Top Tech for Your First Outdoor YouTube Channel
If you are an outdoor addict, chances are you want to share that obsession with everyone you meet. Luckily, YouTube makes it easy to share your adventures with others and create a following that craves more. The hard part is knowing how to get started.
Once you know the types of activities you plan on capturing, you will have a much better idea about what tech gear you’ll need to get started. Here’s a list of must-have tech items for anyone looking to start an outdoorsy YouTube channel of their own:
GoPro
A GoPro might seem like a necessity for just about every outdoor themed YouTube channel out there, and that’s because it pretty much is. A lot of outdoor recreation involves using both of your hands, leaving you no hands to film with. Enter GoPro, the most effective hands free, high-quality video recorder ever. Not to mention you can get your hands on one for relatively cheap these days.
Smartphone
Speaking of smartphones, they are yet another seemingly vital tech item when it comes to creating an outdoor YouTube channel. With the increasingly impressive features of cameras on smartphones these days, it’s no surprise that footage, images and audio quality from high end technology like the iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy S8 can compete with other professional grade film gear. The perk of this tech item is that nearly everyone has one in their pocket, they are virtually waterproof and drop-proof anymore, and you can post videos or update your social media channels with live streaming footage!
DSLR Camera
If you decide to skip the GoPro and smartphone items and go for gold, then you should consider investing in a DSLR camera and mic. There are a few things to consider when shooting video with a digital camera, but today’s technology has equipped even the cheapest DSLR’s with some impressive video capabilities. There are way too many cameras to suggest here, so to help narrow down your options and understand the components of filming with a DSLR you can review Digital Photography School’s in-depth educational post. However, there are a few considerations to make in addition to picking out the best DSLR camera for you.
Lens and Filter
When filming outdoors, you’re going to be at the mercy of the environment from the changes in lighting to any uncontrollable external sounds. The first thing to consider is lens and filter selections. Depending on the type of scene or setting you want to establish in your video you can cater your lens to the footage you prefer. For example, a wide angle lens with a longer focal length, like a 28mm, will help create a feeling of space and depth in your shot, this is great for filming larger areas at a stand still. If you want a more cinematic look and plan to get close to the subject a shorter focal length, like a 50mm lens, will allow you to play around with that depth of field.
MIC
In order to avoid messy sound recordings when you’re in the field you’ll want to invest in a quality MIC that will pick up only the sound you want it to and nothing else. The three common types of MICs are called boom, lavalier or omnidirectional. There are wireless clip lavalier MIC’s that can be worn by the speaker but in outdoor situations these types of MIC’s can get in the way, lose reception with the camcorder, or simply fail due to external elements. To review the extensive MIC options that are out there and narrow down the best product for you, check out Shure’s in-depth look at MIC use with DSLR video.
Laptop
You will want a laptop or computer that you can upload, edit and publish your videos with. This seems obvious, but many people don’t know how or what they need to edit their footage in the first place. This is where software like iMovie or Wondershare Filmora can come in handy. Personally, I love my iMac and use iMovie!
These programs will help you add a soundtrack to your videos and use voiceovers or sound effects. The post-processing stage is often the most difficult step to master for new YouTube channel owners. There will be a learning curve, but the more you play around with your footage and the software features, the more comfortable you get at creating the look or feel you desire for your outdoor channel.
Finally, it is important to note that the best way to create a successful YouTube Channel is to learn about what others are doing and try to implement it in someway. No matter what, the footage will be your own, but learning from others who are more experienced than you will help your channel improve in leaps and bounds.
Hope that helps! Happy trails!