Up Your Video Production Skills with these Tech Tips

By Cassidy Formenti and Megan Miskiman

Getting into the video production game in any capacity is intimidating—even if you’re merely looking for a new hobby. There is an overwhelming amount of equipment available, and most of it comes with a hefty price tag. With this in mind, we at Sixty-OneTen have taken it upon ourselves to give you some tips that we’ve found helpful throughout our work.

Gimbals

So you want to make videos, but you don’t know where to start. The gimbal is the number one tool that we recommend to up your video production skills. For seasoned gimbal users or those looking to plunge into the deep end, we suggest the DJI RS-2, an upgraded version of the DJI Ronin-2 you see in the video. This gimbal doubles as a tripod, is compatible with any DSLR, and comes in at a price point of $870 CAD. If you aren’t yet ready to invest in a production-level camera, you can get a gimbal that pairs with your smartphone—an item you likely already own—to help get your feet wet. The DJI Osmo 5 is available at just $180 CAD, an unbeatable price point considering it doubles as a gimbal and a tripod.

Cameras

We should probably mention—there is a big difference between your smartphone camera and a DSLR camera. We won’t get into too much detail here, but suppose you are looking to make a good quality long-term investment. In that case, we recommend biting the bullet and getting the absolute newest model that you can to ensure longevity and relevance to your projects. You can get your hands on a 5D Mark IV (body only)—as seen in this video—at only $3300 CAD. However, the most advanced DSLR model to date from Canon is the EOS-R Full-Frame Mirrorless which comes in at $2500 CAD. If you’re looking to take professional photos without sacrificing your video quality, look no further than a mirrorless style camera for that sweet 2-in-1 feeling.

Lighting

Ok, so now you’re thinking, “I have a tripod and a camera; I’m officially set.” Not yet! What may seem like the most minor investments can make a significant difference, and this is especially true in the video production world. Lighting is likely something that you overlook unless you are a bit of an expert already. You aren’t alone as it is one of the most forgotten pieces of equipment. We recommend the Aperture F7 for those interested in a solid and reliable product at just $140 CAD. You can adjust temperature as well as intensity. If you’re interested in something that comes with a few extra bells and whistles, our videographer, Megan, swears by the Lume Cube pro kit, which comes in at $190 CAD.

Audio

“I can just edit audio in post-production!”—the famous last words of a regretful video editor. Don’t be that person. Get a good microphone or recorder that will provide reliable sound quality. We recommend the Comica CVM-VM10II, coming in at just $53 CAD and both smartphone and DSLR compatible. We dare you to find a more reasonable alternative. Although, if you really want to get fancy and have someone who can carry a boomstick around for you, the Sennheiser MKH-416 is a studio favourite but a wallet crusher at $1300 CAD.

And just like that, you’ve built your very own video production kit. We hope these tips help you weigh out your options and feel more confident about investing in some new tools.