Two-channel controller
AlphaTheta DDJ-FLX4
The default first controller, and the one we keep in the kit as a backup deck. Standard two-deck layout, works with rekordbox and Serato, and everything you learn on it transfers to pro gear.
Gear
The gear behind our guides.
Every controller, speaker, camera, mic and light we recommend on the blog, in one place. Each one links to the guide that explains the pick.
In our kit marks the 43 pieces Ceasare owns and runs on real gigs and shoots. Everything else is researched from manufacturer specs and working-DJ and shooter consensus, not hands-on testing.
DJ controllers and players
What we would start on, and what we would gig on.
Four-channel controller
AlphaTheta DDJ-GRV6
Four decks for blends and acapellas without a big jump in price. Supports rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro.
Four-channel Serato controller
Rane Four
Built around the Serato workflow with hands-on stems controls and a rugged build made for gigging.
Motorized two-channel controller
Rane One MKII
Motorized platters that feel like turntables, for Serato DJs who want the vinyl feel without vinyl.
Standalone four-deck system
Denon DJ Prime 4+
Laptop-free four-deck mixing with a big touchscreen. Fewer failure points on a gig, and it still runs Serato DJ Pro if you want it.
Standalone all-in-one
AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ
A club-style layout in one box. The pick if you also play club booths and want the same muscle memory everywhere.
Budget controller
Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX
Four decks on two channels with Serato DJ Lite included. The budget route for Serato learners.
Battery-powered standalone
Numark Mixstream Pro Go
Built-in battery, speakers and Wi-Fi streaming. A fun practice and small-party unit, not a replacement for a real PA.
PA speakers
Powered tops that survive weekend after weekend.
Powered 12-inch speaker
QSC K12.2
Our main tops. The proven pro-grade 12-inch for working DJs; clean at wedding volume and holds its value.
Powered 12-inch speaker
Electro-Voice ELX200-12P
A real step up from entry speakers without top-tier pricing.
Powered 12-inch speaker
JBL EON712
A reliable first pair on a budget for new DJs.
Portable column PA
Bose L1 Pro16 and L1 Pro32
Column PAs for ceremonies, cocktail hours and upscale rooms where speaker stands look out of place.
Powered 10-inch speaker
QSC K10
Our smaller tops for ceremonies and cocktail hours. The current model is the K10.2.
Digital mixer
QSC TouchMix-16
The mixer behind our full event sound: 16 inputs, saved scenes and wireless control from an iPad.
Wireless microphones
For toasts, MC work and ceremonies.
Analog UHF handheld
Shure BLX24/SM58
One reliable wireless mic for toasts. Where most new DJs should start.
Digital UHF handheld
Shure SLXD24/SM58
The pro digital system for working DJs and MCs.
Dual-band digital handheld
Shure GLXD24+/SM58
Dual-band digital for DJs who travel between venues and do not want to coordinate TV-band frequencies.
Digital UHF handheld
Sennheiser EW-D SKM-S Base Set
Sennheiser's digital handheld with app-based setup.
Wireless lav system
Sennheiser EW 100 G4 lav set
Our officiant and interview lav system. Rock-solid UHF with a real receiver, for the days a compact kit is not enough.
Wireless handheld
Sennheiser EW 100 G4 handheld
The handheld for toasts and MC work. We carry a four-pack for panels and Q&A.
Battery uplights
Wireless, battery-powered color for the room.
Weather-resistant pro uplight
Chauvet DJ Freedom Par H9 IP
RGBAW plus UV, IP54 rated, built-in wireless DMX. Our pick for outdoor weddings.
Indoor pro uplight
Chauvet DJ Freedom Par Q9
The indoor ballroom pick on a tighter budget than the H9 IP.
Alternative pro uplight
ADJ Element Hex IP
For DJs already on ADJ's WiFLY wireless system. Check the current ADJ version before buying.
Budget option
Budget battery uplight packs
Four or eight packs from several brands, often RGB only. Fine for learning, small parties and backup fixtures.
Cameras
From a first creator camera to the cinema bodies in our kit.
Full-frame cinema camera
Canon EOS C50
Our production camera: 7K open gate RAW, dual base ISO, 2 XLR inputs on the handle and timecode, in a body one person can run.
Full-frame hybrid cinema camera
Canon EOS R5 C
45MP photos and 8K RAW video in one body with a fan, so it never overheats on a long reception.
Full-frame hybrid mirrorless
Canon EOS R6 Mark III
For wedding shooters who split time between photo and video.
Full-frame compact cinema camera
Sony FX2
Cinema features plus a real viewfinder for Sony shooters.
Super 35 cinema camera
Sony FX30
A true video body on a budget for new event videographers.
Full-frame hybrid mirrorless
Panasonic Lumix S5IIX
Strong video codecs for budget full-frame shooters.
Budget creator camera
Canon EOS R50 V
The lowest-cost entry into Canon's RF system with real video tools.
All-round creator camera
Sony ZV-E10 II
A deep lens selection and strong battery life for beginners.
Style-first creator camera
Fujifilm X-M5
Great color straight out of camera in a very small body.
Hybrid with a viewfinder
Nikon Z50 II
For beginners who shoot photos and video and want an eye-level viewfinder.
Lenses
The two zooms that cover most event and interview work.
Standard zoom
Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM
The one lens that covers most event and interview shots.
Telephoto zoom
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z
Ceremonies, speeches and stage coverage from a distance.
Standard zoom (EF)
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
The 24-70 we actually shoot, adapted to RF through the drop-in ND. The RF version above adds stabilization.
Telephoto zoom (EF)
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Our ceremony and stage lens. Still superb adapted, and far cheaper used than the RF Z.
Wide zoom (EF)
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
Our wide zoom for rooms, establishing shots and tight stages.
Fast prime (EF)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
The inexpensive fast prime in the lens kit for low-light close-ups.
Cine prime set
Sirui Nightwalker 24, 35 and 55mm T1.2
Super 35 cine primes for the moodier, shallower interview look.
Audio for video
Wireless lavs, pocket recorders and the upgrade capsule.
Compact wireless kit
DJI Mic 3
Small, fast wireless with a recorded backup. Our pick for solo shooters.
Compact wireless kit
RODE Wireless PRO
Our interview wireless: 32-bit float safety recordings on the transmitters and timecode, so a clipped receiver never costs the take.
Wired pocket recorder
Tascam DR-10L Pro
For ceremonies and walk-and-talks where you cannot babysit a receiver.
Field recorder
Zoom F3
Pairs a boom or wired lav with a backup feed on seated interviews.
Professional lav capsule
Sanken COS-11D
The upgrade lav you plug into a wireless transmitter or recorder.
Lav capsule
RODE Lavalier II
A flat, discreet lav that upgrades the clip-on transmitter mics in a compact wireless kit.
XLR audio adapter
Tascam CA-XLR2d-C
Two XLR inputs on the hot shoe of an EOS R5 C, so you can take a board feed without a separate recorder.
Shotgun mic
Sennheiser MKE 600
The boom mic on every interview we shoot. Runs on a AA battery when the camera cannot supply phantom power.
Multitrack field recorder
Zoom H6
Our backup recorder: four XLR inputs plus the capsule, so a boom and two lavs each land on their own track.
Gimbals
Smooth movement for roaming event coverage.
Mid-size camera gimbal
DJI RS 5
For mirrorless and compact cinema cameras with standard zooms.
Compact camera gimbal
DJI RS 4 Mini
Lighter mirrorless bodies with small primes, and travel.
Heavy-duty camera gimbal
DJI RS 4 Pro
Heavy cinema rigs, follow-focus setups and wireless video builds. The successor to the RS 3 Pro we run.
Smartphone gimbal
DJI Osmo Mobile 8
A second angle, behind the scenes and vertical social clips on a phone.
Heavy-duty camera gimbal
DJI RS 3 Pro
The gimbal in our kit, built out with a monitor and wireless video. The RS 4 Pro is its successor.
Lights for video
Key, fill and accent lights for interviews.
Key light
amaran 200x S
Our key light is the original 200x; the 200x S is the current version. A soft, bright key through a 2 to 3 foot softbox.
Budget key or fill
Godox SL60IIBi
A first key light, or fill next to a bigger key.
Color and accent
Nanlite Forza 60C
Colored backgrounds, hair light and creative accents.
Mini RGB panel
Aputure MC Pro
Practical accents, shelf glows and small spaces.
Bi-color COB light
amaran 60x
Fill and hair light next to the 200x. Runs on an NP-F battery when there is no power.
Daylight COB light
amaran 60d
The daylight-only version of the 60x. Our background or rim light.
RGB tube light
amaran PT2c
Two-foot battery tubes we hide behind subjects and in backgrounds for color. We carry two.
RGB panel
Neewer RGB LED panel
A cheap color accent panel that earns its place in the case.
Light modifiers
Bowens-mount softbox and modifier kit
The set of five modifiers that shapes the 200x and 60x: softbox, grid, dome and reflectors.
Reflector
5-in-1 collapsible reflector
Bounce, negative fill and diffusion in one disc.
Memory cards and storage
Cards and drives we trust with a client's only copy.
CFexpress Type B
SanDisk PRO-CINEMA CFexpress Type B
For cinema and hybrid cameras recording high-bitrate video.
CFexpress Type B
Angelbird AV PRO CFexpress Type B SE
A value CFexpress card from a brand focused on video media.
Portable SSD
Samsung T9 Portable SSD
Fast on-site offloads and editing from an external drive.
CFexpress Type B
OWC Atlas CFexpress Type B 1TB
The 1TB card in each of our camera kits, with a reader in the case.
Rigs, support and monitoring
Cages, monitors, filters, tripods and the vest that carries a loaded gimbal.
Camera cage
Tilta camera cage
Mounting points for the monitor, wireless receiver and top handle on both our C50 and R5 C builds.
Field monitor
Desview 5-inch field monitor
The on-camera monitor in both camera kits: bigger than the flip screen, with focus peaking and false color.
Wireless monitor
Hollyland Mars M1 Enhanced
A 5.5-inch wireless monitor so a director or client can watch the frame without standing on the camera.
Drop-in ND adapter
Meike EF to RF drop-in variable ND adapter
How we run EF L glass on RF bodies and solve ND at the same time. One in each camera kit.
Variable ND
PolarPro variable ND filter
Screw-on VND for lenses that do not go through the drop-in adapter.
Video tripod
Sirui SQ75 video tripod
Our main interview tripod: a fluid head rated for a loaded cinema body.
Video tripod
Manfrotto 504 video tripod
The second tripod for two-camera interviews.
Video monopod
Sirui SVM165 video monopod
The monopod for roaming event coverage and quick repositions.
Support vest
Flowline body-mounted support vest
Overhead support that takes a loaded gimbal's weight off your arms for a full ceremony or concert.
Articulating arm
Manfrotto magic arm
Mounts monitors and small lights anywhere on a stand or cart.
Grip and power
Stands, sandbags, batteries and clean power. The unglamorous half of every kit.
V-mount battery
99Wh V-mount battery
Four of these power a full interview day: camera, monitor and lights off one plate. Under 100Wh, so they fly carry-on.
Camera battery
Canon LP-E6P
The internal battery for the C50 and R5 C. We run off V-mount for long sessions and keep LP-E6Ps as the hot-swap safety.
Round-base stand
iFootage A400 round base stand
A flat round base that stands in tight interview rooms without legs poking into the frame.
Light stand
SmallRig light stand
Five of these are the backbone of our grip kit.
Rolling stand
Impact rolling light stand
The wheeled stand under the key light, so it moves without a relight.
Sandbag
25 lb sandbags
Six in the kit. Every stand gets one, no exceptions.
Power conditioner
Furman 6-outlet power conditioner
Clean power and surge protection at every set position. We carry four.
Roaming photo booth
The tablet and camera in our own booth build.
Booth tablet
Apple iPad mini
Runs our roaming booth and shares every photo and video message by QR code. Light enough to hold at arm's length for an hour.
Booth camera
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 (EOS 250D)
The small, light APS-C camera in our own booth build, paired with the iPad mini.
Headphones
One pair for DJing and editing.
Closed-back headphones
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
A do-everything first pair for DJing and editing.
Want to see it at work?
Watch the gear on real shoots and gigs, or hire the crew that runs it.