“The List” was first presented at my ReclaimOpen presentation on June 6, 2023. Our goal with this list is to aggregate the best equipment recommendations for audio and video production.
The audience is for professionals in the field, with an emphasis on educational institutions. We will likely avoid recommending the highest end equipment that is cost prohibitive, but we may refer to it for context – see for example the Arri Alexa cinema camera.
This site will evolve (check at the bottom of the page for when it was last updated) to include mini-reviews and demonstrations of the equipment, as well as point to resources for more information. So without further ado, here is our…
Recommended Equipment List
Cameras
- Panasonic G7 (micro 4/3) – https://amzn.to/3ihAxEz
- Panasonic GH6 (micro 4/3) – https://amzn.to/3jRw5g5
- Panasonic G9 mark II (micro 4/3) – https://amzn.to/4b5P6Sg
- Panasonic S5 mark II (full frame) – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1742428-REG/panasonic_dc_s5m2body_lumix_s5_ii_mirrorless.html
- Sony A7s III (full frame) – https://amzn.to/3WJLe1z
- PTZOptics Move 4K – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1740351-REG/ptzoptics_pt30x_4k_gy_g3_move_4k_sdi_hdmi_usb_ip_ptz.html
- Feelworld PTZ – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1673801-REG/feelworld_poe20x_sdi_hdmi_poe_ptz.html
- Insta360 X3 – https://amzn.to/3IvhHEE
- DJI Mini 3 Pro – https://amzn.to/3Nn4Lme
- GoPro 11 – https://amzn.to/43rChgJ
- DJI Osmo Pocket 2 – https://amzn.to/3PqUS8m & Osmo Pocket 3 – https://amzn.to/3NL8r0Y
Webcams
- Logitech c920 – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1461727-REG/logitech_960_001257_c920s_hd_pro_webcam.html
- Insta360 Link – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1719900-REG/insta360_cinstbj_a_link_4k_ai_webcam.html
- Obsbot Tiny 4K – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1678153-REG/obsbot_owb_2105_ce_tiny_4k_ai_powered_ptz.html
Microphones
- BOYA BYM1 wired lavalier – https://amzn.to/3WPVkOl
- Rode Podmic – https://amzn.to/3QmUTZA
- Rode Videomic NTG – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1521595-REG/rode_vmntg_videomic_ntg_camera_mount_shotgun.html or Rode Videomic Go II – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1679915-REG/rode_vmgoii_videomic_go_ii_ultracompact.html or Rode Wireless Go II
- Electro-Voice RE20 – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/76681-REG/Electro_Voice_16207816_RE20_Cardoid_Voiceover.html
- Heil PR40 – https://amzn.to/3ikCmAC
- Shure SM58 – https://amzn.to/3WTFHp6
- Shure MV7 (XLR & USB) – https://amzn.to/3ZgiWgG – or SM7B (XLR) – https://amzn.to/3GLJwaw
- Sennheiser MKE 600 – https://amzn.to/3X9w8Cq
- Sennheiser MKH 416 (The “Best” shotgun/Boom mic) – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/79502-REG/Sennheiser_MKH416_P48U3_MKH_416_Short_Shotgun.html
- Audio Technical AT875R – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/495302-REG/Audio_Technica_AT875R_AT875_Short_Condenser_Shotgun.html
- Sennheiser EW-DP Wireless – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1754633-REG/sennheiser_700011_ew_dp_me2_set_r1_6.html – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ50x5YQXFQ
Lights
- Godox SL100Bi Bi-Color LED Video Light – https://amzn.to/3IrFd5p
- Godox SL 60w (less expensive than SL100)- https://amzn.to/3QjFglA
- Angler Quick-Open Deep Parabolic Softbox V2 (36″) – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1643818-REG/angler_qo_dp36_v2_36_quick_open_deep.html
- GVM 800D-RGB LED Light Panel – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1492248-REG/gvm_800d_rgb_2l_800d_rgb_led_video_studio.html
Tripods
- Magnus TR-13 – https://amzn.to/3WSC1nK
- SmallRig CT-10 Tripod – https://amzn.to/3U86waM
- Ulanzi U-100 Ball Head with Claw quick release – https://amzn.to/3u8NWom
- Ulanzi Claw quick release – https://www.ulanzi.com/collections/claw-quick-release-system/products/ulanzi-claw-quick-release-system-generation-ii
- Manfrotto 502AH Video Head & MT055XPRO3 Aluminum Tripod Kit (Video Studio Tripod) –https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1247856-REG/manfrotto_mvk502055xpro3_502hd_pro_video_head.html
- Magnus Tripod Dolly – https://amzn.to/3X7uvVK
Video Devices
- ATEM Mini (still available for ~$200-$230, but the better value is the Mini Pro for $295) – https://amzn.to/3vPXul7
- ATEM Mini Pro ($295) – https://amzn.to/3jN95Pc
- ATEM Mini Pro ISO ($495) – https://amzn.to/3jLf0UX
- ATEM Mini Extreme ISO ($1,295) – https://amzn.to/4bcCHfe
- Atomos Ninja V – https://amzn.to/3jYI4bN
- ATEMs compared – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cknUAX9Y_bd1t30zazjabAO70SUNNFnY4S73Evws_Mc/edit#gid=1565610608
Audio Devices
- Rodecaster Pro II – https://amzn.to/3GNDINO
- Presonus Studio 24c USB-C Interface – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1453382-REG/presonus_studio_24c_usb_type_c.html
Headphones
- Sony MDR-7506 – https://amzn.to/3ilYIS4
- Sennheiser HD 280 Pro – https://amzn.to/3Xa481f
- Rode ATH100 – https://amzn.to/3BQIXZJ
- Beyerdynamic DT Pro 770 – https://amzn.to/45kOkxE
Miscellaneous
- Stream Deck – https://amzn.to/3GLsMA5
- Furman Rack Power Conditioner – https://amzn.to/3ieIBWF
Software
- Davinci Resolve – https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve – Resolve Studio (Pro version)
- Telestream ScreenFlow – http://www.telestream.net/screenflow/overview.htm
- Lossless Cut – https://github.com/mifi/lossless-cut
- Handbrake – https://handbrake.fr/
- Downie/Permute – https://software.charliemonroe.net/downie/ – https://software.charliemonroe.net/permute/
- IINA – https://iina.io/
- Bitfocus Companion (for StreamDeck) – https://bitfocus.io/companion
- CleanShot X – https://cleanshot.com
- Teleprompter Software
- Mac – https://pavonine.co/teleprompter/download/
- iPad – https://pavonine.co/teleprompter-ipad/download/
- WiFi Controller (iOS) – Remote Control for Teleprompter https://apps.apple.com/us/app/teleprompter-controller/id417602496
- SetApp (“Netflix for Mac Apps”) – https://setapp.com/
Mobile
- Video Editing – Capcut
- Video Recording – Blackmagic Camera, Filmic Pro, BeastCam, Movie Pro
- Video Apps – Overviewer , Shoot/Video Pencil (in-app purchases), MixEffect ($50)
- NDI Apps – NDI HX Camera ($20), NDI Viewer
YouTubers
- Aaron Parecki – Programmer and live streaming creator – Produces a weekly live stream about … how to live stream.
- Here To Record – John Barker – Live Streaming professional
- Philip Bloom – Producer of the most cinematic of equipment reviews
- Extrashot – practical, no-nonsense filmmaking advice
- DSLR Video Shooter – Caleb Pike
- Learn Light and Sound – Curtis Judd
- Matthew Vandeputte – Timelapse
- Jacob & Katie Schwarz – The best 4K/8K cinematographers on YouTube
- Simon Horrocks – detailed reviews and demonstrations of mobile filmmaking
- MKBHD – Marques Brownlee – High-end video production
- Stewart & Alina – Drone Film Guide – Drone videography and filmmaking
