The Tools I Use

Written By daniel henry

(Updated Regularly) Sept 25

If you’ve ever watched one of my videos, seen a behind-the-scenes shot, or wondered “what gear is Dan using to make all this?”—this post is for you.

Here’s a breakdown of the exact filmmaking, photography, and tech gear I use to create my content across YouTube, client work, and personal projects. I keep this page regularly updated as my setup evolves, so check back from time to time if you're gear-curious or just nosey (no judgment).

🎬 Video Camera Setup

Primary Camera:

  • Sony FX3 – I shoot in S-Log3 with S-Gamut3.Cine, typically at base ISO 640/800 (or 12800, depending on firmware). It gives me flexibility in grading and cinematic depth without sacrificing low-light performance.

Lenses I Use Most:

Anamorphic Lenses:

Audio Setup:

Support Gear:

📸 Photography Gear

Camera:

Flash I love:

💡 Lighting Gear

Lighting makes or breaks the shot—and here’s what I rely on to shape mood, tone, and texture in both video and photo shoots.

Sirui C300X II – This is my go-to key light for almost everything. It’s powerful enough to flood a room, but versatile enough to work as a soft top light or interview key, depending on the modifier. If I could only bring one light, this would be it. Reliable, punchy, and color-accurate.

Amaran F22C – A flexible flat panel I use for ambient fills, edge lighting, or situations where space is tight. It’s super slim, lightweight, and tucks into corners where traditional fixtures just can’t go. Underrated workhorse.

Aputure Softbox – This is the softbox I mount to the Amaran 200d (yep, the one you see in most of my YouTube videos). The diffusion is clean and flattering, especially on skin tones, making it ideal for talking-head setups or personal shoots.

Aputure Light Dome Creates a beautiful wrap of soft light across faces—perfect for interviews, portraits, or anything that needs a cinematic touch. It folds down easily and sets up fast, which saves time on busy shoots.

5-in-1 Reflector – Just a trusty old-school 5-in-1. It’s not glamorous, but it’s wildly useful—whether I’m bouncing fill light, flagging off spill, or softening harsh edges. Mine’s beaten up, but it’s been on nearly every shoot I’ve done.

Sirui C300X II 300w portable LED light.

Sirui C300X II

🧰 3D Printing & Custom Gear

Printer:

Filament:

Software:

  • Blender (for modeling) FREE TOO!

  • Bambu Studio

  • Nomad Sculpt (iPad)

  • Shapr3d (for iPad)

I use 3D printing to create Cosplay masks, custom camera rig parts, backdrops, accessories, and even light modifiers. If you’ve seen anything strange-looking on one of my camera builds... yeah, I probably printed it.

🧠 Editing & Post-Production

Editing Software:

  • Adobe Premiere Pro

  • DaVinci Resolve (for grading)

  • Lightroom Classic (for photo edits)

  • Photoshop (when needed)

Sound & Music:

  • Artlist for music

  • Adobe Audition for sound cleanup and mixing

Color Grading:

🖥️ Workstation & Misc. Tech


Main Editing Rig:

  • Custom-built PC with:

    • AMD Ryzen 9

    • 64GB RAM

    • NVIDIA RTX 4070

    • 2TB NVMe SSD (plus too many backup drives)

Display:

  • BenQ PD3220U 4K Monitor (color accurate and gorgeous)

  • Calibrated with Spyder X Pro

Other tools I use often:

✌️ Why I Share This

I know gear isn’t everything—but for those of us who live and breathe this stuff, it’s helpful (and fun) to see how other creators work. Whether you're another filmmaker, photographer, or just curious about the tools behind the visuals—I hope this gives you some insight.

If you're picking up any of the gear I mentioned, using my affiliate links helps support the channel and keeps me caffeinated. Appreciate you!

🛠️ Page last updated: [Sept 25]

daniel henry
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From iPhone to Otter Lite: Leveling Up Your 3D Scanning Workflow for 3d printing