What kit do I need?

Schools often ask for advice on what kit to use so we thought we'd share some simple advice here.

These are some of our favourites in terms of value for money...

Kodak Zi8

This camera is similar to the Flip HD cameras that seem to be popular with schools.  We recommend the Kodak over the Flip and all other cameras in this class because of one feature: the external mic input.  It’s nearly always the sound that prevents great ideas becoming great films, and this camera, used with an inexpensive mic, is the easy solution.

Joby Gorillapod

Shaky hand-held footage has its place. You also want the option of rock-steady tripod shots, for ‘establishers’ or staged interviews, for example. This is really good solution, which costs a fraction of the price of a full-size tripod.

Hama Lavalier mic

You need a microphone to make a documentary, trust us. This inexpensive clip mic is the best solution we have found so far. It works well for simple interviews and ‘pieces to camera’

Adobe Creative Suite 5

As media professionals, we pay almost £2,000 per user for Adobe Premiere and the other media production programmes that make up the Creative Suite.  We are envious of schools, who are able to buy the exact same software at a tiny fraction of the price - as low as £12.50 per computer!

There are inexpensive and free video editing solutions available, such as Apple's iMovie for the Mac and, if you are a patient person, Windows Movie Maker for the PC.  We believe that professional media software is not significantly more difficult for young people to learn, but is hundreds of times more powerful - and therefore doesn't limit students' creativity.

Adobe's myriad bundles and education pricing options can be confusing and you want to make sure you get the option that's right for your needs.

We can offer advice on how to get the best prices for all of the above. Click the button below to receive the completely free guide to video kit for schools:

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