That’s a very good question and one I’m happy to answer. When I started out back in 2007 I had just enough to buy my Canon XH-A1 and a few essential accessories like batteries, a mic and a basic tripod. At that time I was also providing freelance graphic design services and used pretty much every penny of my profits to invest in more video gear, eventually managing to get enough to start offering a few video services to clients. I ditched the design work in 2009 The rest of the kit on this page has been added over the last few years and most of it was purchased with specific projects in mind that would pay for the kit. I generally chose new gear that would allow me to take on new types of projects or offer something new to my existing clients that would result in more work, and so paying for the kit.

Don’t fall in to the trap where you think you have to an impressive looking camera system and be ready for anything that comes in, just get what you need to service your existing clients and their projects as you get booked, that way your kit list will develop naturally and you will end up with the right gear for you rather than the same gear that everybody else has!

I’m trying to think of a way to ask this that doesn’t seem rude… basically there’s a lot of expensive kit here which for a hobby or someone trying to build up an interest/experience, would be unaffordable for most. I assume you’ve been able to make the work pay for most of this kit. Do you have any advice on how to achieve a level of income that is at least self sustaining particularly when starting out in film making? In other words how do you get off the ground?

Many thanks and love your work.
Innes

good review, very informative. Had the luxury of shooting some tests on one recently, great but will need serious adaption/rig purchasing for handheld like the 5d. Not sure comparing to the EX1 is a fair comparison!

Good work

So grateful to you!

I have the same Mac Pro, and the same ATI card, but the fan on it is dying. I blew the dust off it with a can of compressed air, which helped, but not enough.

Problem is, all the new video cards take up two slots, whereas my current one is just a single slot. I’m also running an NVidia card, so I can run 4 monitors in my recording studio.

Basically I need a new video card that only takes up one slot, and provides connections for two screens. Or a double slot video card, that can provide for four screens. Time for some research!