VIDEO EQUIPMENT

Below is a comprehensive list of video production and post-production equipment I highly recommend purchasing for use in creating original content for your YouTube channel and social media. I inventoried all of your current filmmaking tools with Dedrick and found several gaps in coverage. Please let me know if you have any questions about the equipment I’ve recommended.

VIDEO PRODUCTION | CAMERA EQUIPMENT

1. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Zoom Lens | $1,398 | https://amzn.to/3EUxHfb

   Why? We need a lens that can be both wide-angle and telephoto zoom. Our main lens has to be able to capture the width of the entire job site but also be able to zoom in to crew way up in the trees. I had originally recommended a less expensive version of this lens, but we need the full-frame version to be compatible with Dedrick’s Sony a7rii.

2. Tiffen 77mm Variable ND Filter | $129.95 | https://amzn.to/3ATMcNY

   Why? We need to be able to cut down the light coming into the lens so we can shoot at lower apertures and capture a cinematic look for all b-roll footage.

3. GoPro Hero10 | $499 | https://amzn.to/2XWd5C6

   Why? You already have a GoPro your crew can wear on a special helmet rig. We also need a GoPro for down on the ground that we can set to get a time-lapse of the entire job from start to finish. I wouldn’t mind a 3rd GoPro to use in other interesting places - like in the basket of a cherry picker or crane, etc. Unconventional perspectives of the job site.

4. Manfrotto Video Monopod | $250.10 | https://amzn.to/3EZCM5R

   Why? We need a monopod that can support Dedrick’s Sony A7rii with a large lens and sound equipment attached. Handholding it is fine for short periods of time, but it can be very difficult for the operator to endure longer shoots that way. The monopod will allow for stable footage that still has a documentary, handheld quality that we want.

TOTAL | $2,277.05

VIDEO PRODUCTION | SOUND EQUIPMENT

1. Deity V-Mic D3 Pro | $199 | https://amzn.to/3uiJCyx

   Why? We need reliable on-camera audio to enhance storytelling capabilities. This camera can pick up vocals from crew who are close-ish to camera, it can grab vocals of anybody in front of the camera who might explain something to the audience, and it can capture high quality sound of things like chainsaws, heavy equipment, tree limbs hitting the ground, etc. This audio will help with the richness of the content we create and act as a tool to better tell the stories of the work American Arborist does.

VIDEO POST-PRODUCTION | MEDIA STORAGE

1. Option 1 | Mass Storage For All Footage | Promise Pegasus32 R4 16TB | $1499 | https://apple.co/3EXq9br

2. Option 2 | Mass Storage For All Footage | G-Technology 12TB G-RAID with Thunderbolt 3 | $999.94 | https://amzn.to/3ATiOXX

For both of these drives, you’ll need to purchase ONE spare drive to have on-hand in the event that one of the drives inside your Mass Storage device fails. You’ll want to be able to replace that drive immediately so as not to have extended periods of down time while you wait for a new drive to be shipped to you. These replacement drives, unfortunately, cannot be purchased at retailers like Best Buy, Office Depot, or Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Key benefits of Option 1

• Speed - best for playback of 4K footage and transfer of data

• Reliability - at a RAID5 configuration (recommended) this drive can withstand the failure of 1 hard drive (out of a total of 4) without losing data. Simply replace the drive and follow the instructions with the built-in utility software and you’re back up and running.

Key disadvantages of Option 1

• Expensive

• Must remain stationary (you can’t throw it in a backpack and take it somewhere)

Key Benefits of Option 2

• More cost effective

• Speed - not the best option for high speed playback of 4k footage but for what it is - when configured to RAID0 - it offers the fastest speeds for drives in this class

• Somewhat Portable - this drive can be placed carefully in a backpack and transported as long as the drive has had ample time to spin down

Key Disadvantages of Option 2

• Considerably Slower than Option 1 for 4K playback and data transfers

• Reliability - if one of the two drives in the enclosure fails, all of the data is lost

BACKING UP YOUR DATA

Your main drive for storing all of your footage and projects MUST BE BACKED UP DAILY. A hard drive of equal or nearly equal size is required in order to backup your main storage device.

1. Option 1 | Backup Of Mass Storage | Seagate Expansion 16TB* External Hard Drive | $359.99 | https://amzn.to/3EWyH2t

2. Option 2 | Backup Of Mass Storage | Western Digital 16TB* My Book Duo RAID External Hard Drive | $484.99 | https://amzn.to/39JyBgb

*if Option 2 above for Mass Storage is selected, these drives can be purchased in 12TB configurations

You’ll need to purchase a license to an essential piece of software called Chronosync. This software allows you to schedule daily backups of your main hard drive to your backup hard drive.

1. Chronosync | $49.99 | https://www.econtechnologies.com

In addition to an immediate backup drive, you’ll want to create an account with Backblaze to set up a Cloud Backup of all your data. Plans start at $7/month.

• https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup.html

A Cloud Backup is highly recommended to protect your data from fire, theft, or damage.