The Photography and Video Gear I swear by.
As you’re going through this list, Click on the titles to navigate to the product.
Photography & videography gear may seem like something that can exist on a simple list; a “buy this if you want to succeed” inventory of must-haves if you’re a professional creator. I’ve found that the gear you use as a creator is much more intimate than all that. It’s a collection of deeply familiar tools that are part of the personal rhythm and flow of how you choose to live your life. For this reason, I don’t think it’d be an honest approach for me to simply create a list of what to buy without a deeper exploration of why I depend on it the way that I do. So without further ado, here is the ever evolving list of the media gear that I trust every day.
Start here: Things EVERY Photographer needs - Gear that you’ll use at some point.
Table of Contents:
Camera Bodies
Camera Lenses
Lens Filters
Video Gimbals
Audio Recording
Lighting
Drones
External Storage & SD Cards
Camera Bodies:
Photography + Video Camera: The Sony A7IV.
The Sony A7IV is a workhorse of a camera. It can serve as a high end video camera and a very capable photography camera. The autofocus is snappy and reliable. It can record up to 4K 60fps with a 1.5x crop factor - and although many complain about this, I’ve never found it’s noticeably impacted me on the day to day. Due to the megapixel count on the full frame sensor and the fact that it oversamples video quality, you can crop your 24fps and 30fps footage down to 1.5x without losing 4K quality. I love this camera so much that I have two of them and I’ve trusted them to create videos used by billion dollar brands like Rolex, ATCO, BMO, and countless others. The video footage is cleanest at 800 ISO and 3200 ISO. The one downside of this camera is that I find once you go past 3200 ISO, the footage can tend to get fairly noisy, so it’s not an ideal camera for lowlight video situations, but I’ve made it work.
My favourite thing: How quickly you can change between photo/video/framerates. The extreme customizability in how it was built makes it the perfect hybrid camera for run-and-gun productions where you don’t have a lot of time to switch between settings.
What it’s lacking: It’s not amazing for low-light videography and if you care about full frame 4K 60fps footage (I don’t), then maybe consider a different camera.
Video/Low-Light Camera: The Sony FX3
I genuinely enjoy using my Sony A7IV cameras more than the FX3 as it fits my fast paced workflow better. I primarily bought this camera for its low-light performance. The dual-base ISO on the Sony FX3 filming on SLOG3 is 640 ISO and 12,800 ISO. There has yet to be a lowlight situation where 12,800 ISO isn’t enough. Due to the lower MP sensor, the video file sizes are also smaller than the A7IV which is nice for storage on SSDs. This camera also offers uncropped 4K 60fps and 120fps footage which is a nice addition if you regularly use slow motion in your filming. The colour science is slightly different than Sony alpha cameras - I enjoy the look of both.
My favourite thing: The ability to get clean footage at 12,800 ISO - It fulfills all my lowlight needs.
What it’s lacking: Maybe I’ve set something up incorrectly, but I prefer the autofocus performance on my Sony A7IV, though both do a great job.
Camera Lenses:
Portrait & unexpected video lens: The Sony 85mm f/1.8
The reason this is a favourite lens of mine comes down to one word: compression. Not a lot of people rely on an 85mm for their videography, but when you’re using this lens and a gimbal, the compression really brings a lot of intensity to the shot and movement feels more significant. This is also a great lens for taking portraits as you really cut out the surroundings and hone in on the subject. I love using this lens for event photos and videos in combination with a wider lens like the 24mm or 35mm. It has snappy autofocus and is a really dependable budget conscious lens.
My favourite thing: The quality is great and it’s a REALLY affordable lens.
What it’s lacking: It’s only an f/1.8 aperture - so if you care about f/1.4 or f/1.2 this is not the lens for you. F/1.8 is more than enough in my opinion due to the compression you see.
Ultimate Gimbal Lenses: The Sony 24mm & 50mm f/2.5 G lenses
I only have the 50mm from this series (there’s also a 40mm if you prefer 40mm to 50mm) but have regularly contemplated buying the 24mm as well. Now, f/2.5 is not a low aperture, but for most videography scenarios I wouldn’t shoot using a lower aperture than f/2.8 regardless with the intention of keeping focus sharp. The reason these lenses are such a treasure is because of how tiny they are, how lightweight they are, and the fact that the 24mm, 40mm, and 50mm all weigh basically the same amount. This means that if you’re using a gimbal for your videography, you can likely change between the 24mm and 50mm without having to rebalance your gimbal - which saves you a lot of time. Not to mention, because they’re relatively newer lenses, the autofocus is VERY fast. The small lens size is also ideal for street or travel photography as it’s very inconspicuous and light weight.
My favourite thing: How lightweight this lens is.
What it’s lacking: this lens doesn’t have a low aperture - for photography I wish that it could go lower than f/2.5.
Best 35mm for video: The Sony 35mm f/1.8
I don’t have a lot to say about this lens except that it’s extremely reliable. The autofocus performance is very quick, the lens is very light weight and small, it boasts an aperture of f/1.8, and it’s very affordable. If you want a lens that not quite as wide as a 20mm or 24mm, but still offers the ability to capture the environment of your shot, this is a great lens to invest in.
My favourite thing: it’s a really affordable, no-nonsense lens.
What it’s lacking: Honestly not much. It doesn’t have a f/1.4 aperture which may be important if you’re buying a photography focused lens, but for video it’s a non-issue.
Workhorse Photography Lens: the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 II
This lens is the most recent addition to my collection. I originally bought it as a video lens as I thought this would help me switch focal lengths on my gimbal without physically changing a lens, but I find that the need to rebalance the gimbal when you go between 24mm to 70mm kind of negates that - not to mention that it’s fairly heavy. Okay, to state the obvious, there’s a reason why a 24-70mm f/2.8 is part of the holy trinity of lenses. It’s a really handy lens to have as it’s incredibly versatile and can hold its own in low-light situations due to the f/2.8 aperture across its focal lengths. I chose to buy the sigma because the Sony is significantly more expensive and only offers slight improvements in performance. Overall I’ve really enjoyed this lens for taking photos and would recommend buying it as a budget conscious zoom lens that will perform well. This lens would also function well as a video lens if you’re using a hand-held video rig.
My favourite thing: I love the focal length versatility it gives me. This means that I can take a wide variety of shots using just this lens. If you need JUST one lens and don’t plan on buying a whole collection, a 24-70 f/2.8 is a good place to start.
What it’s lacking: Autofocus isn’t quite as dependable as a Sony lens and it’s not a great video lens if you plan on using a gimbal.
Super Zoom Telephoto lens: The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7
I use this lens constantly when I create sporting videos used by brands like Rolex. The autofocus is snappy. The aperture range is pretty solid for a zoom lens of this length. It’s a great wildlife lens if that’s your thing. Overall really happy with this but also I’m not a huge lover of Super zooms. I’ll say this, you don’t need a super zoom until you need a super zoom. 90% of the time this lens sits on my shelf, but when I need it, I really need it, and this lens performs very well. I randomly picked this up on Amazon for like $1200.00 (it’s normally around $1900 CAD so I assume it must have been grey market or something, but everything works perfectly).
My favourite thing: It works great, has a great zoom range, and it’s fairly affordable compared to Sony options.
What it’s lacking: Definitely is not great for lowlight with an aperture range of f/5-6.7. I’m very thankful I use the FX3 now as the ISO performance gets rid of that problem for me.
My Favourite Lens: The Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM
This is purely a personal preference. I just find the 24mm focal length really pleasing. It captures a lot of the environment but isn’t too wide that it’s overly distorted. It can function as a landscape lens, a portrait lens, a city lens, an anything lens. I find this is an amazing lens if you’re a commercial or tourism photographer or videographer as a 24mm focal length just looks really great when your goal is to show off an entire scene. Okay, let’s get into the technical.
First off, an f/1.4 aperture is SO nice for bokeh (helps make up for the lack of compression) and for low-light situations. It’s going to let a lot of light in which has saved me more times than I can count. Even though it’s a fairly old lens at this point, the autofocus is snappy and reliable. It’s a fantastic video lens for handheld or gimbal work. It’s a great focal length for talking head YouTube videos or short-form IG videos.
My favourite thing: 24mm is my favourite focal length. This is purely personal, but it serves me well and my artistic eye.
What it’s lacking: Honestly, I can’t think of a single thing. I love this lens.
Lens Filters:
Go-to Variable ND filter: The K&F Concept True Color Variable ND 2-32 Filter (Nano-X Series)
First off, let me say this: If you plan on doing videography AT ALL: you NEED an ND Filter.
I’ve used a variety of premium ND filters from Freewell to the Peter McKinnon Polar Pro filters and honestly, I’d just go with the cheaper K&F concept option. You’ll save hundreds of dollars for something that inevitably will get cracked at some point (RIP Freewell and PM Polar Pro filters). Now a lot of people will go on about wanting a magnetic filter - I hate magnetic filters. In my experience they always fall off; just give me a threaded screw-on filter and I’m good to go. These filters from K&F concept seem to have accurate colors and I like the look & design of them. I’d stick to the 2-32 ND range as you’ll use these 99% of the time. I actually sold my 6-9 stop filter as I never used it (seriously, I don’t know if I ever encountered a moment I needed a 6-9 stop ND filter).
My Favourite thing: It’s cheap and does what it’s supposed to.
What it’s lacking: I wish it had the rubber cover that the PM Polar Pro filters have, but honestly that matters 0%.
Circular Polarizing Filter: The K&F True Color Polarizing Filter
I honestly don’t have much to say for this one; a polarizer is one of those things you either want to use or you don’t want to use. I haven’t encountered a massive amount of situations where I NEED one, but the added contrast + polarizing effect of the filter adds a nice touch to photos. I’ve also used a CPL + VND combo filter before and have enjoyed the look of how the imagery comes out.
My favourite thing: it gets the job done at a decent price tag.
What it’s lacking: Honestly CPL filters aren’t all that complicated. Not a lot to miss out on.
Video Gimbals:
Workhorse gimbal: DJI RS3 or RS4 Pro
I currently am using the RS3 pro, but if you’re going to buy a pro version of these gimbals, you might as well grab the most recent model. This gimbal has a HIGH weight limit which means it can handle whatever you can throw at it. I’ve heard the RS4 Pro has a built in vertical filming setup, but on the RS3 Pro I use the DJI Vertical mount to shoot my short-form videos I create for brands.
My favourite thing: This gimbal is heavy duty. I’m never worried it’s struggling with the weight of the camera/lens combo I put on it.
What it’s lacking: It’s not light weight. This thing is heavy and your arms will get tired by the end of the day.
Lightweight Gimbal: DJI RS3 Mini
I purchased this gimbal because of the large form factor and weight of my other gimbal. This gimbal is very light, has a built in vertical mode (so no need for the vertical mount), and is quite small so great for travel. I don’t have much to say other than this gimbal serves its purpose. It’s not my gimbal I take on big productions (that’s my RS3 Pro), but it’s a great gimbal for someone who wants a lightweight setup.
My favourite thing: it’s super lightweight and travel friendly.
What it’s lacking: I personally wouldn’t push the weight limit on this thing or use it with a very heavy lens (maybe I just have anxiety), but for heavy setups this may not be the gimbal for you.
Audio Recording:
Wireless Microphone: The RODE Wireless Pro
This wireless microphone system works brilliantly. It records 32-bit float internal audio recording, it has internal recording as a backup incase the signal doesn’t transmit to your camera properly, and it comes with corded lav-mic’s to be screwed into the transmitters to make things look discrete while filming. I’ve had numerous other wireless mic systems and this one is by far the best I’ve used.
My favourite thing: Internal 32-bit audio recording. You have no idea how much this can save you.
What it’s lacking: Honestly, nothing I can think of.
Shotgun Microphone: The RODE Videomic NTG
This is a highly directional mic. If you need to pic up ambient environmental sounds happening all around you, this is probably not the ideal mic for you. For me, I wanted a directional mic that wouldn’t pick up the white noise. The sound quality is fantastic with this microphone. I’ve also plugged it in to the RODE Wireless Pro to transform it into a boom mic and record 32-bit audio. It’s a really solid, high quality mic.
My favourite thing: How directional it is. I don’t want ambient noise from all around messing with my interview or talking head videos.
What it’s lacking: If you need premium audio, this isn’t the highest quality mic on the market. But for most interviews or productions this is more than enough.
Lighting:
Best run-and-gun production light: The Amaran 60X S
I’ll start off by saying that if you need a light for outside, daylight type scenarios, this light won’t be strong enough for you. Probably start by looking at something around 300W instead of 60W. Even with those limitations being acknowledged, I really enjoy this light. I use it on run-and-gun indoor shoots all the time and it’s a great affordable light for your YouTube studio. It’s a bi-color 60 watt LED light that’s compact and easy to transport. I attach a small soft box to the Amaran and screw on a cheap monopod to the base to make a run-and-gun LED photo & video light in tight locations with limited space. If you have someone who can extend the Monopod to its full length, they can easily position the light where you need it to enable you to get a beautiful shot in scenarios with challenging lighting situations.
My favourite Thing: It’s small and makes for the perfect run-and-gun lighting setup.
What it’s lacking: I do wish it was an RGB light instead of Bi-colour, but it’s honestly not a big deal.
Drones:
Most USABLE Drone: The DJI Mini 4 Pro
I enjoy drones. I enjoy how arial photos and videos look. What I don’t enjoy is navigating the laws surrounding drones. The first drone I purchased was a DJI Air 2S; it had a killer camera and produced great results; The problem? I could hardly fly it anywhere. Depending on what country and county you live in, drone laws are tight. In Canada especially, it seems most of the areas you’d want to fly a drone, you’re not allowed to fly a drone. That’s why I love the DJI Mini 4 Pro so much. The fact that it’s under 250g classifies it as a “micro drone” and significantly reduces the flying restrictions. That’s not to say that you can fly it wherever and however you want, but there is significantly less legislation surrounding this drone weight. It produces good quality photos and videos, packs easily pretty much everywhere, and has some impressive specs and tech.
My favourite thing: I can actually fly my drone more places because of the sub-250g weight of the mini drone.
What it’s lacking: I really don’t enjoy grading DLOG video footage and the camera isn’t quite as good as the camera on the more professional models.
External Storage & SD Cards:
A quick word on SD cards for your camera; depending on what quality of video your camera can record, the size of your photo raw files, how many images per second you’re trying to shoot, etc… you may not need the V60 or V90 cards I’m suggesting below. The cards I’m suggesting are in the context of me needing to record 4K 60fps footage. V90 cards will be the most expensive, then V60, with V30 cards being the most affordable. You may fully be able to get by with a V30 card. Just read up online about if the type of card you’re buying can handle the videos or photos you’re trying to shoot.
MOST DURABLE SD Card: The Sony TOUGH-M 256GB SDXC UHS-II U3 Class 10 V60 Card
This card is a bit pricier than other options you’ll find on the market, even more so if you buy a V90 or CF Express A card, but you won’t find something more dependable and durable. I have the FX3 camera and with it the ability to record in 4K 120fps. Most information you would read would suggest you need a V90 card to capture this, but I’ve used my V60 card (which is quite a bit cheaper) and have never had an issue recording 4K 60fps or 120fps footage onto it.
My favourite thing: The build quality, speed, and dependability. After you handle one of these cards, all other major SD cards will feel like toys.
What it’s lacking: A budget friendly price tag. These cards are expensive so not for the budget focused buyer. But they also won’t break or corrupt on you.
Budget SD Card Options: The Sandisk Extreme Pro V90 cards or ProGrade Digital V90 cards
I’ve heard good things about both. I’ve never personally used the ProGrades but know people who have. Stay away from Lexar cards. I have bought a few and used them as a secondary card if I’m shooting on a camera that’s writing to two cards at the same time, but the horror stories surrounding lexar cards corrupting are far too numerous to count. If you aren’t recording high quality 4K video, you can likely get away with a V30 or V60 card which is more budget conscious.
My favourite thing: The price tag. They’re still expensive, but not Sony TOUGH expensive.
What it’s lacking: The build quality and dependability of Sony TOUGH Cards.
SSD external storage drives: Samsung T7 Shield 1/2/4 TB SSDs
These storage drives are reliable and are water and dust resistant. SSD’s and storage in general is expensive but it’s important that you choose storage that you can rely on for backing up your photos and videos. Samsung is a great choice for this. I will say this once: STAY AWAY FROM THE SANDISK EXTREME PORTABLE SSD. They were super popular for a few years, but they have been failing left and right over the last year or two. If you’re going to buy a small portable SSD, go with the Samsung T7 Shield.
My favourite thing: They’re small and dependable.
What it’s lacking: An affordable price tag. All storage is expensive and the T7 isn’t an exception. It’s not that this brand is more expensive, it’s just that all storage brands are expensive. When I’m buying, I usually wait for a sale and buy several at once. It can save you quite a bit of money.