Things to Consider When Purchasing Camera or Audio Gear
By: Trisha Thornton
Tags: Content Creators, Cameras, Podcast, YouTube, Audio

I never seem to have a straight answer to the question, “What camera do you think I should buy?” That’s because it really depends on what you’re looking to do. Are you a food blogger, travel vlogger or artist? These different roles may determine what you actually need. I know many of us will do our homework and go straight to YouTube. But I’ve found that depending on your favorite Youtuber or buying the newest camera or camera lens really isn’t helping to ensure you have exactly what you need for the task at hand.

So I want to share with you what I’ve learned along the way when it comes to purchasing the right gear for my video or audio projects.

How much are you willing to spend?

This is probably the most important question you’ll ask entering this process. This will vary person-to-person according to each one’s own financial ability. As you’re searching the sites for what’s right for you, know that expensive doesn’t always equal the best and buying cheap can ultimately have you spending more. Still, whatever you decide to spend, whether it’s a high dollar amount or low, you can find something suitable for your price range.

Needs First, Cool Stuff Later

I am a tech junkie. I love anything new, or whatever technology the critics are praising. But, just because something is new or looks cool doesn’t mean you need it. When it comes to what you’ll actually be using to create your content it’s important that you know the difference between what you need and what you think you need. Ask yourself, is this equipment essential in creating your video or audio content? Can you create this content without this equipment and still produce something with great quality?

I am speaking from experience. Knowing your needs will save you from spending money unnecessarily on something you’ll probably never use at all.

Get what you can use

When I was a student, one of the most exciting things about being enrolled in a video production program is having access to all sorts of camera and audio equipment. In your mind you see exactly what you want to get your hands on. That is until you get your hands on it and find out learning to use it is a bit more challenging than you expected. If you’re someone who is willing to take the time to learn how to use your device then there’s really almost no limit to what you can purchase. But if you’re someone looking for something a bit more simpler and easy to use, I encourage you to watch videos of the equipment you’re looking to purchase and see if you can find something that you can actually work with.

YouTube Accordingly

I’ve found that simply watching YouTube videos doesn’t help at all if you’re not aware of how you’re being influenced. It’s easy to make decisions based on what your favorite YouTuber uses. However, the type of equipment they’re using now is not at all what they started with. Because of the growth they might have experienced their needs would have also changed prompting them to upgrade their gear. Also, as you may know if you’ve already been searching YouTube, some are professional photographers, videographers or audio engineers so they have a considerable amount of experience using what they use. It’s cool if you really want to support them but what works best for them may not work best for you.

I hope that you found this article helpful. Following these steps will guide you in the right direction when you’re ready to start purchasing equipment and ultimately adding ease to the process altogether.