The Ultimate Church Film Gear List on a Budget
The church as we know it is constantly changing. In fact, one of the ways it is changing the fastest is though the implementation of film in services. From baptisms to worship nights, film is being used anywhere and everywhere in the ministry world.
Yet, it can seem so hard to figure out where you should start. I mean there is SO MUCH gear and it all seems SO EXPENSIVE. How do you know that you’re getting what you need and not overpaying for something that you outweighs your need?
Don’t worry we are here to clear the air and give you some specific items to buy based on your budget.
With that said, I have put together the ultimate budget film gear list. This list down into 3 pricing tiers:
$1,000; $3,000; and $5,000
This list covers every level of expertise from beginner to expert, and it should be more than enough to get your church’s film dreams off the ground. If you have any questions feel free to shoot me an email.
$1,000 Kit
Canon T6i ($600)
This is a great beginner’s camera. It has great features in that it shoots full HD (1080p) at 24fps. In addition, this camera has plenty of adjustable settings so that you can get the image you are looking for. This price includes the 18-55mm kit lens as well (bonus!).
Canon 50mm Lens ($125)
This is a great addition to your kit for multiple reasons. The first (and arguably most important), it has an aperture of 1.8. This means that it can get super great exposure and depth of field (AKA you can get that nice, buttery blurred background like his image here). It’s a go-to lens for interviews and announcement videos.
2400 Watt Softbox Kit ($100)
Lighting is key to any shoot. If you have poor lighting then you are setting yourself up for failure. However, if you want to skip this section you can, just make sure that you are shooting somewhere with plenty of light (i.e a windowed area or outside). These lights come with 3 soft boxes and will be more than enough to get you up and running.
SanDisk SD ($12)
This is one of the most crucial pieces of gear that you can buy. Think about it, you can’t film anything without a card. I highly recommend these cards because they are so fast and reliable. I’ve never had one corrupt on me. In addition, they are cheap and easy to find. I recommend getting two of them.
Manfrotto BK Tripod ($60)
Tripods are essential to stable footage. If you don’t have some sort of stabilization then you are prone to shaky, distracting footage. But you don’t have to roll out a ton of money to get a reliable shot. This is a great tripod by a great company for a great price.
Rode SmartLav+ ($80)
Last, but definitely not least, is audio. Please hear me on this, if you skimp on audio you might as well burn all of your camera gear. The reason being, you can’t fix bad audio. Nor, will your audience be able to look past it. This mic is great because one it produces a great sound for a cheap price, and two you can plug it directly into your phone (yes it works with the lighting dongle). That means you don’t have to buy an external recorder!
Note: You will also need this adapter for it to work. It’s only $15
That totals out to $989! You came out under budget! However, if you have a little more dough to toss around take a look at the $3,000 package
$3,000 Kit
Canon 80D ($1,000)
The 80D is a fantastic camera. It can record FHD (1080p) at 24fps and 60fps. That means that it can do slow motion (which is a major bonus). It is a perfect intermediate camera that offers a lot of customization options.
Note: I also highly recommend getting extra batteries because you can never have too many : ) (you can buy them here)
Canon Lens Kit ($900)
This is a fantastic lens kit. Included are two lenses, 50mm f1.4 and 17-40mm f4. These lenses work very well together to give your footage the one, two punch in cinematic beauty. Not to mention they are fairly cheap as far as lenses go.
Manfrotto Tripod ($240)
This tripod is a step up from the one featured in the $1,000 kit. It has more height adjustments as well as a more stable head and handle. It is a perfect fit for the 80D and this kit.
SanDisk SD Card ($12)
This card makes an appearance on this list again, needless to say it is a boss of a card and your kit should be filled with cards like this. It is a fantastic card and I recommend getting as many as possible (for now we will stick with 2).
Zoom H1n ($80)
The H1n is a great recorder that is compact, simple, and reliable. It is a perfect partner for the Rode SmartLav+. An external audio recorder is a fantastic addition to any kit, especially when it gives you great audio for a low price.
(Note: You will need a micro SD card in order to record. Don’t worry they are cheap and can be found here)
Rode SmartLav+ ($80)
Like I’ve said earlier, the SmartLav+ is a great addition to any kit, especially when paired with the Rode H1n. It consistently delivers clear audio at a fraction of the price. Here’s a great audio test (click here).
Dracast LED Lights ($500)
These are FANTASTIC lights. Dracast is a great company who understands how to make a high-quality product. These lights have both dimmer and color temperature settings built into the body, and they can be powered by both batteries or cables. This means that you can use these lights virtually anywhere. In addition, this kit comes with three stands and a carrying case.
That totals out to $2,880 (I included the micro SD and 1 extra camera battery).
Look at you coming under-budget!
$5,000 Kit
Canon C100 Mark ii ($3,499)
The C100 is a BEAST of a camera. If you plan on doing a lot of video work and need a reliable workhorse then this is the camera for you. It can film at 1080p in both 24fps, 60p, and 60i (this means you can broadcast with it). In addition, it is capable of Clog, which means that you can color grade your image in post to create a very vivid, controlled image.
Canon Lens Kit ($900)
Yet again this kit makes the list. That’s because it is a solid list that delivers a great image. Plus the range that this kit covers is a great starting point for anything that you are doing within your church. It’s important to know that lenses will always be something that you add on as you go. Don’t feel like you have to start out with the greatest lenses. Start with something solid and build as you go
Dracast LED Lights ($500)
You need these lights, they are absolutely fantastic. Seriously, we love them. They are a perfect fit for any kit and they consistently deliver great lighting to every shoot that we have. Don’t just take our word for it, check out this review (click here).
H1n + SmartLav ($160)
Throughout this list there are some repeats. The reason being, they are solid pieces of gear that you can use day in and day out. The H1n and SmartLav are no different. We highly recommend this combination and we use it on a daily basis.
Note: You will also need this adapter for it to work. It’s only $15
Manfrotto Tripod ($260)
Finally, you need a solid stabilizer in order to get professional shots. For that reason, I highly recommend Manfrotto. They are a great company that has been making high-quality products for years. In many ways, they have become the industry standard when it comes to tripods. Specifically, this model has a fluid head which means that any movements you do will be very smooth and jitter free.
This totals out to $5,335. We came out a little over budget but this kit will be something that you can depend on for years to come. It ensures that you’re getting the most bang for your buck!
Still feeling unsure?
Are you not too sure if you need to invest in all of this equipment? Don’t worry we totally get that.
In fact, there are tons of churches who don’t feel the need to and instead outsource this to the pros. Lucky for you, we are the pros that they call!
Sermon Works has its base in film and we love to help churches with any and every film need that they have. It’s a passion of ours. In fact, if you would like to learn more about our film click the button below and request a free quote!