Our Go to Base Kit
Alright, let's be honest – we're gearheads here at Syrp Lab and over time, our stash has grown considerably. However, after spending a couple of years in the world of educational videos, we've nailed down a set of favourites that are our go-to pieces of kit.
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Cameras
Sony a7S III
There’s a reason thousands of creators swear by the A7SIII – it’s packed full of features like stabilization and SONY's colour science gets better every year. Whenever we need a lightweight package for reels or vertical content, this is our go-to. We only wished it did RAW video too...
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Canon R5
8K RAW video and clean 45MP images in such a small package make this an unbelievable little rig. While its colour isn't quite as nice as the C200, we find ourselves packing it for vlog and run-and-gun style shooting where a bigger body would be limiting.
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Canon EOS C200
The C200 is our main workhorse for interviews and YouTube episodes. With a bunch of XLR inputs, inbuilt NDs, and fantastic colour, it’s a steal. We'll be upgrading it at some point for something with a bit more dynamic range but until then, it’s still going strong.
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GoPro 360 Max
This is a beast when it comes to 360 video for VFX and we’ve even use it to fake drone shots on a large boom. The resolution is a little limited but with unreal stabilization, we love it as part of the mix.
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Lenses
Currently, we keep our lens package pretty simple for anything that isn't a high-production launch video (where we prefer a set of Cine Primes). Between these 3 Zoom lenses, we’ve got a solid focal range covered with decent F-Stops.
Lighting & Backgrounds
Litepanels Gemini 1x1 Soft
The Gemini’s have to be our favourite light & there’s a reason they’ve won so many awards. They’ve got great colour rendition, RGBWW makes colours crisp & they’re built like a tank too. You’ll need a few but we like to bank them in a 2x2 grid (with accessories) for a giant soft key.
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Litepanes Sola 6+
Sometimes hard direct light is the go & we love to use a Sola6+ to create crisp log shadows or as a sneaky rim light from meters away. Not every shot needs them, but they really round out our Gemini package.
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PRO Scrim
For modifying light, we always reach for the Pro Scrims. We have several of the 1x1, 1x2 and an enormous 3x3 that we use with the white, black and 1.25-stop diffusion fabrics. We never leave the studio without these as they’re often what makes or breaks an on-location shot.
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Snapbag Softbox
These SnapBag softboxes are so fast to mount on the Geminis giving really nice diffused light. We love that the fabric is removable and they’re definitely worth the investment.
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Savage Paper
For even colour backgrounds, look no further than Savage Paper Rolls. They’re affordable, last us ages and you’ll always find 5-6 of them kicking around in the studio. As well as Black, White and Grey, we really like the Coral, Marmalade and Gulf Blue for a pop of colour.
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Manfrotto Chromakey Collapsible Background
This is gonna feel expensive for a green screen but it’s Worth. Every. Cent. The 6x9 is huge so it can be placed far away, pops out easily with almost no wrinkles and has an even, matte finish.
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Manfrotto Panoramic Chromakey Background
When we got our hands on this and saw the size, we were convinced we’d never need a chroma key this large... boy were we wrong. It’s easy enough to set up with one person, has a nice taught fabric and makes a massive variety of shots possible. Plus it comes with nice carrying bag.
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Supports
504X Fluid Video Head
We love this video head with its smooth, variable fluid settings and optional counterbalance. The QR locking is also pretty intuitive and doesn’t result in you trying to jam your fingers under a camera just to unlock it.
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645 Fast Twin Carbon Tripod
The 645 has fast become our go-to tripod for everything from smaller A7sIII rigs all the way up to C200s and beyond – we're still no way near the payload of this beast. It’s quick to set up and adjust, with one solid clicking lock per leg & has options for Dollys in the studio or spiked legs in the sand.
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Sound
Audix A131
From voiceover to crispy studio folley, the A131 is a heavy lifter in our sound booth. It sounds fantastic on almost every voice – just make sure you pick up a pop-filter and shock mount to get the most out of it.
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Rycote HC-22 Shotgun Mic
For shooting on location where we need to minimize ambient noise, we love the Rycote HC-22. It sounds fuller than a Lav but does take a bit more work to wrangle into place.
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Syrp Lab DIY Sound Panels
We really struggled with reverb in our studio until we built these sound absorption panels. Since then, we've been using them every time we record audio. They really work like magic, and you can make them yourself.
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