In order to capture compelling family stories, you'll need a camera. Before you buy, there are a few things to think about to make it work best for you. Ask yourself what you plan to record the most. Is it on-the-go shots of your kids? Or sit-down interviews with the family? What do you want to do with the video afterwards? Answering thoughtfully to these questions will help with the tips below.
1. If handheld, quick shooting is what you want most, make sure the camera has an Easy button feature, with auto-focus, auto-white balance, auto-iris, auto-stabilization. Make sure it also has a decent-sized battery that has a long-life (ideally, at least 4 hours) so you don't miss any critical moments!
QUICK TIP: Keep your battery stored on the charger, so it is always charged and ready to go.
2. If sit-down interviews are your goal, make sure the camera has the option to use a plug-in lavalier microphone that attaches to your subject's shirt. Audio is just as critical as video and having this will increase your production value greatly!
3. For sit-down interviews, buy a tripod. Before you buy, check the weight of your camera and the maximum weight the tripod can bear and make sure your camera weighs less than the tripod's max weight.
4. For either scenario, decide on your recording format and finalization. Though for many years mini DV tape has been the standard, newer models record onto DVD, a hard drive, or digital memory cards. If you plan to do a lot of editing, use mini-DV tape, a hard drive, or memory cards. For this option, make sure you have an easy way to finalize the movie onto a DVD so you can easily watch it on your television. (Macintosh computers make it easy to convert your footage onto a DVD.) Cameras that shoot and record to DVD are great for watching and sharing on a television, but offer the least flexibility for altering your footage in the future.
5. Though on-line purchasing often offers the best pricing ( B&H Photo Video is a great resource), I recommend going to a store first and testing out a few cameras. See how it feels in your hands. See how quickly you are able to find the features that matter most to you. Compare features and decide what is most important to you and your upcoming video projects. CNET is another great resource to do a side-by-side comparison of products.
DMB Pictures is a boutique video production company specializing in producing broadcast-quality personal stories for families, non-profits and small businesses. The company opened its doors in January 2006 led by Debbie Mintz Brodsky, a three-time Emmy Award-winning television producer with more than 20 years of experience.
Visit us at http://www.dmbpictures.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment