I spent the spring semester at Drake University’s Mobile Gadget Lab working with three students to answer a simple question: how can we get better video from an iPhone, and how can we do it affordably?

There’s a wide range of accessories out there to make your iPhone shoot better video. But even others’ “budget kits” cost upwards of $500 each.

I wanted to see how far I could bring down that price and still get quality video. So here is a kit perfect for doing interviews and stand-ups – for a little more than $100. The core kit here isn’t iPhone specific (except for the app). It will work with Android phones, too.

Tripod mount

Joby GripTight Mount ($17.24)

This isn’t the sturdiest of cases, but it does its job of attaching the phone to a tripod for steady video at nearly half the price of the next-best option. If you’ve got a little more money in your budget, considers stepping up to the Glif ($30). For a more substantial case that allows you to attach accessories (light, mics, etc.), try the Phocus ($39.95) or the mCAM ($75.95).

Audio

IK Multimedia iRig PRE ($32.99)
25-foot XLR cable – ($14.99)
Behringer XM8500 Dynamic Cardioid Microphone ($19.99)

These three things will allow you to use a stick mic with your iPhone, ideal for stand-ups and interviews. The iRig is essential as it has an amplifier. Without it, voices can be pretty quiet on the iPhone.

You might also want to add a lavalier microphone. The Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier ($18) and 1/8 inch microphone and headphone adapter ($28.50) make a good combo.

Tripod

Vista Explorer 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod ($19.95)

I’m not in love with this tripod, but it’s inexpensive and has great reviews on Amazon. I’ve had a lot of success with $20 tripods in the past (I have two that are more than 10 years old), so I tend to avoid the higher-priced one.

Video App

FiLMiC Pro ($4.99)

Take a step up from the default camera app and add features such as audio monitoring, lock focus, lock exposure and smooth zooming.

Total cost for this basic kit: $110.15