The minimalist filmmaking kit

- What is the least amount of gear I need to start shooting video? The million dollar question. And the answer is, I don't know. Because it completely depends on what are you shooting. What is your budget? What is your overhead? What are your expectations from that footage? Are these personal projects or paid projects? Is the company you work for providing the equipment? Or are you just investing in the equipment yourself? There's a huge difference between the gear needed to produce vlogs for YouTube, as opposed to high-end corporate videos. Do you need to fit everything into one backpack, or a small international carry-on? Or do you work at a studio, where you can have the luxury of bigger and heavier grip and lighting equipment? I don't know that answer. Also, what is your overhead? How much do you need to charge per project to keep the lights on? But here's something I want you to consider. Most people spend 90% of their budget on a camera, and the remaining 10% on everything else. The camera will come with a kit lens, which usually is not of high quality. They might consider a tripod, but it's not the best. They might get a few filters and accessories, and they probably won't think about sound. I would completely reverse this equation. Imagine you're investing, not spending money on equipment, and you want your investment money to last for a long time. A tripod will last for 20 years. Good quality lenses are going to last easily for 10 years, while the camera is going to be replaced in 18 to 24 months. So put your money where the investment is going to last longest. When it comes to lenses, you can start with two lenses. A 24 to 105, and a 70 to 200, will give you most of the coverage you're going to need for most shooting situations. In terms of camera movement, or camera support systems, my favorite choice to get started would be either a gimbal or a monopod, with a second place for a tripod. In terms of sound, I think you can get a lot of mileage from a good shotgun mic, and a very solid wireless system. And the camera, believe it or not, would be my last consideration. Why? Because nowadays, smart phones can record very high-quality video and stills, and yeah, it's true, you're lacking some features, but some apps will offer those features. You might be able to upgrade to mirrorless or DSLRs, or fully-featured cinema cameras. You can also rent cameras. You don't have to own everything.