As always, it depends on what you're going to shoot.
I shot a feature-length doc this fall by myself one-man-band style, and I used this as my basic setup:
DVX100A
DVRigPro (I *love* this thing for long verite-style shooting)
5 DVXUser.com batteries
UV filter to protect glass
0.7x Wide Angle Lens (rented as needed)
AT 101 (?) wireless lav mic
Countryman wired lav
Headphones (I should have gotten better ones)
Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun
Mic Holder with rubber bands and hotshoe attachment
3 XLR cables (1.5', 3', 15')
Wind screen (although I basically never used this)
Lowel id-light (I did a lot of shooting in a dark, dark club, and this light is dimmable)
Bescor 12V battery
Tripod
Cases (tripod, camera, DVRig Pro)
For sitdown interviews, I used a tripod, the wired lav on one audio channel, and the shotgun mounted on the camera as backup on the other audio channel. Some folks will use a wireless for interviews, but I didn't trust it.
For verite shooting, I used the DVRigPro, the wireless lav on my principal subject, and the shotgun mounted on the camera for everyone else. This was obviously less than ideal at times, because I had to point the camera at someone to get better sound from him or her, but it worked pretty well for me. I tested cheaper mics than the MKH416, though, and I think it would not have worked with them. I have been consistently amazed while editing at what the 416 was able to capture.
Count me as a person who doesn't think that an anamorphic lens is necessary; I've heard annoying things about auto focus with it, and it would have gotten in the way too much for me. I certainly would have liked to shoot 16:9, but the negatives outweighed the positives. If I were you, I'd spend the money for the anamorphic on better sound equipment. People will forgive a TV aspect ratio much more easily than they will forgive sound they don't understand.
Except for the on-camera light for club scenes, I didn't use lighting; I just couldn't lug around any more equipment as one person. Some of my interviews suffer a little because of it, but honestly I don't think it ended up being a major problem. A larger problem with my sitdown interviews was noisy locations.
I would tell you that the best thing to do is to test. Rent some equipment you think you might like and try shooting a situation that will be similar to your subject. Watch and listen to the footage. Decide from there.
I shot a feature-length doc this fall by myself one-man-band style, and I used this as my basic setup:
DVX100A
DVRigPro (I *love* this thing for long verite-style shooting)
5 DVXUser.com batteries
UV filter to protect glass
0.7x Wide Angle Lens (rented as needed)
AT 101 (?) wireless lav mic
Countryman wired lav
Headphones (I should have gotten better ones)
Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun
Mic Holder with rubber bands and hotshoe attachment
3 XLR cables (1.5', 3', 15')
Wind screen (although I basically never used this)
Lowel id-light (I did a lot of shooting in a dark, dark club, and this light is dimmable)
Bescor 12V battery
Tripod
Cases (tripod, camera, DVRig Pro)
For sitdown interviews, I used a tripod, the wired lav on one audio channel, and the shotgun mounted on the camera as backup on the other audio channel. Some folks will use a wireless for interviews, but I didn't trust it.
For verite shooting, I used the DVRigPro, the wireless lav on my principal subject, and the shotgun mounted on the camera for everyone else. This was obviously less than ideal at times, because I had to point the camera at someone to get better sound from him or her, but it worked pretty well for me. I tested cheaper mics than the MKH416, though, and I think it would not have worked with them. I have been consistently amazed while editing at what the 416 was able to capture.
Count me as a person who doesn't think that an anamorphic lens is necessary; I've heard annoying things about auto focus with it, and it would have gotten in the way too much for me. I certainly would have liked to shoot 16:9, but the negatives outweighed the positives. If I were you, I'd spend the money for the anamorphic on better sound equipment. People will forgive a TV aspect ratio much more easily than they will forgive sound they don't understand.
Except for the on-camera light for club scenes, I didn't use lighting; I just couldn't lug around any more equipment as one person. Some of my interviews suffer a little because of it, but honestly I don't think it ended up being a major problem. A larger problem with my sitdown interviews was noisy locations.
I would tell you that the best thing to do is to test. Rent some equipment you think you might like and try shooting a situation that will be similar to your subject. Watch and listen to the footage. Decide from there.
