What you need for video production depends a lot on what you want to get out of your production (and setup cost can range from less than $1,000 to more than $100,000). If you’re looking to set up a DIY home studio for a YouTube channel for example, a quality entry-level setup can be had for around $2,000. Keep in mind when shopping for production equipment that with video, you really get what you pay for. If you’re looking for higher production value for your company for instance, be prepared to shell out some serious cash for quality gear or hire a production company. The primary components of a video production setup are: cameras, lenses, microphones, lighting and gear boxes if you plan to travel with your gear. Be prepared to also invest in a computer powerful enough to handle video production work. As with all aspects of video, when it comes to choosing an editing computer, you get what you pay for.
Here are a few different production level video setups to consider, from basic to pro:
Less than $1,000 Budget
• GoPro Hero 8 Black
• Media Mod
• Light Mod
• LED Lights
• Tripod
• Editing computer
This is a good setup for someone experimenting with video production for the first time who doesn’t want to spend a lot on equipment. The Hero 8 Black is an incredible camera for the price, and I’ve personally used it in professional settings where its handy blend of shock and waterproof characteristics were required (I even put it in a freeze chamber and a dropped it off a drop shock machine in a military testing facility with no damage to the camera). I haven’t personally tested the media mod or the light mod, however GoPro makes high quality products and I trust that they work as well as everything else GoPro makes. I’ve tested the Hero 8 Black in a wide range of environments and have been incredibly impressed with it. It’s a truly remarkable camera for the price. Adding an upgraded microphone (media mod) and a peripheral light (light mod) bump the production value of this up a bit to give you relatively high quality image and audio for a very low cost.
$5,000 Budget
• Single lens camcorder with variable zoom
• Lights
• Shotgun microphone
• Lavalier microphone
• Peripheral audio recorder
• Tripod
• Editing Computer
$10,000 Budget
• Hybrid camera with lens set
• Single lens camcorder with variable zoom
• Lights
• Shotgun microphone
• Lavalier microphone
• Peripheral audio recorder
• Tripod
• Editing computer
This is a nice basic setup for a company that needs to shoot a lot of interviews, yet doesn’t quite have the budget to hire a professional production company.
“The Pro Studio”: