The holidays are the perfect time to treat yourself or the filmmaker in your life to a thoughtful gift that can actually help with new creative projects. We’re not talking novelty shirts or snow globes, but rather lights, lenses, batteries, and more—the utility players in any videomaking arsenal. Plus we’re focusing on kits, so you can get the most bang for your buck and have a few different toys at your disposal.
For the Indie Filmmaker
amaran Ace 25c RGB LED Light Panel All-in-One Creator Kit
Available in charcoal, green, pink, silver, and white, the amaran Ace 25c is a great little pocket-sized panel light that can go on top of your camera, in your hand, or off to the side with the included mini-tripod. The 3Ace 25c packs an impressive punch for its compactness, plus has 360° color control and amaran’s Ace Lock system for easily swapping between setups. A small LED is always going to come in handy in a pinch, whether as a fill, hair, accent, or catch light.
Nanlite PavoTube II 6C RGB LED Tube 2-Light Kit
If you want to try out professional tube lights but worry only having one will keep you creatively stifled, the Nanlite PavoTube II 6C 2-light kit is a great way to get two 10” tubes plus an official PavoTube Coupler if you want to turn them into a 20” unit. The PavoTubes have tons of control options, color capabilities, a solid battery life, and creative mounting possibilities. Once you start utilizing tube lights, it’s hard to go back, and this kit is the perfect entry point.
For the Working Cinematographer
Core SWX NANO-U98X BP-U-Type / BP-A-Type 2-Battery Kit with XPD-45 Charger
Whether you need Sony BP-U-type batteries for cameras like the FX6, or Canon BP-A-type batteries for cameras like the C80, Core SWX’s NANO-U98X is a great option. They pack a lot of power into a small package, and also crucially offer a 12V D-Tap output to power accessories like an external monitor or transmitter. They’re USB-C PD rechargeable, which is why these kits include the very capable XPD-45 45W wall charger.
Tilta Nucleus-M II Ultimate Kit
If you want to see the Tilta Nucleus-M II wireless lens control system at its most capable, the Ultimate Kit is the way to go. It packs two motors, two handgrips, the hand unit, and a ton of smaller cabling, accessories, and more, all packed into a custom cut hard case. Even with smaller crews, having wireless four-channel lens control can open up a world of possibilities for more dynamic, nuanced shooting, and the Nucleus-M II is a great way to accomplish that.
For the Hollywood Hotshot
Vizrt TriCaster Mini X HDMI Bundle
If you’re thinking of building out a serious streaming setup, be it for yourself, your brand, your team, or your house of worship, the Vizrt TriCaster Mini X HDMI kit is a strong system that’s both portable and capable. Consisting of the TriCaster Mini X HDMI tower and the colorful Control Surface, this kit will help you easily cut between numerous HDMI and NDI sources while recording and streaming out a professional quality broadcast that includes graphics, titles, and dynamic overlays.
ARRI Signature Prime 6-Lens Core Set
When nothing but the best will do, the most obvious Black Friday buy is the ARRI Signature Prime 6-Lens Set. Consisting of the 18mm, 29mm, 35mm, 47mm, 75mm, and 125mm, these lenses are truly as good as it gets when it comes to sharp, clean, fast cinema lenses that match each other flawlessly. With the six lens set, you’ll be ready to conquer the film industry and bring your grandest vision to life. It’s hard to put a price tag on a dream like that.
For more information about all the kits mentioned above, including features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product pages.
