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My kit

The filmmaking kit I actually recommend

Cameras, lenses, sound, lighting, drones and editing, at four budget levels, with my top pick at each. You don’t need expensive kit to make your first film.

Chosen from 20 years of filming documentaries. Prices are rough ranges in US dollars.

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what I recommend.

Want the pros, cons and who each one suits?

My free guide goes through every option above, level by level, so you can pick with confidence.

Get the free guide

Beyond the camera

Software and extras I use

The tools that show up again and again in my films and videos.

Adobe Premiere ProWhat I edit onThe editor I cut films like One Breath on, and still my everyday choice.DaVinci ResolveFree and powerfulIf you’re starting out, the free version does almost everything, including proper colour grading.Eddie AILogging and transcriptsLogs and transcribes your interviews, so you can find the story in your footage and start your paper edit much faster.MusicbedMusic for my filmsWhere the music in my recent YouTube videos comes from, properly licensed.Browning Recon Force Elite HP5Camera trapThe trail camera we used to film beavers in my camera trap video with Duncan.

What next?

The kit is the easy part.

The story is what makes a documentary. My free training shows you how to find your story, film it well and start your edit, with the camera or phone you already have.

Watch the free training