Blendor Sefaj
Member
Hey guys, I would like to ask about ideas and any suggestions about a very basic setup for vlogging and interview videos: what do I need to start and what is good low-end equipment to start with? 
Basic setup for vlogging and interview videos - ideas
- Thread starter Blendor Sefaj
- Start date
Ciarra deBritto
Bringing your imagination to life.
Hi friend! For vlogging or those videos where you rant in front of a camera, here are some options you should invest in
Cameras:
Canon Rebel t3 or t3i
Canon Rebel t5i
Lighting:
Searching light boxes and lighting equipment on Amazon, you can usually find stuff below $150
Get a tripod! That'll cost around $25. Mine was $50 just because i needed something more durable since I do more serious projects like short films and music videos as well.
Mic: I just sick with my camera mic usually, but you can invest in a RODE (I think that's how you spell it) or a Blue Yeti. Those mics give good bang for their buck.
Best of luck
Cameras:
Canon Rebel t3 or t3i
Canon Rebel t5i
Lighting:
Searching light boxes and lighting equipment on Amazon, you can usually find stuff below $150
Get a tripod! That'll cost around $25. Mine was $50 just because i needed something more durable since I do more serious projects like short films and music videos as well.
Mic: I just sick with my camera mic usually, but you can invest in a RODE (I think that's how you spell it) or a Blue Yeti. Those mics give good bang for their buck.
Best of luck
Jawad Soomro
I'm a Human!
Make sure ur lighting is good
Make sure ur sound quality is good
Make sure ur confident talking to the camera
Make sure u follow Ciarra
Make sure ur sound quality is good
Make sure ur confident talking to the camera
Make sure u follow Ciarra
thumbhais
Loving YTtalk
Hi friend! For vlogging or those videos where you rant in front of a camera, here are some options you should invest in
Cameras:
Canon Rebel t3 or t3i
Canon Rebel t5i
Lighting:
Searching light boxes and lighting equipment on Amazon, you can usually find stuff below $150
Get a tripod! That'll cost around $25. Mine was $50 just because i needed something more durable since I do more serious projects like short films and music videos as well.
Mic: I just sick with my camera mic usually, but you can invest in a RODE (I think that's how you spell it) or a Blue Yeti. Those mics give good bang for their buck.
Best of luck
I agree, most of these will help you with the video. I have a Nikon D3200, RODE videomic, and actually purchased a LED work light from the local hardware store for about $130.
Andrew Flint
Adobe Certified Associate & Post Student
for Vlogs, DSLR cameras seem to be the way to go if you're standing still because you can get that blurred out background when you have the aperture nice and low. I personally don't blog but I have a Canon 700D (Rebel T5i) and it's got great video quality (full 1080p25fps).
For lighting, I would suggest either 2 Soft Top lights or a 3-Point system which is 2 hard pointing lights (smaller than talent) and 1 softer light (bigger than talent).
3-point lighting can actually be achieved using household standing lights which you can buy anywhere for around £15-£30 each and a few bright bulbs. That's if you really are on a low budget.
if you're on a low budget and want 2 soft top lights, buy 2 household stand alone lights, the same as the 3-point setup. But use some form of white webbed material to defuse the light.
As for audio. I would highly recommend using a microphone not the camera's built-in mic. You can pick up some £20 DSLR shotgun microphones (Takstar) on Amazon if you can afford £130-£180 for a Rode VideoMic. They obviously aren't as good as a Rode Mic, but the audio is fuller and richer using them instead of the in camera microphone.
Finally, you will obviously need something to mount the camera onto. Now this will probably be a tripod, you can either get a free-standing one or a small one which stands around 10inchs which you would sit on top of a desk or windowsill. This is decided by how much room you have to work with and where you will want the camera. Manfrotto has a great little 10inch or so table tripod for around £30 and it can hold most camera weights. But if you want a free standing one, Amazon have a great aluminum tripod for around £20 (AmazonBasics).
TL;DR, Get a decent DSLR (Canon 550D or 700D, £350-£500), 2-point or 3-point lighting (can be done on the cheap/DIY £40-£100), definitely buy a microphone (shotgun/directional can be bought for around £20 and plug straight into the DSLR), finally, get a tripod (either a worktop one or a floor standing one £20-£40).
Cost:
Basic DSLR, DIY lighting, cheap mic and AmazonBasic tripod = Around £400-£500
Semi-Pro DSLR, bought lighting, Rode videomic, Manfrotto heavy duty tripod = Upwards of £800
Personally I would start with a semi-pro DSLR like the Canon 700D or even the 60D if you have a little more cash and the DIY the lighting, get an AmazonBasics tripod as it can easily hold the weight and get the £20 microphone.
The microphone can be upgraded when you have the extra £130+ to spend and even if you upgrade the lighting to professional lights eventually you can always keep the DIY lights for some nice lights in your bedroom, living room or study.
For lighting, I would suggest either 2 Soft Top lights or a 3-Point system which is 2 hard pointing lights (smaller than talent) and 1 softer light (bigger than talent).
3-point lighting can actually be achieved using household standing lights which you can buy anywhere for around £15-£30 each and a few bright bulbs. That's if you really are on a low budget.
if you're on a low budget and want 2 soft top lights, buy 2 household stand alone lights, the same as the 3-point setup. But use some form of white webbed material to defuse the light.
As for audio. I would highly recommend using a microphone not the camera's built-in mic. You can pick up some £20 DSLR shotgun microphones (Takstar) on Amazon if you can afford £130-£180 for a Rode VideoMic. They obviously aren't as good as a Rode Mic, but the audio is fuller and richer using them instead of the in camera microphone.
Finally, you will obviously need something to mount the camera onto. Now this will probably be a tripod, you can either get a free-standing one or a small one which stands around 10inchs which you would sit on top of a desk or windowsill. This is decided by how much room you have to work with and where you will want the camera. Manfrotto has a great little 10inch or so table tripod for around £30 and it can hold most camera weights. But if you want a free standing one, Amazon have a great aluminum tripod for around £20 (AmazonBasics).
TL;DR, Get a decent DSLR (Canon 550D or 700D, £350-£500), 2-point or 3-point lighting (can be done on the cheap/DIY £40-£100), definitely buy a microphone (shotgun/directional can be bought for around £20 and plug straight into the DSLR), finally, get a tripod (either a worktop one or a floor standing one £20-£40).
Cost:
Basic DSLR, DIY lighting, cheap mic and AmazonBasic tripod = Around £400-£500
Semi-Pro DSLR, bought lighting, Rode videomic, Manfrotto heavy duty tripod = Upwards of £800
Personally I would start with a semi-pro DSLR like the Canon 700D or even the 60D if you have a little more cash and the DIY the lighting, get an AmazonBasics tripod as it can easily hold the weight and get the £20 microphone.
The microphone can be upgraded when you have the extra £130+ to spend and even if you upgrade the lighting to professional lights eventually you can always keep the DIY lights for some nice lights in your bedroom, living room or study.