Hi- longtime screenwriter here (located in NYC). I'm mulling the possibility of gathering the gear needed to shoot my own shorts... I'd want professional, but affordable. IE: not some kid's shaky handicam. Enough gear to create a polished product. What equipment would I need, and what cost would this require? (I do understand that there's plenty of skill and experience involved, too, but that's the one thing that I'll have to get the hard way.) Thanks in advance for any information!
Filmmaking / Directing : Basic gear kit to shoot professional shorts? by Janet Clarke
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To answer your question, IMHO DSLR's offer the best image quality for your buck ($1500 basic - $4500 w/decent lens), Basic shotgun mic and boom pole (starts at $300), a field sound recorder ($200-$400) and a sturdy tripod or rig ($200+)
http://www.filmslatemagazine.com/filmmaking/the-indie-filmmakers-guide-t...
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I solid DSLR that isn't overly expensive would be a Canon 70D. They are cheaper than a 5D (around $1200 with a kit lens) but have nice features like video auto-focus that active follows the subject, something that is either missing or poorly implemented in other cameras. The kit lens is entirely usable, but you would be well served to also get a 50mm 1.8 lens for rack focus shots. As for audio, the Zoom H4N is an exceptional field recorder that uses a built in mic or an external one that you can add later with a boom (approx $300). A decent length XLR cable and a nice shotgun mic will help for getting worthwhile audio (don't neglect your sound, it can be the difference between the perception of pro vs. amateur). I have a number of mics but a great production mic that I use is a R0DE NTG2 (around $300). Although I prefer to work with available light, there are times when you want control, and a cheap pair of softboxes with continuous lights can be had for about $300 at most camera outlets.
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I'm doing exactly the same thing.