So back to content creation, wanting a better camera to film board games on, and other content, including not only video, but photography (hey, North Park is a great spot to take pictures).
EDIT: I’ve added an Amazon Camera Wish List and an iPhone Camera Improvement List to pull out the iPhone specific items.
NOTE: As of 10 AM on 3 July, there are a few categories yet to add, like action cameras (GoPro Mission 1 Pro for general action cam, and between DJI Osmo Pocket 4P, and Insta 360 Luna Ultra for vlogging style, heavily leaning to the DJI), micophones for said cameras videos as are planned with the Sony a6700 below (it’ll be a DJI mic), drone, and perhaps more importantly, SDXC Memory Card (ScanDisk Extreme Pro, probably 512 GB, but we’ll see, probably nearly any 200MB/s range though). Oh, and a tripod or few, though some of the kits include one. Also not included are extras, like straps, cleaning kits, covers, etc. I’ve got to also find a place for the Pgytech Camera Wrist Strap Air ($25) which would be essential.
And also note, these are all supposed to be semi-reasonable, there’s a reason the Hasselblad X2D 100C isn’t on here… beyond the fact that is far more camera than I’d ever have use of, it’s $8199 for the body only, and at that point, you better be buying hella good lenses. A semi-reasonable camera, like the Sony a6700 below, with good lenses, will do most of us mere mortals far more then a super high end camera with high end lenses will.
iPhone Upgrade
I have an iPhone 15 Pro, so it’s two generations behind, where when it comes to the photo end, generally that’s about the max difference. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max aren’t expected until Fall 2026, so almost best to wait until that one. The iPhone Ultra is likely to launch this fall as well, but it likely won’t have as nice a camera as the 18… the Ultra is their foldable phone. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to have much improved camera over the current 17 Pro and Pro Max, so little reason to upgrade until the 18 Pro comes out. So no upgrade there, at least until later in the year. The negative of the 15 Pro, compared to the 16 Pro and 17 Pro, is that its zoom isn’t as good as the later zooms. Later zooms were the same as in the 15 Pro Max, which has a periscope design.
The main upgrade for the phone is that I could get some external lenses and accessories for the iPhone I have, which isn’t covered here yet. That’s between Moment, Beastgrip and FreeWell, and not sure who else. I’m inclined to go with Moment or FreeWell for iPhone camera photos though, as their systems seem to be better for what I’d be looking at. Note though, that Beastgrip are the people who enabled Danny Boyle to film much 28 Years Later on an iPhone 15 Pro. EDIT: After watching iPhone Features You Should be Using, I’ve started leaning to FreeWell due in part to their SSD Hub that includes handle and all that. These Sandmarc lenses all work with the FreeWell case.
Camera
Camera of choice is the Sony a6700 ($1498 body only). Note, that says body only, and doesn’t include a lens, batter(y/ies), SD Card, or other gear one would need to really start. You can get semi-decent kits with all that added, like this one for $1598, where you might not use that lens much at all, but the rest of the kit for probably less than you’d get them all separately, an okay deal. Most decent camera shops though, likely have good packages, as this is a fairly popular camera for videos and beginner level photography, short of going fancy full frame and DSLR camera, which are all bulkier.
If I were going full frame, I’d probably stick with Sony and go with the Sony a7V ($2898 with a full kit, same price or body only), but that changes the lenses below, but then it’d basically be the full frame version of those. I guess a Lumix S9 ($1798) or Fuji equivalent, could do as well, but I’m leaning to sticking with Sony for this range. For another Sony full frame, there is the Sony a7CR, which is more like the a6700 in size, and a few less features than the a7V, but also more expensive for reasons I can’t quite get. It’s got more pixels, but older, and less overall features as I said. That all said, the advantage of the full frame choice, beyond better lens selections, is that those lenses then can also be used on what would probably be my preferred YouTube making camera, the Sony FX2 ($2698), which is sort of like their main enthusiast cinema camera line. There’s a newer FX3, but seems most people suggest the FX2. I mean, I guess if you are a full pro, you go FX6, but that’s like $7k, and unless you are making movies, shows, documentaries, or other stuff full time, is likely overkill for any level I’d be at.
The Sony a6700 is however, often noted as one of the best cameras for the price, and one of the best for content creation, with the videos and cameras. There are rumors of a Sony a6900, which would jump to above the 6700 on the wish list, for not much more money, though the SD cards here, would need to be replaced by Type A if the rumors are true.
Lenses
All lenses here are for Sony E-Mount APS-C, which is what the Sony a6700 above uses. None of these would be good for a full frame, or the Lumix or anything else. And most of these are zooms rather than primaries mostly due to trying to keep the costs in semi reasonable ranges, as a large variety of primes would drive the costs up. Also, all these should have a decent lens hood for their respective sizes. And probably should mention, some of these are full frame lenses, so their actual range and f stop might be a bit off from what is being called for here, and I off hand don’t know the math to figure out what is what.
The Dream lens of choice is the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8, which is has a variable focal length, and huge range of zoom. However, it comes in at $1599, and can get like nearly two of the other lenses below for that sort of price, but that’s why it is a dream lens. A distant second on that list is the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 ($1649) which is another good one for wildlife and sport photography, and let’s face it, wildlife would be the only real use. A third choice, Tamron 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 ($899). T
Primary lens of choice is the Sigma 17-40mm f1.8 ($919). That particular link, includes an ND Filter (needed), a couple other filters like UV, all for the exact same price as just the lens itself. This is probably the best lens for general purpose, do it all, at least for an APS-C camera/lens.
Then maybe one of the wide angle lenses below… but for now I’ll go in this order.
Next lens of choice for a variety of stuff, mostly around the city, is the Viltrox AF 27mm f1.2 ($578 with kit, though lens alone is same price). Does semi decent for portrait, and other general photography.
Prime lens (not primary choice, this is a prime lens, so not zoom) is Sigma 56mm f/1.4 ($480 with filter kit, more batteries, and another camera bag, or $454 lens alone). The advantage to the filter kit, beyond more filters, is that kit should include the filter(s) that fit that lens.
First Wide Angle lens Sigma 10-18mm f2.8 ($729 in a kit with another UV lens and memory card, and camera bag, or $679 lens alone). More useful for vlogging than what I’d probably use it for outside, but who knows… Possible alternative, is Sony E 11mm f1.8 ($598 lens only), but this is a prime lens, so a bit more limited than the Sigma. Maybe the Sigma 16-28 mm F2.8 DG DN ($920), or Viltrox AF 16mm F1.8 FE ($580)
Talking Head lens Sony E 15mm f1.4 ($848). Look, I’m not sure how often I’d actually use that, and odds are the Sigma wide angle above would do just as well.
Portrait lens of choice is the Viltrox AF 75mm f1.8 EVO ($329). I don’t see myself doing much portrait, but I’ll leave this here as that does general shots fairly well. For more to the portrait end is the Viltrox AF 90mm f2.2 ($369).
Tilt Shift, TTArtisan 50mm F1.4 Tilt Manual ($229). The big negative here is that it is manual focus, as one would expect for a Tilt Shift.
Macro, probably would be used less than the portrait lens, but maybe if I was at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and wanted an alternative to the Sigma 56/1.4 above, then the Sigma 271965 70mm f2.8 ($780 at Best Buy with a big kit, I couldn’t find a lens alone on Amazon, at least that isn’t used, and their kits were over a thousand).
Color Card
Calibrite ColorChecker Passport Video 2 ($104.25). Take a picture of this in the setting, then can use that to help grade the color of the rest of the photos from same location, and time frame. This is near essential, especially for video.
Apps
A few apps I’d like to get for the iPhone.
PhotoPills ($11). Available for Apple iOS and Android. This helps you plan when to get to a location to get the better photo. It gives you the sun and moon light that will be available. You put a pin on a map where you plan on taking a photo from, and where the subject is, then as you scrub the day/night time, it gives you the light available, and from where. It can also give you shadow details.
Another option on this type is LightPlan ($20/year or $60 lifetime, all Apple iOS only). Seems newer, not sure yet on it.
The Photographer’s Ephemeris 3D, apps are Apple iOS only, but the linked website has some web features that aren’t as complete as the full 3D version ($12 Apple iOS only). This program is only really helpful when in the mountains, or really hilly areas, which are some areas that are in easy drive. Allegheny Mountains by way of example, not to mention Appalachia isn’t far either.
Clear Outside is free. It gives you the cloud cover. It’s used more by the astronomy crowd, but photography crowd uses it too.
I have a the free version of Photo Light & Exposure Meter, which works as a regular light meter app, not sure the difference between the premium versions. Better for external photography as a light meter though might be Light Meter Ultra where you can setup profiles for each camera/lens setup, so it helps get you to your targets faster. Like the other, it is free, and I’m not sure what the premium versions give. Both of those apps are Apple iOS.
And in terms of recording videos with the iPhone, if one adds external storage, as storage is the biggest problem I’d have as I have a cheaper version of the Pro, Blackmagic Camera App is the go to. And it’s free. Available on Apple iOS, and Android. Said external storage has to be USB 3 type-C with support at a minimum of 10Gbps connection cable, and the drive has to be able to have a sustained write speed of 220MBps.
I have, and recommend ProCamera. Costs varies, and I’m not sure what level I got. I might only have unlocked the vividHDR level. Some examples of what it can do via their tutorials.
Photo and Video Editing
See the Mac Wish List for what I’d want here. Basically a MacBook Air or preferably MacBook Pro, and in a dream world, the one monitor on that list. I guess even with those, if I didn’t use the software there, then Adobe Lightroom becomes necessary, and that is $11.99 a month, or $19.99 if one includes Photoshop with it.
Monitors for Said Photo and Video Editing
I have ultra cheap monitors that barely work for what I use them for as it is. They wouldn’t be good for photo editing, at least when it comes to the color grading. Certainly the built in screen for the MacBooks above are far better. That said, assuming I have to stick with the current PC, here are some monitors. Most of these are likely better as a secondary monitor than the primary monitor that I use for gaming and video watching.
First, no matter what monitor is used, the Calibrite Display Pro HL Monitor Calibration Colorimeter ($199 non-affiliate link as it won’t let me link it with my affiliate link) would be needed to calibrate the color workspace.
ASUS ProArt Display 32” 4K HDR QD-OLED ($1699) OLED quality monitor. Seems to be a great monitor for photo/video editing. Set it to rec709 color space, then calibrate it with the inbuilt tools, then with the Calibritre tool.
Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED Monitor – U3226Q ($2450). At that price you are nearly in the cost of the nicer Apple display on the Mac Wish List page. Though, then again, you could get this, and a good MacBook Pro, or at least a good MacBook Air, and still be cheaper than the Apple display. Lol.
Dell UltraSharp U2723QE 27″ 4K ($659). Decent and a better price than the ASUS ProArt OLED above.
BenQ PD2725U ($599).
BenQ PhotoVue SW272U 27-inch 4K ($1300). Even less useful as a general monitor, would probably be okay as a secondary monitor, so long as a good 4k or 1440p monitor as the primary to do gaming and video watching. This one might watch videos okay, but overall, it’s more directly photo and slightly video editing.
ASUS ProArt Display 27” 4K ($429). The price makes me nervous. Like any serious monitor should be more than that.
Camera Bag
Lots of the kits above came with camera bags, and those might be okay. Besnfoto has one for $100 that is well reviewed. Pgytech OnGo Lite 16L ($110) is another solid choice, and probably better choice overall.
Lighting
More details yet to come.
For the camera flash, currently leaning to the Godox V860III-S Camera Flash for Sony ($199, another non-affiliate link as it says frequently returned, but has a 4.6 rating on 973 reviews), with that a Godox S2 Speedlite Bracket ($25) though I’m not 100% sure that mounts to the same flash, but this allows adding a soft box, and all that, which also basically requires a Flashpoint R2 Pro MarkII for Sony ($70.70), and tripod to hold the flash…
But how often will I be in a situation where a flash is wanted or needed? To that end, probably need a videography light and soft box, like a Godox LDP8D Daylight LED Video Light Panel for talking head (about $60), and FotodioX Pro Warrior 200(D or X, not sure which, $290-340), and those FotodioX would need a soft box and diffuser (egg crate grid).