A Low-Budget Cinematic Camera Rig For Under $1,200

We love a Canon camera for its color profile. And the SL2 delivers the Canon standard!

Released in 2017 (yes, still perfectly acceptable in 2022), the SL2 is Canon’s smallest DSLR camera. Its max resolution is 1920 x 1080 Full HD, and gives you the option of shooting at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second.

Beyond that, it also has Canon’s dual pixel autofocus system, which is worth the price of the camera body alone.

The Canon SL2 is available new for around $750, or used for even less. A great price for an awesome camera!

If you want to be able to shoot at a higher resolution, that’ll hike the price up a bit, but take a look at the Canon 90D if you’re interested in 4K footage.

Next up, your microphone.

This little BOYA by-MM1 shotgun microphone is one of the cheapest options on the market.

Still, it delivers standard audio output and is perfectly versatile.

Use it on your DSLR or your smartphone! It comes with a cord for both.

However, if you’re able to snag a deal on the camera, consider also budgeting for a lavalier microphone.

Leave the ambient noise to the shotgun and record the important stuff with one of these affordable options:

This lens is a classic kit lens that performs pretty well. For only around $125, it’s also a steal.

The aperture range will give you the cinematic blur you want and the 50 mm distance is ideal for handheld videography.

For the run-and-gun videographer, an ND filter is an essential piece of gear.

You might be thinking, “why is this plastic filter almost the same price as the lens?”

Here’s why.

ND filters work like sunglasses for your lens.

When you’re working in harsh daylight, it can be hard to control your exposure because of the light.

In other words, too much natural light limits how much you can adjust your aperture. Say goodbye to that bokeh look behind your interview.

An ND filter allows you to bypass this problem. So, it’s worth the money.

So, you’ve got a tiny lens but an 82 mm wide ND filter. How do you get them to fit?

It’s called a step up ring, and you can find them for around $7-$15!

Check out this brand.

One downside of this specific DSLR camera is its lack of in-body stabilization.

But, you can get nice, stable shots without a fancy stabilizer.

Most budget-conscious filmmakers work with a camera cage before making the investment in a gimbal.

Cages have a few advantages, mainly, their low cost, durability, and ease of use.

Basically, they stabilize your camera by surrounding it in a box so it’s easy to balance when filming handheld.