The Photography and Video Show is something I try to attend whenever I can but this year, it was essential. I’d been planning to upgrade my two main cameras, and it wasn’t a small decision. Not only was I stepping up to 4K, but I was also switching systems from Canon to Sony. The show gave me the chance to get hands-on with the latest gear in one place and speak directly with the experts, which made a huge difference in feeling confident about the move.

So why the change? The obvious reason is the jump to higher-quality 4K footage. But more than that, my current kit was starting to show its age. It’s still perfectly capable, but technology moves fast and Sony’s autofocus is on another level. That alone was a major factor in making the switch.

Of course, it’s not just about the cameras. An upgrade like this means rethinking everything: extra batteries, filters, lenses (since my Canon lenses won’t carry over), memory cards, cages, microphones, high-capacity batteries, and mounting solutions. And to make it more demanding, I need to double up on most of it—I’m replacing two cameras, not just one.

I ultimately chose the Sony FX30 from the Cinema Line range. It’s the smaller sibling to the Sony FX3, which, for context, was used on the $80 million film The Creator. After spending time with the Sony team at the show, I felt confident this was the right direction.

From there, I built out the rest of the kit. I won’t go into too much detail here I'll cover these in future posts but here’s what I’ve gone with:

• PolarPro filters: Neutral Density, Polariser, Gold Mist, and Black Mist
• ProGrade 480GB Type A memory cards
• K&F Concept V-Mount batteries
• SmallRig HawkLock cage
• SmallRig HawkLock side handle
• SmallRig HawkLock top handle

More to come soon on how all of this performs in real world use.

While I was there, I was also on the hunt for a new tripod. I already own a couple, but I wanted something far more compact and lightweight for travel. That turned out to be a tougher decision than expected. Tripods are a bit of a balancing act lightweight often means less stability, and compact usually comes at the cost of height. I was trying to avoid both compromises, which isn’t easy.

Just as I was about to give up, I came across a brand I hadn’t encountered before: 3 Legged Thing. The team on the stand were fantastic, taking the time to walk me through the different options and head combinations. After trying a few setups, I landed on the rather uniquely named “Brian” tripod, paired with the AirHed Cine fluid head.

Although the fluid head does add a bit of weight, the carbon fibre build of the tripod keeps things impressively light without sacrificing stability. It also features a collapsible centre column, giving me the extra height I was looking for. In the end, it ticked all the boxes compact, lightweight, stable, and practical. Exactly what I needed.