The Best Cameras for Documentary Filmmaking
Forget the spec-sheet wars. Here's what a documentary camera actually needs to do, and the bodies that do it.
Cameras, lenses, audio and lighting — what to buy to shoot a documentary on any budget.
We test and recommend documentary gear independently. Buying through our partner links helps fund the magazine, at no extra cost to you.
Forget the spec-sheet wars. Here's what a documentary camera actually needs to do, and the bodies that do it.
Bad sound kills a documentary faster than bad pictures. Here are the lav mics that'll save your interviews without draining the budget.
Your camera records sound. It records it badly. Here's why a dedicated field recorder belongs in your bag, and which one to buy.
A gimbal turns shaky handheld into smooth, moving footage — if you pick the right one and don't fight it. Here's what to buy.
A well-lit talking head separates a real documentary from a webcam call. Here's the setup, the gear, and the thinking behind both.
Camera, lens, sound, light, support — a real, usable documentary kit that comes in under two grand. Here's exactly how I'd spend it.
The lens shapes your image more than the camera does. Here's the glass that earns its place in a documentary bag.