Back to Video
Honestly.
A few years back, I was persuaded into buying a whole package of dedicated video gear to satisfy the demands of a holiday-letting agency who were keen on having “cinematic” footage showcasing all of their various properties on the Northumberland coastline. I dutifully pulled the rabbit from the hat, and purchased a Nikon Z6ii mirrorless camera body, a 12mm Laowa manual lens, and DJI Ronin 4 professional gimbal to produce the goods. On top of that I subscribed to Adobe Premiere Pro software, and taught myself to edit and colour grade from scratch. I also ran around like an idiot, using all my spare time shooting B-roll at various locations at different times of day.
After shooting 3 properties, they decided that it was too expensive, and never requested video again. That agency subsequently was bought out by a faceless corporation, and I was ghosted (after being forced to rejoin the BIPP to ensure “accredited status” as if I was a plumber, and to increase my insurances which would allow me to cover the purchase cost of 20 houses).
That gear sat in my cabinet unused for over a year, and I eventually sold it for a loss and moved on. In the meantime I got myself a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera, and it has proved to be a workhorse for the production of basic social media videos for the few agents I work with. It has limitations in terms of how wide the viewpoint is, and the quality can suffer when faced with dark rooms and bright windows, but it’s done the job over the years.
One agent has recently asked for some upgraded video options however, and so I’m forced to bite the bullet once more, and get into better videography output. This will improve revenues in the longrun though, and keep my offerings relevant. With much research and budget consideration, i’ve put together the following kit using the used market to keep costs down:
Sony Alpha A7iii mirrorless camera body
Laowa 9mm Zero-D Lens
DJI Ronin RC3 Mini Gimbal
The camera body is quite old now, but can still hold its own when faced with challenging low light conditions. The ultra-small lens is hugely wide, but came in for well under £200, and is meant for a DX sensor. This means that the camera crops the frame down to about a 13mm field of view. The alternative was the Massive and heavy Laowa 12mm which is five times the price. Having a lightweight setup meant I could compromise on gimbals, and I got a brand new DJI Ronin RS3 Mini which can easily handle the camera and lens combo.
I now offer a three-tier service - photos only, photos and a basic social media video, then a full package of photos and a high-end video production with contexts and aerial footage. More revenue for the winter months ahead.
I’m going to trial the gear at a nice property on Monday, so will feedback my thoughts after that. I’ll have to get practicing in the house in the meantime.
