My Gear
Ever wonder what camera I’m using to film? Which mic is my go-to? And how I get certain shots? Here’s a list of what I use, and links to purchase your own. Please note that these are affiliate links, so yours truly will get a little kickback each time you purchase. Enjoy!
The Daily Carry
When vlogging, all you really need is your phone, and I prefer Samsung's latest ultra series for the selection of lenses (nothing beats a sharp telephoto shot)
This is what I’ve been using a lot lately to capture audio: DJI Mic (wireless mic set)
The Kenu Stance+ is my current obsession - it's my go-to stand for filming with my phone and has become an absolute MUST in my arsenal. Which is great because Joby stopped producing my favorite phone tripod years ago and I can't find any more of them (but the Kenu kicks its butt so we're all good).
Bags
As an all around travel and camera bag, PeakDesign's EveryDay V2 has been the only backpack I need for years now. It's a bit much on days I only want my laptop with me, but it's light, versatile, and waterproof. What's not to love?
On the days I need to shoot with my Sony a7 but don't want to lug my laptop around, the Peak Design sling is a fantastic solution. There's plenty of room for my camera, tripod, microphones, and sunglasses.
This is the camera body I've been using for the last year of Paris in my Pocket videos.
More cameras
When I finally wanted to level up to a mirrorless camera with exchangeable lenses, my first foray was with the Sony a6500 - a lightweight body with a cropped sensor and plenty of character. I would actually recommend getting the a6400, as it's essentially the same camera but with a screen that can swivel all the way around to be seen from the front.
Keeping a zoom lens on (that goes as wide as 18mm) also helps in running and gunning - I rarely had the time or desire to swap lenses when running around town. Simplicity reduces stress.
Editing
My team and I use Adobe Premiere, but for anyone starting out fresh I'd recommend starting with iMovie as it's a really easy way to get the basics down. If they're on PC or want to dive in head-first, Da Vinci Resolve is free, powerful, and increasingly popular.
For both audio and video editing (because video depends massively on audio) I finally got myself some proper monitors in Rokit 5's. Take the time to set them up properly and they'll help a ton with audio consistency (and keep you from headphone headaches)
At home I have a Razer 2020 Studio Edition laptop that is a beast, I got it to handle 4k footage back when that was a mighty load to lift, but so too is this laptop quite a lot to handle. Its power brick alone is heavier than my recently purchased Macbook Air. I don't recommend getting this laptop as it would be wiser to buy a desktop to leave at home and a Macbook Air for travel, but hey, I wasn't the sharpest cookie in the shed when I got it. I don't think they even make the studio editions anymore - just grab a Macbook Air (I have the 13" edition, it's the perfect size and weight to travel and can handle 4k footage without blinking).
Audio
Sony's onboard mics are surprisingly good, but they're also ambient (meaning they pick up just about everything around them). If you'd like to get directional audio when sitting in front of the camera, and maybe protect yourself from the wind, Senheiser's MKE 400 is the mic I mount on my a6500.
For podcasting and running my monitors when editing video, I have Rode's Rodecaster Pro - though this is a link to the Pro 2 as the Pro isn't as easy to find anymore. It's a fantastic solution for recording up to four mics at a time, and I even built a mobile podcasting studio by carving out an airplane-friendly Pelican Case. You will need to buy microphones and their cables separately..
Sure's dynamic vocal microphones are a great and less expensive solution for building out a travel podcasting kit. They aren't the ones you'll see anchored to desks, but they sound great and make mobile podcasting a lot easier.
After my backpack got stolen in 2020, I upgraded my headphones to Bose 700. There' a lot of debate over which headphones are best for editing, and Bose is rarely on the list, but I wanted a set that I could travel with and enjoy outside of work as well (the noise cancellation is a lifesaver in so many situations), so for all-around sound, I still love them.
… & more!
Ever wonder how I get those super smooth slow dolly shots at home alone? The Moza Slypod is how.
I don't want to carry around a giant tripod when filming, but setting your camera on the ground can only get you so far - Manfrotto's tiny and super popular tripod happens to be just strong enough for the Sony a7 iv and fits neatly into my backpack's side pocket.
If you need a small, mobile light (that has a decent magnet in it), Joby's Beamo has saved my bacon more than once when trying to figure out how to get a light into a strange, small, or hard-to-reach place. It gets surprisingly bright for its size too.
Need extra storage? A lot of it? Fast, mobile, and relatively bounce-proof? SanDisk's SSD Extreme is the go-to of a lot of my friends and I finally got one recently when I filled up yet another bulky external disc. It flies.
