I know the feeling: you want to make videos, you go on YouTube, you see what gear everyone uses, and suddenly you think you need everything—until you see the prices. The good news is you don’t. In this video I break down the top 5 must-have pieces of camera gear for beginners in 2024, and honestly, you can make really good videos with like 10% of what you see online. I start with lighting, because if you’re filming indoors (home studio, product videos, room setup), you’ll want at least one light. A simple 60W light is the beginner sweet spot, and I use the COLBOR CL60—most 60W lights at this level do the same job, just don’t forget a stand and a softbox. Then we talk audio, because I fully agree that audio is as important (or more important) than video quality. I show why even a cheap on-camera mic can “do the job,” but also why a wireless mic like my Hollyland LARK M2 makes life easier when the camera is far away. After that I cover ND filters (the “sunglass” for your camera) so you can keep your cinematic settings outdoors without blowing out your image, why you shouldn’t be cheap on a tripod, and finally why an affordable monitor can seriously speed up focus and exposure checks with tools like waveform and false color.