Introduction
The first thing most people's brains will go to when thinking about filming is, “what camera does this person use?” I am guilty of this too.
The idea behind this question is that if I buy the same camera, I can shoot the same thing… yeah, whilst we think that, that’s not how it works. A camera is a tool for you, and it needs to fit around your style and how you want to create. The camera should mold itself around you… you should not try and fit yourself around the camera. As an example, I once bought a Sony camera, can’t remember the model, I think it might have been the A6500, I bought it because some YouTuber was using it in a video, and I thought “hey they shoot cool stuff, I’ll get one so I can shoot cool stuff”. But this camera had an upwards flip screen, so I couldn’t twist it round. The image that came out of it, looked really flat and grey - I’m sure that’s just because I wasn’t using the right colour profile or whatever, but either way.. It was difficult. Now that might be the perfect camera for another filmmaker, but for me, it was just wrong. It was only when I got my Lumix G9, that everything felt right. The flip screen, the menu setup, the image quality, the general feel of it in my hand. This was a camera designed for me.
Before we learn more about when to use different cameras, there are a few things I want to express:
Some creators care about using the best lenses and the newest cameras, and that’s cool if that’s your thing.
Some creators shoot everything on their phones and are not bothered about getting the exposure perfect or whatever, and that’s also cool if that’s your thing.
Then there’s everything in between.
It's important to remember that there's no one right way to create content, and you don't need to conform to any particular style or approach. The most important thing is to enjoy the process and create content that you're passionate about. While it can be tempting to focus on buying new technology or equipment, it's important to remember that creativity and imagination are more important than the very latest new tech.
I’d also say you don't need to spend much time thinking about what you want to be. Just focus on being yourself and expressing your unique perspective, and just be! I remember Dave’s face when I was sketching my name into my camera, and he was like, “I get it, Dawson does stuff like that, but there’s no way I’m doing it!”.
My point here is that the goal is to find the tools that work best for you and help you achieve your creative vision efficiently. One, good tools, and two, efficiency. Spending too much time on technical aspects of the production process can take away from the time you could spend creating and expressing your unique perspective - which is the important bit! This is true not just for filming but for editing, pre-production, and all aspects of content creation. The tools are there to help facilitate your vision in the easiest way possible.
When it comes to having the best kit - the best kit is just the kit that works for you. If there was a chart showing your time spent on actual creating vs technical things, then the aim is that your technical time is minimal. Your best place to be is where you are most valuable when you are expressing your vision, and giving the world your unique self, so try and be there as much as you can. While it's important to have a good understanding of the technical aspects of the production process, it's also important to find a balance so that you can spend more time creating and less time battling with technology - (because the battling with technology bit is the bit that your audience doesn’t care about, and doesn’t see). That’s really why I try to stick to one brand of camera, because I know the menus, and I can navigate around it so much easier. When I got my new Panasonic GH6, I knew exactly how to set it up because I already spent 4-5 years with the Panasonic G9.
A quick example of this I want to share with you is a while ago, when I got a new iPhone after it came out, on a 2-year contract. In year 3, I was still using the phone because it was working and it did what I needed it to do. The camera quality was good, I could still make my videos, and it was fine. But when the phone started crashing when I was filming, and I had to keep deleting apps to keep filming because the storage wasn’t big enough, it was then and only then that the phone became unacceptable to me.
Those are the things that I care about as a creator, allowing my vision and energy for the story to flow freely, not necessarily the fancy new features on the iPhone. (Although I would say, some of the new features are pretty sick!).
Ok so with all that in mind, we’re going to talk about cameras and setups. This is not a technical deep dive into the products - I am not that guy. Instead, I want to talk with you about things that I think matter a great deal when you’re filming, rather than “oh this sensor looks a tiny bit grainy when it’s paired with this lens” - There are plenty of other places you can go get equipment reviews, this lesson will be focused on unique stuff that I feel I can offer.
Wow, that was quite a long introduction to this lesson.. So anyway..
When do I use what camera?
In this section I’m going to go through the various camera setups I use, and why and when I’ll use them.
So a DSLR. What does it stand for? I have been around DSLR’s for 15 years, and I don’t know what it stands for. Honestly, you can Google it if you’re interested. Things that I care about is that these cameras are fairly light, you can easily hold them at arm's length, and they often have a flip-around screen so you can see yourself, that’s super important if you plan on filming yourself. They’re solid machines, with manual controls, and interchangeable lenses, and the quality is good.
There’s also mirrorless camera’s. In short, a mirrorless camera uses the ‘live view’ captured by the sensor to create an electronic image that is displayed on the rear screen, or in the viewfinder. Whereas on a DSLR, the image is reflected up to the viewfinder using a mirror. I’m going to say here, I have little experience with mirrorless cameras, the only one I’ve ever owned was the Sony A6500 that I mentioned earlier. The camera was definitely lighter and smaller than this DSLR. But personally, for me, I prefer something that feels a little more solid - (you might have noticed, but I do bash them around a bit). That’s a personal thing though! You have to go with what works for you!
Up until recently, I’ve shot all my studio stuff on a Lumix G9. I actually got a GH6 for shooting this course - but both cameras are Panasonic. I personally prefer to really feel at one with my camera, rather than own a bunch of them, and not really know how to use each one properly. So I use one camera, and I know it well. When I get back to filming my videos, I will primarily use the GH6, and have the G9 as a backup or B camera.
These cameras have internal stabilisation so it can smooth out the motion if you’re doing a lot of hand held. And at least on these Panasonic’s, the stabilisation is very impressive to be honest. They’ve got slow-motion, and timelapse settings. I have these 3 custom setups, so I can easily flick between them. One's just 25fps, 1080p, and auto ISO (although I usually switch the auto ISO off, because I don’t want it changing during the shot). Two is the same, just at a 4K resolution. Three is if I want to shoot some slow motion, at 200fps. And then four, is the cinematic settings that Dave uses when we’re shooting those ‘better looking’ scenes - So I don’t really touch those settings. This is such a great feature, because it makes it so easy to switch to a bunch of different setups depending on what you’re shooting.
I do always have an external mic on the top, this is a must-have for me, and the sound is so much richer. You can YouTube audio differences between different mics to get a feel for what you might like. But that’s my personal preference. I can think of a few huge YouTubers, one in particular, that has found success using a DSLR for his videos, without an external mic. Again, there is no correct way, there’s just YOUR way. That’s a theme running through this course.
I use 2 lenses. One Leica 12-60mm lens, this is a really nice lens, very bright, and covers any Mid-Close Up shots. And I also use a wide angle, also Leica 8-18mm, this is the lens I use for any talking-to-camera stuff. They are both around £500-£700 each, not the cheapest, but also not the most expensive either.
I’d also like to add here that for years, before I got the 8-18mm, I’ve been using this 8-16mm Sigma lens that has this annoying adapter, and the autofocus is broken on it - and that has worked for me fine. So it’s not essential to have really nice lenses if you’re starting out, use what you have until you can afford to upgrade some of your kit.
I personally love a nice wide angle lens, here are a few reasons why:
If I’m doing something where the camera is locked off, I might put a monitor on the camera so I can see myself easier. This is obviously a bigger setup, and not really suitable for much movement or activity - so yeah it really depends on what it is you’re filming. I personally like to switch up the angle as much as I can, and also let the video feel like it’s a fluid thing.
Overall, a solid DSLR or a mirrorless camera, I think is a must-have especially if you’re doing lots of handheld filming, but also want to do some locked-off stuff too. They’re very versatile like that, you can really use the camera in a way that fits with a number of different styles.
You can get ones that have lenses built in, and others that have interchangeable lenses. These little guys are great because they’re compact, light, and they’re good quality. I think they’re great for if you’re going on holiday and you don’t want to take a DSLR, you’d rather something smaller and lighter. When I’m in my studio, I do like to have one on my shelf though, just incase I need a quick top-down shot. Although having said that, now I have the 2 DSLR’s, I think for a 2 camera setup I’d rather use them, downgrading this to like a C camera for studio use.
To be honest, I actually think they could die out soon unless they make some sort of technological leap. The reason I say that, is, because what else do you know that is more compact, lighter, and still really good quality? Your phone! - Which you have on you all the time anyway..
Non the less, they come in much cheaper than DSLR’s and phones, so if that’s the budget you’re looking at, go for it! You can still make some great work on it, because the idea and execution is more important than the equipment
I am a firm believer that you can build an audience, and make great content on a phone or a cheap camera, just as well (and sometimes better) as you can on a DSLR or some other fancy camera. Some of the most popular and successful content creators have started with very basic equipment and built their audience through their creativity and unique perspective. In fact, limitations can often inspire creativity and result in more interesting and original content. People like it when things are made with what they have, I think it's relatable for them. There's something about money and fancy kit, which in some cases makes the content look like it's over produced, like it’s backed by corporate money - personal opinion that one, and doesn't always apply.
There was a time when phone quality was an issue, but now it’s not. It’s just not. You can shoot with multiple lenses, at multiple resolutions, and best of all, it’s always right there in your pocket. You can be ready to film in 5 seconds.
As a creator, I LOVE my phone! Your phone has this casual energy that the DSLR doesn’t have. And let me tell you something, casual energy is something to consider.
There will be people that warm towards a creator that they can see themselves in, and for some reason, the casualness is kinda cool. I think this content often does well because the creator cares more for what they’re making than the fancy tools they’re using - and that translates. The passion for your message can absolutely shine through your phone, and at the same time, your energy can also be flat as a doughnut on a fancy camera (and vice versa). It’s facts like that, that the phrase “equipment doesn’t matter” comes from.
So anyway, let me show you two different versions of the same piece of content, but with completely different filming styles. And between the two, feel the difference in delivery.
You should be able to see there that those are two very different styles, but with the exact same message. You will feel a warmth towards one of them, where if you landed on that in your feed, you’d be more likely to stick around. Whereas someone else will warm towards the other one. There is no right or wrong, just what feels right for you.
Personally, if I’m consuming, say, short form content, I’m more of a fan of the casual style. And so if I need to film something in that style, I’m super aware that it’s that that I’m going for. I literally think, and plan out this energy when I'm scripting, or sometimes just before I film. It’s not done just by mistake, it is planned.
Summary
That’s an overview of the different camera choices you can use for your videos. The bottom line is use whatever works for you, the tool that makes it as easy as possible for you to create your vision. A number of years ago when I was still learning this lesson, I remember it was late at night because I was shooting this outside at night. I was in a co-working space, so I could only record when no one else was in. I was actually recording my audio on a separate recorder because I wanted to use a “proper shotgun mic”. There was a moment after I filmed for 20 minutes, and realised I wasn’t recording my audio. I was devastated, and filming wasn't fun at this point, I wasn’t enjoying it. Since then, I've changed my setup completely, and made it so I can setup quickly, and I can focus on the creative filming part, not the technical part, and I’m so much happier for it, it’s actually fun again.
So experiment, try stuff out, practice, again and again, and do your best to figure out what setup works for you. I cannot express enough just how important it is, that your setup works in way that you’re maximizing creativity, and minimizing technical issues.
In the next lesson, we’re going to cover your camera settings.
