When growing a YouTube channel, there will inevitably come a point where you decide it’s time to increase your production value. Though new equipment isn’t a substitute for creativity and quality content, it does give you the proper tools to make it happen. In the following article, we’ll cover some budget equipment that YouTubers can consider when getting started.Video Recording
There are a few cameras we recommend for YouTube content creation, depending on what you’re using it for. For people on a tight budget, the best option will still be to use a modern smartphone. Many of these cameras can now shoot 4K video, but at the very least can shoot 1080p. Though smartphone video is improving, they are still limited by their small sensor size. They lack in low light performance, leading to noisy footage, which requires lighting to make better. Cellphones also don’t have different lens options, and it’s a lot more difficult to get a narrow depth of field. For a little better quality compared to a cellphone, the next step up is a Canon Rebel DSLR. Many of these can be purchases used, and we recommend getting at least a T4i due to the improved autofocus capabilities.
For content creators looking for a newer camera, Panasonic has a few great options. The cheapest good option is the Panasonic G7
, which shoots 4K video at 30 frames per second. This doesn’t shoot quite as well as the Panasonic GH5
, with its 4K video at 60 frames per second and 10-bit 4:2:2 video at 30 frames per second, but it comes in at only a fraction of the price.
For a few more specialized purposes, we have other recommendations. First, vloggers should check out the Sony RX100 V
. This camera is a compact point and shoot with a completely retractable lens, allowing it to easily fit in a pocket. It also shoots video in 4K and has a flip up screen so you can see yourself while recording. Though you don’t get the interchangeable lenses of the other cameras, the portability of this setup has its own advantages. The other option for small cameras is an action camera. These are used in situations where you can’t get a bigger camera, and are known for their versatile mounting options and durability, especially since they have waterproof housings. Though the GoPro is a popular option, many people will find they can get similar performance out of a YI 4K action camera
, at about half the price.Lighting and Backdrops
Along with video, lighting is absolutely essential. You can have a very high quality video camera, but the footage will still be ruined if shooting without adequate lighting. For small lights that can be used close by for lighting a person, or for lighting small products for review, we recommend the Viltrox L116T
. This is a small LED light panel that works off batteries or a power adapter. It can be mounted on a camera hot shoe, on a cage, or on a light stand. The light panel has adjustable color temperate, as well as brightness.For softer lighting over a large scene, a softbox kit like the LimoStudio 700W lighting kit
will work well. Though these light panels can output a large amount of soft light, they don’t necessarily have the best color accuracy and there is no adjustable brightness setting.
Those looking for a professional lighting setup should consider an Aputure light kit
. These portable LED panels also output a lot of light, plus they provide more accurate colors, have adjustable brightness, and can be battery powered.Along with lighting, it can also be nice to setup a backdrop, whether it’s just a plain grey color or a green screen. In either case, there are backdrop kits available to make this easier. Regardless of the backdrop kit choice, they will require a large amount of consistent light, so softbox lighting is essential. Backdrops aren’t necessary for every creator, but they are nice if you want to have a clean looking, consistent set from video to video.
Capturing Quality Audio
People are willing to forgive a lot when it comes to the quality of your content, but poor audio is not one of those things. Regardless of whether you’re shooting on Red or an old cellphone, noisy, distorted audio will absolutely ruin the quality of your video.
There are a few good options available for creating budget YouTube videos. The first is to use an on-camera microphone. This increases the quality of the audio being recorded directly to the camera. It’s less flexible that using a dedicated audio recorder, but it’s a tremendous improvement over the default audio quality. A good quality option that’s popular among many content creators is the Rode VideoMic Pro
, which is a directional on-camera condenser microphone. Though the Rode VideoMics are great for this purpose, there are cheaper options available, such as the TAKSTAR SGC-598
. Some people prefer using lavalier microphones instead, but this requires a dedicated audio recorder or wireless system
. Lavaliers take a little more effort to set up, and aren’t usually suitable for spontaneous shooting.
If your content relies more on tutorial videos, reviews, or animations without having yourself on-camera, then a USB microphone might be more suitable. These standalone microphones require nothing but a USB connection and recording software to work, making them suitable for people without much experience in audio production. A versatile option that’s good for most people is the Blue Yeti
. XLR audio interfaces usually provide better quality over USB microphones. However, good audio quality can easily be achieved with a USB microphone without the expense and extra space taken up by the equipment.