One of the most exciting aspects of filmmaking is putting together your video production equipment package. Keep in mind, there is no "one size fits all" equipment package for everyone since there are so many variables (budget, type of project, locations, pro vs amateur, etc), so what we have tried to do on this page is cover some basic gear you may want to consider.

Documentary Video Production Equipment Package and Gear List:
Below is a video production equipment list for the beginner filmmaker. This is simply a starter guide in your search for some basic filmmaking gear. A great place to start is with a video camera and build from there.

Video Camera

Panasonic GH4 (4K) The camera pictured above, the Panasonic Lumix GH4, is a popular camera with documentary filmmakers.
A video camera is the centerpiece of your filmmaking gear package. What camera you choose depends on your budget, the type of shooting you're doing (static, stealth, run-and-gun, etc.) and where you plan to showcase your film (web-only, theater, broadcast, etc). You can shoot a documentary on anything from your iPhone to a DSLR to a top of line digital cinema camera such as the Red Epic. Whatever camera you choose, make sure you capture excellent audio. Click here for help on how to choose a video camera.

Tripod

A necessary piece of equipment to keep your footage looking steady and professional.
Get a tripod with a fluid head for smoother looking pans.
Camera Light
Sometimes a nice pop of light from the camera can help fill in ugly shadows. A camera light is a nice accessory to have especially in a documentary/news style shoot where you might not have time for a full 3-point lighting set-up.

Three-Point Lighting Kit

You only really need a lighting kit if you're planning to do a lot of shooting inside. Creating a well lit scene usually involves a 3-way lighting set-up.
Good lighting doesn't have to be expensive. Learn more about various lighting techniques.

Shotgun Microphone

Great audio often separates the pros from the amateurs. Having a shotgun mic prepares you for almost every situation. It's perfect for setting on top of your camera or a boom pole.
Learn about different types of microphones.
Left: Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone

Boom Pole

A boom mic set-up comes in handy to capture audio from a group interview, crowd scenes or any situation where you need to gather professional audio quickly. In addition to the boom pole (right), you'll need a shockmount and a shotgun mic.


Shock Mount

Here's the simple gadget needed to turn your shotgun mic into a boom pole mic. A shock mount keeps the mic steady on top of the pole and prevents the mic from picking up "bumping" sounds when the pole is moving around.

Audio (XLR) Cables
If you plan to use a professional audio set-up with your camcorder, you'll need XLR cables to go from your camera to the mic.

Wireless Microphone

Sure, you can use a "wired mic" which is a bit less expensive, but I wouldn't go on a documentary shoot without my wireless microphone. Unless you have an audio person who can hold a boom mic, this is the next best thing providing tons of flexibility for walk-and-talk interviews with your subjects.
Recommended wireless mic system (this is what I own):Sennheiser EW 112P (left).

Portable Digital Audio Recorder

If you decide to shoot your documentary with a DSLR such as the Canon 5D Mark III, it's highly recommended that you either get a portable audio recorder such as the Zoom H5 (left) or a preamp audio box such as the juicedLink RA333 to attach to your camera. Why? The DSLR cameras only come equipped with a mini-jack audio input which doesn't capture professional/broadcast quality sound. Because of that, you'll need some way to capture professional audio. The bonus with the preamp is that the audio is recorded directly to the camera whereas with the portable recorder, you'll have to sync the audio and video later during editing.

Headphones

Getting great audio means monitoring the sound at all times while shooting. Find a good quality, comfortable set of headphones to make sure you avoid any nasty audio surprises when you get back from the shoot.

Light Reflector

This is a must-have item for your documentary filmmaking kit. A light reflector can turn an ugly amateur-looking shot into a golden and gorgeously lit scene.

Lenses: Wide Angle, Clear "Protective" Lens, Polarizer, Zoom Lens, Macros, etc.

Have you ever seen those cool fish-eye scenes? That's from using a special wide angle lens. If you're shooting in super sunny situations, an ND filter or circular polarizer can dramatically improve the image. Or what about super close-ups of a bug or flower, that's when you need a macro lens.

3-4 Extra Batteries
You never want to get caught without enough batteries out on a shoot. Unless you're heading out into the Amazon, 3-4 extra batteries should be enough for most shooting situations.

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