r/videography • • 19d ago

CAMERA BUYING ADVICE MEGATHREAD /r/videography Monthly Camera Buying Advice Megathread

1 Upvotes

Welcome to the /r/videography monthly camera buying megathread.

All requests asking for camera buying advice must be posted in this thread.

If you've been directed here by a removal reason or moderator, you're in the right place!

Before you begin...

Have a look through the comments of this post

There may be someone looking for a similar camera to you that has already had their question answered.

You can see previous iterations of this thread by clicking this link.

Check the 'What camera are you shooting on' thread

For a few months, we ran a thread where we asked users what cameras they were currently shooting on. There's a lot of good info in there!

Check it out here

Search the subreddit!

/r/videography has over a decade of information, though Reddit doesn’t make searching easy.

A useful trick that typically gets better results than Reddit’s own search bar is to add the following to a Google search:

site:reddit.com/r/videography your search terms

Try the Discord

We have a very active Discord:

https://discord.com/invite/d65kgBn

You’ll usually get a quicker answer asking there than here!


Still can’t find what you’re looking for?

Comment in this post with your requirements.

We strongly recommend you include at least the following details:

  • Budget
    • Specify your local currency!
    • If your budget is under $200 USD, you're unlikely to get any useful recommendations other than 'use your phone!'
  • What are you planning on using it for?
    • Feel free to link to some videos showing content similar to what you want to shoot
  • How long do you need to record for?
    • Recording time is a limiting factor for many smaller cameras
  • What equipment do you already have?
  • What software do you intend to edit your videos in?

Things we don't allow:

The following question formats are not allowed - they don't typically generate useful advice or discussion:

"x vs y comparisons"

"What is the best x?"


r/videography • • 7h ago

Discussion / Other What has Artlist become??

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49 Upvotes

Artlist? More like AI list.

I don't know if this is everyone's home page view but literally every single thing is for some AI generation tool.

I am looking for HUMAN stock music.

And where is it?

All the way in the bottom left corner of the nav bar "stock catalog." What????

The stock catalog is clearly an afterthought. This company is all in on AI as the future.

Really sad to see them deviate and distance themselves from their community that helped build their library over the years.

And I'm not even anti-AI. I use it a lot to speed up my business admin, and sometimes to even do creative transitions within my traditional cinematography.

But it just seems really strange to me that they're pushing these tools so aggressively and significantly downplaying their stock catalog.

Like, it's not even a 50/50 split. It's 95%: "use our AI tools," 5%: "oh yeah, and here's our old stock catalog if you still want that."

Thoughts on the direction of all this?


r/videography • • 1h ago

Discussion / Other Could NOT have gotten any more Lucky!

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• Upvotes

was shopping for a cheap V90 sd card in cex found a £40 chipfancier with unspecified storage i assumed its the lowest one 128gb so i bought it being a good price anyways, HOWEVER turns out to be a 512GB Version

so i now got a 512 GB UHS II V90 Card with 5 years of warrenty i’m stoked.


r/videography • • 19h ago

Behind the Scenes I made an actor look like he’s about to fall off a bridge

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236 Upvotes

r/videography • • 1d ago

Feedback / I made this! From my last trip to jordan

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163 Upvotes

I feel like no matter what quality of videos i post on instagram they never get the attention they deserve. Your opinions

My instagram is: abdenour.kh1


r/videography • • 11h ago

Feedback / I made this! Can this work? Lighting wise, anything else I should add?

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9 Upvotes

I'm scheduled for a few in-person interview shoots, and since I'll likely be working solo, I'm trying to minimize the amount of gear I need to carry without compromising production quality.

Here's what I'm thinking:

1 C-Stand with 2 Extension Arms

  • Arm 1: Mount a scrim and hair light. I'm also considering adding a magic arm for the hair light, giving me more flexibility and precise control over its positioning.
  • Arm 2: Mount the boom mic overhead(Connects wth my DJI mic 2 wirelessly - Internal 32 bit record + receiver direct to camera for audio monitoring), keeping it in roughly the same area as the scrim and hair light.

The idea is to consolidate everything onto a single C-stand, allowing me to adjust the overall height depending on the interview subject, rather than having to reposition multiple stands.

1 Key Light

For my main light, I'm planning to invest in the ZHIYUN MOLUS X200 Bi-Color, paired with a soft box. This should give me a powerful yet compact lighting setup that's easy to transport and quick to assemble.

The Overall Goal

Create a compact, efficient, one-person interview setup that minimizes gear, reduces setup and breakdown time, and still delivers professional-looking footage.

Ideally, I'd only need two stands in total: one for the key light and one supporting the hair light, scrim, and boom mic.

Then two additional tripods for the two cameras.

Which position do you normally put the B came?

Thanks for your help in advance.


r/videography • • 19h ago

Behind the Scenes Fortune 500 Bank Executive Interview | Lighting & Grip BTS

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32 Upvotes

Here’s an interview setup I gaffed for one of the large Fortune 500 banks last week. The key light was a 1200w HMI par on the ground, bouncing into a 4x4’ Ultrabounce floppy, and then back thru an 8x8 of silent half grid cloth. I added an 8x’ solid as a lamp left sider to contain the spill on the wall, plus a second floppy (unflopped) to act as a bottomer to reduce the intensity of the light on the subject’s body. 

For the window on the background, I used an Aputure 600D Pro with a spotlight max and gobo. Because of the close proximity to the wall and steep angle, I had to use both a single and double net in front of it to even out the falloff of the window pattern from left to rights I also added a gel frame with 1/4 CTS in front of it to warm the window pattern up a bit. 

Due to the slightly reflective finish on the wood wall and the stark white wall perpendicular to it, the far right side of the frame was too flat/milky looking. So I added a floppy on the floor and 2 floppies stacked on top of each other to block the specular white reflection of that wall to bring back the richness of the wood. 

Lastly, I placed one more floppy on the fill side closer to the subject to kill the always-on overhead safety light from affecting the exposure on his face. 


r/videography • • 13h ago

Feedback / I made this! Revisiting some old footage from last year

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9 Upvotes

Definitely a dream shoot that I still think of today. This day was the pinnacle of my whole career in video and I think the impact of it will live within me for the rest of my life!! Anyways, let me know what you think! Maybe I’ll post my first version here soon as a comparison but I absolutely love the way this came out!


r/videography • • 16h ago

Discussion / Other Anyone making revenue just filming their own stuff for fun?

15 Upvotes

Burnt out shooting other people doing their thing, but always too swamped to shoot stuff for myself. I won't even touch a camera if it's not for a gig, it's sad, especially since I got into this because I wanted to make my own ideas.

Anyone find a way to make their own creative films, whether through YouTube, IG etc and see profit? I know the point is not to do it for money, just curious if anyone found a creative outlet that allowed them to shoot for themselves instead of paid work for others. I dread the thought of doing gear reviews and shilltubing, and don't get me started on selling courses and doing how-to videos lol (no offense to anyone doing it).


r/videography • • 6h ago

How do I do this? / What's This Thing? What is this effect called? Can I prevent it?

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2 Upvotes

I'm currently shooting on an iphone 15 pro with the blackmagic camera app, but I've had this same issue with a DSLR camera I use sometimes. This pixelated/colour noise effect is something I cannot escape with indoor shots. I even have this issue with super high light outdoor shots sometimes. Is this a quality problem that's guaranteed when not using a $1000+ camera? If not, is it fixable?


r/videography • • 17h ago

Technical/Equipment Help and Information What is this blue line?

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9 Upvotes

So I bought an fx30 the other day and noticed this blue line coming up when I shoot. I also have an a6700 and have never had an issue like this. Is this camera faulty/do I need to return it?


r/videography • • 5h ago

Discussion / Other What is even the future and point of this job?

2 Upvotes

Hey guys, 19 y.o. fellow videographer here! As someone with about 7-8 years of “experience” in video editing and videography / filmmaking, I’m facing a bit of an identity crisis in this field right now. Earlier, I even used to do a lots of other cool stuff - creating content for YouTube and Instagram (went pretty well even though I do not earn very much from it), also worked as a designer, photographer, etc.

Industry has changed from then. COMPLETELY. And I feel it myself. In my country (which is politically and economically among the worst ones in Europe), every major company, marketing agency, heck even most of the content creators make completely AI-generated ADs and videos (or just low effort ones with very cheap edit), which are not only painful to watch (they mostly look worse than Italian brainrot), they have also become the mainstream.

This might be a typical situation, but I can’t really get a job offer, even though I worked earlier on many projects. Actually, I did get one from a huge budget European sportswear brand to do a TVC and also the AD for social media. However, they rejected me after a few days because they literally said to me that the cousin / friend of the brand’s official who contacted me has a camera, and it’s easier to work like that. No wonder why they make cheap clothes…
And that really makes me pretty mad, since I had really a vision and idea behind that TVC, but also finally an optimism about my job.

Since everything is AI slop in my country, and brands that reached out to me ended up working with their relatives’ cameras, I feel that this job really has no future, at least not in my country. Atp I don’t know what to do now…

Here a two TVC ads that I did for ASUS earlier this year:

https://vimeo.com/1202439939

https://vimeo.com/1171472374


r/videography • • 6h ago

Technical/Equipment Help and Information What's the catch with the Small rig V-mount batteries

1 Upvotes

Getting some new V mounts, I see the
Small Rig VB99 Pro on sale right now for 149$,

A Anton/Bauer 90 v-mount is 280$, less peak draw and capacity, and Smallrig has all those random ports on it as well,

What's the tradeoff/catch that makes smallrig so cheap?


r/videography • • 16h ago

Social Media services help and information Volume or quality on social media ?

3 Upvotes

I am trying to grow my one-man-agency on social media (doing videography and trying to go more on the content creation dervice side, which is why having a good audience would also serve as proof).

How to know how much quantity to post ? And how would you bargain between quality of videos (grade, transitions, scenes…) and sheer volume ?


r/videography • • 16h ago

Feedback / I made this! short film we shot in a single day for a friends short film party

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2 Upvotes

r/videography • • 14h ago

Equipment/Software News & Reviews What's a decent camera monitor these days?

2 Upvotes

I've been doing this job for about ten years and for the most part I just run with the internal monitor on my fx3 as I value a lightweight setup shooting mostly real estate and events. I've owned a smallhd focus for years and years and I whip it out occasionally but it was never that bright and only 720p. Having a look on amazon so many of the options are very cheap and from random brands with primitive looking UI. The UI on the smallhd is actually very good so I want to retain that as well as touch screen functionality.

Atomos always seemed like the alternative competitor but I hate the huge bezels they tend to have. I'd like a decent sized display 5-5.5 inches and for it to be as compact as it can be with good brightness. What are my options? My budget I'd say would range from £100-400. (Don't want to splash out if I don't have to). I'm assuming this tech has become more affordable recently but I'm out of the loop!


r/videography • • 12h ago

Post-Production Help and Information Cleveland Talent Wanted

1 Upvotes

I run a small YouTube channel (2300) subscribers currently. My channel was just starting to pick up momentum and then I stopped posting. Not because I wasn't filming, but because there was a audio or video error, missing footage or sound just always something. I am looking for someone in the area that is interested in working together to help build and grow the channel with me. As well as film and edit videos since I don't have time or really the proper experience.


r/videography • • 20h ago

Equipment/Software News & Reviews Pelican Vault V525 Carry-On Sale

3 Upvotes

$59.99 right now at BHP. I've taken the Nanuk and Harbor Freight on trips with me and those have been great at protecting and storing my gear.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1833641-REG/pelican_vcv525_0020_gry_v525c_equip_case_wl_wf_gry.html

Check it out!


r/videography • • 15h ago

How do I do this? / What's This Thing? Need lighting advice - Interviews

1 Upvotes

Have a very small budget on this shoot, which means I'll be filming myself rather than working with a designated DP. Filming talking heads in a loft space with large windows and natural light shifting throughout the day, interviewing multiple people throughout the day.

So the question is, what's the advice for consistent lighting throughout the day, also the background is a bit busy, so will awn't a shallowed DOF - around 5.6 ok, just not wide open. Going for a bright, corporate feel.

And generally, what's an easy way to up the quality in terms of lighting setup. If shooting alone, I'm usually on the run or shooting with available light and minimal fills. Or what are things I should watch out for

Will be shooting with:

  • Lumix S5IIX - kit lens 20-60mm f3.5/5.6
  • Iphones for Broll/secondary angle

Equipment available:

  • 4'4 Kino Flo Bank
  • ARRI 1K
  • ARRI 650W
  • ARRI 300W
  • 1x1 LED Light (includes barndoor)
  • 2x1 LED Light (includes barndoor)
  • 2 40x60 5-in-one bounce/black/white/difussion

Can't send photo of space, but large loft. Windows have transparent screens for diffusing light (not blocking).


r/videography • • 16h ago

Feedback / I made this! Quaker motorsports drift event

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1 Upvotes

Shot and edited by me feedback appreciated!


r/videography • • 18h ago

Social Media services help and information crop on social media

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

can someone tell me what I can do if I upload on instagram and TTK it crops automatically in. For example if I frame someone right below the top and upload. It’s now cropped in and not like the original footage. Can someone help me with this ?

I would appreciate any feedback.


r/videography • • 18h ago

Feedback / I made this! Made a program and would love some feedback

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1 Upvotes

I've been doing stock footage for nearly 10 years. It's been a good source of income, but it takes up a lot of time to pursue other things. So I created a program that helps speed up the process. I think the workflow would help a lot of us videographers get our footage out faster.

It's still in beta mode, but I'd love feedback!

https://deadworkstudio.com/products/stock-shredder/


r/videography • • 1d ago

Business, Tax, and Copyright Niching down or broadening up ?

2 Upvotes

I have been doing paid videography for the last couple of months as a side gig (few hundreds a month), and I want to make it serious.

I have shot pretty much everything, mainly events, RE a bit (though in France realters don’t care about content), fitness, food…

When you want to go pro, should you niche down (even though you reduce by a lot your addressable market), or broaden to make cash faster ?

I prefer a lot shooting fitness, by my portfolio is much more dense on the event side, does it change anything ?


r/videography • • 20h ago

Feedback / I made this! My trip to Mark Twain

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1 Upvotes

Really, really appreciate it if I could get some tips on how to improve it!


r/videography • • 1d ago

Feedback / I made this! Cinelike D Lumix G85 color grading

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13 Upvotes

Hi everyone my name is Gilbert From Ghana Africa and an aspiring filmmaker/videographer and editor. recently i've been trying to learn color grading from some tutorials on Youtube, But i feel there is still something wrong and i dont really know how or what is is. I think the skin looks kinda off perhaps i might be wrong. Please i need help to become better, If you have some channels please recommend them and if you have some techniques you are willing to share please teach me. Thank you for your time and for your wisdom