Essential Film Equipment You'll Need for Business Videos

High-quality videos can capture unique sights and angle your brand in a way that captivates your target audience. However, there's typically a lot more going on behind the camera than you'd expect. Understanding the most essential film equipment and its uses will help you optimize your project to effectively convey your message. 

The Importance of Quality Equipment in Professional Videography

Your film production equipment can make or break your video project. Professional gear will keep your video and audio high-quality and give you plenty of options in post-production. On the other hand, poor-quality gear won't just make your videos look bad — it can also cause production delays or prevent you from capturing your videos at all. This is why it's essential to make sure you have all your essential film equipment well before your production date. 

One of the most significant drawbacks of video equipment is the cost. Just one high-quality camera can set your project back thousands of dollars if you purchase it outright. Instead, most professionals rent their gear or partner with production companies that have everything they need.

Different Types of Film Equipment for Business Videos

Whether you're recording content for social media, TV, or in-house needs, business and video marketing must look high-quality to impress viewers and maintain your brand. To achieve this, you'll need the right type of camera and video recording equipment. 

Camera and Lenses

The best video camera equipment is constantly changing, with new models and accessories released every year. Quality cameras give your videos high resolution, crisp details, and manageable saturation levels. This allows you to edit, crop, and recolor your clips to your preferences without limiting video quality. 

Your specific camera gear and lenses can also improve your picture quality and significantly expand your capabilities. However, most cameras are only compatible with certain lenses, and the best choices often vary by project. Always ask camera rental and production companies about their lenses to guarantee you have everything your video needs. 

The most common types of camera lenses include:

• Prime lenses: These lenses are fixed at a specific focal length, so you can only zoom in and out digitally. The most common prime lenses feature focal lengths between 35mm and 85mm. This gives you plenty of options for wide, medium, and close-up shots with static subjects. 
• Wide-angle zoom lenses: With focal lengths ranging down to 18mm or 14mm, wide-angle lenses capture more than other options. They're perfect for landscapes and scenery, though the camera may distort subjects that are too close.
• Telephoto and macro lenses: Reaching up to 300mm or more, these lenses zoom in on specific subjects to capture close-ups and action across long distances.

Beyond lenses, the gear you use to hold your camera will help you shape, frame, and angle your video to your vision. Most productions use standard tripods that let them easily change the height, angle, and direction while keeping the camera steady. Your production may also benefit from the following camera-holding options:

• Handheld: Physically carrying the camera can give you more control over your screen since you won't need to adjust any gear to change your angle. However, handheld cameras will give your footage a "shaky" look. While this shakiness can add to your desired tone, such as by making the viewer feel uneasy, it can also distract from your content or make it appear poor quality. 
• Gimbals: Gimbals and other stabilizers give you the versatility of a handheld camera without the shakiness. They use advanced balancing mechanics to keep the camera upright and level as you move. 
• Dollies and tracks: Rather than simply "panning," this videography equipment lets you move the camera to track your subjects and explore landscapes. Smaller camera tracks only extend a few feet, while you can customize and extend larger tracks to your liking. Meanwhile, most dollies are essentially tripods with wheels, which lets you easily move back and forth without much setup. 
• Jibs and cranes: This filmmaking equipment lets you operate and move the camera from tall heights. For example, you can film a wide shot from high up or move the camera mid-shot for unique results. 
• External monitors: Though not always necessary, external monitors let you see what your camera is capturing without standing directly behind it. This can be helpful for evaluating content as you go.

Audio Equipment

Sound equipment isessential for most productions, even just to capture the atmosphere. Though some cameras come equipped with microphones, professional mics and mixers will give you a crisp quality you can actually work with.

Professional Microphones

Your microphone should be as close to your video's subject as possible, which can be challenging during wide-angle and action shots. Your production may need to use a variety of microphone options, depending on what you plan to film.

The most common types of film microphones include:

• Boom and shotgun microphones: These mics only pick up audio from a specific direction and can be extended via boom poles, stands, and other gear. You can also add "blimps,” shock mounts, and other equipment around the microphone itself to limit jitter and background audio. 
• Lavaliers, lapels, and wireless microphones: Lavalier mics can hide beneath wardrobes or across scenery to pick up audio as close to the subject as possible. They capture high-quality audio without needing to hold a microphone over the camera frame. 
• Studio microphones: Studio mics are ideal for voice-overs and automated dialogue replacement (ADR). Dynamic mics are among the most common and affordable options, and they pick up audio in specific directions, like shotgun microphones. Meanwhile, condenser mics cancel out background audio for cleaner, more enticing sound. 

Audio Recorders and Mixers

You also need a way for your microphones to record and store audio. Professional sound mixers let you manage multiple audio channels, such as when recording from several lavaliers. This way, you can balance the volume and avoid the sound "blowing out" as you record. 

You should also include the following gear in your sound equipment checklist:

• Timecode tools: These devices connect to your audio recorders and cameras to automatically sync them on the same timecode. This saves you time during post-production since you won't have to manually line up the footage in your video editing software.
• SD cards: Most audio recorders use SD or MicroSD cards for storage. Fortunately, audio files don't require much storage space, so you shouldn't need anything more than a 32 GB card. 
• Batteries: Microphones and mixers tend to use a lot of power, and the last thing you want is for one to shut off in the middle of a shot. Always bring extra batteries and chargers to keep your sound functioning properly.

Lighting and Accessories

High-quality lighting will brighten your scenery and make your subjects pop on the screen. However, you can't solely rely on natural sunlight or indoor lighting, as these can create undesired shadows and inconsistencies. The best lighting setups feature a variety of accessories and lights from different angles. 

Professional lighting equipment includes:

• Lightboxes: The most common studio lights use bulbs inside paneled boxes that direct the light in specific directions. You can then replace the bulbs with tungsten and fluorescent options to adjust the color temperature.
• Digital lights: More advanced lights can emit various colors, whether you want bright white or light blue. These can diversify your color palette and limit shadows, thanks to their usually wider shapes.
• Reflectors, diffusers, and softboxes: Shining a professional light directly at a person can look too harsh and create shadows across their face. Diffusers and softboxes can physically cover the light to help it spread out in multiple directions. If that's still too much, pointing the light at a reflector will diffuse the light across your entire space.
• Sandbags and weights: Professional lights are typically tall and top-heavy, making them all too easy to knock over. Many film crews use bags of sand and other weights to sturdy the lights' bases and avoid these common accidents.

Advanced Equipment for Specialized Needs

Sometimes, basic film equipment isn't enough to get the shot you want. Your production may require specialized lenses, drones, makeup, and other filmmaking tools to truly capture your vision. 

Drones and Aerial Photography

Drone footage is gorgeous to look at and can provide a breathtaking perspective shot. Whether you want to show the scope of your property or your team, an aerial shot can help yourbusiness marketing videos stand out to viewers — especially if you add a logo. 

However, theFederal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially certified drone pilots when capturing commercial footage. Additionally, state and local laws can restrict your flying capabilities. Fortunately, working with a professional production team that understands all applicable drone laws means you can typically avoid these obstacles.

Special Effects and Animation Tools

Special effects (SFX) and visual effects (VFX) can make your videos stand out even more. However, these often require more prep work than a basic camera setup. Whether you're applying makeup, performing stunts, or adding animation, you'll typically need to plan ahead to have the right tools. 

Working with experienced professionals will make this process much easier. Most SFX artists will already have or know the best type of makeup and prosthetics for specific projects. Plus, experienced VFX animators can help you plan your shots in advance and suggest motion-tracking tools.

Let Us Help You Tell Your Story

With the right gear, you won't have to sacrifice quality for creativity. A professional production team can equip you with everything you need, whether you're interested in drones, unique lighting, or remote video productions. Get in touch with Charter & Co to discuss the most essential film equipment for your next business video project.