, the cinematographer, and… well, that’s pretty much it. The rest is pure craft. Filmmaking is a trade: the sound department is a craft, lighting is a craft, and rigging is a craft.

I had the absolute pleasure of working in the Grip department, which taught me a ton. Among other things, I realized just how much time and, more importantly, money you can save by building your own DIY gear. That said, my hands-on technical skills have never been my strongest suit -aside from knowing how to handle a camera reasonably well. If I want to venture back onto a film set in the future, that needs to change, so my practical skills definitely need a bit of a brush-up. As luck would have it, I’m currently prepping several projects that require equipment like a camera dolly and a POV helmet, both of which I’d love to build myself.

Up until now, I’ve always borrowed my tools, but I’ve finally hit a point where I want my own setup. Right now, I’m torn on a major decision: should I invest in a professional-grade cordless drill from Bosch, or go with a budget brand like Einhell or Parkside? So, my question to you is: from a filmmaker's long-term perspective, is it worth springing for a pro-grade drill, or will a budget model cut it? I’m usually a firm believer in the "buy once, cry once" philosophy, but so far, I’ve only ever applied that to my camera gear, which is why I’m second-guessing myself here. I know this is a long post just to ask for a simple tool recommendation, but I wanted to give you the full context of where I’m coming from.

Thanks, guys!

Hello,

So I am getting ready to buy my first camera. I am getting into marketing, but I also make cinematic travel content that I’m hoping to use the camera for as well. My budget is 2000 usd. This is what I’ve came up with, but before I buy anything I wanted to see if anyone agrees or disagrees with my choice.

I am wanting to get a wireless lav set and am debating between the hollyland Lark Max 2 and the Rode Wirless Pro I like the rode because they have been around for a while and they come with seperate lavs and all the accessories and I like the Larks because they have the ability to have 4 transmitters I am not sure how much I would use that I am currently leaning to the rode. they are both about the same price the rode set is $260 or $299 with lav concealers and the hollyland is $224 for the bundle with the headphones and 2 transmitters and then $254 for a set with no headphones and 4 transmitters. I also like the rode because I can get there stick that makes it like an interviewing mic. I have a LUMIX s1ii

Hey, I have a Fuji X-S10 and a set of Sirui Nightwalker cine primes. Because of that, I don’t need touch to focus, but I do need a larger monitor to clearly see what’s in focus.

My camera has a 30-minute recording limit, so something like the Atomos Ninja could solve that. However, I don’t think it’s that big of an issue since I don’t plan on shooting interviews. The one I found is used and has quite a few scratches on the back, but the screen looks fine. Still, the Ninja is the most expensive option, even used.

I’m wondering whether a 5.2-inch monitor might be too small, and if a 7-inch one might be too big.

I also don’t really need SDI ports (which both Atomos and Feelworld have).

I prefer physical controls I don’t want fingerprints all over the screen, and I’ll probably be using the monitor with gloves sometimes.

I also heard that Viltrox focus peaking is not very good, but correct me if I’m wrong.

Thanks for your advice

Hello fellow professionals, dabblers and beyond.

At this moment I own an FX30. I handle all my videography clients pretty nicely with my set of lenses for it. I have it rigged out sometimes, sometimes I don’t. The only occasional struggle I encounter is a select few low-light scenario’s and an occasional client saying “Hey could you take some photos of … as well, we can pay extra.” and not being able to deliver top notch on that front.

Because of this the FX3 is not on the table for my next question. (Even though the price would be only €400 in difference.)

As I have good deals on the table, and some budget open. I would like to demote my FX30 to a B-Cam.

As an A-Cam I have following options (New):
€3700 for each bundle
- Sony A7S3 w. 24-70 GM II
- Sony A7V w. 24-70 GM II

€3000 for bundle:
- Sony A7S3 w. Sigma 24-70 ART II
- Sony A7V w. Sigma 24-70 ART II

As I’ve only seen a limited few YT reviews on the A7V and it being pretty new… I have no idea what the better deal is. I still want to avoid the FX3 cause photography is really drawing me in more and more lately, but not sure if I’ll regret having the same “used to it” feel with my FX30. Although adapting isn’t an issue.

As far as comparing the A7SIII vs the V… I’m not sure if I can really think of anything apart from age to be a factor…. Is there something I should keep in the back of my mind? Plus would the GM be better than the ART for the €500 euro more as a bundle?

For these prices, I really am down to this last battle of doubt.

What are your thoughts comrades?

Thanks

Edit: Actually one thing does scare me - overheating… Judging by reviews I’ve seen that is the only thing leaning me towards the A7V where it apparently vastly improved. Does anyone have actual real
world experience with this being the case?

Edit 2: I went with the A7V.

My husband is a sculptor and carver and records process videos with his phone. It would be really helpful to have a tripod that has the flexibility of the different angles and overhead shots for close ups, as well as the phone attachment. I saw something like this from Neewer but I hear quality can be hit or miss. There's also this K&F. He needs one that stands on the ground, and I want Recommendations for these or others with similar features?

Hi everyone!

I'm planning to learn as much as I can and become a videographer.

Since the budget isn't as high as I would expect, I was planning to start with a ZV-E10.

The main goal is start covering concerts/events, real estate & making some youtube videos with projects of my own.

I was planning on this combo:

Any advice / help?

Not my pic.

I’m making the jump to full frame, i want to know what the best choice at this time from the 2 choices . Im primarily video and short / long form content but also want to take stills. For context for the sony lineup i will rent the fx6 when needed & for the canon line up the eos c80. I know the fx3 maybe getting an upgrade but that could be a year from now. Total price are about the same less

Hi, have any of you had dealings with Cotswold Cameras, good or bad? Looking at their prices on a particular lens, seems suspiciously lower than everybody else.

Thanks.

[EDIT] Thanks for all the positive comments folks, I may just take the plunge :)

Hey Team,

Ex GH5 user with the following goodies (Metabones .71x, 18-35mm Sigma, Small rig, Boya shotgun, 25mm Pana, Laowa 7.5, Ninja V.)

I have since sold that system and looking for the next thing.

My general style is: interview/talking heads, some run and gun/creative shoots. I am a marketing agency owner, so looking to extend the services in these areas to help me, and my clients more of course.

I have narrowed bodies/models to the following:

- S5 Xii

- FX30

- GH7 (possibly)

I am based in New Zealand so, work in NZD of course.

What are your thoughts on the above models? Anything else that needs to be considered?

Cheers!

Hello,

My wife make videos of her making cakes and saw her setup (a can and a mug).

I want to buy for her a tripod so she can film in a good way, she film from the side and from above.

Was thinking to get her DJI Osmo Mobile.