Where to Start With Video Production Equipment
New technologies in video production equipment combined with the emergence of online video viewing, has made it possible for anyone with some talent and passion, to become a respected video creator in a short period of time. Video production equipment is relatively inexpensive, and can be mastered quite quickly with easy to use controls and features. Even the upcoming release of the iPhone 4 is going to have 720p HD video baked in.
While there is a lot more to the fine art of video creation than just having the right equipment, the accessibility of video production tools has encouraged many amateurs to simply jump in and give it their best shot. Understanding the basics of video production equipment is perhaps the first step to becoming the next Steven Spielberg.
As you prepare to make a new video or short film, it’s a good idea to determine what equipment you will need for an ideal shoot. Below is some of the primary equipment you will need, and some basic considerations you should keep in mind.
- Video cameras – From ENG cameras that are slightly larger than your average camcorder, to Studio cameras, there are infinite choices when it comes to cameras. There are way too many cameras to list here, but $500-$2,000 should get you a high enough grade camera that can provide quality image resolution for video scenes.
- Stabilization – This equipment includes tripods, shoulder mounts, camera dollies, and other related hardware which keeps the camera steady. Stabilization equipment ensures that video production is smooth for viewers to watch. A tripod is one of the best investments that can be made for shooting video effectively, and tripods are usually quite inexpensive to purchase.
- Quality lighting – Some professionals argue that lighting is perhaps the next important thing to video production after the camera selection. If you can’t clearly see the actors in a video, or if there were weird shadows being cast on the set, you can almost hear the viewers vigorously clicking to find another video to watch. Light pricing ranges dramatically in cost, and can be as expensive or even more expensive than the camera itself. Focusing the light, and reflecting light successfully is a whole other post that I may one day write.
- Audio – While many video cameras contain a microphone to capture sound, creating a professional quality video requires separate audio equipment. If the video’s sound is good but the video is of low quality viewers are more tolerant of that, versus good video and poor sound. Just like cameras, there is a multitude of audio equipment options available. Be sure that the video’s audio is clear, clean, and crisp to keep your viewer’s ears happy.
- Editing software – Unlike film, which must be edited manually, video can be edited from the comfort of your home computer. Using professional video editing software you can add transitions, trim scenes, and cut the whole project together seamlessly to tell a story. Final Cut Premiere or Final Cut Pro are two good affordable options. Many new computers now come standard with video editing software, but most of those are only good for home videos. Investing properly in quality editing software is money well spent.
These are the five most important pieces of equipment and software to consider before getting into video production. Having the right mix of these five will get you well on your way towards creating quality video entertainment that viewers will enjoy watching, and sharing with their friends.
Equipment is only the first step though, so if you need the next piece of the puzzle which is talent to add to your team, don’t be shy to create a Spidvid profile and then tap the expertise of our production community.