12 Great Gifts for Emerging Filmmakers

Video is getting bigger and better every year, and I’m sure nearly everyone knows at least one aspiring filmmaker. I love filmmaking and photography, but the main problem I have with it is the amount of equipment one needs to get the job done. This can mean big, important pieces such as a camera or lights as well as tiny, essential accessories that make life a whole lot easier. If you are looking for something to gift your filmmaking friend or for some key components to upgrade your kit, check out the following.

1. Compact Lights

If there is one thing that can’t be overstated, it is that light is essential to filmmaking. Now, I’m not saying you should pick up a big ole’ lighting kit for your buddy—they hopefully have something already—but a good choice is an ultra-portable light that can serve in roles a standard kit can’t. A good example would be the Nanlite miro 30c RGB Round LED Light Panel. This petite, lightweight unit can replicate almost any color and features a soft output up to 4854 lux at 3.3’, 14 creative effects, and a baby pin receiver with a ¼”-20 thread. It comes with a magnetic diffuser and can be powered via AC power, a Sony L-series type battery, or a USB-C power bank. This is perfect for creating distinct looks or effects or even just serving as a tiny fill light in a compact space. It’s well worth a look, and any emerging filmmaker can benefit from having one.

2. Production Slate

Nothing makes a small production look and feel more professional than a slate. It is also an extremely functional tool. Primarily, it is used to help sync audio in post when using dual-system sound, though all the notes written on the slate for each take will help keep your shoot and edit organized. It is a very good habit to use one on set, no matter how small the production.

3. Portable Storage

Video takes up a lot of space, and newer cameras with higher resolutions and frame rates are only making filmmakers more frantic. Fast portable storage can always be put to good use, and small SSDs are a great bet for keeping precious video safe. There’s nothing worse than losing footage due to a faulty drive. For a regular drive, Samsung makes the highly reviewed T9 SSD in multiple sizes including this  1TB version with a 2-in-1 MagSafe/Shoe-Mount Holder that lets you securely attach it to your rig.

Another storage option that would make a great gift for a filmmaker is a CFexpress card. Superior to conventional SD cards, CFexpress cards offer the breakneck transfer speeds needed to efficiently handle demanding workflows. One card we often recommend is SANDISK’s 512GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B with card reader. With a maximum write speed of 1400 MB/s, these cards enable uninterrupted capture in several formats, 4K raw among others.

It is important to know that not all video cameras operate with Type B CFexpress cards, and if you’re unsure about the kind of memory card your giftee uses, an SD card is a pretty safe gamble. Most modern camera systems these days have at least one SD card slot for recording media and you really can’t go wrong with something like Lexar’s 128GB Professional 1667x UHS-II SDXC Memory Card 2 Pack. Coming with two v60 cards at a favorable price, no filmmaker could ever turn away extra SD cards. You can never have too much memory!

4. Camera Cage

Find out what model camera the filmmaker in your life uses and pick up a cage for it. Offering a large quantity of threads and attachment points, cages make configuring cameras for video much easier. These metal exoskeletons also take the strain off the camera itself (namely the hot shoe) and will protect it from damage. Usefulness with a side benefit of protection seems like a great upgrade to me.

5. Gray Card and Color Charts

File this under stuff no one knows they were missing until they have it. Gray cards and color charts are invaluable tools when it comes to post-production. They make getting a base color grade incredibly fast and effective. Some software will even automatically detect it and apply the fixes for you! If your filmmaker friend doesn’t already have one, this is something they should greatly appreciate. Make sure to get a pocket-sized one for easy carry: the Calibrite ColorChecker Passport Video 2.

 6. Gimbal Stabilizer

Handheld shooting is in vogue. It’s a distinct look that many filmmakers aim to capture and it is easy—no heavy tripod required. When done well and when it helps the story, the visceral feel can be amazing. Most of the time, however, it is just distracting. A gimbal stabilizer can solve this problem. Relatively simple to understand, a gimbal uses sensors and motors to compensate for movement and provide a smooth handheld look. It can seriously save a video. With mirrorless cameras becoming more and more popular for video, gimbals have also been getting smaller, with the  DJI RS 5 a popular choice for cameras up to 6.6 lb.

7. Wireless Video Transmission  

Ideal for viewing the action from a convenient or discreet distance, a wireless video transmission system enables you to easily monitor your video capture on a larger display—without the bother of running long cables. Hollyland offers a range of video transmission components including their popular Mars 4K system. This transmitter and receiver set features ultralow latency, smart channel scanning, onboard and app control, SDI and HDMI inputs and outputs, and support for up to UHD 4K30 at a line-of-sight range of 450’.

8. Monitor/Recorder

When striving to produce the best imagery possible, it is essential for a filmmaker to have a reliable and quality monitor. Even though most modern cameras come with a monitor built in, they simply will not cut it for most professional workflows. The  Atomos Ninja TX GO 5.2” HDMI Monitor/Recorder provides filmmakers will all the tools necessary to ensure proper monitoring and recording including Wi-Fi 6E input and output, NDI 6 streaming, and control and touch focus for select cameras. The large 5.2" touchscreen display with a brightness rating of 1500 cd/ m² allows you to easily view the image, even outdoors, as well as easily make onboard adjustments where needed. There are also a variety of other tools at your disposable such as focus peaking, false color, vectorscopes, anamorphic de-squeeze, and much more. On top of being a fully fleshed-out monitor, the Ninja TX GO acts as recorder, providing you with the ability to capture up to 6K30 ProRes raw imagery.

9. On-Camera Microphone

A great video can be ruined by terrible audio. An easy way to get better audio is with a dedicated microphone, and there are numerous small ones that just pop right onto whatever camera you are using. These on-camera shotgun mics are substantially better than any in-camera mic and some even offer options for controlling the quality of the sound. Shotgun mics are useful specifically because they capture audio coming from a single direction and cut down on some ambient noise to limit distractions. And, if you want to get a filmmaker an on-camera mic, the standard to beat is the RODE VideoMic Pro+.

10. Wireless Audio System

You know what’s better than an on-camera mic you plug into your camera? A wireless one. Luckily, wireless audio systems have come down in both price and size in recent times, with RØDE Wireless PRO being a perfect example. Eliminating cables is a liberating experience and one that I highly recommend.

11. Portable Audio Recorder

One more audio thing because, well, if you haven’t gleaned this already, audio is super important and often forgotten. Going direct to camera is useful and convenient but, for the best, you will want to move to dual-system sound. This involves a separate, dedicated audio recorder and professional-grade microphones. Hopefully, you will have a dedicated sound recordist in your crew to go along with it. Specialized tools offer expanded controls and quality that you can’t get otherwise, and this is true with audio recorders. For getting started, the Zoom H6essential is a good pick, though I like having the Tascam DR-10L Pro for on-talent setups and, for more serious setups, the Sound Devices MixPre-3 II can record 32-bit float, which is essential raw audio with tons of latitude in post.

12. Drone

Now for the real fun: drones. Aerial video and exciting camera moves are a big thing today for punching up the look of a video, drones are how you get it done. DJI is the dominant player in the consumer drone world and I would recommend two options. Go with the  Mini 5 Pro if you think whoever you are gifting will use it more for fun and limited filmmaking experiments, or opt for the Mavic 4 Pro for the ability to swap between three great lenses mid-flight.

Be sure to check out the linked items above and additional video capture accessories on the B&H site for gift ideas for your favorite emerging filmmaker and alert them to the video capture tips on the B&H Explora site.