Essential Smartphone Filmmaking Gear
All the accessories covered in this blog
Over the years I’ve used a whole lot of different filming gear. From sliders to jibs to dollys and cranes and drones, if you had a million you could easily spend it on camera gear.
Of course, we carry a fantastic bit of filming and editing gear in our pockets every single day and in this blog I’ve narrowed down what I’d recommend as the essential basics to an enthusiastic smartphone filmmaker’s kit bag.
All the necessities are covered, Light, Stabilisation and Sound. Mix and match, get the lot, it’s up to you, but when I’m in filmmaking mode I don’t leave home without these items.
With the Neewer Video Rig, Ulanzi LED Light box and Rode Compact Video Mic
Neewer Smartphone Stablizing Video Rig
However steady your hands, maintaining a consistent level and keeping your phone still while filming is going to take robotic concentration.
This Neewer rig safely clasps your phone at the centre and enables much smoother still, panning or following shots. It also has three cold shoes and a tripod thread up top to mount your microphone, light and B camera(s) if you wish.
The Neewer rig with Rode Video Mic and Ulanzi Light Box mounted via cold shoe
Rode VideoMicro Compact On Camera Microphone
The argument goes that sound is more important than vision, and even if you’re not convinced, why compromise with audio?
A perfect addition to a video rig (or a larger camera with 3.5mm input) this compact microphone sits on a flexibility isolating mount, ensuring handling vibrations don’t impact on sound quality, and it also ships including a Deluxue Furry RØDE WS9 windshield.
It comes in red or black, but for some reason you can’t select the colour so this is pot luck, but at the time of writing there’s a great discount on Amazon, £37.99 down from £59
Ulanzi Ultra Bright LED Video Light
A handy way to improve footage shot in low light conditions, this lightweight LED light packs a punch.
Mounted on a hot/cold shoe (and yes, compatible with the Neewer rig above) the light is powered by two AA batteries and also comes with a handy dimming function to avoid blinding your interview subject.
Manfrotto Pixi Tripod
This is my favourite tripod. Often I’ll leave a full-size tripod at home and just take this on trips.
It’s tough, sturdy enough to easily use with a heavy DSLR, and the rotating head means you don’t need a flat surface to get a level shot. Don’t forget the smartphone mount, though! (see below)
Filming on a bus: Manfrotto Pixi with Joby Griptight Smartphone Mount
Joby Griptight Smartphone Mount
Without a mount you won’t be able to use your smartphone with a tripod. The market is saturated with cheap, bulky mounts and then topped out with some mounts which frankly don’t need to be quite as complicated.
Joby (the company that makes those flexi-legged tripods) have in my opinion, created the perfect smartphone mount. It folds flat when not in use, is surprisingly rugged considering its light weight, and it can deal with all but the bulkiest phone case.
Nb. Make sure you choose the right size mount, especially if you have one of those huge phones
Rode Smartlav+ Lavalier Microphone for Smartphone
A lavalier (or lav) microphone is the one that clips onto your collar. Perfect for set-up interviews or a self-filmed piece-to-camera, if you’re tight on budget you may have to choose between this and the Rode On-Camera Microphone above, but rest assured, as a super compact and lightweight piece of gear, this Rode Smartlav + delivers.
Not only has it kept me company on 8 expeditions, but it’s been the recording sidekick for over 100 podcasts and voiceovers.
Neewer Carbon Fiber Lightweight Slider
Smooth movement always wins over jerky hand-on-phone/camera control, and this slider offers a decent length track at the same time as being light enough to travel with. Even comes in a nice little carry case.
You’ll also need a smartphone mount (if filming with a smartphone) and I recommend buying with this mini ball head to allow you to point your smartphone mount in any direction you prefer, meaning slides of all angles and directions.
DJI Osmo Pocket
And for a final treat, an item that doesn’t necessarily live here but is small enough to fit into the same mindset of a smartphone filmmaker. If carrying a lightweight camera appeals but a smartphone doesn’t quite cut it, the DJI Osmo pocket is a gorgeous little package with a gimbal-mounted camera, timelapse, slow mo, smooth follow mode, face tracking selfies and motion, hyper and timelapses. It’s about the only thing that’s turned my head from 100% Full review coming soon but a first introduction in a Feb 2020 video blog is right here. So small! So cool!smartphone filming.
Now you’re set, make sure you attend one of my smartphone filming workshops (if you haven’t already) and enjoy that magic little box in your pocket!
Nb. There are alternative options on the market for everything on this blog, but I can vouch for these products through personal experience.