Essential video accessories for a Fujifilm X-H2S setup?

Question

I just got this Fujifilm X-H2S because a guy at the store said it was the best for video but now I'm looking at it and I feel totally lost lol. I've never really used a "real" camera before, mostly just my phone for travel stuff. But my sister is getting married in Chicago in August and I really want to film it for her so I'm trying to learn fast. I have about $800 left to spend on whatever else I need but there are so many options and I dont want to waste money on stuff I dont need.

My logic was just buy the camera and a lens and I'm good but now I'm reading about "v90 cards" and external power and I'm just confused. Do I really need those super expensive memory cards? The ones I saw were like 200 bucks just for one card which seems crazy. And then there's the cage thing. People online say I need a cage to hold a microphone but can't I just stick the mic on the top? I'm worried the battery won't last through the whole ceremony too.

So far I'm looking at:

a big memory card

maybe a microphone?

an extra battery or two

Is there anything else that's actually essential for a beginner? I don't want to buy stuff I won't use but I also don't want the camera to die or run out of space halfway through the wedding. Sorry if these are really basic questions I just have no idea where to start with all this gear...

JadeJumper · Accepted Answer

Like someone mentioned, CFexpress is definitely a solid move. My Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B Silver 128GB was a decent, budget-friendly buy that handled long wedding clips without getting too hot.

StaticHarbor · Answer

Yo, the H2S is a beast but yeah, the accessories can eat your wallet fast if you arent careful. Honestly, skip those 200 dollar SD cards for now. Since your camera has a CFexpress Type B slot, you can get way better speeds for less money per gig. I've been super happy with the Angelbird AV PRO CFexpress B SE 512GB because it handles high bitrates without breaking a sweat and it's surprisingly affordable for the capacity. Heres what I'd grab to stay under that 800 budget:

Angelbird AV PRO CFexpress B SE 512GB for your main storage

Rode VideoMic GO II for way better audio than the built-in mic

Fujifilm NP-W235 Li-Ion Battery (get at least two extras)

SmallRig Cage for Fujifilm X-H2S 3934 to make it easier to grip You dont strictly need a cage to mount a mic, the cold shoe on top works fine, but the cage protects the body and feels way more solid in your hands during a long ceremony. Tbh, the battery life is decent but shooting 4K all day will drain them fast, so extra power is non-negotiable for a wedding. The H2S is basically a mini cinema camera so treating it like one with that CFexpress card makes life so much easier...

MidnightKernel · Answer

I was literally in your shoes last year when I filmed my cousins wedding! I was so nervous about the gear but it turned out amazing once I figured out what actually mattered! I spent way too much on stuff I didnt even use at first lol. Heres what I learned from my experience:

You definitely dont need those super pricey V90 cards for most things! I used a mid-range card and it worked fantastic for hours of footage.

Batteries are the absolute most important thing! I actually ran out during the speeches and almost cried... seriously. Get at least two spares!

Just put the mic on top of the camera! I did that and the sound was so much better than the built-in one without needing a cage. Honestly just focus on the ceremony and dont stress the fancy gear yet. Youll love how the video looks!