Ranking

Best budget picks

Each item is an alternative recommended in place of a pricier piece across multiple creators' setups — the consensus 'first real upgrade'.
  1. 1
    Sony ZV-E10 IISuggested 8×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony A7S III (Jason Vong) · Nikon Z 30 (Cathrin Manning) · Sony A7 III (Jeff Su) · Panasonic Lumix GH5 (Justin Brown) · Sony A7 IV (Paige Brunton) · Sony A7S III (Roberto Blake) · Sony A7 IV (Stephanie Kase) · Sony FX3 (Tom Buck)
  2. 2
    Aputure Amaran 100x SSuggested 5×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Nanlite 300B (Jason Morris) · Rotolight AEOS (Dustin Abbott) · Aputure Light Storm LS C120D II (Jeff Su) · Aputure Light Storm LS C120D II (Pat Flynn) · Nanlite Forza 200 (Tom Buck)
  3. 3
    Rode VideoMicro IISuggested 4×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony ECM-B1M (Jason Morris) · Rode VideoMic NTG (Justin Brown) · Rode VideoMic Pro Plus (Stephanie Kase) · Rode VideoMicro (Stephanie Kase)
  4. 4
    Hollyland Lark M2Suggested 3×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Hollyland Lark M1 (Dustin Abbott) · DJI Mic (Jeven Dovey) · DJI Mic (Stewart Carroll (Stewart and Alina))
  5. 5
    Sony A7 IVSuggested 2×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony A1 (Dustin Abbott) · Sony FX3 (Jeven Dovey)
  6. 6
    Sony A7C IISuggested 2×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony A7C (Jason Vong) · Sony A7S III (Jeven Dovey)
  7. 7
    Samyang/Rokinon AF 18mm f/2.8 FESuggested 2×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G (Jason Vong) · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G (Jeven Dovey)
  8. 8
    Samyang/Rokinon AF 24mm f/1.8 FESuggested 2×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM (Jason Morris) · Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM (Roberto Blake)
  9. 9
    DJI RS 3 MiniSuggested 2×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: DJI Ronin S2 (Jason Vong) · DJI Ronin S (Roberto Blake)
  10. 10
    K&F Concept TM2515M1 Carbon Travel TripodSuggested 2×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon Fiber) (Dustin Abbott) · Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon Fiber) (Jeven Dovey)
  11. 11
    Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DNSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art (Justin Brown)
  12. 12
    Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXDSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary (Paige Brunton)
  13. 13
    Sigma 24mm f/3.5 DG DN ContemporarySuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM (Tom Buck)
  14. 14
    Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II (Jeven Dovey)
  15. 15
    Neewer 660 RGB LED Video Light (2-pack with stands)Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Elgato Key Light (Roberto Blake)
  16. 16
    Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4 ESuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Stephanie Kase)
  17. 17
    Samyang/Rokinon AF 35mm f/1.8 FESuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM (Dustin Abbott)
  18. 18
    Synco D2Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Rode NTG2 (Pat Flynn)
  19. 19
    Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve (free)Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Apple Final Cut Pro (Tom Buck)
  20. 20
    Sony E 15mm f/1.4 GSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Jeff Su)
  21. 21
    Canon EOS R10Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Canon EOS R (Pat Flynn)
  22. 22
    Sony FE 50mm f/1.8Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G (Jason Vong)
  23. 23
    Sony FX30Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony FX6 (Jason Morris)
  24. 24
    JOBY GorillaPod 1K KitSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod (Cathrin Manning)
  25. 25
    JOBY GorillaPod 3K KitSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: SwitchPod SwitchPod (handheld) (Pat Flynn)
  26. 26
    Apple iMovieSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Apple Final Cut Pro (Cathrin Manning)
  27. 27
    Hollyland Lark M1Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Rode Wireless GO II (Justin Brown)
  28. 28
    Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 IISuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Panasonic Leica Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH (Stewart Carroll (Stewart and Alina))
  29. 29
    Panasonic Lumix GH6Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Panasonic Lumix GH5 (Stewart Carroll (Stewart and Alina))
  30. 30
    DJI Mini 4 ProSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: DJI Mini 3 Pro (Stewart Carroll (Stewart and Alina))
  31. 31
    Shure MV7+Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Heil Sound PR40 (Pat Flynn)
  32. 32
    Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VRSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 (Cathrin Manning)
  33. 33
    Rode NTG5Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sennheiser MKH 416 (Jeff Su)
  34. 34
    DJI Osmo Pocket 3Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: DJI Osmo Pocket 3 (Paige Brunton)
  35. 35
    Rode PodMic USBSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sennheiser MKH 50 (Tom Buck)
  36. 36
    Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen)Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Rode Rodecaster Pro (Pat Flynn)
  37. 37
    Godox SL60W IISuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Aputure Amaran 100x S (Paige Brunton)
  38. 38
    K&F Concept TM2515M1Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sirui SH25 (with fluid head) (Jason Morris)
  39. 39
    K&F Concept TM2515M1 Travel TripodSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Manfrotto Befree Advanced (Jeff Su)
  40. 40
    Rode VideoMic NTGSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony ECM-B1M (Jason Vong)
  41. 41
    Rode VideoMic Pro+Suggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Rode VideoMic Pro (Paige Brunton)
  42. 42
    Sony ZV-1FSuggested 1×
    Recommended as the cheaper pick instead of: Sony ZV-1 (Roberto Blake)