Most basic step-up setup for social media / vlogging

[jakesmith]

Hi, I make short social media clips, shoot & edit them on my iPhone, it's OK up to now but editing is fiddly and restrictive, I'm starting to grow my following now & want to produce more & better quality. I really don't have a lot to spend, don't shoot outside, it's really just me talking with green screen images in the background for now

What is the sort of camera / lighting I need to get a decent step up from my iPhone and what's a good entry level editing software that lets me add backgrounds and captions please?

I especially know nothing about DSLRs - I see many like Canon 1100 on eBay for £180, could this sort of thing work?

Thanks

[StevieBee]

jakesmith said:

Hi, I make short social media clips, shoot & edit them on my iPhone, it's OK up to now but editing is fiddly and restrictive, I'm starting to grow my following now & want to produce more & better quality. I really don't have a lot to spend, don't shoot outside, it's really just me talking with green screen images in the background for now

What is the sort of camera / lighting I need to get a decent step up from my iPhone and what's a good entry level editing software that lets me add backgrounds and captions please?

I especially know nothing about DSLRs - I see many like Canon 1100 on eBay for £180, could this sort of thing work?

Thanks

Editing: If you have a Mac, use the native iMovie. If not, Davinci Resolve is free and good. Both have excellent keying capability to replace green screen.

Shooting: The two things to focus on most and before the camera is light and sound. You need two diffused light sources to evenly light the green screen (unless you're a Keyer Ninja). And one more to light you. Go on Amazon and look at the gear from a company called Neewer. They make reasonable gear at decent prices that work well.

Mics - a decent Mic makes the world of difference. Never use the one in the camera - even on uber expensive cameras. A shotgun / directional mic is best for to-camera speech. Check out Rode. If you can stretch to it; Sennheiser.

Camera - the only benefit of using a DSLR for filming is the option of different lenses and the ability to get buttery texture, depth of field or floating bokkah, none of which I guess are things you'll likely need.

Providing your phone can capture 1080 minimum then with the above, I'd stick with that given what you are doing. But if you did want something next level, then I hear very good things about this:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/cyber-shot-comp...

HTH

[sjg]

Unless it's an older iPhone, keep it. They've been shooting good quality 4k for quite a few generations now - just shoot with the back camera not the front. External mic to improve sound.

Decent ring light to start with (one that you can control colour temperature on, and goes bright enough), add more fill light later.

Copy the footage off and edit elsewhere if it's too fiddly on the phone.

Loads of people are doing impressive footage straight off iPhones if the other basics are right. You don't need to go and buy a DSLR for this.

[bristolbaron]

I’d consider an iPad Air/Pro- it’s going to give you all the camera you’ll need, an editing interface you’re already used to, more space and won’t need files transferring etc.

[jakesmith]

Thanks for these tips guys I do have an iPad air, I have a Rode Mic but it's the old type with a headphone style jack, wonder if there's an adapter

Think my main desire is to edit it on a computer (I have a PC not a Mac) with a mouse so I can quickly drag & drop clips rather than using touch screens to clip them which is limited accuracy.

Therefore ideally I need something with a memory card as otherwise I have to keep transferring files which I find tedious

[singlecoil]

You could use a second hand Canon 70D, 1080p, memory card, good choice of lenses available and it has the vital external microphone socket. It has a flip out reversible screen but resist the temptation to look at the screen while shooting, viewers will be able to tell and it will look unprofessional. Plenty on eBay etc.

Look no further than Davinci Resolve as mentioned above, it will do everything you might possibly want and it's free. Like all good software will take a bit of effort to learn.