As will be obvious to anyone attempting to make a movie – even if it is simply a test film – there are some basic pieces of equipment and apparatus which are necessary – starting with a camera to take the shots and a microphone to record the sounds, through to a software package to edit the final product and more. Although it's easy to begin with shooting videos on your smartphone, using filmmaking equipment provides higher quality output, more control options, and versatility. 

If you're an aspiring filmmaker looking to get started capturing compelling footage and making your own films, here are the top 10 must-have tools and gear to have in your toolkit:If you're an aspiring filmmaker looking to get started capturing compelling footage and making your own films, here are the top 10 must-have tools and gear to have in your toolkit:

1. Camera

The camera is a very important element of the show as it is through it that scenes are shot and the story unfolds. When beginning your photography adventure, beginner mirrorless cameras or a DSLR are ideal for beginners – just like Sony a6100 or Canon Rebel T7i. These provide features such as fully manual exposure control, interchangeable lenses, HD or 4K video in a compact yet lightweight form and at a reasonable cost for beginner cinematographers. One is to consider a camera that is equipped with features that are particularly important for capturing video, such as microphone connections and LCD that can be rotated.

2. Lenses

It is thus important to use high quality lenses for your camera to effectively do video work. One of the best choices to start is the zoom lens 24-70mm f/2. 8 as it encompasses the wide-angle to the portrait field of view and possesses the f/2. 8 aperture for better shooting in conditions of low light. Another recommended lens to have on your kit is a 50mm f/1. 8 prime lens, ideal for portraits, close-ups or whenever you need a shallow depth of field. 

3. Tripod

A powerful tripod is crucial in avoiding shots that come across as shakily made while enhancing the production quality of the shots. One is for standing use and you want one with the pan/tilt head for smooth panning and tilting besides having the quick release mounting plate for secure camera mounting. As a prosumer, I highly recommend the Manfrotto 502 Video Head in combination with the Manfrotto 546GB Legs as a solid beginning.

4. External Audio Recorder

Most cameras are equipped with microphones, but they are noisy and have no directionality and decent sound quality. Using an external audio recorder such as the Zoom H4N or Tascam DR-05X and using a shotgun microphone enables you to record much cleaner and professional sound directly onto the recorder and not necessarily the camera. 

5. Reflectors & Diffusers

For small productions, collapsible circular reflector discs, and foldable diffusers are useful and generally within the affordability range of such productions. Existence of Reflectors and diffusers enhance the direction, quality, and intensity of natural light during location photography. If I may add, these items should be in the equipment crate of every filmmaker.

6. Three-Point Lighting Kit

For shooting interviews or areas that do not have much light, a basic three-point light setup is necessary. Such accessories include key, fill, and back lights mounted on light stands in order to light your subjects appropriately. For instance, if you're starting and searching for continuous video lighting kits, Neewer or LimoStudio are excellent choices.  

7. Laptop or Computer

As for video editing, you will be using video editing software of which the process needs a fairly capable Windows or Mac laptop or desktop. Play for at least 8GB RAM, adequate graphics, and processors or GPUs for editing as well as rendering videos. Both Apple's MacBook Pros and Windows-based like the Dell XPS series are ideal for this purpose. 

8. Video Editing Software  

Some of the most popular and easy-to-use software for the beginners are Adobe Premiere Elements, CyberLink PowerDirector and Corel VideoStudio. To get the professional editing like the movie makers use, Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro are the recommended ones. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your editing programs features such as transitions, title tools, audio effects, and other features to enhance your films.

9. External Hard Drives

Recording HD videos creates large files quickly since the content shoots is in the form of videos. You will also require extra hard drives with enough space; and it is recommended to go for the hard drives with at least 2 TB of storage space. HDR support is another feature that is worth considering when choosing a camera for photography because it offloads images from the memory cards at a fast rate using USB 3. 0+ connectivity. Although portable SSD drives are more costly than traditional portable hard drives, it is very effective for editing videos directly off of it. It is possible to purchase external drives from LaCie and Western Digital with confidence. 

10. MicroSD Memory Cards

Capturing all these great moments needs camera memory cards – two ingredients which makes your camera work. Buy multiple high capacity high speed SD cards with the write speed of at least 30 MB/s – this makes recording of high bitrate 4K or HD videos without frame drops possible. If you want to save the money then go for the brands like SanDisk or Samsung as they are much more reliable than others. For the high resolution mode it is advised to use 64GB+ cards, and the multiples allow longer shooting time.

Taking It Up a Notch with the Craft of Filmmaking

With those 10 tools in hand, budding filmmakers can finally assemble all the equipment that they require to create professional-grade videos – paving the way for developing your narrative skills through the medium of moving pictures. You should also keep on accumulating tools – mikes, steadicams, slider boom platforms, drones, or even better lighting. The beauty of art is that it knows no limits!