The Best Equipment for Low-Budget Filmmaking

Filmmaking is quite different now than it was several years ago when young, intrepid artists pressed record on their Super 8 cameras and simply let it roll. While the technology is different now, there’s no reason people can’t still experience the same sense of adventure as they create films. To learn about the best equipment for low-budget filmmaking, in particular, consider these necessities.

Video

The video you shoot is the heart of your final product, and there are two tools at your disposal here: your smartphone or a DSLR camera.

Your Phone

Perhaps the truer imitator of the Super 8 in terms of pared-down adventure, modern smartphones are more than capable of producing solid video quality. You have total freedom to capture anything at any time, so long as you adjust your settings and have enough storage. If you want extra help, purchase a stabilizing rig so your video is as smooth as possible.

A DSLR Camera

Buying a dedicated camera affords you much more control over filming, though, and a DSLR is right for you if you want precision. You can’t really beat the cinematic look of a DSLR’s shallow focus with a 1.8 or 2.8 aperture. Pick one up if you’re ready to shoot a professional-looking film without lugging around a ton of gear.

Audio

The other vital sense when recording is audio, and you’d do well to pick up a shotgun mic and an audio recorder to round out your sound.

A Shotgun Microphone

When looking for the best equipment for low-budget filmmaking, a shotgun mic is your go-to tool. Presuming you don’t have a posse of helpers that includes a sound operator, pick up a shotgun mic that plugs directly into your camera for solo shooting. There's so much more that goes into picking the ideal microphone for filming, but a shotgun mic is a solid start.

An Audio Recorder

To capture exceptional sound, pair your camera’s microphone with an external audio recorder. Because it doesn’t compress audio like other mics, what comes through will sound more true-to-life. Plus, because you have a recorder and your camera mic running, you’ll always have guaranteed audio should one fail.

Stability

To cap things off, you may as well get some sort of stabilizing tool now, before you inevitably reach a point of frustration later.

A Tripod

First, a trusty tripod affords you a comfortable and locked-in shooting platform. Filming is about patience and endurance, and you won’t have either if you’re only carrying your camera.

A Shoulder Mount

To maintain an intimate feel without sacrificing video quality or your body, get a shoulder mount. Like a tripod, they aren’t too pricey and, given their utility, are worth whatever you spend because they allow you free, organic motion as you film.