Next-step kit If yo u get serious abo ut video , you’ll need this TOO…

■ Fluid head for tripod for improved movement damping

■ Lightweight, collapsible shoulder rig for hand-holding

■ Medium-angle shotgun microphone with wind shield

■ Portable sound recorder (there’s an argument for including this item in basic kit)

■ Mounting rig for sound recorder and shotgun microphone (attached to camera’s hotshoe)

■ Separate monitor. This is something of a luxury, but if you plan to shoot video fairly frequently, the larger screen is a considerable advantage over a camera’s LCD. The better screens have a peaking display to show where the sharp focus is.

■ A second camera. Two-camera shots make it possible to cut from one view to another during the same continuous sequence, and this is very valuable, particularly in a talking-head shot or an interview, where the basic set-up is quite static and can become boring. This may seem like a big investment, but now that most D-SLRs boast video capability, how about using the camera you just upgraded from? Or a friend’s camera?