As a visual content creator, my eyes are always peeled for the latest cool gear that could potentially revolutionize my creations. I’m aware that the most effective way to blow people away with my visual content is to keep practicing and working on refining my craft. I get that, but it takes time you know? I want instant results and I also like cool gadgets because that’s just how nerdy men like myself are wired. So, naturally I spend heaps of time drooling over camera gear, drones, lighting equipment, microphones, etc. I figured I would put together a dream list of what I wish I owned, like if I was a millionaire or something.
Cameras, they’re evolving so fast I can’t remember what’s new. That’s a lie, I know what’s new because I’m addicted. Picking a single favorite camera that I wish I could have right now is really tough. Even if someone said “hey man, you don’t even have to pay for the one camera you want, just pick it”, I would be stuck. What can be had for under five grand these days is absurd. 12 bit, 4k cameras use to cost over $40,000 just a few years ago! Think of the Red One. It was revolutionary when it came out, and I wanted one real bad. I thought, “if only it were like $5,000 instead of $45,000”. Now that quality can be had for $3,000! Refer to Black Magic or Digital Bolex. Personally I’ve used cameras that span the price range like Black Magic’s Production 4k camera, Canon’s C100- 500, and they’re all spectacular. If you’re not getting great results, you’re doing it wrong. However, it’s a strange situation all of us camera nuts find ourselves in. What we end up complaining about with any of these great cameras, minus the C500, there’s nothing wrong with it, would have gladly been accepted as non-issues four years ago. I remember seeing video off of a Canon T2i and being floored by the depth of field and color reproduction. Resolution was a little soft, but man, that depth of field! What makes it so hard to choose now is, I know that in a year from now my favorite cameras will likely be half their current size, or gain some incredible features. But the struggle doesn’t end there. There’s more than just the camera body.
Enter affordable drones. DJI blew up with their quad copters and now there’s other fantastic emerging options from companies like Plexidrone. Sub $1000 camera toting drones with gimbal stabilization. So, take something like a $1000 Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera which is capable of recording very filmic digital camera raw video, and stick it on a stabilized $1000 Plexidrone, fly it around with your iPad, and for $2000 you can record cinema quality aerial footage. You could save more money by going with the new Go Pro Hero 4! No bad options there. That’s simply incredible because it the past you would need a helicopter and some really pricy gimbal systems. The affordability makes aerial footage that I once dreamed about a very real possibility and that’s something to get super excited about.
Speaking of gimbal stabilization, three axis stabilized handled rigs are all the rage right now. Still expensive, but coming down in price and in perspective, compared to all of the equipment that a Movi or a DJI Ronin can replace, it’s a relative bargain. Forget dollies and steady cam vests, they now take too long to set up. Glorious, smooth as glass tracking shots with minimal setup? No more shaky hand held crap? Sign me up.
I can’t figure out what I should spend my money on. After all, as inexpensive as these technological gems have become, the cost still adds up and there are usually more accessories to buy to fully unlock each pieces potential. I suppose this list could go on forever and I’m guessing by the time you read it something new will already be released and my wish list will change again. Thank goodness for rental houses. Maybe I should just go back to practicing and do a little less wishing.