Need some help purchasing a gift for amateur videographer...

I have a family member who was kind enough to record video during my wedding. He is not professional (yet) as he has recently started to get into videography over the last year or two, however, he does have plans to go pro in the future and is currently trying to build a portfolio. I'd like to get him some useful accessory for his video equipment, and was thinking some sort of lighting equipment.

He won't tell me any equipment that he is interested in since he is adamant about not accepting any form of compensation. I was able to determine that this is the camcorder he uses right now... http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …0U_Ultra_Compac​t_Pro.html I don't think he owns any other gear outside of the camera and on-camera mic.

I understand this isn't specifically Canon related, but I've come to realize there are some very knowledgeable people here. Therefore, I was hoping somebody could suggest something in the $300-$400 range that would help him along in his journey towards a professional videographer.

gift card

Brian_R wrote in post #13927103
gift card

Ehh, I considered that, but 1) I don't want to limit him to one store/online store, 2) I don't want to get him a Visa/Mastercard because he is the type that would feel guilty using it for something that isn't a necessity, and 3) basically the same as just giving cash/check.

I'd really like to be able get him an actual item so he has no choice but to accept it and use it to treat himself.

Sign him up for a video production workshop.

a steadicam is a tool that any videographer would love.http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …00_Stabilizer_S​ystem.html
photo99

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13927126
Sign him up for a video production workshop.

Indeed a great idea...although he does have quite a bit of related coursework as he has been in school for this stuff for the last 3-4yrs, and has worked on at least 3 different production teams (that I know of) for Biggest Loser, Bachelor, and something on the Lifetime Network.

Therefore, I don't want to enroll him into a course that is going to be repetitive.

Photo99 wrote in post #13927136
a steadicam is a tool that any videographer would love.http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …00_Stabilizer_S​ystem.html
photo99

This might be a great idea...I've seen him do a couple events and noticed that it seems difficult to "glide" around all day to prevent a shaky video. I'm assuming this rig is designed specifically for that purpose. Are these things pretty much universal as far as compatibility?

mannetti21 wrote in post #13927148
Indeed a great idea...although he does have quite a bit of related coursework as he has been in school for this stuff for the last 3-4yrs, and has worked on at least 3 different production teams (that I know of) for Biggest Loser, Bachelor, and something on the Lifetime Network.

Therefore, I don't want to enroll him into a course that is going to be repetitive.

There's a significant difference between foot in the door grunt work as a grip or even as a second unit shooter and learning to bring your own vision to fruition from concept to distribution.

I worked in broadcasting for nearly 25 years and if someone offered me a chance to attend a production boot camp or similar tomorrow, I'd go in a New York minute.

How much are you looking to spend on this gift? That would help give us a ballpark range to work with.

Edit:

Oops, missed that $300-400 range you stated. Hmmm... in that price range yea Id have to say Id prefer a gift card to B&H as thats where I have bought pretty much all of my video and audio gear. There almost isnt anything you cant get from them in these fields.

How about a nice monopod? http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Video_Monopod_W​_Head.html

A gift card to B&H is definitely not "limited to one store!"

a video class would be an excellent gift.


not so sure about the monopod though lol

Heck, that's probably the hottest monopod on the market right now. Every one who gets there hands on it to review it, loves it. And its not over the top expensive.

mannetti21 wrote in post #13927095
I'd like to get him some useful accessory for his video equipment, and was thinking some sort of lighting equipment.

Lighting is going to be a bit of a tough nut to crack, that camcorder lacks enough battery power to support an on-camera light, as such you are limited to an internally powered on camera LED light and if he already has his hot shoe tied up carrying a microphone then that becomes another problem.

That aside it must be stated with LED lighting there comes a price for a lamp that has a decent spectrum, cheap LED lights tend to be bluish have a low Color Rendering Index (CRI) as they have spikes in their spectrum and that tears up skin colors.

That stated, if you are going to go for a LED on camera light, then your price range is in the ballpark for a couple of really decent units.

On the upper end of your budget would be the Litepanels MicroPro nine watt, which is a well made dimmable, on camera LED light, nine watts may sound like a small number, but in the world of LED lighting is the equivalent of a 75 watt incandescent camera mounted light, which is the upper limit of a professional standard camera mounted and powered lighting such as the Anton Bauer Ultralight 2.

Dropping to the lower limit would be the LitePanels Micro LED three watt, which like the MicroPro, is another well made dimmable on camera LED light, however with considerably less light output power than the MicroPro. This would be the equivalent of an Ultralight 2 with a 20 watt bulb.

Personally for the small difference in price, I would prefer to have the MicroPro versus the Micro.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com/c/product/616394​-REG/Litepanels_LP_MICR​OPRO_MicroPro_LED_On_C​amera_Light.html

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com/c/product/542007​-REG/Litepanels_LP_MICR​O_Micro_LED_On_Camera_​Light.html

Wayne

BrickR wrote in post #13930972
Heck, that's probably the hottest monopod on the market right now. Every one who gets there hands on it to review it, loves it. And its not over the top expensive.

Very true. There are A LOT of people loving it.

Brian_R wrote in post #13928884
not so sure about the monopod though lol

OK, anyway...

BrickR wrote in post #13930972
Heck, that's probably the hottest monopod on the market right now. Every one who gets there hands on it to review it, loves it. And its not over the top expensive.

ben_r_ wrote in post #13931071
Very true. There are A LOT of people loving it.

I've used it before and I couldn't ask for more with shooting video on DSLR. I have a Manfrotto 562B with 701HDV head because the head on the 561BHDV isn't removable, but it's basically the same setup.

It's a GREAT accessory that I would personally consider a must have for DSLR video work.

I'd say that here are two very good tools that people here have mentioned already.

1) That mono pod is just a killer tool. And he would use it a lot. Heck, I almost bought me one before getting my rails system/FF and tripod. I'd still love to own that monopod.

2) As much as I hate to agree with Wayne, he makes an excellent point. That 9w Litepanel light is a really nice tool as well. I've been on many shoots where the camera ops used those. They won't light an entire room, but for close in work or an on the fly interview, they take a rather drab, dull interview or scene and give it a little pop!

Also, they don't always have to be used on top of the camera. They can also be hidden in cars to help punch a little more light onto the drivers face to help combat the outside light. It won't overpower the sun. Not even close, but I have seen the effects of these little lights and they do help make a scene a lot better.

Tough choice though. He would love and use either of those.

Maybe you can simply engage in a conversation with him and ask him in a sly way what it is that he would love to have to make his video productions better. Maybe talk about it in terms of the shoot he did for you, what would have he wanted to do better or differently to make things better. Ask him questions on how he did something, that might bring up something that could help you decide. Just thinking out loud there.