Best budget video gear for creators
The gear here that costs the least and still earns its place. What to buy first when the budget is small, and where saving money will cost you.
Browse top Budget video gear
Aputure Light Box 45x45 (18 x 18")
My travel softbox — pairs perfectly with the Amaran 60D S for professional lighting on the go.
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Aputure MC RGBWW LED Light
Tiny RGB light I use for background accents. Adds depth and color to any setup.
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Belkin iPhone MagSafe Camera Mount for MacBook
Mounts my iPhone to my MacBook via MagSafe. Great for video calls and Continuity Camera.
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Sony NPFZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery
Extra batteries for my Sony cameras. Reliable and essential for long shoots.
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UGREEN 4K Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable 6.6FT
Connects my a6700 to the Cam Link 4K for recording and streaming.
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UGREEN Revodok 1071 USB C Hub
My USB-C hub for MacBook and iPad Pro. Reliable and great for expanding ports.
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ULANZI Light Stand Carbon Fiber MT-49
My go-to carbon fiber light stand. Lightweight and portable for any lighting setup.
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Ulanzi MT-79 Extendable Tripod
My compact travel tripod for iPhone and action cams. Extends tall, packs small.
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Zoom TPS-4 Tripod Microphone Stand
I use this for my Shure MV7+. Super lightweight mic stand, perfect for travel.
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DJI Neo 2 Combo
My go-to for hands-free filming while running or working out. Follow-me mode is incredible.
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Elgato Cam Link 4K
Turns my Sony a6700 into a webcam. Essential for video podcasts and live streams.
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Insta360 3m 9.8ft Extended Selfie Stick
Great for unique angles and even faking drone shots. I use it with my Insta360 and action cams.
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Nanlite D-Tap to 5.5mm Male DC Barrel Power Cable
Powers my Amaran 60D S from the VB99 Pro battery. Essential for long outdoor shoots.
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Neewer Dual USB Charger for Sony NP-FZ100 Battery
Charges two Sony NP-FZ100 batteries at once. Cheap and gets the job done.
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Peak Design Mobile Everyday Loop Case
My everyday iPhone case. Durable, slim, and works with the Peak Design ecosystem.
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Peak Design Mobile Creator Kit
Pairs with the Peak Design tripod to mount my iPhone. Essential for mobile content creation.
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Peak Design Mobile Tripod
My iPhone tripod. Compact, sturdy, and always in my bag for on-the-go shooting.
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SmallRig D-Tap to Sony NP-FZ100 Dummy Battery Power Cable
Connects the VB99 Pro to my Sony a6700 for continuous power during long shoots.
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SmallRig L-Series/NP-F970 USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery
I use two of these to power my key light and charge gear on the go. Super versatile.
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Sony GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip
My vlogging grip for the Sony a6700. Bluetooth control and doubles as a mini tripod.
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Belkin BoostCharge Braided USB-C Cable (6.6', Black)
Sturdy braided USB-C cable for charging and data transfer. Built to last.
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Belkin Connect USB-C to 4-Port USB-C Hub
Solid USB-C hub that works with my MacBook, iPad, and iPhone.
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UGREEN 8K HDMI 2.1 Cable 48Gbps 3.3FT
High-speed HDMI cable for connecting cameras to a capture card. Solid and reliable.
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Ulanzi MA26 Foldable Phone Tripod
Compact foldable phone tripod. Great for stable iPhone shots while traveling.
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FAQs about Budget video gear
What people ask before buying Budget video gear.
The DJI Mic Mini at $79 on sale, the Ulanzi MT-79 tripod at $28.45 and the Aputure Light Box paired with a light you already own will change your videos more than any camera you could afford at the same price. Film on the phone you already have until those three are covered.
The DJI Mic Mini at $79 on sale plus the Ulanzi MT-79 tripod at $28.45 comes to $107.45, and a spare UGREEN cable still leaves you under $120. That setup produces watchable, listenable video today. The whole budget tier of this catalog holds 28 pieces, and quite a few of them are things I use every day.
After that, the Zoom TPS-4 mic stand at $17.99 and the Neewer dual charger at $18 on sale. None of these are exciting. All three would stop me filming if they broke, which is a better test of value than the price.
A cheap card fails mid record and takes the take with it. A cheap phone clamp slips and drops your camera. A cheap light stand tips over with a softbox on it. Everywhere else, buy cheap without guilt. I use $9.99 cables and a $16.99 hub and have never once wished I had spent more on either.
The Ulanzi MT-79 tripod at $28.45 rates 4.7. The UGREEN Revodok hub at $16.99 rates 4.7. The SmallRig NP-F970 battery at $63.98 rates 4.8, higher than most of the expensive cameras on this site. Price and rating are barely correlated in this catalog, because a rating says whether something does its job.
It is the same idea as the DJI Mic 3 I use daily, with less range and fewer controls. If you want a wired backup instead, the RODE Lavalier II at $100 is discreet and reliable.
The Aputure Light Box 45x45 at $59 folds flat and softens whatever you put behind it. The Godox CS-85T lantern at $69 does the same for a Bowens mount light. A cheap light through a proper diffuser beats an expensive light bare, so if the budget only stretches to one purchase, buy the thing that softens.
Glass and metal do not really wear out, and a used lens at seventy percent of new price is the best value in this whole hobby. Batteries degrade, gimbal motors wear, and action cameras have usually had a harder life than the listing suggests. I would buy a used $2,298 lens before a used $449 action camera.
After that, ring lights, cheap gimbals for cameras that already have stabilization, and lens filters bought before there is a problem to solve. Every one of those is money that would have done more as audio. The order of operations matters more than the total spent.
The Ulanzi MT-79, the Zoom TPS-4, the UGREEN cables and hub, the Neewer charger, the Sony GP-VPT2BT grip and the Peak Design Mobile Tripod are all things I reach for regularly, and none of them is expensive. Cheap does not mean provisional.
A piece lands in Budget when it does its job without asking for much, which is why a $99.95 light stand and a $9.99 cable both sit there. It is closer to what a piece asks of you than to a number, so read it as a level of commitment rather than a price band.
That commission is what pays for the guide, and it is worth saying on the budget page in particular: the cheap recommendations here earn me almost nothing. I recommend the $79 mic over the $349 one whenever it is the right answer, and the link fee has never changed that.