6 Pieces of Filmmaking Gear I Regret Not Buying Sooner

What gear do you all wish you’d bought sooner? Let me know!

coming from the photography side mostly, the lens focus thing is a kinda given. The Sanken mic would be interesting if it didn't cost as much as a second hand Ferrari 😛. Joking, but also not. €350 for a lav mic, is, umm... naah, I'll grab the sound with a shotgun and the kit mic. Or my Röde ambient stereo pair - which as a factory matched pair were less than ONE COS11d. Have LMF-2 now. Actually, I'd just skip recording the sound and overdub with music sooner than fork our 7-800 on a pair of cos11d . Fugg dialog, I'll overdub it with me reading the dialog lines with toiler paper jammed up my nose for one character, to differentate. Mostly also because I've seen what "talent" do with lav mics when the shoot is over, yank'er out like it's disposable.

Filmmaking gear I should have bought sooner:

1) Lightings
2) A good sturdy tripod
3) A good mic

Hey Luc! long time subscriber here, do you recommend a wireless mic/ lav mic setup in the midrange price range? I have a7iv with the sony hot shoe mic

Your a really nice guy but the lighting or lack of lighting on your eyes is giving me evil villain vibes 😅

Too much hand movement, it's distracting...

After messing around with a Manfrotto video head on my Gitzo tripod, I recently bit the bullet on the Flowtech 75 and Aktiv6. The Manfrotto head had to go and I didn't want to get a bowl adapter for the Gitzo since it's main purpose is for my 4x5. Now I can build out the kits separately. And yeah, manual lenses for sure. I've never gotten comfortable with AF and am happy without it. Yay for focus peaking and false color.

just bought an Ifootage monopod....it has changed my filming a lot...I am following the protests downtown....paired with the FX30 it has been a game changer....I have this giant sized e-image tripod but it is too big, too hard to set up again and again even with the ball head....with the monopod from Ifootage it is easy to move, and I blend in more with the crowd....if there was a better head for the monopod I would get it...the Commodo head is fine...but nothing like the smoothness of my e-image....

Very good video sir. You make good points on the needs vs wants of gear. We all get the it h and buy gear we rarely use and never really needed.

My background is live audio, so I went with MixPre ii 6 and good mic's. I was lucky in that a friend works for Fujinon and he said if you can only get two the lens (at the time Fuji XT4) He got me a deal on the Fuji MK lens. The one thing I wish I would have known about was Track-E (I already knew about High in Lav's) I did switch to Sony because of the FX-3. The only thing I really need is a 6K main camera. I like shooting on the wide side and then punching in a little in post if Sony would releases a FX6 6K i would buy it on day 1 but the Burano is just outside my price range.

I wish i had bought my on Camera Light much sooner. btw Tenba makes also really good backpacks.

All the things you linked are way too expensive. Bad advice

Luc, thanks for the video. Are you still using Audiio? I was about to try them out but after some research they seem sketchy. The pricing was too good so wanted to see what the internet had to say.

I am really confused about Audiio. Because of this video i started a lifetime and pro subscription there. I totally love there library. After two days my password stopped working and when I tried to reset it I get a message that the reset link has been successfully sent. But no there is no link anywhere in my email. Tried to reach out to the customer service and this is the third day without response. I am totally disappointed with their customer service. No help when you need it. 😢

I’m thinking of buying a 23mm f1.4 Viltrox lens for a ZV-E10, are they any good for manual?

Thanks for posting the video.

I could not agree more about the backpack, especially as it seems my back is aging faster than the rest of me. A backpack must have a waist belt for me, otherwise it will get heavier as the day goes on. I tend to all but forget I have my favourite bag on, despite it being quite large. I mean, I take out the occasional child when I turn quickly, but there are lots more of them around. I use a dedicated phone for a screen, and made a cardboard shade for it. It's superb. It's cheap.

I agree about autofocus. I nearly didn't buy my camera, a Panasonic G9, because of the criticism of its autofocus. I use manual mostly, and I have never found any problems with autofocus. (Am I doing something wrong?) I have a lightweight tripod. It was pricey. I have a sturdy tripod, bought from ebay second hand. It could probably hold up SpaceX, but it keeps the spectators away and terrifies my camera to the extent that it seems locked onto GPS. If I can park nearby, or my wife is feeling energetic, I take the sturdy one. Otherwise it's the lighter one.

My eldest recently bought a quality mic for me. I should have got one myself years ago.

One piece of equipment I've found super-useful is something that stays in my home. It's a big plastic box to put all the must-have gear that I've bought, but never used after the first few goes. My advice is to ask other photographers whom you see using the item you are thinking of buying whether they reckon it's worthwhile. If they admit that they would not buy it again (or try selling it to you) then leave it.

Thanks for the video. I agree with almost all of it.

Looks like your in Vancouver! I am a DP and i live a block away from the building you were infort of! Lol

" no brainer investment " then suggests a $1800 monitor LOL Crazy

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the no-frills, real world advice! I really appreciate that you point out what’s important without turning any of it into a sales pitch. I get a sense that you care about genuinely educating your audience. So... I feel genuinely educated. ;)

Hollow eyes.

@LucForsyth Hey, I've just bought a Canon 600D, want to photo some 40k minitures, landscapes when camping with buddies, but want to shoot short ( 7 minutes ) "movies" in the forest and in the dark with some campfire going on. I know its not really ideal with a 600D, but im working with a low budget. Im thinking about Magic Lantern as its a canon, and im looking to buy a velbon 438 fluid tripod. Do you have some suggestions on what should i focus on? Or if im not really on the right track? Maybe i just dreamt too big. Would love your input.

Great video, thanks so much! Wondering what mount you use to get your smallHD onto the nato rail? I have the same monitor and a wooden camera uvf but it must have got bent over time because it just doesn't sit level any more. Hoping to replace just the bit that connects to the 1/4 inch slot on the side of the monitor.

Man! The first piece of equipment is $1800! Ouch

$2000 for a small ugly monitor???

Very interesting - I wasn't aware that focus throws vary so significantly based on whether a lens is designed for manual vs auto focus. Much appreciated! Great content, very useful.

For years I used to wonder how bmpcc looked better than others and then I realised that most bmpcc users were probably pulling focus instead of autofocus. It definitely looks more filmic

Thanks for the tips. Just starting out on this journey.

Apature 300d is £1000... wow! I was thinking like £400/£500

Been using Cos11d for years. Thinking of moving to dpa 4060 or 6060, slightly more neutral. Still love the sound of the Sankens. Good lavs are essential.

The hat shadow on your face is AWEFULL! It is difficult to watch a videographer's content who doesn't know how to film HIMSELF correctly!

Some cameras now have a function for linear manual focusing and setting throw radius. Not completely the same but does bridge the gap a lot more and improves focus by wire lenses.

Where do you rank the cinesaddle on the essential gear list? They seem clutch for a lot of situations. I know the expense, but for professional work IF USED it will pay for itself quickly. Thoughts, opinions? I already saw your video comparing other options btw. I need an Easyrig alternative that is less obtrusive and very versatile. Thanks!

Im so gutted that I watched this! I just bought the PD carbon tripod. For my run and gun r5c setup. Sad to hear it doesn't last.

Love it….and your voice is so calming. Thank you for sharing your expertise

Only coming across your videos now. Subscribe button hit. Love the content!

I 10000% agree about the COB light. I have Aperture's lower end amaran COB lights and I use them Every day to great effect. The price of them has come down so so so much to the point that you truly should not buy an LED panel when a COB is so much more useful and bright. The professional looks they can achieve absolutely make it the first major light you should have.

It's a little different when you're shooting with a BMPCC 6k Pro - the on-camera LCD is fantastic. 5-inch 1080P 1500nit HDR screen, on-camera? It's great. Now, that only works if you're shooting handheld and not from like a top handle, or if you're using a shoulder rig or gimbal. But if you're shooting handheld or on sticks? It's great.

this video is an ad, no creativity, no storytelling .. just an ad.

Smallrig 502, hehe. I think you meant SmallHD 😉

Hey Luc, what microphones are you showing at the end?, thank you!

Why is a CRV in the jungle LOL

Am I the only one troubled by the lighting for the talking head portions of this vid. His eyes are lost in the shade of the ball cap. Weird.

I agree to sony lenses point

I shoot for TV and it's super rare i'll want AF. Anything from presenter piece to camera to run and gun actuality, manual is way better. I do like the option for AF for talking head interviews though. Just shot a TV series on a Sony 24-70 gm2 and results were great but I'm trading it in for the Ranger cine zoom. A fully manual lens.

I agree with everything including manual focus lenses - the problem is that I don’t think I am skilled enough to properly use them. I’m not a professional but I do sell a lot of stock video. I don’t feel confident all the time focusing manually. I like your content. Thanks!

I am new to the film world and I am getting more gigs in doing Videography for workshops and events. I am getting a Canon R6 Mark II. Any tips on what kinds of lenses I should get?

Do you think Camera-Sliders are more practical for professional filmmakers & not as important for amateur filmmakers?