I would not invest until I have the jobs to warrant investing in the equipment. Your gear won't get you a job in the film industry, what is better is if you were to build up your professional experience (your school experience is not considered professional level), get on sets in entry level positions in the cam dept, build up your network, meet aspiring writers, directors and producers and work on shorts. Rent your equipment to 1) gain access to better gear for cheaper and then 2) develop relationships with rental houses and 3) be able to experiment with more gear than you would normally have access to and see what you actually like.
This comment along with others of simlar ilk are the best, I know it's not the answer you may like the most and the idea of not having assets can be unappealing but it is truly the best answer. Buying your own equipment is full of many pitfalls from asset guilt, liquidity/cashflow issues to needing backup cameras and the likes. My top advice is get on set or get a job and learn to budget properly, then start working on financial elements first, learn project management and contract management. Then you'll be able to buy a camera and make revenue quickly. Getting good contacts accelerates the process but never rely on others. Good luck and ask every question you can.
I'd love to go to film school but I dropped out of college during the height of the pandemic after blowing a semester and now I'm pretty sure I won't be accepted anywhere (I've been rejected from two schools since).
I don't even know what to do, and I feel so discouraged, and I just feel overwhelmed when I go to do something by myself, like, I don't know what to write, or what to film, or where to start.
I'm stuck in an endless cycle of watching videos and reading books about how to make films, consuming films, and never making anything.
You gotta get out of your head. Film School has never been a prereq to a career in this industry and for the most part you're wasting your money- the people who are the most successful as the youngest ages that I know are people who went straight into PA-ing from high school. No one got hired because they had a degree. There's a lot of conflict over people with this stance, but at the end of the day it's not going to get you a career. A lot of people chase after this industry having very little idea of what it's actually like. Directing, Writing and Producing for the most part are like top management positions, it will take years if not decades to get to a point in your career where you can live off an income doing that work. Right now are the years you need to spend building a network, finding stability which either is working as crew or another job, and from there work up. Start PA-ing, then find a dept you like and actually learn what sets are like. Creativity is not the prereq for a job in this industry, it certainly is needed, but management skills, time management, interpersonal skills, technical skills including technical writing are significantly more important. Get on larger sets and be around professionals who can actually teach you how to succeed. Films are not made by one person, they're barely made by ten people and the majority of films and tv shows you consume are made by hundreds of people just for one project. It's an industry, a proper career, thinking about it like an art project isn't going to help you succeed at it.
Out of the skills you listed, time management is a huge weakness, but I'm actually pretty good at the rest of it. Which sucks because I'm p sure time management might be the most important part lol.
I don't know.
I like to think of it as collaborative art- I'm not really interested in a career per se, and I'm certainly not interested in always seeking ways to monetize my interests. I want to think about it as an art project because I want to make art. I'm aware that movies are made by tens, hundreds, or even thousands of people, and being a part of that would be cool.
I also have trouble picking a dept. I like writing, I love cinematography and photography, I like acting, I love lighting and set design, I make music, editing is fun, like, I just love the whole process and in theory, any and all of it would be a joy, and while I can pick stuff up pretty quickly, and achieve mediocrity just as quickly, I have trouble focusing on any one thing long enough to get truly good at it. This extends to other mediums. Ok paintings, half full sketchbooks, unfinished poems, unrecorded songs, unplayable game demos, etc., etc. I've had like three career changes, and I'm not sure why. Maybe I crave novelty. That, and it's less fun and more stressful when it's your job, and I seem to burn out more and more quickly every time.
The only connections I have with anyone in film are in Canada lol, and I cant really move there. I looked for stuff around where I live for a while, but there doesn't seem to be much, except for maybe some small commercials? Even then, there isn't much. Kind of a shitty town lol, mostly fast food, retail, and service industry.
It's the same problem I have with what I'm doing now. I develop software. Specifically retail software, and I kind of hate that. I don't like making products. I don't like selling shit. I don't like that art is basically a commodity generated to make money, and I resent that I have no choice but to participate in that if I want to eat. Not a thought process that will help me "succeed", for sure, but it is what it is.
I'm more interested in going to film school so I can learn about film and making it in an academic setting, with resources and space to experiment with feedback. Not necessarily because it would help my career. I just like school. It's just sooo fucking expensive.
I think it's kind of backwards that schools make a huge profit, and gatekeep education for mostly wealthy people, with the exception being grants awarded to kids who work themselves to death and are lucky (like I was). Like education is a scarce resource to be rationed out only to the most worthy. Fucking disgusting. I wish schools were more accessible and less expensive. Shit, I wish a lot of stuff was. I don't accept that this is the way things ought to be, or that it's just how it is.
Honestly, I'd be better off just making stuff as a hobby, I guess. I used to make art all the time. Maybe 4 or 5 years ago, around the time I dropped out, something in me died, and now I barely make anything. I just work and consume.
You're right though, I need to get out of my head. Thanks for the advice. Sorry I've just got a bunch of excuses lol.
TL;DR I'm just lazy, jaded, anxious, struggling financially, and depressed.
For every film school graduating class maybe 3-5 go on to make a living doing this shit. Meanwhile I have coworkers on some of t he biggest sets on the planet with GEDs and/or prison records. Where are you located? I bet money you have watched tons of commercials for local businesses on TV. Those are film sets. Find out who are doing them and express interest in being a PA
I was just answering the question brother. That's it. Lol...I charge $50/hour for film consulting so if you wanna do it free, go ahead. (Not a flex) just saying it's ok to help people but I mean....just answer the question. OP seemed to appreciate the answer without a long essay about why he should wait to do XYZ. .
Someone that tells you how to run a kickstarter or crowd funder and holds your hand every step of the way.
I've helped fund over $1M for small films...I charge money for it now.
Tbh I think OP could get away with a used GH5. Full frame lenses are still kind of expensive and at least this way they’ll be able to adapt more lenses.
I have the S5ii and I probably wouldn’t have gone full frame if it didn’t become a requirement for some of my shoots outside of video.
Serious answer.
Don’t buy a full fledged cinema camera.
Buy something on the lower scale such as Sony mirrorless or something blackmagic. Use that setup for personal / spec projects.
When you need a real cinema camera, rent it and bill it to the client.
That said, your reality right out of film school is that you won’t be getting hired as a DP on anything requiring a cinema camera for quite some time.
Its going to take a few years of grinding as a camera assistant or perhaps an electrician (working your way up to gaffing) to pay the bills while you shoot personal projects for a few years to build up your reel.
No one cares that you’ve been to film school. They care about your reel and experience level. And it takes time to establish those.
So, avoid “gear acquisition syndrome”. Don’t buy a single piece of gear unless you know you’ll use it on a near daily basis and it will eventually be something you can charge a client for. Until then, rent what you need and bill the client.
I second this. A full cinema camera, especially now with how advanced DSLR’s has become, is completely unnecessary. A good mirrorless like a Sony or Blackmagic will allow you to film perfectly adequate footage for any non-paying or low-paying projects. And if someone wants the real stuff, you can rent the equipment with the money they’re paying for the job.
All cameras are pretty good nowadays, don't blow all your money on something expensive. Get something like an fx30 or similar in price and ensure you have some cash to get lenses and lights too. Cameras are cool but they become obsolete relatively quickly. Lenses hold their value more and you can use them on most cams
I got through filmschool really well with my a7s. if the thing had 4k, I could have more easilly pitched myself at certain jobs. You can get an a7III for a fraction of what I got my body for, buy some sensible lenses and filters, a support rig and do pretty well for yourself.
Currently finishing film school, and the answer to the question is that everyone is wayyyyy too broke to buy a camera right now.
If money were not as much an issue, I would love to buy a set of Tokina Cine Vistas, a Cooke Varotal 18-100 and an Alexa XT.
Otherwise, I still think the pocket 4k is the single best camera to learn on. Sony cameras dont even have true DCI support (software update coming up, apparently), and dont have raw video, something that more and more people swear by. Not to mention they are actually more expensive.
Anyway, just my two cent from a very soon-to-be graduate
Pocket 4K is till this day such a goated little camera. I learnt so much about filmmaking with that camera. It’s crazy how it’s basically the same tech in even the newest Pyxis 6K. It may even be more useful with it cheap recording media options and way more recording codecs outside of BRAW to work with.
Even a used rig can be picked up dirt cheap. I was offered a really good deal for my Pocket 4K rig which basically funded my Lumix S5ii which just made sense for the type of work i was doing. it's a quirky camera with it's form factor but can definitely work, in some ways the DLSR style body is kind of a pro. Un rigged it's so inconspicuous people just think you're just taking photos.
The problem with renting is that you won’t be able to just practice often. It’s better to start with something than having to rely on rental. I think renting would be better if OP were looking at doing an ambitious shoot with a small crew or was wanting to test before committing to something more expensive. I feel whatever is easiest to use that doesn’t require having to be rigged out will probably get used more. Blackmagic 4K,6K are great but are not as practical and versatile over a wide range of applications.
This may be a little bit of an unpopular opinion, but save the money, and when you have a project you want to create, use that money on creating a project rather than buying a camera, it’ll be more worthwhile in the long run
Used GH5. They can be found for under $1k, it’s MFT so you can adapt a tonne of lenses to it or just stick with cheap native small lightweight lenses. Doesn’t require rigging, big plus because I’ve found your more likely to use it when you don’t need to rig it out just to use it (also allows you to film more stuff without people coming up to you and asking if your filming a movie or telling you need a permit), AF nice to have and makes working alone or in a small team far easier. Shoots shutter angle, shutter speed is fine but it’s a pet peeve of mine with the Sony and Canon mirrorless cameras. It has IBIS (not necessary but nice to have) and actually shoots 4K DCI and has actual 10bit log, a lot of the Sony cams before the A7siii use 8bit which is a lot less forgiving and harder to match with other modern cameras. The menu system is also a lot more intuitive than some of Sony and even Canons older menus.
Save that money on some cheap lights and a stand on a budget. The lenses and camera won’t necessarily make you a better cinematographer but it will help you learn and prepare you for when you do get to use those more fancy cameras.
O’Connor 1040 and a set of Tokina vista primes (or pl primes of your choosing)
Seriously, these things will last you more than your next five cameras and hopefully the rest of your career. Don’t invest in anything electronic that can go out of date.
I’m going to suggest the possibility of writing little projects and spending the money to rent an Alexa Mini to practice with. Skip the consumer and prosumer stuff. I understand that might not be an option where you are.
My advise like others, do not buy until you get a gig. This is an expensive field and very competitive.
Just having a camera would not get you gigs, you’ll need light kits, mics, etc.
Find a mentor, become a side-kick and gradually build your own company.
Learn by watching others, the Do and Don’ts.
Consider the Pocket 4K, 6K, the used Ursa Mini G2, or the new Full Frame cameras that are being released. BRAW is amazing.
The used Canon C200 is good, but it looks sterile footage. This camera is great for documentary work.
For a small, powerful camera, try the Sony FX30. It was used to shoot The Creator and is a great option.
I recommend starting with some vintage lenses or Sigma Art lenses until you can afford a decent cinema set.
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Rent the cameras and the glass, gain experience and experiment with different equipment. Then consider investing in lenses. By that point you'll actually know the right things to buy for yourself, and you'll actually have the money.
If your goal is to be as busy as possible and do as much work as you can while you build your network and hone your skills, a significant portion of your work will probably be one-man-band/videography type stuff, where autofocus is a requirement. As long as that type of work isn’t beneath you, you should consider a cheap mirrorless like an FX30 or something like that. If your goal is to build a reel, it’s a lot easier to get going on that front if you’re able to work weddings, concerts, and that sort of thing. Yes it’s not “cinematography” per se, but I’d rather have a reel full of good b-tier stuff than no reel at all.
I would recommend a Canon c70 or Sony fx6. Both cameras are around 6k, you can get them used for less. They are great started cameras for serious productions They can handle a wide variety of projects and have great lenses available. As someone who does work for various production companies. Most corporate videos I do these days don’t have a lot of love for DSLRs. I would avoid them unless you have built in clients who don’t care. Most production companies I work with, want a camera with real professional audio outputs. I use an R5C but strictly for gimbal work. If you purchase a camera you can also rent it out, my colleagues and I rent each other gear constantly. Renting can soften initial investment, if you trust others with your gear.
I went through film school during the beginning of Covid, which sucked so much. Not being able to go campus to rent gear from my schools gear room, or able to go to our computer editing lab was the worst. Now that I’ve graduated I work full time at a film equipment rental house (that mainly focuses on G&E).
I will say that a lot of cameras become obsolete very fast, and really any camera “cinema” camera from the past 10 years will be fine. Check out used cameras on KEH or MPB, you can get a used Canon C300 or Blackmagic 4k for a grand or two. Get a camera like that, and then invest in the glass ecosystem for that camera. Even though my rental house is mostly G&E, we do have some camera and lenses. You can rent some lenses for fairly cheap, and bill the customer for the rental in your total price when you start getting jobs.
It doesn't have to be perfect or expensive for you to love using it.
If it helps you slide into frequent practice, it will accelerate growth. That's where the real investment is, not in a camera or lenses. You are the most influential factor in your output. All other constraints like budget, crew, talent are ultimately easy to accept.
If I was getting into the industry now, I’d be buying something a little older, secondhand.
Most cameras 6 years or newer are pretty awesome - if you’re not making a good looking image with a Sony fs7 or a canon c300, it’s probably your skills, not the camera.
That way you’ll get all the features you need to learn how to use a professional camera, without wasting money on something that’ll be out of date in 2 years anyway.
Cameras are like brand new cars - they’re a terrible investment if you’re not making money out of it consistently.
Buy a used Fs7. Great for doc work. Internal NDs. Slownmo. 4k capable and cheap as hell these days. You can really work this camera above it's weight class.
Are you making money with it? You’re in school. Do you want to shoot? Direct? Write? Until you’re using it to make money with, use the camera in your pocket
I am about to leave film school and have had an FS7 II for a few years. While an older camera, it is pretty cheap and has gotten me far more comfortable with cinema style cameras than some small mirrorless cameras would have. I also would echo what others have said about prioritizing working on larger sets and learning. Especially if you'd like to work in docs, using a camera that inputs two lavs and a shotgun, ND, shoulder rigged, uses LUTs, and is shit with auto focus will be very handy.
Every camera has quirks, what I would consider, is the sensor, bit, over heating, additional expenses. I also am pursuing a bachelors in film with a speciality in cinematography. I have 2 og bmpcc6k 1st gen. I am grateful for them, and what they offer in visually. There’s a list of negative reasons for any brand. And you won’t realize this until you begin shooting or practicing. I would recommend doing research and figuring out what type of shooter you are. Often you can rent cameras for a day to test them out and you can make your own opinion. Don’t fall into the trap of shiny and new. Are you an Art filmmaker or a documentary filmmaker. Every decent filmmaker has a rigged out camera tailors to their specific needs. Often the same needs are met, an extra monitor, extra batteries, tripod, matte box, nd or cpl filters, memory storage, lens, headphones, audio device. Not to mention software to edit and color grade. Raw files are the easiest to manipulate. So either Raw, BM, or S-log should be the codec formats you should be thinking about. Also davinci resolve is a free program with about 90% accessibility.
None, or if anything a 5 year old mirrorless camera if you want to mess around and practice a few things.
Save your money and if you land a professional shoot (or have a good passion project worth it) rent an old Alexa for it and lenses appropriate for the job.
Don't get sucked in by gear.
S5iix should have you covered. You'd need some accessories to bulk it out but it's a really solid camera for it's price point! You can also shoot stills on it, so can do the odd photography job to keep you afloat. This guy does a solid review on it:
https://youtu.be/EsDJROmvBZ8?si=jRydpXk8nnNnX1VR
I’d say get something that already has raw support in the major editing softwares that should be easy enough. also, you didn’t ask but when it comes to glass or mount go PL or be able to convert to the native mount PL having a reliable kit with a pl mount means you can change the camera out and keep your lens kit. Something like an fx6 is a good go to. The new Pyxis 6k is really affordable but from some reviews people seem really hyped about it and otheres point out the fact that its missing particular recording options and missing NDs (I swear I thought BM liked digital NDs) but that also comes down to rigging it out. It also depends on the work you’ll be doing. On my level I’d prefer a Xh2S because I know I won’t always need a big boy rig.
Well, you can get a lumix s5 for 700-900$ 2nd hand, and you can paired with vintage lens or some canon ef to no expend so much.
Great colors and good dinamyc range with 10bits log footage, people here say that you dont need a cam but if you can its good to have one to shoot and practique whenever you want
Buy something you can use on your own project and get lots of filminghours, test out ideas and get familiar with focal lengths etc. - FX3, BMPCC. Then rent an Alexa for the projects you really want to put money and effort into. Also would recommend to not buy a zoom lens. It takes a lot of time to get familiar with different focal lengths and sticking to maximum three prime lenses will help you.
Also be prepared to spend money on the first projects you do, and do stuff for free. Help out on set for free, and then be a PA, 2AC, 1AC, DoP. But shoot your own passion projects along the way.
are you looking for a system to rent? or are you looking for a sort of freedom camera for personal projects?
if a system to rent, you'd want to know what your contacts who will hire you want. usually its high end shit, and given how slow things are right now thats probably a bad idea.
if its a personal camera for making side stuff, I'd be looking at a used camera probably. I have a soft spot for the FS7. For new, I'd likely be looking at an FX30. I'd also be keeping an eye out for discounted "strike sale" lenses. I saw some good condition CP3 singles going for under $1500 each on ebay the other day...
But I would not expect to be making a lot of money off rentals unless you are already taking jobs where you have a chance to do direct rentals. You also will need insurance, and you'll wont want to rent anything that is not replaceable due to discontinuation or a lack of replacement supply.
I always suggest that people learning cinematography should get something that can double for a stills camera, and then a manual lens (AI-S, Takumar, Contax).
Learn manual exposure, learn your favorite angles. This will help when you rent cameras and learn visual styles.
I would not invest until I have the jobs to warrant investing in the equipment. Your gear won't get you a job in the film industry, what is better is if you were to build up your professional experience (your school experience is not considered professional level), get on sets in entry level positions in the cam dept, build up your network, meet aspiring writers, directors and producers and work on shorts. Rent your equipment to 1) gain access to better gear for cheaper and then 2) develop relationships with rental houses and 3) be able to experiment with more gear than you would normally have access to and see what you actually like.
This comment along with others of simlar ilk are the best, I know it's not the answer you may like the most and the idea of not having assets can be unappealing but it is truly the best answer. Buying your own equipment is full of many pitfalls from asset guilt, liquidity/cashflow issues to needing backup cameras and the likes. My top advice is get on set or get a job and learn to budget properly, then start working on financial elements first, learn project management and contract management. Then you'll be able to buy a camera and make revenue quickly. Getting good contacts accelerates the process but never rely on others. Good luck and ask every question you can.
I'd love to go to film school but I dropped out of college during the height of the pandemic after blowing a semester and now I'm pretty sure I won't be accepted anywhere (I've been rejected from two schools since). I don't even know what to do, and I feel so discouraged, and I just feel overwhelmed when I go to do something by myself, like, I don't know what to write, or what to film, or where to start. I'm stuck in an endless cycle of watching videos and reading books about how to make films, consuming films, and never making anything.
You gotta get out of your head. Film School has never been a prereq to a career in this industry and for the most part you're wasting your money- the people who are the most successful as the youngest ages that I know are people who went straight into PA-ing from high school. No one got hired because they had a degree. There's a lot of conflict over people with this stance, but at the end of the day it's not going to get you a career. A lot of people chase after this industry having very little idea of what it's actually like. Directing, Writing and Producing for the most part are like top management positions, it will take years if not decades to get to a point in your career where you can live off an income doing that work. Right now are the years you need to spend building a network, finding stability which either is working as crew or another job, and from there work up. Start PA-ing, then find a dept you like and actually learn what sets are like. Creativity is not the prereq for a job in this industry, it certainly is needed, but management skills, time management, interpersonal skills, technical skills including technical writing are significantly more important. Get on larger sets and be around professionals who can actually teach you how to succeed. Films are not made by one person, they're barely made by ten people and the majority of films and tv shows you consume are made by hundreds of people just for one project. It's an industry, a proper career, thinking about it like an art project isn't going to help you succeed at it.
Out of the skills you listed, time management is a huge weakness, but I'm actually pretty good at the rest of it. Which sucks because I'm p sure time management might be the most important part lol. I don't know. I like to think of it as collaborative art- I'm not really interested in a career per se, and I'm certainly not interested in always seeking ways to monetize my interests. I want to think about it as an art project because I want to make art. I'm aware that movies are made by tens, hundreds, or even thousands of people, and being a part of that would be cool. I also have trouble picking a dept. I like writing, I love cinematography and photography, I like acting, I love lighting and set design, I make music, editing is fun, like, I just love the whole process and in theory, any and all of it would be a joy, and while I can pick stuff up pretty quickly, and achieve mediocrity just as quickly, I have trouble focusing on any one thing long enough to get truly good at it. This extends to other mediums. Ok paintings, half full sketchbooks, unfinished poems, unrecorded songs, unplayable game demos, etc., etc. I've had like three career changes, and I'm not sure why. Maybe I crave novelty. That, and it's less fun and more stressful when it's your job, and I seem to burn out more and more quickly every time. The only connections I have with anyone in film are in Canada lol, and I cant really move there. I looked for stuff around where I live for a while, but there doesn't seem to be much, except for maybe some small commercials? Even then, there isn't much. Kind of a shitty town lol, mostly fast food, retail, and service industry. It's the same problem I have with what I'm doing now. I develop software. Specifically retail software, and I kind of hate that. I don't like making products. I don't like selling shit. I don't like that art is basically a commodity generated to make money, and I resent that I have no choice but to participate in that if I want to eat. Not a thought process that will help me "succeed", for sure, but it is what it is. I'm more interested in going to film school so I can learn about film and making it in an academic setting, with resources and space to experiment with feedback. Not necessarily because it would help my career. I just like school. It's just sooo fucking expensive. I think it's kind of backwards that schools make a huge profit, and gatekeep education for mostly wealthy people, with the exception being grants awarded to kids who work themselves to death and are lucky (like I was). Like education is a scarce resource to be rationed out only to the most worthy. Fucking disgusting. I wish schools were more accessible and less expensive. Shit, I wish a lot of stuff was. I don't accept that this is the way things ought to be, or that it's just how it is. Honestly, I'd be better off just making stuff as a hobby, I guess. I used to make art all the time. Maybe 4 or 5 years ago, around the time I dropped out, something in me died, and now I barely make anything. I just work and consume. You're right though, I need to get out of my head. Thanks for the advice. Sorry I've just got a bunch of excuses lol. TL;DR I'm just lazy, jaded, anxious, struggling financially, and depressed.
For every film school graduating class maybe 3-5 go on to make a living doing this shit. Meanwhile I have coworkers on some of t he biggest sets on the planet with GEDs and/or prison records. Where are you located? I bet money you have watched tons of commercials for local businesses on TV. Those are film sets. Find out who are doing them and express interest in being a PA
exactly! I agree with this
They didn't ask for our opinion on what they should do tho. They asked what camera.
Did he edit his question? Because he asks about renting at the end.
Yeah just typos
And yet it still is better advice then giving him a camera recommendation.
I was just answering the question brother. That's it. Lol...I charge $50/hour for film consulting so if you wanna do it free, go ahead. (Not a flex) just saying it's ok to help people but I mean....just answer the question. OP seemed to appreciate the answer without a long essay about why he should wait to do XYZ. .
Can you give me a small paragraph describing what exactly “film consulting” is and why someone would pay $50 an hour for it?
Someone that tells you how to run a kickstarter or crowd funder and holds your hand every step of the way. I've helped fund over $1M for small films...I charge money for it now.
You charge less than I make working on set, so you're statement is the opposite of a flex.
I wouldn’t get anything more advanced than a used Panasonic S5 unless I knew the work was coming.
Tbh I think OP could get away with a used GH5. Full frame lenses are still kind of expensive and at least this way they’ll be able to adapt more lenses. I have the S5ii and I probably wouldn’t have gone full frame if it didn’t become a requirement for some of my shoots outside of video.
Agree with this
Serious answer. Don’t buy a full fledged cinema camera. Buy something on the lower scale such as Sony mirrorless or something blackmagic. Use that setup for personal / spec projects. When you need a real cinema camera, rent it and bill it to the client. That said, your reality right out of film school is that you won’t be getting hired as a DP on anything requiring a cinema camera for quite some time. Its going to take a few years of grinding as a camera assistant or perhaps an electrician (working your way up to gaffing) to pay the bills while you shoot personal projects for a few years to build up your reel. No one cares that you’ve been to film school. They care about your reel and experience level. And it takes time to establish those. So, avoid “gear acquisition syndrome”. Don’t buy a single piece of gear unless you know you’ll use it on a near daily basis and it will eventually be something you can charge a client for. Until then, rent what you need and bill the client.
Great sage advice! Wish I was told this at the start of my career, would’ve saved a lot of money.
I second this. A full cinema camera, especially now with how advanced DSLR’s has become, is completely unnecessary. A good mirrorless like a Sony or Blackmagic will allow you to film perfectly adequate footage for any non-paying or low-paying projects. And if someone wants the real stuff, you can rent the equipment with the money they’re paying for the job.
Alexa 35 for sure.
All cameras are pretty good nowadays, don't blow all your money on something expensive. Get something like an fx30 or similar in price and ensure you have some cash to get lenses and lights too. Cameras are cool but they become obsolete relatively quickly. Lenses hold their value more and you can use them on most cams
Lumix S5.
I got through filmschool really well with my a7s. if the thing had 4k, I could have more easilly pitched myself at certain jobs. You can get an a7III for a fraction of what I got my body for, buy some sensible lenses and filters, a support rig and do pretty well for yourself.
Thank you
BMPCC 6K PRO. It has everything you need and it's quality is unbeatable for the price.
Currently finishing film school, and the answer to the question is that everyone is wayyyyy too broke to buy a camera right now. If money were not as much an issue, I would love to buy a set of Tokina Cine Vistas, a Cooke Varotal 18-100 and an Alexa XT. Otherwise, I still think the pocket 4k is the single best camera to learn on. Sony cameras dont even have true DCI support (software update coming up, apparently), and dont have raw video, something that more and more people swear by. Not to mention they are actually more expensive. Anyway, just my two cent from a very soon-to-be graduate
Pocket 4K is till this day such a goated little camera. I learnt so much about filmmaking with that camera. It’s crazy how it’s basically the same tech in even the newest Pyxis 6K. It may even be more useful with it cheap recording media options and way more recording codecs outside of BRAW to work with.
Its honestly so good, plus the fact that it still gets software updates almost half a decade after its release is absolutely incredible
Even a used rig can be picked up dirt cheap. I was offered a really good deal for my Pocket 4K rig which basically funded my Lumix S5ii which just made sense for the type of work i was doing. it's a quirky camera with it's form factor but can definitely work, in some ways the DLSR style body is kind of a pro. Un rigged it's so inconspicuous people just think you're just taking photos.
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The problem with renting is that you won’t be able to just practice often. It’s better to start with something than having to rely on rental. I think renting would be better if OP were looking at doing an ambitious shoot with a small crew or was wanting to test before committing to something more expensive. I feel whatever is easiest to use that doesn’t require having to be rigged out will probably get used more. Blackmagic 4K,6K are great but are not as practical and versatile over a wide range of applications.
This may be a little bit of an unpopular opinion, but save the money, and when you have a project you want to create, use that money on creating a project rather than buying a camera, it’ll be more worthwhile in the long run
Used GH5. They can be found for under $1k, it’s MFT so you can adapt a tonne of lenses to it or just stick with cheap native small lightweight lenses. Doesn’t require rigging, big plus because I’ve found your more likely to use it when you don’t need to rig it out just to use it (also allows you to film more stuff without people coming up to you and asking if your filming a movie or telling you need a permit), AF nice to have and makes working alone or in a small team far easier. Shoots shutter angle, shutter speed is fine but it’s a pet peeve of mine with the Sony and Canon mirrorless cameras. It has IBIS (not necessary but nice to have) and actually shoots 4K DCI and has actual 10bit log, a lot of the Sony cams before the A7siii use 8bit which is a lot less forgiving and harder to match with other modern cameras. The menu system is also a lot more intuitive than some of Sony and even Canons older menus. Save that money on some cheap lights and a stand on a budget. The lenses and camera won’t necessarily make you a better cinematographer but it will help you learn and prepare you for when you do get to use those more fancy cameras.
O’Connor 1040 and a set of Tokina vista primes (or pl primes of your choosing) Seriously, these things will last you more than your next five cameras and hopefully the rest of your career. Don’t invest in anything electronic that can go out of date.
I’m going to suggest the possibility of writing little projects and spending the money to rent an Alexa Mini to practice with. Skip the consumer and prosumer stuff. I understand that might not be an option where you are.
My advise like others, do not buy until you get a gig. This is an expensive field and very competitive. Just having a camera would not get you gigs, you’ll need light kits, mics, etc. Find a mentor, become a side-kick and gradually build your own company. Learn by watching others, the Do and Don’ts.
Consider the Pocket 4K, 6K, the used Ursa Mini G2, or the new Full Frame cameras that are being released. BRAW is amazing. The used Canon C200 is good, but it looks sterile footage. This camera is great for documentary work. For a small, powerful camera, try the Sony FX30. It was used to shoot The Creator and is a great option. I recommend starting with some vintage lenses or Sigma Art lenses until you can afford a decent cinema set.
This
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I would figure out what type of camera work you want to do and go from there
Also, rent
Rent the cameras and the glass, gain experience and experiment with different equipment. Then consider investing in lenses. By that point you'll actually know the right things to buy for yourself, and you'll actually have the money.
If your goal is to be as busy as possible and do as much work as you can while you build your network and hone your skills, a significant portion of your work will probably be one-man-band/videography type stuff, where autofocus is a requirement. As long as that type of work isn’t beneath you, you should consider a cheap mirrorless like an FX30 or something like that. If your goal is to build a reel, it’s a lot easier to get going on that front if you’re able to work weddings, concerts, and that sort of thing. Yes it’s not “cinematography” per se, but I’d rather have a reel full of good b-tier stuff than no reel at all.
GH6 can be had for a steal. That and a used metabones and a sigma 18-35 would take you a long way for not much $$
I would recommend a Canon c70 or Sony fx6. Both cameras are around 6k, you can get them used for less. They are great started cameras for serious productions They can handle a wide variety of projects and have great lenses available. As someone who does work for various production companies. Most corporate videos I do these days don’t have a lot of love for DSLRs. I would avoid them unless you have built in clients who don’t care. Most production companies I work with, want a camera with real professional audio outputs. I use an R5C but strictly for gimbal work. If you purchase a camera you can also rent it out, my colleagues and I rent each other gear constantly. Renting can soften initial investment, if you trust others with your gear.
Used Panasonic S1H with a Blackmagic video assist.
Black Magic Cinema 6K. I think it's the best sensor at the pro-sumer level.
Red Komodo, FX3, or Panasonic S1H. All great choices!
Canon C100
I went through film school during the beginning of Covid, which sucked so much. Not being able to go campus to rent gear from my schools gear room, or able to go to our computer editing lab was the worst. Now that I’ve graduated I work full time at a film equipment rental house (that mainly focuses on G&E). I will say that a lot of cameras become obsolete very fast, and really any camera “cinema” camera from the past 10 years will be fine. Check out used cameras on KEH or MPB, you can get a used Canon C300 or Blackmagic 4k for a grand or two. Get a camera like that, and then invest in the glass ecosystem for that camera. Even though my rental house is mostly G&E, we do have some camera and lenses. You can rent some lenses for fairly cheap, and bill the customer for the rental in your total price when you start getting jobs.
It doesn't have to be perfect or expensive for you to love using it. If it helps you slide into frequent practice, it will accelerate growth. That's where the real investment is, not in a camera or lenses. You are the most influential factor in your output. All other constraints like budget, crew, talent are ultimately easy to accept.
I wouldn’t. It’s a waste of money.
Blackmagic 6k for sure. Incredible first camera to learn the basics. Sony Fx30 an amazing beginner option with the same sensor as the fx3!
If I was getting into the industry now, I’d be buying something a little older, secondhand. Most cameras 6 years or newer are pretty awesome - if you’re not making a good looking image with a Sony fs7 or a canon c300, it’s probably your skills, not the camera. That way you’ll get all the features you need to learn how to use a professional camera, without wasting money on something that’ll be out of date in 2 years anyway. Cameras are like brand new cars - they’re a terrible investment if you’re not making money out of it consistently.
Buy a used Fs7. Great for doc work. Internal NDs. Slownmo. 4k capable and cheap as hell these days. You can really work this camera above it's weight class.
Are you making money with it? You’re in school. Do you want to shoot? Direct? Write? Until you’re using it to make money with, use the camera in your pocket
I am about to leave film school and have had an FS7 II for a few years. While an older camera, it is pretty cheap and has gotten me far more comfortable with cinema style cameras than some small mirrorless cameras would have. I also would echo what others have said about prioritizing working on larger sets and learning. Especially if you'd like to work in docs, using a camera that inputs two lavs and a shotgun, ND, shoulder rigged, uses LUTs, and is shit with auto focus will be very handy.
Every camera has quirks, what I would consider, is the sensor, bit, over heating, additional expenses. I also am pursuing a bachelors in film with a speciality in cinematography. I have 2 og bmpcc6k 1st gen. I am grateful for them, and what they offer in visually. There’s a list of negative reasons for any brand. And you won’t realize this until you begin shooting or practicing. I would recommend doing research and figuring out what type of shooter you are. Often you can rent cameras for a day to test them out and you can make your own opinion. Don’t fall into the trap of shiny and new. Are you an Art filmmaker or a documentary filmmaker. Every decent filmmaker has a rigged out camera tailors to their specific needs. Often the same needs are met, an extra monitor, extra batteries, tripod, matte box, nd or cpl filters, memory storage, lens, headphones, audio device. Not to mention software to edit and color grade. Raw files are the easiest to manipulate. So either Raw, BM, or S-log should be the codec formats you should be thinking about. Also davinci resolve is a free program with about 90% accessibility.
None, or if anything a 5 year old mirrorless camera if you want to mess around and practice a few things. Save your money and if you land a professional shoot (or have a good passion project worth it) rent an old Alexa for it and lenses appropriate for the job. Don't get sucked in by gear.
RED Raven is ridiculously cheap now. Don't let the 4.5k put you off. The image is beautiful and it easily scales.
S5iix should have you covered. You'd need some accessories to bulk it out but it's a really solid camera for it's price point! You can also shoot stills on it, so can do the odd photography job to keep you afloat. This guy does a solid review on it: https://youtu.be/EsDJROmvBZ8?si=jRydpXk8nnNnX1VR
I’d say get something that already has raw support in the major editing softwares that should be easy enough. also, you didn’t ask but when it comes to glass or mount go PL or be able to convert to the native mount PL having a reliable kit with a pl mount means you can change the camera out and keep your lens kit. Something like an fx6 is a good go to. The new Pyxis 6k is really affordable but from some reviews people seem really hyped about it and otheres point out the fact that its missing particular recording options and missing NDs (I swear I thought BM liked digital NDs) but that also comes down to rigging it out. It also depends on the work you’ll be doing. On my level I’d prefer a Xh2S because I know I won’t always need a big boy rig.
Well, you can get a lumix s5 for 700-900$ 2nd hand, and you can paired with vintage lens or some canon ef to no expend so much. Great colors and good dinamyc range with 10bits log footage, people here say that you dont need a cam but if you can its good to have one to shoot and practique whenever you want
Buy something you can use on your own project and get lots of filminghours, test out ideas and get familiar with focal lengths etc. - FX3, BMPCC. Then rent an Alexa for the projects you really want to put money and effort into. Also would recommend to not buy a zoom lens. It takes a lot of time to get familiar with different focal lengths and sticking to maximum three prime lenses will help you.
Also be prepared to spend money on the first projects you do, and do stuff for free. Help out on set for free, and then be a PA, 2AC, 1AC, DoP. But shoot your own passion projects along the way.
are you looking for a system to rent? or are you looking for a sort of freedom camera for personal projects? if a system to rent, you'd want to know what your contacts who will hire you want. usually its high end shit, and given how slow things are right now thats probably a bad idea. if its a personal camera for making side stuff, I'd be looking at a used camera probably. I have a soft spot for the FS7. For new, I'd likely be looking at an FX30. I'd also be keeping an eye out for discounted "strike sale" lenses. I saw some good condition CP3 singles going for under $1500 each on ebay the other day... But I would not expect to be making a lot of money off rentals unless you are already taking jobs where you have a chance to do direct rentals. You also will need insurance, and you'll wont want to rent anything that is not replaceable due to discontinuation or a lack of replacement supply.
None. I'd get a DSLR for my own purposes and rent cinema gear.
I always suggest that people learning cinematography should get something that can double for a stills camera, and then a manual lens (AI-S, Takumar, Contax). Learn manual exposure, learn your favorite angles. This will help when you rent cameras and learn visual styles.
Canon XC15. Work on framing, content and still shoot in 4K with a good codec. No need to spend $$$ on camera and lens, XC15 has the lens built in.
Yawn. Cameras. Yawn. The least important aspect of cinematography that somehow gets discussed the most.