Broke-Ass Buying Guide: Gear You Need on a Broke-Ass Budget

A breakdown of the must-have equipment + creative alternatives to expensive tools.

So, you’re ready to start gathering equipment for your project: how exciting! This is largely the most resourceful part of pre-production in that you will begin taking inventory of what you already have versus what you still need to get. As such, here is a quick guide of the most essential equipment you will need to begin your filmmaking journey.

Since the best buying guide is one that prioritizes the broke-ass buyer, here’s few tips before jumping into which equipment would make the best investment.

Rent rather than buy.

By now, it should be clear that the concurrent theme of the Broke-Ass Blog is utilizing your network and resources. As such, for your first production it would do you the most good not to buy a camera but to find one. Do you have a friend who regularly live streams and has a backup camera they aren’t using? Boom, camera found! Or, look into renting camera equipment. You can rent a high quality filmmaking camera for a fraction of the cost of buying brand new. Savings win!

Bargain stores are perfectly fine.

In this digital age, every bargain store will have equipment for the low. Even if it’s just cables, power banks, etc. bargain stores like Five Below or Dollar General will likely have something to help you. Try to refrain from scorning these products as “less than” simply because their origins don’t come from a shop on some filming masterclass site. Those little sub-$5 plastic ring lights will get you right!

There is always a cheaper way — for better or worse.

The equipment adds up and, unfortunately, so do those prices. Try not to lose hope when you see an excellent recording mic that you feel you have to have but freeze when you see the sticker. Make sure you examine all your options. There are sites like Backmarket selling refurbished equipment in great condition. Check thrift stores and pawn shops. Sites like eBay. Borrow from friends and family. Whatever it is, there is always a cheaper alternative. Now, while that does come with some risks (we’ve all heard our elders bemoan how tech isn’t made the way it used to be made and sadly that’s true) you owe it to yourself to say “My broke-ass did it the broke-ass way and pulled it off!” and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Minolta MN4KPRO ~$200

Remember those HD handhelds from back in the day? Turns out they actually make good film cameras - at a bargain! Which is great considering cameras can cost a pretty penny. Bargain buying should lead when making a decision about which camera you will ultimately purchase (or, borrow from your friend?) When it comes to bargain, the Minolta comes at just under $200 and has a great reputation as a trusty vlogging camera. Even if you go higher end for your camera purchase, the Minolta is affordable enough to justify getting it simply to capture your behind-the-scenes (BTS) footage. Can’t go wrong with that. 

Ring lights $20

Remember the magical lighting of classic Hollywood? The fuzzy glowy texture bouncing off the curls of Joan Crawford or Bette Davis practically oozing from the screen? Well, you can thank the giant lights of that heyday for those effects. Nowadays, the average filmmaker uses high-tech not-nearly-as-magical LED panels to achieve lighting goals. And then there’s the broke-ass filmmaker who would be best served by learning to use a ring light. Dollar and bargain stores keep bins of them. Most of them have multiple lighting settings for you to experiment with. Your favorite influencer has one that clips onto phones to give them perfect vlog lighting every time. You definitely want one in your cache.

Tripod $20

When shopping for a tripod, you don’t need to go all out with a high-end, professional rig—especially if you're just starting out. A basic, budget-friendly tripod can make a *huge* difference in your photography and videos without draining your wallet. Look for one that’s lightweight, easy to set up, and stable enough to hold your camera or phone securely. Even the most affordable tripods help eliminate shaky shots, improve composition, and make self-portraits or group photos effortless. Whether you’re capturing long exposures, filming videos, or just want sharper images, a simple, bargain tripod is one of the smartest purchases you can make. Mine weighs less than an orange and has lasted me for years through many on-location shoots, albeit a little beat up.

Wireless Microphone $20

If you're dipping your toes into content creation, podcasting, or just want clearer audio for your videos, a budget-friendly noise-canceling wireless lavalier mic is a game-changer. You don’t need to spend a fortune to get decent sound—plenty of affordable options can cut out background noise, keep your hands free, and make your voice sound crisp and professional. Look for one with easy plug-and-play functionality, solid battery life, and a reliable wireless connection. Whether you're filming outdoors, recording interviews, or just upgrading from your phone’s built-in mic, a bargain lav mic can instantly level up your audio without breaking the bank.

External storage drive

Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki

Think your camera or phone has enough storage? Think again. Nothing kills the momentum of a great shoot faster than that dreaded “Storage Full” notification. That’s where a solid memory card and an external hard drive come in—not just as backups, but as creative lifesavers. A high-capacity memory card lets you keep shooting without constantly stopping to delete files, while an external hard drive ensures your hard work is safe from accidental deletes, crashes, or lost devices. Plus, organizing your content externally keeps your workflow smooth and your devices running fast. Trust me, future-you will *thank you* when you’re not scrambling to free up space mid-project.

Extra power

Running out of battery on a film shoot is like showing up to a party with an empty cup — you're just standing there, missing out (on great footage), so needless to say having a backup power source is a no-brainer. Power banks are everywhere right now with mostly everyone owning a cell phone and using it to exhaustion. They’re small, cheap, and take up almost no space in your bag, yet they can be the difference between capturing the perfect shot and packing up early. Whether you’re out for a casual shoot or deep into a creative project, swapping in fresh power keeps you in the moment — because nothing’s worse than having film left but no power to shoot with.