Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Camera Package
POV: You’re an emerging student solo filmmaker at DFI Rentals & are surrounded by a ton of professional camera equipment. You want to show up to your shoot with an expert camera build, & the best accessories on the market. The problem is, you don’t know how to begin creating your ideal camera package. Luckily for you, DFI is staffed with experts that can help you curate the package of your dreams.
Buckle up, reader. This guide will teach you how to build a beginner’s camera package, while still maintaining the professional essence for your next project.
Step 1: Choosing Your Camera
Since this is your first major shoot, choose a camera that’s reliable, compact, & easy to use, so you don’t have to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. A lot of cameras are equipped with auto-focus already, so you won’t need to worry about getting the perfect focus every time. The Sony FX3 is highly popular in the industry & ideal for beginners. Filmmakers love the Sony FX3 because:
Check out our Sony FX3 Camera Package!
Compact & Lightweight: Easy to handle & carry, making it less intimidating for users.
User-Friendly Interface: Has an intuitive interface & menu system, which simplifies the learning process.
Auto-Focus System: The advance auto-focus system ensures sharp images & reduces the need for manual focus adjustments.
Wide-Compatibility: It is compatible with a range of lenses & accessories, providing flexibility as the user advances in their skills.
Why complicate your first shoot with a complex, super-advanced camera that’ll take forever to learn when you can build your package around one of the most reliable cameras on the market? It’s not the camera that makes the storyteller, but the one who’s operating the camera.
Step 2: Lenses & Filters
When it comes to lenses, it ultimately comes down to two choices: prime or zoom lenses. If you need a quick recap on prime & zoom lenses, check out our article here on everything you need to know about camera lenses!
For the Sony FX3 package, opt for the zoom lenses because they offer a wider range of options, lighter for easier accessibility, & are convenient overall. Depending on your project, you can add indie filters & other types of filters that’ll shape the image to your liking! One important note, if you are planning to shoot outdoors, we recommend equipping a Neutral Density filter to the lens when capturing a scene with a wide range of brightness levels.
Now let’s move on to ensuring your audio quality matches the high standard of your visuals.
Step 3: Audio
Unless you’re making a silent film (which most likely isn’t the case here), sound is just as crucial as the picture. You need to choose the sounds you want & edit out the ones you don’t want. Ideally, you’ll need a separate microphone, not the one in the camera.
A popular choice among filmmakers is the Lavalier microphone. These microphones are a great way to record voices if you don’t mind having people attached to the camera by a cable.
Luckily, at DFI Rentals, we house wireless microphones so you can avoid this issue! We carry different models of wireless headphones but the most popular & simplest ones to use are the DJI Mic 2’s. With great sound quality & long reach, these microphone/transmitters operate on Bluetooth connectivity, meaning the subject can move freely without being on a close leash to the camera.
Step 4: Camera Accessories
You’ve built the foundation of your camera package! Now you need something to hold the camera. With the Sony FX3 being lightweight, it’s recommended to use a tripod to keep the camera steady. It’s best to find one that is reliable, isn’t flimsy, & can let you choose from a wide variety of shooting options.
Don’t worry, we got you covered. The Manfrotto 504x Tripod is the most compatible one for the Sony FX3. It has a fluid drag system for smooth movements & easy adjustability. With Manfrotto’s new fluid technology, the camera head allows you to capture judder-free smooth motion pans and tilts. Just plant the tripod down, hook the camera on top, & get to shooting.
The Manfrotto 504x Tripod is known for its fluid drag system on PAN & TILT (as displayed in the photo). For a 360 degree view, click here.
Final Step: Place Your Order!
Congratulations, you’re ready to create your own camera package! Let’s recap so you know how to put your camera package together when you make your next rental order:
Camera: Sony FX3
Lens: Zoom lens with ND Filter (other filters optional)
Audio: DJI Mic 2’s
Accessories: Manfrotto 504x Tripod
For a beginner with a limited budget, this camera package is the dream. Whether you’re a student filmmaker shooting for your final project, or a novice independent filmmaker on the cusp of your cinematography journey, this Sony FX3 camera package is built for you. Feel like you’re ready? Rent our Sony FX3 package here!