Photographer wanting to get into video — looking for beginner-friendly advice
Hey everyone,
I’m primarily a photographer, but I’d really like to get more into filmmaking/video work.
My current setup is:
- Sony A7R V
- Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
- Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM
- Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM
So I already have a pretty solid Sony photo setup, and I’d like to use what I have instead of immediately buying a completely different camera system.
The thing is: I’m not really interested in spending endless hours color grading. With photo editing, I usually have my presets, apply them, make some small corrections, and that’s it. I’d love to have a similar workflow for video: good-looking footage straight out of camera, maybe some light corrections, but nothing overly complicated.
I’m also a fan of things being as automated and simple as possible. I don’t want to turn video into a 100-hour color grading and technical rabbit hole before I can actually make something decent.
So I’d really appreciate some advice from people who actually know what they’re doing:
What beginner tips would you give someone coming from photography into video?
A few specific questions:
- Which picture profile would you recommend on the A7R V if I want nice results without heavy grading?
- Should I avoid S-Log for now and use something like S-Cinetone or another profile instead?
- Do I absolutely need an ND filter right away?
- If yes, what kind of ND filter would you recommend for my lenses?
- Is a variable ND filter good enough, or should I buy fixed NDs?
- What are the must-have accessories for handheld video?
- Is a gimbal necessary, or can I get good results with IBIS / Active Stabilization?
- Would you recommend a cage, top handle, monitor, microphone, etc. at the beginning, or is that overkill?
- What settings should I use for a simple, reliable video workflow?
- What frame rates and shutter speeds should I stick to as a beginner?
- How important is manual white balance in video compared to photography?
Software-wise, I already have the full Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. So I have access to Premiere Pro, After Effects, Lightroom, etc.
But I’m also open to other software if it makes life easier. I don’t need the most powerful Hollywood-level tool. I’d rather have something simple, clean, and easy to learn that helps me create nice videos without getting overwhelmed.
So:
- Is Premiere Pro worth learning for a beginner if I already pay for Adobe?
- Or would something like DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut, CapCut, etc. be easier?
- Are there good tools for automatic color correction, AI editing, auto cutting, captions, audio cleanup, etc.?
- Are there presets/LUTs/workflows you’d recommend for someone who wants a fast editing process?
Basically, I want to make good-looking videos without making my life unnecessarily complicated.
Any practical advice, beginner mistakes to avoid, must-have accessories, camera settings, software recommendations, or workflow tips would be highly appreciated.
Thanks!
