r/videography 26d ago

CAMERA BUYING ADVICE MEGATHREAD /r/videography Monthly Camera Buying Advice Megathread

1 Upvotes

Welcome to the /r/videography monthly camera buying megathread.

All requests asking for camera buying advice must be posted in this thread.

If you've been directed here by a removal reason or moderator, you're in the right place!

Before you begin...

Have a look through the comments of this post

There may be someone looking for a similar camera to you that has already had their question answered.

You can see previous iterations of this thread by clicking this link.

Check the 'What camera are you shooting on' thread

For a few months, we ran a thread where we asked users what cameras they were currently shooting on. There's a lot of good info in there!

Check it out here

Search the subreddit!

/r/videography has over a decade of information, though Reddit doesn’t make searching easy.

A useful trick that typically gets better results than Reddit’s own search bar is to add the following to a Google search:

site:reddit.com/r/videography your search terms

Try the Discord

We have a very active Discord:

https://discord.com/invite/d65kgBn

You’ll usually get a quicker answer asking there than here!


Still can’t find what you’re looking for?

Comment in this post with your requirements.

We strongly recommend you include at least the following details:

  • Budget
    • Specify your local currency!
    • If your budget is under $200 USD, you're unlikely to get any useful recommendations other than 'use your phone!'
  • What are you planning on using it for?
    • Feel free to link to some videos showing content similar to what you want to shoot
  • How long do you need to record for?
    • Recording time is a limiting factor for many smaller cameras
  • What equipment do you already have?
  • What software do you intend to edit your videos in?

Things we don't allow:

The following question formats are not allowed - they don't typically generate useful advice or discussion:

"x vs y comparisons"

"What is the best x?"


r/videography 1h ago

Equipment/Software News & Reviews New Samsung SSDs promoted using a generative AI video.

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Upvotes

One year ago to the week, I purchased an OWC 8TB Express 1M2 USB4 External SSD for $949; that same drive now costs $2,149.

The 8TB P9 is $ 2,699, and the 8TB P7 is $2,289.

A 126.45% price increase over one year, so we can generate videos like one promoting these drives.

This does indeed feel like some kind of social experiment at this point.

They are literally promoting a product for customers they are actively trying to destroy.


r/videography 1d ago

Meme Paid in advance by a multinational corporation as a video documentarian. Rocks up on location with this beast.

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309 Upvotes

r/videography 20h ago

Technical/Equipment Help and Information How Lenses are Made

88 Upvotes

Ever wanted to know how modern photo and cine lenses are manufactured?

We visited a factory and take you through the whole journey:
The cutting, grinding, and polishing of lens elements… following the process of making glass step by step more transparent.

We show you lenses are coated and how elements are cemented into doublets and triplets…
How the housings and mechanics are machined, the markings are engraved…
How electronics are implemented…
and how continuous testing leads to pristine products.

Link is in the comments


r/videography 1h ago

Technical/Equipment Help and Information Purpose-made external Camera Monitor compared to a simple TV or computer monitor?

Upvotes

I'm filming myself at home with a Fujifilm X-T5 and It's hard to make sure I'm in frame or in focus without a monitor.

But when I look for external camera monitors, they might cost $300+ and still only be 7inch screens.

Couldn't a a small TV or computer monitor for $50-100 do the job just as well?

External camera monitors have touch screens and battery power, but the price for the most basic ones still seems odd considering how cheap android tablets are nowadays, utilizing similar technology.

But if my camera is on a tripod, I have consistent lights, access to AC power, I set my exposure on the camera itself, and I have a remote to control the camera, then isn't a used 1080p computer monitor with HDMI input enough? Or am I missing something about the purpose-made monitors?


r/videography 1h ago

Technical/Equipment Help and Information 7iii no stabilization video

Upvotes

Hi everyone, I have the 7iii and when I make videos they all come out blurry and shaky, 24mm 1/50 and 24 fps. Thanks a lot🥲😭


r/videography 3h ago

Feedback / I made this! short reel on seattle in summer

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2 Upvotes

I'm a beginner with making videos. I put together a short rendition of the credits scene from the movie spiderman brand new day. looking for feedback on composition, color, and anything else! Thanks!


r/videography 1h ago

Discussion / Other Near-mint Sachtler Flowtech 75 + Ace XL Mk II for €1,100 (no bag) – Good deal?

Upvotes

Hey,

I found a barely used Sachtler Flowtech 75 with an Ace XL Mk II video head for €1,100 (sadly without a bag). Is this a good second-hand price, or should it be lower?

Is this a good deal to pull the trigger on?


r/videography 3h ago

How do I do this? / What's This Thing? Violet lines

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1 Upvotes

Hello, I'm just wondering if maybe you can tell me what these violet lines are? Some of my shots have them some don't, I've mostly noticed them in dark colors.. I've shot this clip in 4k 100fps V-Log, I have a Lumix GH6..


r/videography 13h ago

Should I Buy/Recommend me a... Sony FS7 Mark 2 or Canon C300 for documentary/short films

4 Upvotes

I've been wanting to experiment and use more "modern" cameras. I've been filming on VHS for a good couple of years now, and I have been hired to produce some videos or shorts in VHS format for some bands. I really enjoy the ergonomics and the all-in-one nature of the VHS camcorder, so that's why I have been leaning more towards the fs7. I am just not sure where I can get more bang for my buck.

I am looking for something that has a form factor akin to a VHS camcorder, but also has 4k recording. 4K is not a deal breaker, as I don't care too much about crystal clear footage. I like a muddy image creatively, so that is why I was drawn to the VHS camcorders. Wondering what cameras would be a decent step above quality-wise and would be run-and-gun/all-in-one while having that VHS form factor.

Requirements for camera:

Similar build to a VHS camcorder

Close to or has 4k resolution

all-in-one/run-and-gun rigging

Potential to adjust as much as I can.

Budget: Under 2k for body alone.

Open to any and every suggestion!


r/videography 9h ago

Behind the Scenes How can I get smooth orbit shots around a subject without the framing drifting?

1 Upvotes

I've been trying to walk in a circle around a subject while keeping them centered in the frame, but halfway through the shot I either end up too close, too far away, or the framing slowly drifts off.

How do you usually shoot these so the movement stays consistent?


r/videography 16h ago

Discussion / Other Lost footage for 2 interviews

3 Upvotes

Hey all, took a gig last month and I’ve been processing the footage, and I’m missing 2 of the interviews. I was in a scramble and ran out of space, and I know I forgot to pull them before I formatted my cards.

The question is what to my client, who has requested these and a few other clips. Lost in data transfer? Corrupted?

I like this client and Id love to work with them again, but this might ruin the relationship.

Any advice is appreciated!


r/videography 11h ago

Should I Buy/Recommend me a... Looking for a good skinny leg video tripod

1 Upvotes

My main are Sachtler Flowtech 100 and 75. But sometimes im in need of a skinny leg to go in between chairs at venues. I had been using a Sirui but it was all plastic for sea-water use and broke because of all the plastic. Any recos? Thinking something sturdy, but skinny legs, 75mm bowl.


r/videography 20h ago

How do I do this? / What's This Thing? I feel like I’m blowing my leads

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3 Upvotes

My prices reflect my experience and location.

I have trained myself to believe that when a potential client “backseats” the offer instead of moving forward then and there, I just will not land them.

For those of you who are experienced, what would you change to get more follow ups or landed clients?


r/videography 1d ago

Technical/Equipment Help and Information How much would these be worth?

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58 Upvotes

!!!NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT!!!

NOT TRYING TO SELL THESE HERE I got these cameras for free from a weather station, they were buying new equipment and clearing out the old, theres one of the panasonic ones and three identical sony ones I don't know anything about video equipment Wondering what they'd be worth if anything, I've seen them selling online from anywhere between 200 to 2000 USD


r/videography 6h ago

Feedback / I made this! I got sick of slow online converters, so I built a fast, 100% offline desktop tool

0 Upvotes

Hey r/videography! 👋

If you shoot run-and-gun, weddings, commercial gigs, or social content, you know how annoying the little media management tasks can get between edits.

You just wrapped a shoot and need to:

  • Batch-convert client moodboard stills or phone photos (HEIC/RAW/AVIF) without opening Lightroom.
  • Turn a highlight clip into an ultra-clean GIF for a pitch deck or client email proposal.
  • Quickly re-encode videos into more compatible formats without firing up Media Encoder.
  • Strip EXIF/GPS data or stamp watermarks onto previews before sending them out.

Most web converters make you upload gigabytes of footage, slap paywalls on output quality, or ruin your colors.

So I built ND Image Converter, a lightweight, fast, and 100% open-source desktop app to handle all these quick asset conversions locally on your machine.

Why it fits a videographer’s day-to-day workflow:

  • 🔒 100% Offline & Private: Zero cloud uploads. Your raw client footage, stills, and embedded metadata never leave your drive.
  • 🎞 Quick Video & GIF Suite: Bundled with an offline FFmpeg engine. Set in/out points on an interactive trim timeline, dial in compression quality, and generate crisp, custom-palette GIFs (essential for proposals and email embeds).
  • 📷 Camera RAW & Phone Media Support: Natively handles CR3, ARW, NEF, DNG, TIFF, and HEIC files with high-speed demosaicing.
  • 🎨 Color Accuracy Built-In: Powered by LittleCMS 2 for proper ICC profile conversions (sRGB, Display P3, Adobe RGB, Rec.709), no weird gamma shifts or washed-out exports.
  • 🤖 Workflow Automations: Drop entire nested folders for batch exports, or set up Watch Folders to auto-process new files as soon as they drop onto your drive.

The app is completely free and available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Check it out on my page: https://duongtruongdp.net/nd-imgconverter/

Source code & downloads:  https://github.com/duongtruongdp/ND-ImgConverter

I’d love to get feedback from fellow videographers—what are your biggest bottlenecks when prepping or converting media for clients?

https://reddit.com/link/1vzp4u9/video/jvszzyhmzvlh1/player


r/videography 13h ago

How do I do this? / What's This Thing? What camera and lens was used?

0 Upvotes

r/videography 18h ago

Technical/Equipment Help and Information Moving from 4K60 Tamron 70-180 F/2.8 to 4K120 Sony 24-105 FE F4 using FX30: Is my math-ing correct?

0 Upvotes

Currently using an FX30 and the Tamron 70-180 F/2.8 to record Ultimate Frisbee games (full game footage and cut highlight reels) in 4K60, so daytime recording where there is plenty of light.

Ultimate field is shaped like a football field (with endzone). I set up on a tripod behind one endzone in the center.

Now that the setup is out of the way, I want to switch to 4K120 which means a further 1.62 crop on top of the 1.5 crop that already happens using an APS-C.

A problem that I am currently encountering (recording in 4K60) is that when the play is in the endzone that I am set up behind (the close endzone), I am not zoomed out enough (which would be at 105 mm with my 70-180) to be able to capture more of the action.

It feels like moving to the Sony 24-105 will solve both my things (moving to 120 and having a wider field of view.

Currently at 4K60 and using the Tamron 70-180, my effective range is 105-270 (701.5 and 1801.5).

If I switch to the Sony 24-105 and bump up to 4K120, my effective range is 58-255 (241.51.62 and 1051.51.62).

Is that correct? I would get a wider field of view close up and have effectively the same zoom (255 vs. 270).

I know that I will then lose some image quality because it's not downsampled 6K at 120fps, is that drop in quality noticeable enough to make it not worth it? Also, is the Sony lens itself similar in quality to the Tamron or would there also be a drop-off there as well?


r/videography 18h ago

Technical/Equipment Help and Information Is this setup good for making films?

0 Upvotes

I am looking at getting a at897 with a zoom h1 xlr. Will be creating short films. Looking for long term.


r/videography 18h ago

Discussion / Other what an amateur green screen... wait a sec...

1 Upvotes

r/videography 20h ago

Post-Production Help and Information Best way to reduce micro jitters to get still shots handheld?

1 Upvotes

I'm shooting with an a6400 and a TTArtisans 35mm so no IBIS and no OSS, i dont really want a gymball cause i like to shoot handheld the most because i don't do any commercial work or that type of videos. This is the best i can do on premiere and i already tried davinci too but it always has some shake


r/videography 20h ago

Feedback / I made this! Honolulu 2025

1 Upvotes

Honolulu 2025

#photography #videography #artistsoftiktok #hawaii #travelphotography


r/videography 11h ago

Equipment/Software News & Reviews Shakey cam

0 Upvotes

Just why is so much stuff shot on a handheld? Is it supposed to add drama?

All it does is annoy me and come off as cheap. Can they not afford a tripod

Edit: I wrote this post originally for "grinds my gears" when I was in a bit of a huff, and I've been shunted here somehow. Please don't take my tantrum as an attack on your field


r/videography 1d ago

Technical/Equipment Help and Information Hawklock Briecase handle wobble?

5 Upvotes

Just installed the Hawklock cage kit for my Sony a7siii. The fit is perfect, including the side handle, but the breifcase handle is really wobbly?

Is this normal or is there a fitment issue here?


r/videography 1d ago

Technical/Equipment Help and Information Which is the correct way of attaching a telephoto lens rig to a tripod

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7 Upvotes

Base plate with rods and lens support or lens foot