Buying guides
Buying guides for cameras, audio and lighting
Plain answers to the questions that come up before an order: which wireless microphone suits a phone, which card a camera needs, what fits a Sony cage, how many stops of ND to carry. Each guide links to the products it discusses, with live prices including GST.
- DJI Mic 3 vs RODE Wireless PRO vs Hollyland Lark Max 2 Three flagship two-person wireless mic kits compared on range, 32-bit float recording, battery, charging cases and phone connection, with clear picks for interviews, weddings and run-and-gun shooting.
- Choosing a wireless microphone for iPhone and Android How to pick a phone-first wireless mic kit, from the DJI Mic Mini 2 and RODE Wireless Micro to Hollyland Lark M2, M2S and A1, and how to…
- Choosing a Podcast Microphone in Australia: USB, XLR or Hybrid How to choose a podcast microphone for a home room: dynamic or condenser, USB, XLR or hybrid, and what changes when one, two or four people record together.
- Shure SM7B vs SM7dB vs RODE PodMic: What Else You Need Shure SM7B, SM7dB and RODE PodMic compared on sensitivity, gain needs and phantom power, plus the interfaces, inline preamps, boom arms and pop filters that complete the setup.
- Do I Need an Audio Interface? How to Choose One What an audio interface does, when a USB microphone is enough, and how to compare inputs, gain, phantom power, loopback and bus power across Focusrite, MOTU, SSL and…
- Camera Cage for Sony A7 IV, FX3 and More: Fit Guide Which cage fits which Sony body, from the a7 IV, a7S III and a7R V to the FX3, FX30, FX3A, a6700, a7C II and ZV-E10, with a fit…
- Do I Need a Camera Cage? What a Cage Actually Does What a camera cage is for, when it is overkill, how it compares with an L-bracket, and the mounting standards you will meet: 1/4-20, 3/8-16, ARRI pins, NATO,…
- Which SD Card for Sony a7 IV, FX30, a6700 and ZV-E10 Sony publishes a minimum card for every recording mode. Here is what the a7 IV, FX30, a6700 and ZV-E10 need, from V30 SD to CFexpress Type A, and…
- CFexpress Type A vs Type B vs SD Cards Explained Card sizes, PCIe lanes, VPG and V ratings, which cameras use which format, the readers you need, and how to decide whether CFexpress is worth the extra cost.
- ND Filter for Video: Stops, Variable vs Fixed, Thread Sizes The 180-degree shutter rule, how many stops daylight needs, variable ND and the cross pattern, IRND, thread sizes for popular lenses and when to use step-up rings.
- Magnetic ND Filter Systems vs Screw-In Filters How NiSi JetMag Pro, Freewell, PolarPro Helix, Tiffen MCS and Hoya Instant Action work, how they compare with screw-in Hoya and Tiffen filters, and who suits which.
- Pelican Case Sizes: Interior Dimensions and Nanuk Equivalents Interior dimensions for popular Pelican cases, which sizes fit Australian carry-on limits, how Air differs from Protector, how to choose foam or dividers, and Nanuk equivalents compared.
- V Mount Battery Guide: Watt-Hours, Plates and Flying How V-mount batteries work: watt-hours and runtime maths, the 100 Wh airline limit in Australia, D-Tap and USB-C PD outputs, plates for Sony rigs, and mini V-mount vs…
- What microphone do YouTubers use? A guide by video type The microphones creators use for desk videos, vlogging, interviews, voice-over, gaming streams and music, with the trade-offs between shotgun, lavalier, wireless, dynamic, condenser and USB mics.
- Wireless microphone frequencies in Australia: 2.4 GHz vs UHF What ACMA's class licence allows, why 694 to 820 MHz is off limits, how 2.4 GHz creator systems differ from UHF stage systems, and how to plan channels…
- How to Set Up a Podcast at Home for One, Two or Four People Three reference podcast setups for one, two and four people, with the microphones, consoles, headphones and room treatment each needs, plus how to handle remote guests.
- Lighting for YouTube Videos: Key, Fill and Back Light Where to place key, fill and back lights, what to buy for a small bedroom or a larger room, how COB, panel and tube lights differ, and which…
- Aputure vs amaran vs Godox vs Nanlite: LED Lights Compared How Aputure, its amaran sub-brand, Godox and Nanlite compare on apps, mounts, output and control, with example lights at each level and advice on which ecosystem to build…
- Softbox Size Guide: Shapes, Grids and Mounts Explained How softbox size and distance control softness, when to choose an octabox, strip box, lantern or parabolic, what grids and diffusion do, and how Bowens and proprietary mounts…
- Portable Audio Recorder Guide: 32-Bit Float, XLR and Timecode When a portable audio recorder beats camera audio, what 32-bit float really fixes, and how the Zoom, Tascam, Deity and Sound Devices recorders compare on inputs and timecode.
- Atomos Ninja vs Shinobi: Ninja TX, TX GO or Shinobi II The Shinobi II is a monitor, the Ninja TX and TX GO are monitor-recorders. Compare codecs, ProRes RAW, SDI, brightness, power and media, and find out whether you…
- DJI Osmo Pocket 3 vs 4: Which to Buy and What to Add Osmo Pocket 3 and Pocket 4 compared on DJI's published specifications, what the standard and Creator Combos include, and the ND, mic, power and card accessories worth adding.
- Fluid Head Tripod or Ball Head: How to Choose How fluid heads and ball heads differ, what drag and counterbalance do, how bowl sizes work, how to calculate tripod payload, and when a travel tripod or monopod…
- Micro HDMI Cable for Camera Rigs, Plus SDI and Clamps Which HDMI plug your camera uses, what cable bandwidth ratings and SDI grades mean, when to choose right-angle, ultra-thin or coiled cables, and how a cable clamp protects…
- USB vs XLR microphone: which should you buy? How USB and XLR microphones differ in signal path, sound quality ceiling and upgrade path, where hybrid mics fit, and which suits Zoom calls, streaming, podcasts with guests…