Firstly, I know there is a lot of helpful information on this forum, but the more I read the more I realise I have no real understanding of the art of making videos.
I really want to to set up a YouTube channel about nature and wildlife, but I really want to focus on the small and obscure stuff. I have loads of ideas of things to film and talk about, but I have no idea what equipment I need, and the more research I do the more confused I get.
I hope that if I set out what I hope my videos would feature, then someone could tell me the sort of equipment that I might need.
I envision my videos being a mixture of me presenting to the camera, footage of the species I'm talking about, and sometimes footage of me speaking to an expert.
The species I am filming would mostly be flowers and plants; I'm not wanting to film anything awkward like distant fast-moving animals.
I think that a DSLR on a tripod would work for filming me, and I can also use this for getting footage of flowers etc., too. I have no idea at all about how to record sound - in particular me or anyone else speaking on camera. I know that the built in microphones in cameras aren't particularly great for sound (so maybe I know at least one thing) and I also know that a gentle breeze can sound really awful when recorded.
I have tried researching this online and I just get bogged down in details. Do I need a lav mic that transmits to a receiver plugged into a DSLR? Or could I get a lapel mic that plugs into a dictaphone-type-thing and then sync the sound with the footage in the edit? Would a lapel mic still pick up the sound of the breeze? How do I record sound if I'm interviewing someone else on camera? is a DSLR even a good idea at all?
My thoughts go round and round like this until I'm paralyzed with indecision. All I want to do is make educational videos about orchids, caterpillars and frogs!
I would really appreciate any advice anyone can give me, especially if it's delivered tenderly to this utter novice.
I suppose I should also give some idea of budget. I have been offered a DSLR and tripod to borrow to begin with (and I'd get my own in the long-run if this all works for me) so sound is the key area of concern for me. I've got about £150 to play with, though I could be tempted to stretch on that.
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond to this complete amatuer.
I really want to to set up a YouTube channel about nature and wildlife, but I really want to focus on the small and obscure stuff. I have loads of ideas of things to film and talk about, but I have no idea what equipment I need, and the more research I do the more confused I get.
I hope that if I set out what I hope my videos would feature, then someone could tell me the sort of equipment that I might need.
I envision my videos being a mixture of me presenting to the camera, footage of the species I'm talking about, and sometimes footage of me speaking to an expert.
The species I am filming would mostly be flowers and plants; I'm not wanting to film anything awkward like distant fast-moving animals.
I think that a DSLR on a tripod would work for filming me, and I can also use this for getting footage of flowers etc., too. I have no idea at all about how to record sound - in particular me or anyone else speaking on camera. I know that the built in microphones in cameras aren't particularly great for sound (so maybe I know at least one thing) and I also know that a gentle breeze can sound really awful when recorded.
I have tried researching this online and I just get bogged down in details. Do I need a lav mic that transmits to a receiver plugged into a DSLR? Or could I get a lapel mic that plugs into a dictaphone-type-thing and then sync the sound with the footage in the edit? Would a lapel mic still pick up the sound of the breeze? How do I record sound if I'm interviewing someone else on camera? is a DSLR even a good idea at all?
My thoughts go round and round like this until I'm paralyzed with indecision. All I want to do is make educational videos about orchids, caterpillars and frogs!
I would really appreciate any advice anyone can give me, especially if it's delivered tenderly to this utter novice.
I suppose I should also give some idea of budget. I have been offered a DSLR and tripod to borrow to begin with (and I'd get my own in the long-run if this all works for me) so sound is the key area of concern for me. I've got about £150 to play with, though I could be tempted to stretch on that.
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond to this complete amatuer.