What Equipment to Use for YouTube Videos

Start your YouTube channel with these three essential equipment.

Would you like to know what to set up for your YouTube channel? What camera should you get? How to handle sound and lighting?

I started with just one camera, but today I have the complete set of hardware which I have been using for years to shoot my product review videos and personal vlogs.

So, let me reveal (and even recommend) my camera, sound, and lighting gadgets so that you can get started too.

First of all, please keep in mind my preferred production style and goals.

• I like to make videos that convey the message straight to the point without the fancy visual artsy fartsy cinematic highly-polished look.
• I don’t want to spend a lot of money on high-end gear where an affordable alternative brand can do exactly what I need it to do.

You will now look at an overview of my latest production equipment.

Camera

My camera of choice is the Panasonic Lumix FZ2500, a 4K mirrorless camera with 20x zoom lens and 1-inch sensor.

• There is no need to keep changing lenses while I shoot video
• There is a motorized zoom lens control for smooth zooming
• It’s a still camera first but has all the qualities of a video camcorder

…And many more reasons as mentioned in my reviews about this camera.

I use the Panasonic FZ2500 mostly indoors at my studio. It’s not a “one size fits all” camera. So I have a GoPro Hero7 Black for wide shots and outdoor vlogs, a Samsung NX500 for nice bokeh shots, and my iPhone for those unexpected moment shots.

The accessories I have for my camera are the Velbon Video Tripod, Joby Gorillapod, 128 GB SanDisk SD cards, 4 extra batteries, USB power adapter, and camera coupler.

Sound

My favourite microphone that works best in picking up voice and reducing surrounding noise is the Sennheiser G3, now G4 wireless clip-on lavalier mic.

I have another easy-to-set-up Bluetooth wireless microphone from Sony, the Sony AW4. Before going wireless, I used the previous version of the Audio Technica ATR3350iS wired clip-on lavalier mic. Sometimes I use my on-camera Rode VideoMic Go shotgun microphone for quick interviews. Sometimes I don’t use any external microphones at all, and just speak about six inches away from behind the camera.

Lighting

I started off using available room light and sunlight from the window. Then when I got myself the fluorescent two-point lighting system with the diffuser, my subsequent videos began to pop like it was made for TV.

Of course, when I shoot outside of my studio, I don’t want to bring my standing lights along, so I rely on available room light and sunlight. Otherwise, I will use my portable dimmable LED light.

Software

Then there is the other part of the production process, video editing.

I use both Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro on a MacBook Pro.

You can always start off with free (and professional) video editing software like Davinci Resolve, Hitfilm Express, and NCH VideoPad. They all work on both Mac and Windows.

Over to You

Have you got a YouTube video content creation system set up yet? Please share what you use.

Feel free to reply with comments and questions.

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Adrian Lee
VIDEOLANE.COM

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