hen you are just starting out with your podcast you probably don't have all the necessary gear to make it professional. So you're starting to look for upgrades, but what do you need? Which camera is good for filming the podcast, what is a good microphone for it and how do you know which lights you need? I'll help you out with a few recommendations for each budget. Let's start with a small to mid budget.
Low/Mid-Budget Podcast Gear
The easiest way to start a podcast is with your phone. Almost everyone has one these days, and the camera quality is growing every year. But there are some flaws to it, so if you decide to buy a dedicated camera for your podcast, this is what I would recommend:
Logitech C920 HD Pro - around 70 to 90 €/$
Elgato Facecam - around 120-160 €/$
Sony ZV-1 - around 500-600 €/$ (if you have the budget, this is the camera I'd go for)
But which microphone do you need?
Microphones are a little cheaper, which is great. For around 50-100 €/$ you've got yourself a good microphone. Here is what I would buy for each price point:
Fifine K669B - around 30-40 €/$
RØDE NT-USB Mini - around 100 €/$
Lighting
For those of you who want to take it one step further, you can also get some studio light to make your podcast more professional. It's not a must have, but it certainly helps to get your podcast to the next level. Here are some options:
Viltrox L116T LED Panel - around 50 €/$
Neewer 700W Softbox Kit - around 90-105 €/$
If your budget isn't that big, save on the studio lights and keep that money for your camera and audio. You can improvise with the lights.
High end / Professional Podcast
For those of you who want to make a very professional podcast with a bigger budget, this is what I would recommend. Starting of with the cameras:
Sony a7SIII (3500 €/$) - A great camera for podcasting, which you can expect at this price point.
Sony FX3 (4700 €/$) - This is an even better camera, but for almost every podcast this will be too good. This camera can be used for podcasting, but also for vlogging and it is even used to film movies with.
Microphones
For me there is only one microphone that you need to buy if you have a big budget. And it is the following:
Shure SM7B (350 €/$) - This microphone is all you need. It is an XLR microphone that means you need to buy an extra receiver. Something like a Scarlett 2i2 to put the cables in that you connect with your laptop.
