World Photography Day 2022: How to build your own smartphone filmmaking setup on a budget

Let us have a look at how you can build your own smartphone setup, to step up your content creation game.
How to build your own smartphone filmmaking setup on a budget.

How to build your own smartphone filmmaking setup on a budget.

As we are set to celebrate World Photography Day tomorrow (August 19), let us have a look at how you can build your own smartphone setup to step up your content creation game.
For users who own a device with good video recording capabilities, investing in the required equipment is a great way to step up the game.
Using your smartphone for filming offers a lot of benefits. You get the freedom of movement and the setup is much easier to carry. Here are some of the most essential equipment you would need to build your own setup for smartphone videography and photography.
Gimbal
A Gimbal is essential to get great stabilization in your shots especially the ones which have a lot of movement. Users looking to build their setup can look at 3-axis gimbals as they control the camera’s tilt, pan, and roll. The tilt controls up and down movement of the smartphone, the pan controls side-to-side movement and the roll controls back and forth movement. A gimbal can stabilize your shots while being recorded in all such movements.
Companies offer smartphone gimbals that pack a plethora of features such as a joystick with controls, time-lapse and hyper-lapse modes, subject tracking, and more.
Users who already have access to a smartphone with good video recording capabilities should invest in a smartphone gimbal. DJI Oso 4 which is usually priced below Rs 9,000 is one of the best options that you can consider.
Microphones
Left to right Boya BYM1 Rode Lavalier Go Boya by-MM1 Product image
Left to right: Boya BYM1, Rode Lavalier Go, Boya by-MM1 (Product image)
Microphones are essential if you wish to record good quality audio. The two types of microphones that are generally used for recording audio using smartphones, are Lavalier microphones and Shotgun microphones.
To start off, Lavalier microphones( lapel mics) are compact and portable devices that are widely used in filmmaking and broadcasting. These mics are ideal for recording dialogue as they are tiny and easy to handle. It is important to note that users must be close to the mic to record clear sound.
If we had a pick one, the Boya BYM1 is a great option for beginners. The device usually costs around Rs 800 and is one of the best lav mics that users can buy for under Rs 1,000. The omnidirectional lapel mic offers great audio recording capabilities and also features a 20 feet cable, which is great for recording audio while capturing video, without the need of standing too close to the camera. Users can connect the mic to a smartphone using a 3.5 mm jack.
The Rode lavalier go is a great option as well provided your budget is higher. The Lavalier microphone is made specially to record high-quality audio on smartphones. The microphone can be purchased from Amazon for around Rs 6,000.
Shotgun microphones are built to be more directional than a typical cardioid microphone. These devices reject sounds coming at the microphone from the sides and pick up clear sound from the source depending on where the microphone is pointed. Shotgun mics are generally used to capture sound from a distance. You can consider purchasing the Boya by-MM1 which is priced below Rs 2,000 on Amazon.
Note: As many smartphones do not have support for 3.5mm jack nowadays, you can consider getting adapters to ensure that these mics work with your existing device.
Tripod
The Digitek DTR 260 GT Gorilla tripod offers great functionality on a budget Image source Product image
The Digitek DTR 260 GT Gorilla tripod offers great functionality on a budget. (Image source: Product image).
You would need a Tripod for shooting stationary shots which can be used to compose the scene perfectly. Tripods will allow you to capture stationary footage without any shake or movements. There are various smartphone tripods that you can choose from online shopping platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart. The Digitek DTR 260 GT Gorilla tripod is a great option and is currently priced at Rs 399 on Amazon.
Lights
Users who wish to capture good quality footage in uneven lighting conditions will need artificial lighting. While you can get floodlights for as low as Rs 500 online, these lights are not recommended for video shoots.
The Digitek DTR 260 GT Gorilla tripod offers great functionality on a budget Image source Product image
The Digitek DTR 260 GT Gorilla tripod offers great functionality on a budget. (Image source: Product image).
If you are starting out, a ring light can be a good option as they generally come with an inbuilt mechanism for evenly softening the light and is a great option if the subject is in front of the light source. The Digitek DRL 12C is a good option to consider. The device is currently priced at around Rs 1,500 on Amazon.
End of Article