10 Must-Have Filmmaking Video Accessories To Step Up Your Content in 2021
Use Filmmaking Gear To Make Your Videos Look More Professional in 2021!
Video and filmmaking equipment can be confusing to wade through and choose if you’re just starting out. There is a lot of video gear you can get but that doesn’t mean you should get it all – and you can always expand your list of filmmaking equipment over time. Plus, selling old gear to upgrade to new gear is always a good plan.
We are going to highlight the top 10 video / filmmaking equipment accessories you can get right now to effectively take your content to the next level. This list assumes you have already begun your content creation journey. These items are from our personal, professional experience through trial and error. These items are intended to most effectively improve your cinematic look, your overall quality, your workflow and frankly: your content as a whole.
The essential basics you should have at this point are:
- A camera
- A microphone
…here are our two recommendations in case you don’t.
Our Favorite Camera:
Our Favorite On-Camera-Microphone:
Alright, now without further ado:
Our 10 Must-Have Filmmaking Video Accessories To Step Up Your Content in 2021!
10. Tilta Nucleus-M: Wireless Lens Control System, Full Kit
The Tilta Nucleus-M system is absolutely amazing. I originally purchased this follow focus for actual professional focus-pulling on set. But amidst the pandemic, I’ve set-up the Nucleus system in my home studio, to pull focus with my intense lenses. And to say the lease, it’s been an absolute game changer. I save so much time pulling focus wirelessly. My cinema lenses are incredibly fast with gorgeous shallow focus, but of course, they don’t have autofocus. So this professional wireless follow focus system makes lens focus-pulls fast, easy, and even stylish when I want to do fancy moves!
9. Sennheiser AVX-ME2 | Camera Mountable ME2 Lavalier Digital Wireless Set
Sennheiser is pretty often the best of the best in audio. And that rule holds true with this wireless lavalier microphone. It produces excellent, professional-grade sound quality, without the need to set-up any external mics. Plus, the receiver plugs directly into the camera, so it saves time syncing in post. It’s an absolute game changer, not having to worry about turning and moving away from a microphone. This wireless lav is attached to you, so anywhere you move, the quality remains outstanding,
8. Syrp Variable ND Filter
A good ND filter kit is an absolute must-have. Everyone knows good lighting leads to better quality footage. But oftentimes, people will sacrifice ISO quality or F-Stop shallow focus for the sake of proper exposure. But with a quality ND filter, you can keep your F-stop / T-stop fully open, to maximize your depth of field, without having to sacrifice light. The Syrp variable ND filter allows you to quickly turn the wheel on the filter to change ND value, which is fast and simple. Not to mention, this filter is obviously a necessity if you’re ever shooting in direct daylight.
7. Rhino Essentials Slider Bundle
Now, this slider bundle is pretty advanced. But to be fair, it’s amazing. This camera slider is motorized, and built to set-up professional camera movements without having to touch the camera. The system is amazing, and for a micro-production or even a solo production: this can make your content look absolutely next level. A motorized camera slider is the way of the future!
6. FEELWORLD FW703 7 Inch IPS 3G SDI 4K HDMI DSLR Monitor
Feelworld makes amazing camera external monitors for an affordable budget. This monitor, the FW703 is everything you could possibly need in a professional camera monitor. It has options for HDMI and SDI, which is huge (so that’s perfect for DSLR’s as well as cinema cameras like the ARRI Alexa cameras.) It’s 4K, it has incredible color-monitoring functionality, focus peaking & even built-in speakers.
5. Aputure Light Storm LS C120D Mark 2
The Aputure 120D II is a professional-grade light, and it’s worth every penny. The light is programmable from your phone or from the wireless remote. It plugs into the wall or a V-Mount battery. And of course, it’s incredibly bright and level-adjustable. This is my absolute favorite single, simple Fresnel light. I’ve used it for narrative films on set, and for interviews in studios. Now, it’s an amazing, powerful, and reliable light for shooting in my bedroom studio. One of my favorite lights I’ve ever had the pleasure of using!
4. Manfrotto MVH502A,546BK-1 Professional Fluid Video System with Aluminum Legs and Mid Spreader
Tripods are a tricky game. There are SO MANY options. And the price range is absolutely bonkers. But if you do your research, I’m sure you’ll come to find that Sachtler and Manfrotto are the two best names in the space. More professional grade tripods will run you upwards of $12,000. And with that, no-name, poorly-made tripods can be found for as cheap as $40. This Manfrotto MVH502A tripod is a great middle-option. It holds up to 9 pounds (when balanced properly, but it will hold more than that most likely.) It comes with a mid-spreader, and a smooth, Manfrotto-build fluid head. It’s a great option in the smaller-budget range!
3. Elgato Cam Link 4K
This product right here might come as a surprise. Well, amidst my pandemic filmmaking, I made a discovery. I can record externally from my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 4K (or any other professional camera) directly into my PC. Not only that, but I can record directly into a multichannel recorder and/or streamer, and do some variations of live-editing and manipulation while recording without any loss of quality. Recording like this is a tremendous time saver, and data-saver. I record directly into my PC in my home studio, with audio plugged directly into my camera and thus recording on my pc as well. This workflow means I never have to deal with importing anything, syncing anything, or labeling and organizing everything. It saves me HOURS of time every week, and has been an absolutely amazing discovery.
2. Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro HDMI Live Stream Switcher
If you’re interested in what I was saying about the Elgato Cam Link, this one takes that concept to the next level. The Blackmagic Design ATEM Live Stream Switcher is another game-changer. I never thought this type of thing would be necessary outside the world of live broadcasting. Well, let me tell you. I record multiple videos per week: from comedy, to business, to narrative. And this switcher makes for a much more interesting workflow. You can set-up intense presets to save time in editing, to make camera transitions, graphic cues, picture-in-picture manipulation, camera-switches, and more. I’m still learning about the capabilities in using a stream switcher for YouTube video production. But so far, this has only saved me time and created much more interesting and effective video workflows.
1. Rokinon 35mm T1.4 Lens
Written By: Chris K. Daniels
