Gear Used in Youtube Videos

Last Updated July 27, 2022//Travis Sickle, CFP®, EA®
Originally Posted  May 22, 2020//Travis Sickle, CFP®, EA®

I'm a financial advisor on youtube, but the gear used in my videos and podcasts can be used for any talking head videos or podcasts.  While you can start with the camera on your phone, I recommend starting with a small but dedicated setup.  The creative workflow is just so much easier with a dedicated rig.  Audio is more important than video quality for my style of video.

Recommended Gear

Extra Gear

I started making videos with a Canon 5D Mark III DSLR camera that I already had but have upgraded all of my gear over time.  Today I use the Sony a6400 as my primary camera and the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E.  I like the camera field of view because I can put the camera very close to me to reach out and touch it without getting up.  I also have a tiny office, so the space savings is a big deal for me.

I use the Sony a6100 as my overhead camera because it's a little cheaper than the a6400.  When I wrote this, I can't even remember what the a6400 does better, but the price was the main reason for going with a different model.

Most videos today are used with this mic setup.  It's clean and easy to use.

The Aputure 120d ii is an excellent option used by tons of Youtubers.

The image without the mic is lit with the Aputure 120d II, and the one with the Sure SM7B mic is with my ring light (I got rid of the ring light).  Not taken on the same day, but as you can see, it's a world of difference.  It might not matter to some, but I like it better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chalkboard Paint for background wall https://amzn.to/36yNUnU

I don't generally read off of teleprompters, but I still love this setup.  If I need to show a few numbers in front of me, this setup works.  It's small but valuable.

Lilliput A11 10.1" 4k Teleprompter Monitor https://amzn.to/2X1zA8c

Glide Gear Teleprompter https://amzn.to/2U2Vs1U