Video Equipment

Top 10 List of the Most Important Video Equipment

If you've come from the Video Planning page, you're ready to consider the video equipment you need. (If you haven't read that page yet, you might want to have a look.)

Below is a list of the video equipment you'll need, from the most basic videos on up to some fairly sophisticated productions.

1. Digital Video Camera or Camcorder

This includes video capabilities you may already have in your digital camera or cell phone.

To help you identify the best camcorder for your particular situation, check out "How to Buy the Best Digital Video Camera for You" and "Key Digital Video Camera Features."

What camcorder do I use? I have a Panasonic PV-GS180. I bought it because it has a number of features that are important if you want a fair amount of control over your videos -- features like good manual controls, headphone monitoring, and access to most features (including changing tapes) while it is mounted on a tripod. And it's amazingly small.

For online videos, it's great. Of course, it didn't hurt that it was the least expensive 3-CCD camcorder you could buy.

2. Camera Bag or Case

These are available everywhere. Just be sure to get one that is big enough to carry what you want to carry, which may include the AC cord, extra batteries, extra tapes, firewire cable, etc.

If having everything together just seems too bulky to you, you can opt for a separate case for the peripherals, but there's always the chance that you won't have it when you most need it.

My first camcorder bag (recommended by the store I bought it from) just fit the camera, but nothing else, so I returned it. The bag I use now has a separate padded compartment to protect the camera itself, and a compartment for everything else.

If you travel a lot and are concerned about attracting attention with an obvious camcorder bag, you can try something more discrete, like a plain backpack that you add padding to, or even a diaper bag. They aren't very attractive to thieves -- although if you don't have small kids, it may not be very convincing. They are padded, waterproof, and usually have roomy compartments for your gear.

If you want the best protection, a good hard-sided case is the best option. It will keep your equipment safe in all but the worst conditions.

The case I use for my mini camcorder had a former life as an insulated lunchbag. It's nylon, waterproof, and keeps my gear from looking like a target for a casual thief. I cut a piece of closed cell foam to keep the camera snug in the bottom compartment, and everything else fits in the top compartment. It needed a shoulder strap and a more secure closure which my wife rigged up, and I was all set.

3. Tripod

Unless you're going for that shaky, edgy hand-held look in everything you do, you'll want to include a tripod as part of your basic video equipment. A tripod will let you avoid the movement you don't want and focus on the movie you're making.

For my equipment kit, I have a basic, decent camcorder tripod (the Velbon CX 440). It folds to about 20" x 4" x 4" and extends to my full height. It doesn't have a bubble head for leveling (and it doesn't weigh a ton, like the pro tripods do), but it does have quick-release legs and adjustments every which way, so it works fine. Just be sure to get it level.

I also have a small travel tripod. It's not quite as small as a tabletop model -- it folds to 14" x 3" x 3", and extends to a few feet high. It's small enough to fit in most shoulder bags, so it's handy to carry around for field work and traveling.

For recording your video, this is all the video equipment you need. However, most people will also want:

4. Computer

A computer is essential for anyone who wants to edit their digital video footage. If you're buying new, get the biggest, baddest machine you can afford. Video is a resource hog, both of CPUs and hard disks. You can never have too much if you're editing video.

Apple is often preferred by the movie-making crowd, but Windows machines can do fine, as long as you have lots of memory, lots of hard disk space, and the fastest CPU you can afford.

If you're using miniDV tapes, you'll get your movie off of the camera and onto the computer through a FireWire cable. (That's Apple's name for it, but it's commonly used everywhere. It's also called IEEE 1394, iLink, and DV.) Nearly all camcorders have a FireWire port for this purpose.

5. Digital Video Editing Software

I've tried a few of the basic packages over the years (Pinnacle, MovieMaker, iMovie, and others) and my favorite by far is Sony Vegas Movie Studio.

Movie Studio does almost whatever I want it to, usually in a fairly intuitive way, and it's one of the least expensive packages around. I haven't put every product to the test, but I'm happy with Vegas.

Of course, if you use Windows, you'll have Windows MovieMaker for free. For Macintosh users, there's the free iMovie. Both of these are fairly good programs, and may be all you need. If you are just starting out, it would be worthwhile getting to know one of these programs first, to see if it will meet your needs.

This will allow you to shoot, edit and manipulate your videos, and it may be all you need. You can do amazing things with just these five pieces of video equipment.

To get more control over the finished product, go to the next page for the next five video equipment items you'll want.

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