$30 camera gear that's actually useful

Here are four of the cheapest bits of filming equipment we used on a recent music video shoot.
(use code "DSLRGUIDE" for 15% off when purchasing from Amazon US or UK for the rest of 2022)

Music Video Cast & Crew:
Musician - Elle Beale
Director - Tiara Westlake
DOP - Laura Van De Hel
1st AC - Recel Wynsley
Gaffer - Atikah Zainidi
Makeup Artist - Silvija Vil
Stylist - Sarah Henning
Production Assistant - Natasha Maworera

Cast:
Temisis Conway
Runa Bergem
Pearl Mayaki
Hannah Websdale

Host and Creator - Simon Cade


0:00 Intro
0:37 Item 1
2:01 Item 2
3:01 Item 3
3:57 Item 4
5:14 Conclusion
5:40 Thanks to Hollyland

[JohnSullivanFilms]

I have done tons of shoots in the past using cheap gear. When I first started filmmaking back in 2010, I made a fig rig out of PVC pipe. I try to use inexpensive lights to light my scene. I go for budget lenses! I try to stay as low cost as I can whilst trying to achieve cinematic looks.

[sahinyalgun]

I think that content producers who use budget-friendly equipment in this way, instead of high budgets and expensive equipment in the cinematography and photography industry, establish a much more intimate bond with people from all walks of life. I love the content you share. Thanks for making this video

[Musalam]

Thank you for keeping us satisfied with our equipment by making so many videos explaining to us how low-cost or old equipment can make good videos.

[costa_konstantinou_dp]

Pro tip for the V-Mount battery - cable adapter - solution: Try to power all your gear directly from your battery plate. So if you need to change the V-Mount, you don't have to unplug every single cable. Even better, if your plate has a power input, you could short cut with mains power for the seconds of changing the battery and not have to restart everything again!

[luisa]

NISI also makes very high quality diopters (they call them close up filters) as does a Japanese company called Raynox.

[simonkennedy]

I have so much cheap gear you wouldn't believe it. My one absolute is audio cables, I kept an XLR to Jack and Jack to Mini Jack in my bag for a year, doing nothing until I was working a show and the sound board failed. Everything was on a laptop and my connector saved the day. But the cheapest things are coloured plastic Quaility Street wrappers which I would use on flashes and small led torches which I got free after I went to a Christmas party and picked them up. "Thanks for helping clear up." "No problem."

[DerBernarder]

Thanks to your video I shot my first project using anamorphic lenses and confidently used the 20€ diopters and couldn't be more happy with the results. So thank you for sharing actual use case scenarios of equipment, helps a lot!

[seancloutier]

remember kids...for your budget dolly and tripod...pull do not push and you will get a better effect

[OAVProduction]

love this guy's voice, very therapeutic

[simply.flicks]

Very well said Simon, absolutely true quite a lot of shots can be achieved with cheap gears only this is to use identify the right one. Thanks for making this video

[TheDavinci]

Great video, as always! Through the years of buying camera or set equipment I realised that there are indeed items where you want to buy the more expensive version, cause the cheap version is not worth it, but there are also so many items I spend way too much money on, that are not even better than the cheaper version, or the difference is negligible.

[willemprobst]

It absolutely makes sense to work with cheap tools.
If you have a $3000 Budget for a music video, why would you rent a dolly that is + $500 a day?
You won't have a decent profit margin after that. Also take crew, gear, locations, food, shelter, costumes and additional costs into consideration. I thank you on the behalf of all filmmakers. If you want to make this a career, you have to think about the margin. Thous cheap ways to produce the videos... I would have even gone so far and take out the anamorphic glass and just shoot with one camera and one lens. Thank you for showing us all the cheap ways!

[Maywek]

God I loved your videos about the t3i, I love cheap gear. Above all I love your voice!

[man.newton]

Re: the Fisher dolly - They're not sold to consumers at all, intentionally. It's a business-model decision that allows them to ensure that everyone who uses a Fisher dolly uses one that is upkept to the manufacturer's standards for maintenance. You can buy a Fisher dolly franchise and then rent out dollies, but you can't just buy the item.

[kitten-whisperer]

I took your advice and showed up to a shoot with a galaxy s8 and 2 dollar store flash lights. My clients were pissed. Thanks a lot.

[AllThingsFilm]

Thank you for these suggestions and links.

[tobemeneses]

Wow I watched all your videos like 8 years ago and I only just now noticed that you are still on it. Really well done dude…. And now I have some catching up to do 😅

[מיכאלחזוני]

Regarding the batteries, I recommend switching to an NP-F setup. They are much, much cheaper.
For the price of one V mount battery I can buy at least 4 excellent NP-F

[bundesmostfinestent]

for the dolly, a skateboard can work really good on smooth ground

[pjtavera]

i bought those inexpensive Diopters for my GreatJoy-A's and they work perfectly fine for its price point. No complaint on that and if it breaks i can buy 3 more sets of them ;)