Camera Bodies
Sony FX3 is the primary video camera. Full-frame, 4K 120fps, 10-bit 4:2:2, S-Log3. It is small enough to shoot handheld without attracting attention in hotel lobbies and restaurants. The rolling shutter performance is acceptable for everything except fast pans, which we avoid anyway because they look amateur on social.
Sony A7R V is the stills backup and B-roll camera. 61 megapixels means we can crop aggressively for social formats without losing quality. We also use it for timelapses because the battery life is better than the FX3.
Lenses
Three lenses cover everything. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM for interiors, establishing shots and anything where we need to show scale. This lens lives on the camera 60% of the time. Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM for walking content, food and lifestyle. The autofocus tracking on this lens is fast enough to shoot while walking through a market. Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM for details, portraits and compression shots. The bokeh isolates subjects from busy hotel backgrounds.
We stopped carrying a 70-200mm two years ago. It is too heavy, too slow to swap and the use cases (pool shots from far away, architectural compression) can be solved with the 85mm plus a crop in post. Dropping that lens saved 1.4kg and freed space for the drone.
Stabilization and Support
DJI RS3 Pro gimbal. We use it for every walk-through, reveal shot and following sequence. The gimbal adds production value that handheld cannot match, especially on vertical video where shake is more noticeable. A small Manfrotto travel tripod handles timelapses and locked-off interview setups. Total weight for stabilization: 2.8kg.
Drone
DJI Mavic 3 Pro. Triple camera system means we switch between wide, medium and telephoto without landing. This cuts aerial shooting time by 40% compared to the old single-camera drones. We carry 4 batteries which gives us roughly 80 minutes of total flight time. That is enough for 2-3 locations per day.
We also pack a DJI Mini 4 Pro as a backup and for countries with strict drone weight regulations. Under 250g means it is classified as a toy in most jurisdictions and does not require permits. The footage is not as good but it is better than no aerial at all.
Audio and Lighting
DJI Mic 2 wireless system for any content with speech. Two transmitters, one receiver. Small enough to hide on talent. Audio quality is broadcast-standard for social content. We do not carry boom mics or shotgun mics. If a project needs that level of audio, it is a different type of production.
One Aputure MC Pro LED panel. Tiny, magnetic, 2000-10000K color temperature range. We use it for food close-ups, bathroom detail shots and any interior where natural light is not enough. It clips to a phone mount and weighs 200g. We stopped carrying larger lights because natural light produces better results for the type of content we make. An LED panel that fills shadows is all we need.
Accessories and Storage
8 Sony Tough SD cards (256GB each). 4 NP-FZ100 batteries for Sony bodies. ND filter set (3, 6, 10 stops). Cleaning kit. USB-C cables and chargers. All accessories fit in a Peak Design Tech Pouch. Total storage capacity: 2TB which covers 10 full shooting days before we need to offload. Backup happens every night to a Samsung T7 portable SSD.