What equipment should I get for starting out making professional quality films?

Question

I want to start two short film projects but I don't know what equipment I need to get a good professional quality result. I've been saving some money so I hope budget is not a problem. Also, what's most commonly used to record audio in this kind of project? I want to get the sound from two people talking with the camera placed far away from them. I'm trying to make an independent production company so I'm seeing this as an investment. The cheaper the better though.

Answer 1

That's great that you are working on this! For equipment I would suggest getting some kind of a DSLR camera and a stand. I have a Canon Rebel T3. I have heard the T5 is also a good one. This will cost you anywhere from $300-500. You will also need a memory card. With these cameras you can record raw footage. They allow you to set your shooting options and record for a pretty long time. Since you're trying to save money here, I would suggest using a phone with headphones for the audio recording part and start recording the video and audio at the same time so that both are captured simultaneously and it's easier to edit later. The stand you can get at Best Buy. They have pretty flexible and bendable/adjustable stands there for around $30-40, and they look like tiny tripods. These are my low budget filming equipment suggestions for you. The camera might be the one thing that will be more expensive than everything else, but it will definitely pay off in the end. If you are not sure if you want to purchase a brand new camera, try something used but in good condition. Used cameras are usually in the &300-400 range. I hope that helps. Good luck with your projects!