The most common mistake people make when purchasing audio/video equipment like cameras, is that they only see the big ticket items and they forget about all of the accessories required to supplement a kit. On this page we put together a few practical kits at different price levels. Obviously one could mix-and-match accessories, but the general idea is to get people thinking about the different elements that make up a camera kit and to consider the costs of accessories that go along with each big-ticket item.

1. Sony HVR-V1u Professional Camcorder ~ $3,000

2. Azden SGM-2x Shotgun Microphone (because stock microphones are of terrible quality) ~ $219

3. Sony NP-F970 Rechargeable Batteries for Sony V1u (2 pack) ~ $270

4. Sony AC-VQ1050D Dual Battery Charger ~ $90 

5. Sony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor Headphones ~ $95

6. Sennheiser EW100ENGG2 Wireless Lav Microphone Kit (2 transmitters) ~ $600 

7. Sennheiser MD46 Cardioid Dynamic Handheld Mic ~ $200 

8. Pearstone Pro Camera Case ~ $179

9. Velbon DV-7000 Tripod ~ $110

10. VidPro TC35 Tripod case ~ $20  

Total: approximately $5,000 

Who is this professional kit for?

The professional grade kit is good for photojournalists making the switch to video and looking for very high quality output. Also, the professional grade applies to mobile "backpack" journalists looking to create more in-depth documentary style projects or for journalists who are not afraid to learn the technical aspects of broadcast quality HD video capture.

What is the general use?

Tape media requires a bit of time logging footage. This package is not the best solution for breaking news and is recommended more for feature stories. However, it is possible to do a video story in a single day with several hours of work in post production.

What are the options?

Options are limited if you are looking for a quicker solution. Everything is in HD now and requires considerable amount of time logging. The Panasonic AG-HPX170 is the closest you can come to a quick solution for breaking news. It uses a P2 memory card. A 16 gigabyte card costs about $800, so it's not cheap.

What is left out of this kit?

All post-production supplies, such as a powerful laptop or desktop system capable of video editing. Also, HD requires LOTS of storage. Several portable back up drives, or a hard drive array (RAID) of several drives which offers both speed and protection from hard drive failure.