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Are you thinking of starting a video blog or adding video content as part of your blogging mix? Do you want to know the vlogging equipment for beginners to invest in?
If you answer yes to any of the above then you’re in the right place.
Video blogging, or vlogging as it is now popularly called, is one of the rising trends when it comes to marketing and making money online. This rising trend is as a result of the increasing number of people who are turning to online videos either for entertainment or learning about their most desired topics.
For example, recent stats referenced in a post by insivia.com shows that:
- Social video generates 1200% more shares than text and images combined.
- 64% of consumers purchase after watching branded social videos.
- 92% of mobile video consumers share videos with others.
- 1 minute of video is equal to 1.8 Million words to your audience.
- According to Video Explainers, a business is 53x more likely to appear on the first page of Google results if it utilizes it on their webpage. The reason? The inclusion of video improves SEO, consequently boosting a business’ place in the rankings.
- 100 million hours of video content are watched on Facebook daily.
- A Facebook video receives, on average, 135% more organic reach than a Facebook photo.
- 80% of Livestream’s survey respondents would rather watch live video from a brand than read a blog.
- 70% of millennial are likely to watch a company video when shopping online.
- Video marketers get 66% more qualified leads per year.
- 57% of consumers say that videos gave them more confidence to purchase online.
- Marketers who use video grow revenue 49% faster than non-video users.
- Video on a landing page can increase conversions by 80% or more.
- By 2020, 75% of all mobile traffic will be video.
Stats like this is not something that any one who wants to make money online would want to take for granted. So, if you're thinking of jumping into the growing wave of video blogging but you're wondering, what equipment is needed to start a vlog, this post is for you.
In this post, I'll share with you the basic tools for vlogging that will help you kick start your video blogging career and also make your vlogging experience more smooth and more organized.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to start your own vlog or you want to post your videos on your Youtube channel, you need the right equipment to get your vlogging adventure on the path to success.
In this post I want to share with you 5 essential bits of vlogging gear that will help you make your video blogging dream a reality.
Vlogging Equipment for Beginners: Vlogger Starter Kits
Before discussing the different equipment below I want to say you can actually get a vlogging starter kit instead of buying each piece individually.
Why would you want to do that?
There are actually a number of advantages to getting a starter kit instead of buying individual equipment. Here's just a couple of reasons:
- Getting a vlogging starter kit is cheaper
- With a starter kit you'll save yourself the pain and time of researching the market trying to determine the appropriate equipment for your vlog. Vlogging starter kits bundle together the exact tools you need for a vlog and nothing more. This makes things simple and easy for you.
If the above are good enough reasons you may want to check out some of the top rated vlogging starter kits right away.
That being said, let's get on with our must have vlogging equipment for beginners.
Top 5 Vlogging Equipment for Beginners
1. Camera
A camera is definitely the first piece of equipment you’ll need as a vlogger. Of course, you can decide to use your inbuilt computer webcam or even your smartphone if you don’t want to buy some expensive camera.
However, if you want to produce higher-quality videos that will present you as the professional that you are then getting a camera like the Canon EOS 70D is a great idea.
Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm STM Lens
The Canon 70D allows you to fix in an external mic and wide lenses, and is great for taking super sharp videos and pictures.
When shopping for your vlogging camera you should take into consideration where you’ll be filming your videos. If you’ll be doing most of your filming on the go then you must consider the size of your camera (it should be something that can be carried about easily) and the battery capacity (since you may not always have access to a power outlet).
It’s also important that you consider the size of the storage cards.
To check out more options of video blogging cameras for beginners click here.
2. Microphone
As a vlogger your desire is to get more and more people on your video blog. However, if the sound quality of your videos is poor that will put off a lot of people. This is something you don't want to happen, right? And, the best way to avoid this is to ensure that the audio quality of your video is high.
To ensure high quality audio it is advisable to use an external microphone instead of the built-in microphones on your camera, or computer (if you’re using a webcam).
There are a good number of high quality microphones in the market that you can choose from. One good option is the camera-mounted Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone.
Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone
Offering a winning balance of professional features and peerless sound, the VideoMic Pro is a great option for recording both primary and reference audio in a wide range of filmmaking situations.
The custom 1/2″ condenser capsule delivers ultra-clean, low-noise audio, whilst the super-cardioid polar parren focusses on what is in front of the camera, reducing side noises.
Another very good on-camera microphone is the Comica CVM-V30. At just $39.99 the CVM-V30 Lightweight microphone is definitely a steal considering the fact that it can be used on your cameras and smartphones. You simply need to switch the mode you want on and you are good to go!
Comica CVM-V30 LITE Video Microphone
You can also click here to search on Amazon.com for more high quality microphones for your camera.
3. Video Support
As a vlogger you’re going to need a tripod to support your camera since you’d be setting up shots from different angles. The type of camera you’re using will determine the type of tripod you’d need.
For example, if you're using a heavy camera, you could go for a tripod like the Magnus VT-4000 Professional High Performance Tripod System with fluid head.
Magnus VT-4000 Tripod System with Fluid Head
For travel vloggers a Joby GorillaPod is definitely the best choice. The fluid movements of the GorillaPod video Pro gives it so much flexibility that you can easily wrap the flexible legs around handlebars or poles to fix your camera to areas that would normally be off limits. You can also stand it on a flat surface like a standard tripod to make smooth videos or grip it to use as a handheld rig.
Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K Stand and Ballhead 3K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras
4 Lighting
Another video blogging equipment that you’ll need as a vlogger is good lighting. Using good lighting equipment will not only make you look healthier in video but it will also give your videos a professional look.
Of course, you don’t have to be unnecessarily fanciful about this. In fact, if you have a good amount of windows in your room you could just make do with that. However, if your home doesn’t have good lighting sources then I’d recommend you pick EMART Softbox Lighting Kit with Sandbag.
EMART Softbox Lighting Kit with Sandbag 20″x28″ Soft Box Lights Photography Accessories
There are a good number of other options in the market you can choose from for this kind of lighting. Click here to check out some of the most popular lighting equipment in the market today.
4. Editing Software
Once you've filmed your video blog the next thing is getting the freshly recorded content edited. This step is very important because it is practically impossible to get a perfect video from the first take. So getting a video editing software is essential.
Again for this, there are different options available in the market to choose from. There are also a lot of free tools you can use for this. However, if you want something more professional, then getting a paid editor is paramount.
The two paid options that I recommend are Sony Vegas Pro and VideoPad Editor.
If you’re running a Windows computer you may want to look into the Sony Vegas Pro as this editor has all professional programs that give you all the tools you’ll need to edit your video. Please carefully read the recommended specs listed with the software to ensure your computer can handle it.
If you’re a Mac person then the VideoPad Video Editor is your best choice.
Conclusion
Alright, that’s it for the 5 best vlogging equipment for beginners. With the right equipment in place vlogging isn’t all that complicated. So, make your choice today and get it on with your video blogging adventure.
