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In line with our previous article on gift ideas for your loved ones who are photographers, we return this time with a piece for those who have loved ones in the cinematography space. Compared to the photography space, Videography/Cinematography entails a bit more cost, but in line with our gift ideas being budget-friendly (under a hundred thousand naira), here are the top five gifts to get them.
- Reflectors: Reflectors are some of the most underrated items in a filmmakers bag. For filmmakers who are still working with a tight budget, a reflector could be all that stands in the way of getting shots filled with shadows and poorly lit faces. Again reflectors come in different sizes with the smallest ones costing a little under Ten Thousand naira, but they go a long way which is why one as a gift item would definitely put a smile on your loved ones’ face.
- ND Filters: Neutral Density filters are super important to filmmakers because of something called the frame rate/shutter speed rule (Ask your filmmaker friends to educate you… It could be a nice bonding experience and a way to show you’re interested in the work they do). An ND filter acts as sunglasses for their lenses, ensuring they let in the right amount of light at any given time and get their exposure right every time. To gain a plus, you can get them a variable ND filter that changes its darkness level.Yes; You’re welcome.
- N970 Batteries: These are the most common batteries used in the video space. The Sony N970 battery is a 6600 mAh battery that powers various video accessories, from lights to certain cameras to field monitors, etc. The batteries cost under Ten Thousand naira (charger excluded), so you can buy multiple batteries for them.
- External Lights: Lights are primary in photography. That being that, you can get your cinematographer friends artificial external lights as gifts. There’s a wide range of lights that you can purchase (from battery-powered lights to the ones that need electricity). A continuous light source with a Bowen mount will earn you extra points as they can attach a wide range of light modifiers to them. The most common is the Godox SL60W, and it costs just under Eighty Thousand naira.
- Field Monitors: This is the crown of gifts on this list. A field monitor offers so much; it lets you preview your footage on a larger screen and preview LUTs over your footage, so you know how to adjust your exposure and other shooting parameters for maximum effectiveness. There’s a host of field monitors out there, but I’ll recommend the Neewer F100 7 inch or the Viltrox DC70 EX 7 inch, both of which cost under a Hundred thousand naira.
