There are literally thousands of smartphone mobile video accessories and bits of kit out there.
We have obsessively researched, trawled, tried and tested so many options we just had to make this guide to stop our own minds from boggling.
To save you loads of time, effort and money, here is a handy list so you can quickly kit yourself out with a mobile video set-up that meets your specific needs and budget.
And… if you still need help, we’ll give you a free advice call to get you set up in minutes.
*FYI we only make pennies off of these links, so they are really only for saving you time and money.
Grips / RIGs :
Something to hold your phone in so it can be held with more stability, be mounted onto tripods, and so that other accessories can be attached. This is the base of your overall setup, so choose wisely.
They range from £1 to £100's of pounds, but here are my top picks for whatever budget you are on...
FLEXIBLE Tripods:
Flexible Tripods are compact and versatile. You can safely attach them to loads of things such as chairs and branches, making them ideal for lightweight setup. They come in all shapes and sizes, but here are my best picks for whatever scenario you are working in...
Microphones:
Mics are essential for raising the quality of your audio, and in effect, your videos as a whole.
The two most useful types of mobile mics are:
Lavalier (Lav) Mics - Clip on mics, great for vocals in noisy environments or for clear, direct sound.
Condenser mics - a higher quality replacement for your in-built mics. Great for general everyday recording.
Here are the best options for each and also some other accessories you might need…
Best Budget Mobile Lav Mic: Boya BY-M1 - £15.95
You can buy way more expensive Lav Mics but for the price this is a total bargain. It also stands out because the lead is extra long which you will find is incredibly helpful and gives you way more options for your shots. It also comes with a nice little carry case - bonus!
Best Mobile Condenser Mic: Rode VideoMicro - £35
Rode are a world-leading brand and this mic, for the price, is outstanding. It comes with a wind shield and mini mount.
You will also need a Rode SC7 (trs to ttrs) lead to use this mic with your phone.
We WILL help you nail It
Book a FREE call now to get setup in under 30mins.
Gimbals:
A gimbal or electronic stabiliser might be your most expensive accessory (if you buy one) but it will also be something that dramatically improves the quality and variety of your videos more than anything else. With it, you can produce some incredible shots, that up until a few years ago, would have only been achievable by Hollywood directors. So all of a sudden, a couple of hundred quid doesn't seem too bad.
Again there are lots to choose from but really, there are two brands leading the pack by quite some way; Dji and Zhiyun.
Lenses:
With lenses you can add even more options and dynamics to your videos. From Macro (very small detail) to Wide-Angle (more stuff in view) to Fish-Eye (GoPro style). There are options here that range from pennies to hundreds of pounds, but one thing I will say is that it is really not worth using cheap lenses, as they will degrade your footage rather than improve it.
After literally days of watching and reading every single hands-on lens test under the sun, one brand always comes out on top...
Moment Lenses are the best built, best quality smartphone lenses. They start from around £80 per lens but are worth every penny (we bought the whole set!).
Lights:
Lights are essential in getting crisp clear images, especially in low-light scenarios.
Again they range massively from your built-in flash, up to full studio set ups worth 10’s of £1000’s.
To get started with your smartphones and to be totally portable, we recommend lights that are small, have built in batteries, and can be charged via USB.
Here are some of our favourite starter lights...
FULL SIZE TRIPODS
A full size tripod is a really helpful bit of kit, but you can start without one. If you are shooting indoors and not attaching many accessories, then a cheap one is fine.
If you will be traveling with it or shooting outdoors then you will need to consider a more robust, heavier option to deal with wind and being carted about.
Here are our favourites for both scenarios…
You Are all unique
We’ve worked with enough people, business’ and organisations to know that you are all unique
and require specific advice.
So, we are offering you a FREE setup advice call so you can get the perfect kit for your needs.
Book your call now and let’s nail it in under 30 mins…