The Way We Watch

The Best Camera To Use...

...is the one that gets you to shoot more and edit more.

I get lots of queries from friends and colleagues on the best video camera to buy.  I always ask, what are you using it for?  If you're a professional, the world has moved away from having just one camera.  Camera prices have become more and more affordable. 

Indeed, when I started in the biz, you shot with one camera. A broadcast quality, Beta SP camera that retailed for around $60,000.  Nowadays, pros have a complement of cameras and use them like a golfer uses all the clubs in his/her bag.  It depends on what the job requires.

WHAT I USE

For clients, I've been working with DPs who own the following SONY EX-1 with Letus Adapter, SONY EX-3, Canon 5D and 7D, Panasonic HPX 300, Panasonic AG AF 100, and the trusty Panasonic HVX-2000.  I just tested the SONY PMW F3 and that looks to be a real beaut.

For my own personal stuff, I have a Flip, iPhone, a Canon HV30 (tape based!) and a Panasonic GH1.  These cameras are simple to shoot with and easy to load into a computer and start editing.   Of all three, I'm shooting more with my iPhone because that's the one in my pocket.  But the Flip which is nearly the same size to my eye has better low light capapbility and more punch - I just can't check my email with it. 

JUST GET OUT THERE

The point is...  The best camera is the one that gets you using it.

Who knows what you'll encounter... I was driving to the grocery store right after a huge NYC snow storm.  Right in front of me was the answer to the question, "Where do they put the snow?"  I whipped out my iPhone 4.

 

I shot it from the car and the joggers ran into frame just as I was starting my "tracking shot."  It all felt very Woody Allen so I went looking for some '40s band music.

If nothing else, I can look at this video come the summer time when temperatures reach 100 degrees. And weep.

A COOL RESOURCE

The music is Del Casino and His Orchestra from the The Prelinger Archives at the Internet Archive.  Most of it is public domain, and the web site encourages you to take the content, mash it up and use how you see fit... 

You are warmly encouraged to download, use and reproduce these films in whole or in part, in any medium or market throughout the world. You are also warmly encouraged to share, exchange, redistribute, transfer and copy these films, and especially encouraged to do so for free. 
                                        --  The Prelinger Archives

Worth a look.

What Makes Someone Watchable

Watch Young Adult fiction writer Gary Paulsen in this interview Wheelhouse and I did for Random House Children's Books.  He has a great face for video, for sure.  But what makes him immensely watchable is his intelligence.  Some people I could listen to and watch for hours.  Mr. Paulsen is one of them.  Documentary film makers, here's a subject worth finding, tracking down and getting on film.

What makes someone watchable? View in 720P for best results.

Canon 5D and 7D DSLRs For Video With Matt Gottshalk

Matt Gottshalk on DLSRs for Video - Canon 7D and 5D from Christopher M. Ryan on Vimeo.

Here's a Skype call I did with Matt Gottshalk a co-author of From Still to Motion: A Photographer's Guide to Creating Video With Your DSLR.

Matt also runs his own DP/Edit shop in Alexandria, VA.  Matt can be found on twitter as @mcgeedigital.

Matt discusses:

• How these cameras originated
• How is he using them
• What's better to buy the 5D or the 7D
• What does a rig cost
• What's in the book

 
His book is available at amazon (affiliate link):

Three Essential Tools For Conversation Video

   Web marketing video is moving away from viral video to conversation video.

It's a natural off shoot of what is happening on the social web right now. 

Tweets, twitpics, Facebook wall postings, blogs are all adding to the conversation and video is just another element in your marketing tool bag to continue that conversation.

There will always big and small companies shooting for that elusive viral video status.  And to keep watch on them here's a new link from YouTube that archives great viral ads: http://www.youtube.com/ytshowandtell

But, the long tail prize goes to marketers that are conversing, helping and inspiring their prospects and customers with content. 

I'll be writing and talking about this more but if you want to jump in to making conversational video here are some inexpensive tools:

1. Flip UltraHD Camcorder Still the easiest way to tape an interview for the non-professional.
2. Screenflow.  An economical and fairly easy editing program and screencast recording program.
3. Call Recorder  For less than $20.00  you can record your Skype calls into stand alone video clips (via Quicktime).

I also suggest you buy the most expensive mac your budget can afford. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/advocacy_project/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0