Borrowing equipment

Our smartphone kits replace the previous DSLR camera loan service and provide you with a practical and accessible way to produce content within your team. 
 
These kits are intended for teams who only need to create content occasionally. If your team plans to deliver multiple content projects within a year, we recommend investing in your own equipment and developing in-house capability. 
 
Modern smartphones are capable of capturing high-quality, professional videos and images. They are perfect for recording interviews, filming short videos or capturing photography for digital content. 

Smartphones vs DSLR cameras

Smartphones are now powerful creative tools, capable of producing images and videos that are comparable to, and in some cases better than, those captured using traditional DSLR cameras. Using your smartphone also offers several advantages:

• Modern smartphones include advanced camera systems capable of recording 4K video and high-resolution photography, with built-in features such as image stabilisation, HDR and computational photography.
• Most people are already familiar with using their phone camera, which means you can start recording quickly without specialist training.
• Smartphones are lightweight and easy to carry, allowing you to capture content quickly in different environments without large or complex equipment setups.
• Content recorded on your phone can be edited, uploaded and shared immediately, helping you produce and publish content more efficiently. 

What is included in a smartphone kit?

We have two kits containing accessories designed to help you capture professional-quality video and photography using your smartphone. Kits include:

• Smartphone tripod and mounting accessories
• 2 x clip-on microphones for clear audio recording
• Portable magnetic light
• Cables and adaptors

These tools help improve stability, sound quality and lighting, which are key to producing high-quality video and photography. 

Who can borrow equipment?

Any Queen Mary staff member can borrow a kit, but please note:

• These kits are intended for teams who only need to create content occasionally. To ensure fair access, teams are limited to borrowing a kit a maximum of two times per year. If your team is planning more frequent or ongoing content projects, you should have appropriate resources and equipment within your team.
• We do not have capacity to train you in how to use or set up the equipment, so make sure you or someone on your team is already familiar with filming equipment beforehand.

To borrow a smartphone kit, please complete our Smartphone Kit Request Form.