A phone films well, but sound, light and grip are often the weak points. A phone rig gives handles and mounts, a wireless microphone gives clear speech even at a distance, and a small LED light lights up the face. Phone rigs and filter adapters are often made for a specific phone, so check the model, while microphones connect through the port of the phone or a 3.5 mm jack.
Read more about mobile & Vlogging
A vlogging kit does not have to be big. The phone you already own goes a long way, and most people who start vlogging buy too much at once. Start at the right end and you will soon see what is missing.
What a vlogging kit should include
The order below is the order we would buy in ourselves. What comes first makes the biggest difference to how the video comes across.
| Part | What it solves | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | Clear speech, outdoors and at a distance too | A wireless microphone set |
| Light | Your face is visible and indoor noise drops | A small LED light with a battery |
| Tripod or selfie stick | A still picture and a way to film yourself | A selfie stick that folds out into a tripod |
| Rig and handles | A steady grip and mounts for microphone and light | A cage with one or two handles |
| Filter | Smoother motion in bright light and a different look | An ND filter |
A ready-made vlogging kit with rig, microphone and light in one box is easiest if you start from scratch. If you already own some of it, buying the rest piece by piece pays off.
Sound first
Viewers forgive a slightly soft picture. Sound that is hard to hear makes them click away. The phone's own microphone is too far away when you film at arm's length, and it picks up everything around you.
A wireless microphone set has a small transmitter you clip to your clothes and a receiver in the phone or camera. Sets with two transmitters let two people talk in the same clip. The charging case tops up the transmitters between takes, so they last a full day of filming.
Outdoors you need a furry windscreen over the microphone. Even a light breeze rumbles in the audio without one. Listen to a test recording on headphones before you film for real.
Light that shows on your face
A window is the best and cheapest light there is. Face it, do not sit with your back to it. With the window behind you, you become a dark silhouette, however good the phone is.
In the evening and in dark rooms a small LED light helps. Pick one with adjustable colour temperature, so it can match the room's lamps or daylight. A high CRI, ideally 95 or more, gives skin tones that look natural. RGB lights can add coloured light in the background as well.
Place the light slightly to the side and a little above eye level. Straight from the front, the face looks flat.
Tripod, selfie stick and holders
A selfie stick that also folds out into a tripod covers most needs at the start. You hold it while walking and set it down when you talk. Many have a remote that starts recording.
For filming at home or live streaming, a taller phone stand is more comfortable. It should reach eye level when you stand, or you end up filming from below. A phone holder with a standard tripod thread lets the phone sit on the tripod you already have.
Phone rigs with handles, cooling and filter adapters have their own category and guide under rigs.
Phone, pocket camera and a bit more
The phone has the advantage of always being with you, and clips can be edited and posted right away. Small pocket cameras with a built-in gimbal give a steadier picture when you walk. Many vloggers use both, the phone for short clips and the camera for longer recordings. Microphones and lights usually work with both, and mounts for pocket cameras such as the DJI Osmo Pocket are among the action camera accessories.
You will also find phone filters from NiSi and SmallRig here, several of them made for iPhone. An ND filter lets the phone film with a slower shutter speed in sunshine, so movement gets a softer blur. There is more on these under phone filters.
For birdwatchers there are Kowa adapters that put the phone behind the eyepiece of binoculars or a spotting scope, which our digiscoping guide covers. Kodak photo paper for their photo printers is here too.
Common mistakes
Filming in the wrong orientation is more common than you would think. Decide before you start whether the clip should be landscape or portrait, because changing it later loses a large part of the picture.
Turn on do not disturb before you film. A call in the middle of a take can stop the recording. Check that there is space on the phone as well, since high resolution video takes a lot of room.
The last one is distance. Stand far from the phone and the room is heard more than you are, even with a good microphone if it sits on the phone. Put the microphone on yourself, or move closer.
Frequently asked questions about mobile & Vlogging
What should a vlogging kit include?
Start with a microphone, since sound makes the biggest difference. Then add a small LED light and a tripod or selfie stick. A rig with handles and filters can come once you know how you film.
What vlogging gear do I need to get started?
The phone you have is enough as a camera. What matters most at first is a wireless microphone and something to stand the phone on. Light from a window works well before you buy a lamp.
Do I need a microphone to vlog with my phone?
Yes, if you want your voice to come through clearly. The built-in microphone picks up a lot of the surroundings when you film at arm's length. A wireless microphone on your clothes gives clear speech even outdoors.
Selfie stick or tripod for vlogging?
A selfie stick that folds out into a tripod handles both and is a good first buy. For filming at home or live streaming, a taller stand that reaches eye level is more comfortable.
Which light suits vlogging?
A small battery LED light with adjustable colour temperature is enough for most people. Choose a high CRI for natural skin tones. Place the light slightly to the side and just above eye level.