VIDEO KITS | Filmmaker

Gear & app suggestions for more advanced mobile video & filmmaking setups.

​

WHO IS THIS FOR?

Indie filmmakers, YouTubers, vloggers, mobile journalists, documentary & travel filmmakers, corporate or real estate video creators, and serious video enthusiasts/hobbyists.

​

WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND?

These kits include (or can include) everything in the Minimalist setups (check out those kits to add gear, as needed), but expands on those for more involved & professional scenarios including shooting in a studio or on location. If you're serious about video production it's a good idea to have multiple setups for different kinds of work. For example, you might use a Minimalist setup for a travel shoot and then a Filmmaker setup for a short film. 

​

Please note: These suggestions are the primary accessories you will need to shoot high-quality video on most jobs, but they are likely not everything you'll need as each shoot will be different and can require other gear.

​

Below are different configurations with purchase links. These are suggestions based upon years of hands-on experience. And please note, many of these options could be mixed & matched within the different setups.

​

FILMMAKER • SETUP #1

This can work with a variety of phone models:

​

• Moment or Sandmarc Case (choose correct case for your phone)

• Beastgrip Pro (universal phone cage)

• Beastgrip 1.7x Pro Series Tele Lens (works great with 13/14 series iPhones)

• Moment 67mm VND Filter

• 62mm-67mm Step-up Ring (for use with Tele lens and filter)

• Beastgrip Tabletop Tripod

• Ulanzi Quick Release (for cage to tripod)

• Sachtler ACE XL Tripod System (full size)

• Sennheiser MKE 400 (camera mount mic)

• Apple 3.5mm to Lightning Adapter (for mic)

• Zhiyun Crane M3 Gimbal (heavy payload capacity)

​

FILMMAKER • SETUP #2

This can also work with a variety of phone models:

​

• Moment or Sandmarc Case (choose correct case for your phone)

• Shoulderpod G2 (phone grip & tripod mount)

• Moment or Sandmarc Lenses (*Tele, Wide and/or Anamorphic + ND filters)

• RODE Wireless GO II

• RODE Lav GO

• RODE SC15 (mic cable for iPhones)

• RODE SC16 (mic cable for Androids)

• Manfrotto Tabletop Tripod

• E-Image Tripod System (full size)

• Ulanzi Quick Release (for grip to tripod)

​

*Which lenses to buy is a subjective call, so go with what you need, but regarding filters we'd suggest getting a 2-5 stop variable ND or get individual 3 to 5 stop solid ND filters. Polarizers and mist filters are useful too, but not mandatory like ND. And both Moment and Sandmarc have different ways to mount their filters to the lenses.

​

FILMMAKER • SETUP #3

This will only work with the iPhone 11, 12, 13 or 14 Pro/Pro Max:

​

• PolarPro LiteChaser Pro for iPhone 14, iPhone 13 or iPhone 12 or iPhone 11 (all-in-one case, grip/tripod mount and filter mount) - choose the Kit that includes a Variable ND filter

• Moment Lenses* (Tele, Wide and/or Anamorphic for iPhone 12 or 14 only using LiteChaser)

• Moondog Labs Multi-Camera Filter Mount (*optional for using other filter brands)

• Manfrotto Tabletop Tripod

• Sachtler ACE XL Tripod System (full size)

• RODE VideoMic NTG (shotgun mount mic)

• Apple 3.5mm to Lightning Adapter (for mic)

• Smallrig Cold Shoe Mount (for mic)

• FeiyuTech Scorp Mini (nice payload capacity)

​

*You can mount Moment lenses to the LiteChaser Pro 12 or 14 series models (which is great), but when you do you'll need to add a Moment ND filter mount as the PolarPro do not work on external lenses. Optionally, you could use the Moondog Lab Multi-Camera Filter Mount to use additional filters that you already own or that are not offered by PolarPro (but it does not work with third-party lenses).

​

LIGHTING

These are optional suggestions that can work for all setups depending on the job:

​

• Aputure MC RGB LED (portable)

• Vijim R70 RGB LED (portable)

• Falcon Eyes F7 Fold RGB (general purpose & portable)

• FalconEyes SO-28TD (small soft key or backlight)

• Falcon Eyes RX-24TDX II (large soft key, very portable too)

• Aputure Amaran 100D (general purpose)

• Manfrotto Light Stands

​

VIDEO CAMERA APPS

​

• FiLMiC Pro (great, but now subscription-based)

• Cinema P3

• Moment Pro Camera

• Protake

• MAVIS

​

ALTERNATIVE & OPTIONAL GEAR

​

• Beastcage (for 12 series or later iPhones - CHOOSE correct model for your phone)

• Beastgrip DOF MK2 Adapter (for adding traditional lenses to an iPhone)

• Beastgrip Pro Series 1.33x Anamorphic

• Moondog Labs 37mm or Bayonet Mount Anamorphic (will work w/ Beastgrip or Moment)

• Smallrig Tabletop Tripod (holds lots of weight)

• BeastClamp (hand grip & tripod mount)

• Moment Filter 67mm Mount (optional style mount)

• 58-67mm Step-Up Ring (for 67mm VND filter on some Beastgrip Pro Series lenses)

• Moondog Labs Smartphone Hood

• 5.5" Freeworld Video Monitor

• Lighting to HDMI Adapter (for video monitor)

• RODE AI-Micro (record 2 discrete analog mics into an iPhone)

• Deity V-Mic D3 (small on camera mic)

​

 

For more gear suggestions be sure to check out the main Apps + Gear page
and/or the Buyer's Guides from the menu above.

​

NEW TO MOBILE FILMMAKING?
Check out our Smartphone Cinematography 101 course

​

We use affiliate links from Amazon, B&H and more for some of our suggestions. A small commission is paid to use for any sales which helps support our website and YouTube channel - and it costs you nothing extra. Thank you!​