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Ten gear-buying mistakes

The common errors, from buying a camera first to ignoring the plug type, each with a simple fix.

  1. Buying a camera first. Fix: sound and light first.
  2. Ignoring the plug. Fix: check USB-C, Lightning or jack before paying.
  3. Buying many cheap things. Fix: buy one good thing at a time.
  4. No backup. Fix: copy files to a second place every week.
  5. Never testing before a shoot. Fix: test the whole kit the day before.
  6. Forgetting power. Fix: a power bank and a second cable.
  7. Believing reviews that sound like adverts. Fix: read the middle ratings.
  8. Not keeping the invoice. Fix: photograph it on the day.
  9. Skipping the return window. Fix: test on the day it arrives.
  10. Buying gear instead of making videos. Fix: set a number of videos to make before buying more.

Start with what to buy first.

A rule for each purchase

Before you buy, write down the problem the item fixes, for example "my voice is muffled" or "my picture shakes". If you cannot name a problem, wait. After it arrives, check that the problem is really smaller. If not, return it.

Keep going

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