With the amount of time we spend on YouTube these days, the platform has become a critical tool for video makers, musicians and vloggers alike. With 300+ hours of video content uploaded on YouTube every minute, YouTube has turned into no less than a digital archive of human experience. Considering just how many people are on the site, no doubt new YouTubers are entering the fold every day. For such budding YouTubers, a simple start could be getting your gear in order. Here are a few gadgets you’ll want to bring along for a Vlogging run.
Sony A5100L
Price
Rs 63,700
The Sony A5100L is a great mirrorless camera for vlogging. While the camera is not 4K capable, it shoots very good 1080p footage at 24, 30 and 60 fps. It also comes with a 180-degree flip-able screen that’ll help you monitor your frame as you shoot it. The A5100L comes with a kit 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, which is not great when it comes to quality but is very adaptable. But as a mirrorless camera, you have plenty of lenses to choose from should you desire to invest in a better one. The camera also feels sturdy but at this price point, it is clearly made of plastic. It also does not come with any water resistance what-so-ever, so you be very careful with it around water.
The software on the camera is fantastic, however, with a simple interface designed around ease-of-use while also offering various advanced features. The camera focuses well with a few modes to choose from, but the one that stands out is the face focus mode that tracks your face as you move about the frame, a perfect setting for vlogging. The camera is great and even has a stereo mic for audio (which is pretty good if you want to stay with the on-board mic). But it does not have a mic input, which will is a major downside for videographers. This leads us to our next item.
Zoom H4 Voice Recorder
Price
Rs 23,620
I have to admit, the Zoom H4 is a pretty expensive recorder but I stand by it because I truly believe that good video needs good supporting audio. The Zoom H4 is top of the line, with features that even musicians and producers should admire. The recorder captures audio in high-definition 24-bit/96kHz and it has a very good stereo mic on top. The camera also has two XLR ports on the bottom that are attached to many high-quality microphones. The recorder is very capable of recording from a quality mic, which, as a videographer, you should definitely invest in.
If you’re not willing to buy the H4, there are plenty of cheaper options like the Zoom H1 that work great as well.
Sony Vegas Pro
Price
Rs 40,000 to 50,000
Once you have all the hardware, you need the software to put it all together. That’s where Sony’s video-editing software, Vegas, comes in. While there are plenty of professionals locked in the Vegas vs Premier debate, I find Vegas to be a perfect balance between professional and simple. If you’ve had any kind of video editing software before, the interface should be identical. But what sets Vegas apart is its continuous rendering feature and its excellent support for the ‘XAVC S’ format that your Sony camera is going to produce.
