
Beginners Essential Gear for Vlogging
What is Vlogging
A video blog or video log, sometimes Vlog is a form of blogging in which a person instead of writing the content use video as a medium.
It gains immense popularity because it is more easy to express ourselves in the form of video rather than writing the whole long post.
You can either publish the Vlog video on the video-sharing platform like YouTube or host it on your own domain. Vlog user also uses text, images, and other metadata to make video to appear appealing to the masses.
Vlogging has become one of the most popular forms of digital entertainment. It is popularly believed that, alongside being entertaining, vlogs can deliver deep context as opposed to blogs.
Types of Vlog
Personal Vlogs
The personal vlog is an online video which is recorded by an individual expressing themselves.
Live broadcasting Vlogs
The Live broadcasting Vlogs is gaining popularity because of some social platform like Instagram and Facebook allowed its user to broadcast live video directly from their device. YouTube also has a featured called YouTube Live.
Informative Vlogs
Video Blog that to educate the viewer about a particular subject.
Conversational Vlogs
Video Blog designed to be formal and create a health discussion sometimes a debate on a particular topic.
Hardware requirement
To do the Vlog we require some set of hardware. Based on my past experience, we can start the Vlogging in less than ₹5000 or $70. The basic device we need is a camera, a microphone and a camera stand (Tripod).
Camera
The most important piece of gear for vlogging is a good camera. You don’t need to break the bank, but you’ll want to invest in a camera that produces high-quality video. There are many cameras available in India that are great for vlogging, depending on your budget and needs. Here are a few popular options:
Sony ZV-1: This camera is specifically designed for vlogging, with a flip-out screen and easy-to-use controls. It has a 20.1 MP sensor, 4K video recording, and a built-in directional microphone. Price: around INR 60,000.
Canon EOS M50 Mark II: This camera has a 24.1 MP APS-C sensor, 4K video recording, and a flip-out touchscreen. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for easy sharing and remote control. Price: around INR 58,000.
Panasonic Lumix G85: This camera has a 16 MP sensor, 4K video recording, and in-body image stabilization for steady shots. It also has a flip-out touchscreen and built-in Wi-Fi. Price: around INR 60,000.
Fujifilm X-T30: This camera has a 26.1 MP APS-C sensor, 4K video recording, and a compact, retro design. It also has a flip-out touchscreen and built-in Wi-Fi. Price: around INR 70,000.
Microphone
Good audio is just as important as good video, so you’ll want to invest in a microphone to capture clear, high-quality sound. A popular option is the Rode VideoMic Pro, which is a shotgun microphone that attaches to the top of your camera.
If you’re looking for an external microphone to use with your camera for vlogging, here are a few options available in India:
Rode VideoMic Pro: This shotgun microphone is popular among vloggers and has a directional pickup pattern to capture clear audio while minimizing background noise. It can be mounted on the camera or used with a boom pole. Price: around INR 14,000.
Boya BY-MM1: This compact shotgun microphone is a more affordable option that still delivers good sound quality. It has a cardioid polar pattern to capture sound from the front and reduce noise from the sides and back. It comes with a shock mount and a furry windshield. Price: around INR 1,800.
Zoom H1n: This portable audio recorder is another option for capturing high-quality audio for your vlogs. It has built-in stereo microphones and can also be used with an external microphone. It has a variety of recording modes and settings to customize your audio. Price: around INR 9,500.
Camera Stand/Tripod
A tripod is essential for stabilizing your camera and keeping it steady while you vlog. Look for a tripod that is lightweight and easy to carry around. Some popular options include the Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod and the Joby GorillaPod. Here are a few popular tripods available in India:
Manfrotto Befree: This compact and lightweight tripod is easy to carry around and has a maximum load capacity of 4 kg. It has a ball head with a quick-release plate and adjustable legs. Price: around INR 12,000.
Joby GorillaPod 3K: This flexible tripod has flexible legs that can be wrapped around objects or used as a regular tripod. It has a maximum load capacity of 3 kg and comes with a ball head with a quick-release plate. Price: around INR 6,500.
Benro TSL08CN00 Slim: This compact tripod has a maximum load capacity of 4 kg and can be folded down to a small size for easy transport. It has a ball head with a quick-release plate and adjustable legs. Price: around INR 6,000.
and if you want to make it more professional, you can also use a Ring Light and a green screen.
Ring Right/Lighting
Good lighting can make a big difference in the quality of your videos. You don’t need anything fancy, but you’ll want to make sure your face is well-lit and there are no harsh shadows. A popular option is the Neewer Ring Light Kit, which includes a ring light and stand.
Here are a few options available in India:
Neewer Ring Light Kit: This kit includes a 18-inch LED ring light with adjustable brightness and color temperature, a light stand, a soft tube, a phone holder, and a hot shoe adapter. Price: around INR 12,000.
Digitek DRL-18 Ring Light: This 18-inch LED ring light has adjustable brightness and color temperature, and comes with a smartphone holder and a ball head adapter. It also has a built-in USB charging port. Price: around INR 8,000.
Photron FL100 Portable Ring Light: This compact and portable ring light has 96 LED bulbs and adjustable brightness. It can be used with a smartphone or a camera. Price: around INR 1,500.
Green Screen
A green screen is a useful tool for vlogging, as it allows you to change the background of your video and create a more professional look. Here are a few green screens available in India:
Photron Chroma Key Green Screen: This 6 x 9 feet green screen is made of muslin cloth and comes with a carrying bag. It can be mounted on a stand or attached to a wall. Price: around INR 4,000.
Backdropsource Green Screen: This 6 x 9 feet green screen is made of high-quality cotton muslin and comes with a carrying case. It has four rod pockets for easy hanging. Price: around INR 4,500.
Fancierstudio Green Screen Kit: This kit includes a 6 x 9 feet green screen, a background support stand, and two umbrella lights. The green screen is made of muslin cloth and comes with a carrying bag. Price: around INR 15,000.
Memory card
You’ll need a memory card to store your videos. Look for a card with a high capacity and fast write speeds. Some popular options include the SanDisk Extreme Pro and the Lexar Professional.
SanDisk Extreme Pro: This is a popular choice among vloggers and has read and write speeds of up to 170MB/s and 90MB/s, respectively. It comes in a variety of storage sizes, including 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Price: around INR 2,000 – 6,000, depending on the storage size.
Samsung EVO Plus: This memory card has read and write speeds of up to 100MB/s and 90MB/s, respectively. It comes in a variety of storage sizes, including 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Price: around INR 1,000 – 3,500, depending on the storage size.
Lexar Professional 1000x: This memory card has read and write speeds of up to 150MB/s and 80MB/s, respectively. It comes in a variety of storage sizes, including 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. Price: around INR 1,500 – 5,000, depending on the storage size.
Editing software
Once you’ve filmed your vlog, you’ll need to edit it. There are a variety of editing software options available, from free options like iMovie to more professional options like Adobe Premiere Pro.
Final Thoughts
Vlogging isn’t all that difficult and with just a simple video equipment you can create quality content. A good camera, microphone and some good lighting with tripod make a good difference.
A green screen for those who want to make it more professional if doing Informative Vlogs or Conversational Vlogs. There are plenty of tools available in the market but right now I focused on the basic one.
Finally, I can say, the quality always matters rather than quantity. So readers, keep making videos and if you used CouponBoyz recommendation, do share your videos in the comment section.
Updated on 23 February 2023
