Gear you didn’t know you needed - Part 2: 5 under $50

Time for another roundup of unsung heroes of video production. These indispensable items will help you save time and headaches whether you’re a team of one or a team of many. They also happen to be things that you may not know you need until you need them. So, here’s my list of 5 production essentials that you can add to your toolkit right now without breaking the bank.

NOTE: I don’t receive any compensation for recommending any of the following pieces of equipment but I do use each and every one of them. Some of the items listed below are the exact products I use and some of them are just general suggestions. Always do your own research, read the verified customer reviews, and ask your friends and colleagues for their recommendations.

Gaffers Tape - This is an all-time MVP for video productions of any size. Whether you need to mark off positions for your on-screen talent, secure loose cables to prevent tripping hazards or even temporarily fix a busted leg on your tripod, having a roll or two of quality gaffer’s tape in your equipment bag can be an absolute day-saver. Stock up and use liberally.

Note: for productions in locations with expensive, hard to maintain floors, make sure you check with the facilities team to get their policies for using tape before laying it down. You don’t want to get stuck with a budget-busting cleaning bill.

Multi-Tool - This little dynamo will pay for itself just for the flathead screwdriver alone since you’ll be putting cameras on tripod plates all the time. But if you ever need to perform repairs in the field or cut wires for permanent camera installation you’ll be glad to have a multi-tool at the ready. If you’re the outdoorsy type, grab a multi-tool with camping-friendly bits like a mini saw. Just make sure you clean it well so you don’t get wood sap on any of your camera equipment!

Production Slate - A must-have if you’re doing multi-camera or dual-system productions. The slate provides useful information like scene and take number that can really improve your efficiency in post. It also gives you a visible and audible sync point for lining up multiple camera angles or marrying your secondary audio to picture. Added bonus: the white of the slate can be used as a white source during color correction if your camera wasn’t properly white balanced during production.

Pro Tip: try positioning the slate in the frame before you roll camera. This will make all the relevant information part of the default thumbnail for your clips, making it super simple to find the takes you’re looking for when you organize your footage after the shoot.

Label Maker - If a piece of gear ever gets lost or left behind, make it easy for the finder to get it back to you! I label everything, from production equipment to external hard drives to notebooks/folders to storage drawers. Entropy is a real thing and it’s easy for your office, studio and storage bins to descend into chaos. A label maker can help you to get back to a neat and organized workspace so you can easily find what you need when you need it. 

Battery Organizer & Tester - It’s just a matter of time before your batteries die. Having spares on hand and a battery tester to confirm the charge level of a suspect battery can really get you out of a jam. The Zoom H4 portable recorder, for example, is a notorious AA battery muncher. With a fresh set of batteries always at the ready you’ll go from a full stop of production to a quick reset.

Pro Tip: make sure you fully break down any battery-powered equipment before storing it. Not only will this preserve battery life, it will also prevent corrosion at the contacts of your gear which can damage or destroy your go-to tools!

Obviously, this is not a comprehensive list of vital tools under $50 but I think I’ve covered some of the classics. What’s your favorite tool under $50 that I didn’t include?  If I choose your suggestion for a future post I’ll link out to your site and/or socials so make sure to include contact info in your message.

As always, please don’t feel any pressure to run out and buy all of these items right away. Build out your production toolkit at a pace that’s comfortable for you. That said, I can promise you that you’ll never regret having these workhorse items on hand… but you’ll kick yourself for not having them when you need them.