Filmmaking / Directing : Filmmaking by Trina Jackson

In a nutshell, let's break it down: mobile phones (iPhone or Androids), DSLRs (Canon, Nikon, Fuji), Blackmagic, Arri or REDs. Mobile phones are great because you have a camera in your pocket, DSLRs have larger sensors and you can use different lenses, and then it's gets into expensive with the last three I've listed. Just focusing on cameras here and I've left out tripods, gimbals, steadicams, lights, etc.

I'm such a little person I use canon it easy to handle and not to easy. I have 80d with the auto focus that helps a lot.

Definitely mobile phones are great to use - quite a few film festivals have categories for shorts filmed on mobile. and a few are dedicated exclusively to mobile filming. Some photography cameras have nice filming options, depending on the make - I used two different ones on a pilot episode; a Sony and a Nikon. I really liked the Sony for its colour and clarity.

I have an Andriod phone and a Sony HD 9.2 video camera

Film is 50% sound. So whatever kit you use, remember the importance of recording sound. Video cameras which have XLR inputs for audio can enhance low budget productions.

I have recently used a Sony FS7 + Samyang lenses for a short and really loved the results. Will use the same set for my next one.

Full frame digital. I'm happy with my Blackmagic 6K; I've got a couple of Cannon and Zeiss lenses but mostly I wind up using Rokinons for interior shots.

How about smartphones??? Has anybody tried that, was it helpful???

Felix - they work for Tic-Toc and other amateur filmmaking but not for 'real' filmmaking (for lots of reasons).

What are the reasons??? Can you please enlighten me a little???

Lack of DOF control and variable follow focus for a start.