Jeff Su makes some of the cleanest-looking productivity videos on YouTube: sharp image, soft light, and audio that sounds like a studio. The good news is that he publishes exactly what he uses. The better news is that his own advice is to not buy it all at once.
Jeff’s rule: buy audio first, camera last
Jeff says he started with just one Rode mic and a single light, then upgraded as the channel earned money. His priority order is audio, then lighting, then lens, then camera. The reasoning: viewers tolerate average video but leave quickly when sound is bad, good light makes any camera look better, and a sharp lens matters more than an expensive body. Keep that order in mind as you read the list below.
Audio
| Gear | How Jeff uses it | |
|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser MKH 416 | His main shotgun mic, bought once the channel was earning from ads | View on Amazon |
| Shure SM7B | Dynamic mic he suggests for rooms without sound treatment | View on Amazon |
| Cloudlifter CL-1 | Signal booster that sits between the SM7B and the interface | View on Amazon |
| Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 | Audio interface that connects the mic to his computer | View on Amazon |
| Rode VideoMic Pro+ | On-camera mic he recommends for most creators as the best value | View on Amazon |
Lighting
Lighting is where Jeff’s videos get their soft, even look. His key insight: the size of the diffuser (the dome or softbox) matters more than the light itself, so a cheaper light inside a big dome can work very well.
| Gear | How Jeff uses it | |
|---|---|---|
| Aputure LS 300x | His current bi-colour key light, set to 5600K | View on Amazon |
| Aputure LS C120d II | The beginner key light he started with | View on Amazon |
| Aputure Light Dome II | Large softbox that diffuses the key light | View on Amazon |
| Aputure AL-MC | Small RGB fill lights, controlled from his phone (he owns four) | View on Amazon |
| Elgato Key Light Air | His travel light, because it packs into luggage | View on Amazon |
Lenses
| Gear | How Jeff uses it | |
|---|---|---|
| Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN | The starter lens he rates most highly for value; used it for his first six months | View on Amazon |
| Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM | His upgrade lens, though he says the difference from the Sigma was small | View on Amazon |
Camera, tripods and storage
| Gear | How Jeff uses it | |
|---|---|---|
| Sony A7 III | His main camera body | View on Amazon |
| Atomos Ninja V | External monitor/recorder; lets him see himself and speeds up editing | View on Amazon |
| Manfrotto Befree Advanced | Fixed tripod for his home set | View on Amazon |
| Peak Design Travel Tripod | Second tripod for thumbnails and travel | View on Amazon |
| Ulanzi desk stand | Sturdy camera stand for desk shots | View on Amazon |
| Synology DS1621+ NAS | Backup storage; he says it’s mainly worth it for full-time creators | View on Amazon |
The budget version of Jeff’s setup
Jeff’s full kit costs several thousand dollars. You can get most of the look for a fraction of that by following his own priority order and choosing cheaper equivalents. These are FitOnear’s suggestions, not Jeff’s:
| Instead of | Try | |
|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser MKH 416 | FIFINE K688: USB/XLR dynamic mic, close to your mouth on an arm | View on Amazon |
| Aputure LS 300x + Light Dome | Neewer softbox lighting kit: big, soft light on a budget | View on Amazon |
| Sony A7 III | Sony ZV-E10 II: creator-focused APS-C camera that fits the same Sigma lens | View on Amazon |
| Sigma 16mm f/1.4 | Keep it. It’s already the value pick and works on the ZV-E10 II | View on Amazon |
| Atomos Ninja V | Skip it at first; the ZV-E10 II’s flip screen lets you frame yourself |
Frequently asked questions
What camera does Jeff Su use?
According to his gear page, Jeff films on a Sony A7 III, usually with a Sigma 16mm f/1.4 or Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM lens, and records through an Atomos Ninja V.
What microphone does Jeff Su use?
His main mic is the Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mic. He also lists a Shure SM7B running through a Cloudlifter CL-1 and Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, and recommends the Rode VideoMic Pro+ for most creators.
What lights does Jeff Su use?
An Aputure LS 300x as his key light, Aputure AL-MC lights as fill, and an Elgato Key Light Air when travelling. He started with an Aputure LS C120d II inside a Light Dome II.
What should a beginner buy first?
Follow Jeff’s own order: a good microphone first, then a large soft light, then a better lens, and only then a new camera. Our YouTube Channel Starter bundle follows the same idea.
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