FILMING AND EDITING GEAR
*This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!
filming
Main Camera - Sony A7SIII
If you have the budget, this is the camera to buy. Unbeatable low-light performance and flexibility when it comes to different slow-motion options. It has a magnesium chassis that’s excellent for heat dissipation. Record all day long in the sweltering humidity of Southeast Asia without issue.
Secondary Camera - Sony A7IV
This camera is an excellent choice at a more palatable price point. Strikes a wonderful balance between video, photo, and budget. Takes higher resolution photos than the A7SIII. Some video features are pared down and it lacks the magnesium chassis, but still an excellent full-frame camera that produces a beautiful image.
Wide Lens - Sony 20mm f/1.8 G
Much smaller and compact than a similarly wide zoom lens. Lens is more important than camera for image quality and low-light performance. This lens is excellent all-around and particularly performant in low-light due to the f/1.8 aperture.
Zoom Lens - Sony 24-105mm f/4 G
Extremely versatile lens. Huge focal range. Acceptable low-light performance. For a travel lens, this balances performance, size, weight, and cost better than perhaps any other lens on sale.
Action Camera - DJI Osmo Action 4
Action cameras have inherently compromised image quality. That said, the Action 4 is as good as any of its competitors in this regard. Low-light performance is excellent for an action camera. The primary reason to buy this action cam, though, is reliability and durability. GoPro may dominate this product segment, but DJI makes a more robust camera in my opinion.
Discrete Camera - DJI Pocket 3
Outstanding little camera. Noticeably better image quality than a phone or action camera, in a size that’s much more comfortable to work with in crowded or anxiety-inducing environments. Tia loves this one.
Drone - DJI Mini 3 Pro
Records an excellent image, has obstacle avoidance, and gets nearly 40 minutes of flight time on a full charge. Weighs 249g. Do your due diligence before flying a drone, as they’re often subject to local rules and regulations.
ND Filters - Peter McKinnon Variable ND 2-5 Stop
A neutral density filter is crucial for controlling exposure in daylight or other bright environments. These are pricey but they’re arguably the best consumer-grade variable ND filters available. Very high build quality with clever, durable packaging.
Small Tripod - MantisPod Pro
Tripod selection is surprisingly important, and frustratingly difficult. In a plastic-heavy market, the MantisPod Pro is largely constructed of magnesium and aluminum. It is lightweight but tough, and has a very impressive range of forms that make it quite flexible. Discreet form factor is a bonus.
Big Tripod - Peak Design Carbon Fiber Tripod
We travel light and at the time of writing, this is the most compact, high quality full-sized tripod available. Peak Design is a pricey brand that justifies it with quality and a lifetime guarantee. I initially balked at the price but then I realized that we’ll likely own this tripod forever.
Shotgun Microphone - Sony ECM-B10
Best balance of quality and compactness. On-camera mics often draw a shocking amount of attention. We found this mic to be much ‘stealthier’ than our previous mic from Rode. In conjunction with a Sony camera, it is powered directly from the camera’s hot shoe. Meaning you can do away with the aux cord. One more thing to (not) fuss with.
Lavalier Microphone - DJI Wireless Microphone
Nothing isolates noise as well as a lavalier microphone. A great choice for scenes with high ambient noise. Also recommended for recording voice-over audio. DJI’s version is high quality and has exceptionally clever packaging. It would be a hassle to use these in place of an on-camera shotgun mic, due to ergonomics and time-consuming setup.
EDITING
Laptop - 14” Apple MacBook Pro w/M1 Pro Chipset
Any Apple Laptop with Apple Silicon will excel at video editing, and the battery-life-to-performance ratio is simply the best there is. For 4K footage, I’d recommend something from the ‘Pro’ line of laptops because they have active cooling (a fan) which helps immensely.
Storage - Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD
Fast, reliable, durable, small form factor. The best balance of performance, cost, and portability.
Software - Final Cut Pro
Pairs very nicely with Apple computers. One-time purchase rather than a subscription service. Is an excellent next step if you’ve learned to edit with iMovie.
