Inexperienced filmmakers need to avoid purchasing expensive filmmaking equipment. They can save money with whatever equipment so long as the story comes out audience friendly. In such instances the story beats the equipment. Therefore, relying on experience to save money has huge benefits with right, affordable and workable equipment.
It is really so with the current open and inciting digital filmmaking for new filmmakers. Albeit many, desire to make films with the latest equipment; even when ignorant of truth about such tools. So, experience does impact final film assets that can either recover or waste investments. Much so, most developing industries buy expensive imported equipment. This can be avoided with creativity and experience through readily available gear. After all no audience considers tool, but the finished story.
Perhaps borrowing from the skills demanding cine camera or celluloid filmmaking, the director should consider that expensive tools demand the right expertise to manage project quality. Therefore, depending on technical and creative skill practices, basic apparatus work better. This is obvious as new videographers and filmmakers use smartphones to tell award winning stories. The winning movie would not reveal whether it was local or foreign currency purchased DSLR, cinema-camera or smartphone production.
To focus on the deception that best projects are made from any of newest RED cameras may impede true artistic expression. Truly so as the frequency of newest equipment market entries, more often than not distract filmmakers. And it is not uncommon to get involved in unnecessary debate, not minding the risks; instead of having a tactical appraisal of the workflow.
This means buying what fits into the filmmaker’s experience or skills instead of scrambling for the latest Apple, HP, Adobe or Avid resources. Better to know how expensive are titanic-sized lenses, anti-shake smoothing stabilizers and gimbals, wide dynamic range and high-frame rates. What reasonable on-budget alternative choices could work?
Apart from stabilizing gimbals among other accessories a tripod can be a substitute. More so, it is never far from truth that today TV broadcast organizations broadcast documentaries shot on smartphones. After all smartphone clips or sounds can be improved with inexpensive software? These among others could enhance chances, because of cost limitations.