Comments on: Video Camera Recommendations for the beginning Video Blogger http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/ Huge iPhone and web geek. Selfish, Obsessive, and Easily Distracted. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:49:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Spanky http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-38631 Spanky Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:50:23 +0000 http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/#comment-38631 I had a Canon ZR100 and now I've got a ZR800. Both have worked quite well for light video blogging and chatting. I've run mine through my Mac which I use with iChat or direct capture through iMovie. They don't have the best low-light correction, but at the price, it's not a big deal especially if you just keep your workspace well-lit I had a Canon ZR100 and now I’ve got a ZR800. Both have worked quite well for light video blogging and chatting. I’ve run mine through my Mac which I use with iChat or direct capture through iMovie. They don’t have the best low-light correction, but at the price, it’s not a big deal especially if you just keep your workspace well-lit

]]> By: gapingvoid: "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards": videocast help wanted http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-35760 gapingvoid: "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards": videocast help wanted Sun, 17 Jun 2007 17:48:18 +0000 http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/#comment-35760 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/ [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> [...] http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/ [...]

]]> By: Josh Bancroft http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-10464 Josh Bancroft Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:46:12 +0000 http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/#comment-10464 Great comment! Thanks for sharing! :-) Great comment! Thanks for sharing! :-)

]]> By: Steven Hughes http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-10461 Steven Hughes Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:16:30 +0000 http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/#comment-10461 My advice posted in his blog: I have been investigating this for a while and set the bar pretty high in order to future proof myself with the Sony HDR-SR1, had everything I wanted HD, Hard Drive, Mic input, Headphone out, storage card simultaneous write for quick offloading of media, which I realized I didn’t need for the price of $1500 and the fact that it isn’t available yet… Also HD video takes up a lot of storage space not to mention download bandwidth. I decided to go with the Sony DCR-SR100 3MP 30GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom and it came with a free Bluetooth microphone when purchased from Amazon for almost half the price. The Bluetooth microphone allows me to conduct interviews, record my children’s performances/concerts just by clipping it to them and without having to invest in an expensive wireless microphone system. I can also monitor the audio out of the Bluetooth microphone with headphones with the adapter. The Hotshoe also allows for other accessories like a light (if you plan on lots of indoor shots, but external lighting is still the best way to go) shotgun microphone that adjust range with the zoom, etc. Reviews on Amazon,Circuit City, and CameraInfo rate it up there. I tried all the prosumer cameras at Frys and other stores and found the image quality from the Sony was the best. It also had a color viewfinder so if you are outdoors an LCD screen is almost usless in direct sunlight and a view finder is key, plus it saves on battery life. It can record up to 7hrs of video if without changing tapes or other media that adds up in price over time, but I highly recommend downloading frequently. The touch-screen allows for easy use by all family members and allows for quick easy review with thumbnails. Nightshot I don’t really plan on using, but it is there if I want to do some weird video at night, but is a feature I don’t plan to use. Fast quick zoom with great quality video from the Carl Zeiss T* lens, fits nice in the hand, no whir of tape mechanism picked up by the built-in 5.1 surround sound microphone. Sounds awesome in a home theatre. Looks great shot in 16:9 mode on an HDTV set. Has a quick to DVD button for quick burning of video, but I recommend editing all video first. It is small enought to fit in a coat pocket and backpack and easily fits in the hand. And it comes with a free remote control.Has a quick startup time. MPEG2 allows for easy fast transfer over USB 2.0(with my mini-retractable USB cable) with DV tape you have to transfer in real time. Great for easy editing and quick uploading. The JVC Evario series records in MOD and needs conversion. Only cons so far, no microphone in or headphone out remedied with Bluetooth microphone, no use of third party batteries-Infolithium from Sony only, no USB passthrough so you can’t use it as a webcam(this could be remedied by Sony with a simply flash upgrade), but you can if your computer supports video in this is a work around. So far I like my choice. Hope this helps. My advice posted in his blog:

I have been investigating this for a while and set the bar pretty high in order to future proof myself with the Sony HDR-SR1, had everything I wanted HD, Hard Drive, Mic input, Headphone out, storage card simultaneous write for quick offloading of media, which I realized I didn’t need for the price of $1500 and the fact that it isn’t available yet… Also HD video takes up a lot of storage space not to mention download bandwidth.

I decided to go with the Sony DCR-SR100 3MP 30GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom and it came with a free Bluetooth microphone when purchased from Amazon for almost half the price. The Bluetooth microphone allows me to conduct interviews, record my children’s performances/concerts just by clipping it to them and without having to invest in an expensive wireless microphone system. I can also monitor the audio out of the Bluetooth microphone with headphones with the adapter. The Hotshoe also allows for other accessories like a light (if you plan on lots of indoor shots, but external lighting is still the best way to go) shotgun microphone that adjust range with the zoom, etc. Reviews on Amazon,Circuit City, and CameraInfo rate it up there. I tried all the prosumer cameras at Frys and other stores and found the image quality from the Sony was the best. It also had a color viewfinder so if you are outdoors an LCD screen is almost usless in direct sunlight and a view finder is key, plus it saves on battery life. It can record up to 7hrs of video if without changing tapes or other media that adds up in price over time, but I highly recommend downloading frequently.

The touch-screen allows for easy use by all family members and allows for quick easy review with thumbnails. Nightshot I don’t really plan on using, but it is there if I want to do some weird video at night, but is a feature I don’t plan to use. Fast quick zoom with great quality video from the Carl Zeiss T* lens, fits nice in the hand, no whir of tape mechanism picked up by the built-in 5.1 surround sound microphone. Sounds awesome in a home theatre. Looks great shot in 16:9 mode on an HDTV set. Has a quick to DVD button for quick burning of video, but I recommend editing all video first. It is small enought to fit in a coat pocket and backpack and easily fits in the hand. And it comes with a free remote control.Has a quick startup time.

MPEG2 allows for easy fast transfer over USB 2.0(with my mini-retractable USB cable) with DV tape you have to transfer in real time. Great for easy editing and quick uploading. The JVC Evario series records in MOD and needs conversion.

Only cons so far, no microphone in or headphone out remedied with Bluetooth microphone, no use of third party batteries-Infolithium from Sony only, no USB passthrough so you can’t use it as a webcam(this could be remedied by Sony with a simply flash upgrade), but you can if your computer supports video in this is a work around.

So far I like my choice.

Hope this helps.

]]> By: Josh Bancroft http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-9801 Josh Bancroft Fri, 13 Oct 2006 17:48:23 +0000 http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/#comment-9801 Great comments, Matt and Greg. Thanks for posting. Everyone else, keep 'em coming! :-) Great comments, Matt and Greg. Thanks for posting.

Everyone else, keep ‘em coming! :-)

]]> By: Greg http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-9800 Greg Fri, 13 Oct 2006 17:45:58 +0000 http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/#comment-9800 Hi Josh. Great advice... Or is it? Ok, a videoblog is on the computer, so that is where you watch it. Lots of time people download videoblogs to portable media devices with small screens. If it is viewed on a small screen, is the picture quality important? Lots of times, the video is so small, that you can't really tell if the video quality is not "the best" I would say that 90% of videoblogs are presented in flash (.flv). This totally degrades the video. Flash is quick and easy, but it does not look good. So, you have someone visit your videoblog. Your video is hosted by (xxxxx), lets say blip.tv. You embed the flash video in your site, and have a link to the downloadable file. If your visitors are on the computer, they will just press play and watch the flash video. Quality does not matter. If they want to download, it is probably because they want to view it on a portable media device. Then quality does not matter. Sooo, if this is the scenario, then how about going with a still camera that shoots video? The still cameras these days save the video file in either .mov or mpeg or whatever. This saves so much time in creating a videoblog. You dont' have to capture the video through the firewire onto your computer. Now, you just take your quicktime files and drop them straight into Final Cut Pro. (or if you are like me and only have windows movie maker, you convert the .mov into .avi and then dump it into windows movie maker) By not having to capture the video over the firewire, you save yourself a lot of time. Also, the mics are pretty good on the still cameras these days. Sure, you can't plug in an external mic, but I have found that most times you don't need it. Check out my videoblog. All the footage (except for "Chaos Lounge" playing) is filmed totally on my Nikon Cool Pix. The Nikon does it all, interviews, nature videos, low light situations, etc. The thing works great, and it was only $200 at Circuit City. It makes videoblogging quick and easy and I highly recommend it. Way quicker and easier than DV. Of course I would not play my footage captured on my Nikon on my TV, that is what my DV camera is for. However, for internet vlogging, a small still camera can't be beat. Just thought I would share my experience. (40 something vlogs and counting!) Hi Josh.

Great advice… Or is it?

Ok, a videoblog is on the computer, so that is where you watch it. Lots of time people download videoblogs to portable media devices with small screens. If it is viewed on a small screen, is the picture quality important? Lots of times, the video is so small, that you can’t really tell if the video quality is not “the best”

I would say that 90% of videoblogs are presented in flash (.flv). This totally degrades the video. Flash is quick and easy, but it does not look good.

So, you have someone visit your videoblog. Your video is hosted by (xxxxx), lets say blip.tv. You embed the flash video in your site, and have a link to the downloadable file. If your visitors are on the computer, they will just press play and watch the flash video. Quality does not matter. If they want to download, it is probably because they want to view it on a portable media device. Then quality does not matter.

Sooo, if this is the scenario, then how about going with a still camera that shoots video?

The still cameras these days save the video file in either .mov or mpeg or whatever. This saves so much time in creating a videoblog. You dont’ have to capture the video through the firewire onto your computer. Now, you just take your quicktime files and drop them straight into Final Cut Pro. (or if you are like me and only have windows movie maker, you convert the .mov into .avi and then dump it into windows movie maker)

By not having to capture the video over the firewire, you save yourself a lot of time.

Also, the mics are pretty good on the still cameras these days. Sure, you can’t plug in an external mic, but I have found that most times you don’t need it.

Check out my videoblog. All the footage (except for “Chaos Lounge” playing) is filmed totally on my Nikon Cool Pix. The Nikon does it all, interviews, nature videos, low light situations, etc.

The thing works great, and it was only $200 at Circuit City.

It makes videoblogging quick and easy and I highly recommend it. Way quicker and easier than DV. Of course I would not play my footage captured on my Nikon on my TV, that is what my DV camera is for. However, for internet vlogging, a small still camera can’t be beat.

Just thought I would share my experience. (40 something vlogs and counting!)

]]> By: Matt Davis http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-9796 Matt Davis Fri, 13 Oct 2006 15:57:29 +0000 http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2006/10/video-camera-recommendations-for-the-beginning-video-blogger/#comment-9796 I'm the purchasing department for my dad's little videography business, and I've had great luck with the low-end Sony Mini-DV cameras. DCR-HC21 is a fantastic little camera that can be had for around $250- my dad's had several cameras in that line that he uses for outdoor and on-water work. He just beats the crap out of them on fishing trips and they keep ticking. A couple of tools for videoblogging/self-recording that you didn't mention are a remote and a wireless lapel mic. I know some of the very lowest-end models don't include a remote, but it can be pretty handy if you're working by yourself. Same with the wireless lapel mic- models with great quality for voice can be had for less than $100, and as long as you're not wearing a nylon or corduroy jacket, can actually end up with cleaner sound than a tabletop or handheld wired mic, especially if you have "happy feet" or other tendencies that might transmit noise down a mic cable. :) I’m the purchasing department for my dad’s little videography business, and I’ve had great luck with the low-end Sony Mini-DV cameras. DCR-HC21 is a fantastic little camera that can be had for around $250- my dad’s had several cameras in that line that he uses for outdoor and on-water work. He just beats the crap out of them on fishing trips and they keep ticking. A couple of tools for videoblogging/self-recording that you didn’t mention are a remote and a wireless lapel mic. I know some of the very lowest-end models don’t include a remote, but it can be pretty handy if you’re working by yourself. Same with the wireless lapel mic- models with great quality for voice can be had for less than $100, and as long as you’re not wearing a nylon or corduroy jacket, can actually end up with cleaner sound than a tabletop or handheld wired mic, especially if you have “happy feet” or other tendencies that might transmit noise down a mic cable. :)

]]>