JRLC 5990 Required Equipment

All students taking JRLC 5990 are required to provide their own video camera. There are two options.

Option 1. A video camcorder that records HD video and has microphone and headphone inputs. There are lots of options, starting around $200 (some refurbished models are as cheap as $130). Look for one that records video in .MP4 or .MOV format on SDHC/SDXC cards.

Option 2. If you’re also taking Intro. to Photojournalism (JOUR 3330), you could get a DSLR camera that has a microphone input and use it for both classes. The Canon Rebel T5i is a good option. WARNING: The regular Canon T5 and T6 do not have a mic input. Only the models with the “i” in the name (T3i, T4i, T5i, T6i) have the mic input, which you must have!!!

You MUST also have these accessories:

External microphone – for recording interviews, a lavaliere is best. Can be wired or wireless. Here’s one that works with DSLR or smartphone.
Tripod – a lightweight, fluid-head will work fine. There are some really cheap options, but they are not very durable.
Headphones/earbuds – headphones are better because they block out more noise. You’ll need these when recording audio and editing.

DSLR WARNING: Only a small number of high-end DLSRs have a headphone input (several Nikon models and a few Canons). If you don’t have a headphone input on your DSLR, you can use some adapters to send audio from the camera’s A/V output to your headphones.

SDHC memory cards – Make sure you buy class 10 cards with a read speed of at least 45 MB/s and capacity of 16GB or 32GB.
Laptop – with Adobe Creative Cloud software, which includes Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing. The University System of Georgia offers a great discount on Adobe CC for students, much cheaper than if you buy directly from Adobe:
- Minimum laptop requirements for Premiere Pro:
  - RAM – 8GB minimum, 16GB is recommended
  - CPU – multicore processor with 64-bit support (quad core recommended)
  - OS – Mac OS v10.11, v10.12, or v10.13. Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 (all 64 bit)
  - Display resolution – 1280 x 800 minimum

What about buying used equipment? Yes, that’s an option as long at it meets our minimum requirements. Several reliable businesses sell used and refurbished gear. It’s always a bit risky, so check to see if they offer warranties. Here are a few that have good reputations:
KEH Camera
B&H Photo Video
Adorama

Need-based request for technology assistance
If you have a serious financial need, you can request assistance from the Journalism Department. Talk to your instructor about the process to apply for assistance.

Grady College Equipment
Students in JOUR 3280 will also have access to LED light kits and wireless mics that can be checked out from the Field Equipment Supply Room (FESR) on the 1st floor of the Journalism Building (room 119). If you want to check out Grady equipment, you MUST read this: Field Equipment Supply Room (FESR) policies. You must also sign a Statement of Responsibility. Download the form, type the information, print the form, sign the form and return to your instructor.

In addition to the FESR equipment policies, here are a few other rules to follow when using Grady College equipment:

ALWAYS