than making a video at home. Selection of equipment from 11,000₽ to 420,000₽

I photograph film festivals, tires from a Formula 1 supplier, and even a robot surgeon right in the operating room. But he also filmed from the trunk, in a closet studio, and started with improvised means. Therefore, I decided to put together 3 sets for filming for different budgets: from my grandmother’s pension to the salary of an IT specialist.

Minimum set – 10,800₽

This is a set for those who are starting to shoot video or want to improve the picture on work calls.

If you have a new MacBook or iPhone, you can only buy light. Apple cameras provide high-quality, high-resolution images. And the built-in microphones pick out voices and cancel out background noise better than some external cameras.

If you have a regular laptop, an old Mac and little money, take this set.

Light

Proper lighting improves video quality. Therefore, if the audience has no complaints about the sound, first of all we buy light.

Budget option – ring lamp ST-3526

If the diodes are cheap, the face will have a green tint. Therefore, it is better to buy lamps not in the transition, but in specialized stores.

The lamp has high-quality diodes and a color rendering index of 90. This means that the lamp will last 3 years of continuous use. And the colors of objects will look natural.

Camera

The next step is the Logitech HD Pro C920 webcam

Connects via USB to all devices. It gives a better picture than regular laptops. And 2 built-in microphones record noise-canceling audio. Therefore, you don’t have to buy a microphone

There is autofocus – when moving away or approaching the camera, the clarity of the picture will not be lost. Colors are faded, but brightness and contrast can be improved using OBS.

On the left before the settings in OBS: the picture is blurry, the colors are faded, the light areas are blown out. Right - after adjustments: objects are clearer and colors are more natural — On the left before the settings in OBS: the picture is blurry, the colors are faded, the light areas are blown out. Right – after adjustments: objects are clearer and colors are more natural

Microphone

For amateur streams and interviews, a lapel is suitable BOYA BY-M1. The voice writes clearer than a webcam. It cuts out unnecessary noise indoors, but can't cope with noise outdoors.

Middle class – 74,200₽

This is a set for those who make money from content: streams, educational webinars and trainings, videos. In order for your content to be bought, you need to invest in it.

Microphone: 37,400₽

Dialogue is more important, so we think about sound first.

To get close to studio sound without worrying about connections, use the Rode NT-USB Mini microphone.

We connect via USB to the laptop, and everything works

It cuts out background noise well and makes the voice stand out. Also, a pop filter is included. It stops saliva, prevents the microphone from picking up breathing, explosive (t, d, p, b, f) and hissing (s, sh, sch) sounds. If the voice is not staged, it significantly reduces post-processing time.

We place the microphone on a tripod or pantograph.

Can be placed on a table on a tripod or mounted on a pantograph. The tripod comes with a microphone. The pantograph is purchased separately.

The pantograph is adjustable, so it makes it easier to install the microphone at mouth level. Here's a strong one – Rode PSA1 PSA1

Easily adjustable. Withstands heavy microphones

The microphone picks up vibrations that the ear cannot hear: touching the table, the noise of the air conditioner and refrigerator. The sound is distorted. The Audio-Technica AT8410A spider helps dampen vibration and make the sound clearer

A spider helps with vibrations. In the language of the pros - vibration isolation. — A spider helps with vibrations. In the language of the pros – vibration isolation.

The Logitech VC Brio Ultra HD Pro camera simply connects to your computer and records video in 4K resolution. Favorite camera of webcam girls

Comparison with a budget camera for 10,800. More detail, better color saturation, higher contrast

Tripod

To adjust the height and not worry about the camera falling, place it on a tripod – Ulanzi Vijim LS09

Light: 19,300₽

Natural light is limiting. Because the brightness and temperature of the light changes depending on the weather and time of day, and with them the lighting of the face. To control your shooting, switch to artificial light. 3 light sources are enough:

basic – makes the object visible and emphasizes important details
filler – softens shadows
back – separates the speaker from the background, creates depth

For main and fill use the FST LED-1682 KIT constant light kit

Here you can adjust the brightness and color temperature. Also, it doesn't heat up. This means you won't be too hot to work with.

And for the backlight – LED illuminator YongNuo YN-360 LED 3200-5500K.

Background light source to create depth in the frame. Point at the back of the speaker or the wall.

Pro set from RUB 420,700

This is a set for those who want to compete with top YouTubers. Those who regularly post content, have subscribers and gain views. Of course, a good story and usefulness make all the difference. But bloggers have taught the audience that useful content can have high-quality picture and sound.

It’s easier to go to the studio, but if you’re ready to get confused, we take: a camera, a lens, a tripod, a video capture device, a microphone, a microphone stand, a sound card, 3 sets of lights and a light stand.

Camera

For podcasts, streams and training videos, we use Sony a7 III, Sony fx6, Sony ZV-E10 cameras.

These cameras can be used as a webcam – connected via USB to a laptop and broadcast. But the video is compressed and the picture quality is worse than on the camera. To convey a picture of the same high quality as the one captured by the camera, you need video capture.

Video capture

The AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus video capture device connects via USB and records to a laptop or memory card.

Lens

For a home studio, you can get a Tamron 28-75mm lens from Sony.

Lightweight, silent, with accurate and fast focusing. Not suitable for harsh weather conditions because the plastic casing is easy to crack. Just right for a home studio.

Tripod

The tripod must support the weight of the camera. From strong, but budget – Benro KH25P.

Withstands up to 5 kg. There is also a bubble level to accurately level the horizon.

Sound: 70,049₽

To improve sound quality, you need an external microphone and sound card. The studios are equipped with Soyuz microphones, which are advertised by Artemy Lebedev, or Shure SM7B, with which Michael Jackson recorded the Thriller album. But for your home you can take a simpler and cheaper one – RODE PodMic.

The RODE PodMic microphone makes the speaker's voice deep and velvety. And everything that is said past or on the side is muffled and fades into the background.

If you are typing on the keyboard or your mother has gone to fry pies in the next room, it is inaudible. The main thing for a microphone is the speaker’s voice. This is not a USB microphone, so it cannot be connected directly to a computer. — If you are typing on the keyboard or your mother has gone to fry pies in the next room, it is inaudible. The main thing for a microphone is the speaker's voice. This is not a USB microphone, so it cannot be connected directly to a computer.

The sound requires processing, otherwise the computer will not reproduce the sound. Therefore, you need a sound card – MOTU M4

The microphone is connected to the sound card, and the card to the computer. There is a volume control and sound adjustment buttons on the case, so you don't have to use a keyboard.

The sound card processes the sound by opening the microphone. It also allows you to simultaneously record sound from a microphone and a computer, which is especially useful for streamers.

For the microphone we buy a pantograph for mounting and a spider to eliminate vibrations, as from the previous budget:

Light: 152,050₽

To create three-point lighting, we buy 3 types of light: main, fill and backlight. Here's the Pro set:

— main: 2 Aputure Amaran LED lights

Cost for 1 light fixture. On the right with a nozzle, on the left without. Nozzles are included. The illuminator is suitable for shooting 1 or several people. Temperature and power can be controlled from your phone.

– fill to create soft light. One LIGHT DOME III diffuser is enough

– backlight – placed behind the object to create a light line or halo around it. This helps the subject stand out from the background and makes the picture more voluminous and interesting.

Aputure Amaran T4C LED Illuminator

Background light to create depth in the frame

— 2 Manfrotto Black Mini light stands

Cost per 1. Needed to install lights in the right place at the right height

Equipment list

I collected all the equipment from the article in one table, it is on my blog, there are all the links where to buy equipment. The table will be replenished, so save it so as not to lose it.

Background

Photo backdrops are not included in the estimate. This is a specific tool for its tasks and I do not recommend using it at home. I will write a separate article about this. In short, they create a lot of problems on video shoots.

Due to irregularities and glare, more time is spent preparing and processing the video.

It’s easier with an interior and an ordinary wall, even if you live in a grandma’s apartment.

Light and cleanliness make any interior and wall beautiful

Subscribe to the channel People in the frame. I’ll post articles soon: setting up light for dummies, how to record clear sound at home, what to leave in the frame behind you, and how to buy used equipment.

Here are links to previous articles:

— How we removed premium tires from the trunk

— How to look cool on camera: advice from Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and Billie Eilish

— Guys, we have a robot surgeon performing an operation here.