 | Panasonic PV-GS80 MiniDV Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Buy new: $397.49 / Used from: $133.99 Obviously, You'll have to shoot video in order to make good movies. Panasonic's a good reliable brand when it comes to video, and has a remarkably even balance of colors compared to other companies. If you already have a camcorder of this quality or better though, don't ditch it, as long as you can shoot on MiniDV tape.
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 | Sony DVC-60 PR/5 Premium Minidv Videocassette (5-Pack)
Buy new: $11.99 Tape. Cheap, but essential. Otherwise, there'd be no video after you're done shooting.
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 | Opteka 70" Full Size Professional Photo / Video Tripod
Buy new: $29.95 Fantastic bargain here. This is a great quality tripod that you can use with nearly any camcorder, including the one I've mentioned above. And you'll need a tripod too, since you're too smart to try and make every shot handheld. (Though don't be afraid to try that once in a while. Just don't walk while doing it.)
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 | Apple Mac mini MA608LL/A (1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)
Buy new: $899.00 / Used from: $799.99 Now onto Post-Production!
First, you need a computer. One that you won't fear will explode because of spyware. One that's powerful yet compact. One that will actually, you know, DO things when you tell it.
And when it comes to the budget-minded buyer, you can't get anything better than the Mac Mini. Plus, you can just use the keyboard, mouse, and display from your old computer!
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 | Apple Final Cut Express HD 3.5 (Mac)
Buy used from: $148.00 Yes, you get iMovie HD with your Mac Mini. Too bad it stinks. With Final Cut Express, you get all the fun of Final Cut Pro ($1,299) but at a fraction of the cost.
iMovie is a step up from Windows Movie Maker, but it doesn't compare to FCE. With this, you also get Soundtrack and LiveType, which are both handy for situations like creating background music or opening credit sequences.
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