HD DSLR Production Kit – Basic Level - With Pricing

I don't have the luxury of going into the justifications for each of these items one by one but trust me, you'll need these. I may, in future posts, expand on the features and benefits of each one but for now, it's just the basic info. Okay, enough preamble, here goes.

The Basic HD DSLR Filmmaking Kit

• HD DSLR Camera with Kit Lens. I have one word for you: Canon. Specifically, get the Canon EOS Rebel T2i, a fantastic camera that you can purchase for under $900 and that includes the kit lens! I checked Adorama and they have it on sale today for $850 with free shipping. That's a terrific bargain. You'll be getting the 18-5mm kit lens with that which isn't a "fast" lens by any means but is more than enough to start with.


• Battery Charger/Cables/Sofware - all this comes with the camera but they are important to have so I thought I'd mention them. Cost is Zero dollars.


• Basic Tripod - I did a quick search of B&H and found the Manfrotto 190XDB Tripod Legs (Chrome) with 3126 Micro Fluid Head selling for $154. I can't vouch or recommend this tripod as I've never heard of it but, technically, it meets my basic requirement of a kinda-sturdy tripod with what they are at least calling a "micro fluid head." For all I know "micro fluid head" means they sprinkled water over it during manufacturing. I can't emphasize enough how important a good tripod is, after all you are going to be trusting your camera and lens investment to it, aren't you?


• External Microphone. Without going into all the details, the microphones built into even the best HD DSLRs are trash. Don't rely on them, for anything. That's why I suggest you get a Rode Videomic which I found on Amazon for $160. However you will want to add to that a Rode "Deadcat" Microphone Wind Muff. Why is it called a "Deadcat"? Well, because....just look at the darn thing! But these little furry devices do an excellent job of getting rid of wind noise and will set you back about $39.


• SDHC Storage Card. The Canon EOS Rebel T2i shoots to SDHC, Class 6, storage cards. You can start with a single 8GB card, I buy the Transcend brand and so far have no complaints. The 8GB versions cost around $20 each. You can find much more expensive varieties but none other than the famous UK videographer and DSLR trainer Philip Bloom recommended Transcend because that's what he shoots with and so that's good enough for me. In fact, if ever in doubt, just ask yourself "What Would Philip Bloom Do?"


• Camera Bag/Backpack/Shoulder Bag. Believe it or not this is a very controversial area - people are so darn adamant about their choice of camera bags. However for this basic kit, I would just say, look for something well padded, inconspicuous so as to reduce the threat of theft and buy larger than you think you will need because you are going to be accumulating gear "stuff" quickly and it all needs a place to live. Here's one from Canon that sells for about $40 and has some great reviews. The only thing that worries me is that it actually says Canon on it which tells a would-be thief exactly what to expect should they snatch it from you. Perhaps this device could be utilized to solve that problem.


• Computer with Basic Editing Software. Talk about religious wars...I'm a Mac guy, so are many, many professional video editors and shooters. This is easily going to be the most expensive part of your basic level kit but as I said in the Introduction post for this series, technically you don't need a computer at all. But assuming you want to do some sound and video editing to your footage, get a Macbook Pro for $1,350 which comes with a free video editing application called iMovie that will be more than enough to get you started. Or if you want to invest a little bit more, spend $200 to turn up your editing capabilities and get Final Cut Express, you won't be sorry you did. (By the way, I spec'd out the 13" inch Macbook Pro for you versus the 15" model which costs nearly $700 more.)

PRICING - ADDING IT ALL UP
Okay boys and girls, ready for the damage? Let me say this doesn't include taxes, shipping, handling, extortion fees etc.

$2,813 or $3,203 if you go for the 15" Macbook Pro versus the 13".

It's a lot, isn't it? But consider what you are getting for that price. The Canon T2i with its large-ish APS-C CMOS chip size is capable of producing video that, in at least one feature film director's opinion rivals a professional HD movie camera costing $100,000 from just a few years back. I assume the Varicam had better lenses than a Canon Kit lens retailing for $120 but if you are only spending $850 on the camera body you can buy just about any lens collection you want and you won't hit $100,000!

Without a computer or editing software included the price drops down to $1,463 which is pretty remarkable really.

All right that's the basic kit for you. Next week I will post my "Advanced Basic Kit" recommendations.

Comments

[AS]

I'm very interested in bolting on a DSLR not only to my workflow, but as something to bring on a long-travel project as primary gear. As I'll be in not the safest of environments, I'm wanting to go cheap, and leave a duplicate kit ready to be shipped if I get robbed. I'm interested in the Panasonic FZ100. I like that it has a shotgun mic accessory and I like the LCD screen...and I think...that you can also mic a lav while simultaneously using the shotgun. I like Canon lenses--great quality. A drawback is having to buy the Zacuto shroud. I want to travel as LIGHT as possible. All of this being said, do you have any thoughts on the FZ100 or something similar. I'm after video--stills are a side dish. I would buy the RODE you recommend.

[Steve Crow]

I don't have any experience with the FZ100 however I have to assume you would need a loupe no matter which model camera you get, none of the LCDs on the back of cameras can stand up to harsh sunlight...I know the screen rotates but that might not solve the issue entirely - see if you can rent one from BorrowLenses.com and test it out for yourself.

Also the loupe give you magnification which is important for focusing.

The FZ100 doesn't shoot at 24p which is a bummer, however the price is certainly great. Overall, I have to stick with my recommendation of the Canon T2i - yes, it's more than double the price but you can't go wrong with this camera and it will be a much better camera to have around AFTER your trip too.

[Steve Crow]

Oh, I just saw it has a fixed lens and a max aperture of F2.8 when you have the lens at the widest setting (zoomed out) 2.8 is okay and you should still be able to get a shallow DOF look but since it's not a constant aperture lens if you zoom in while filming the aperture will change causing the image to get darker as you zoom in. I don't recommend zooming in or out while filming anyways...it's sort of a rule of filmmaking but lots of people are intentionally breaking it in order to get what they consider a more "dynamic" look.

Not being able to switch lenses is always a huge drawback in my opinion...then again it IS inexpensive and if you consider it basically a super pocket video camera it's not bad but it wouldn't be a camera I would use for ongoing client work