How much should I spend on my first camera?

For beginners, spending $400-600 on your camera body leaves budget for essential audio and lighting gear. The Canon EOS M50 Mark II, Sony ZV-1, and Panasonic Lumix G7 all deliver excellent 4K video quality in this range. Your camera is important, but it's only one-third of the quality equation alongside audio and lighting.

Do I really need a separate microphone if my camera has built-in audio?

Yes, absolutely. Built-in camera microphones pick up everything - camera handling noise, autofocus motors, and distant audio. A dedicated microphone like the Rode VideoMic GO for on-camera work or Blue Yeti USB for voiceovers will dramatically improve your audio quality. Viewers will forgive mediocre video but will click away from bad audio in seconds.

What's more important: better camera or better lighting?

Better lighting will improve your videos more than a camera upgrade. A $500 camera with a quality lighting setup like the Neewer LED light panel kit or Godox SL-60W will produce better-looking footage than a $2,000 camera with poor lighting. Lighting shapes the image, creates mood, and determines how professional your content looks.

Can I edit 4K video on a regular computer?

4K editing is processor-intensive, but modern computers can handle it with proxy workflows. Adobe Premiere Pro includes automatic proxy generation, letting you edit with lower-resolution files and export in full 4K. If your computer struggles, shoot in 1080p initially - it still looks great and is much easier to edit.

How many memory cards do I need for video production?

Start with at least two high-speed cards like the SanDisk Extreme Pro. Shoot on one while keeping the other as backup for emergencies. Never format a card until you've backed up footage to at least two locations. Memory cards fail rarely, but when they do, you'll lose everything on them. Having a backup card on every shoot is essential insurance.