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Best Video Camera

by Griffon
37 replies
Hi Everyone,

I wanted to ask all you video marketers out there what you think is the best video camera for IM. Looking at the FLIP product as well as few others, but I thought I'd throw this out there to see what you all thought.

Also, best video editing software (camtasia, etc)

Thanks!

Best,
Neal
#camera #video
  • Profile picture of the author Maddi
    Hello Neal,

    I've bought Kodak Zi8 after starting and reading the threads on the same topic. Kodak had the most votes for warriors.

    Fellow Warrior Don Schenk(sp?) has youtube videos detailing about the setup of the same.

    I like it and would happily recommend a Kodak Zi8 primarily because it supports an external mic which most Flip cams don't.

    Don, if you are reading this, now I need a mic Can't find it on ebay so a recommendation would be appreciated.

    Regards,
    Maddi Murtaza
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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      Originally Posted by Maddi View Post


      Don, if you are reading this, now I need a mic Can't find it on ebay so a recommendation would be appreciated.

      Regards,
      Maddi Murtaza
      Maddi, are you looking for a wired or wireless lavalier? Or a mic extension?
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  • Profile picture of the author Rien
    I like the FLIP because it is super easy to use.

    And Camtasia has made my life so much easier, cannot
    recommend it enough.
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    • Profile picture of the author scortillion
      Originally Posted by Rien View Post

      I like the FLIP because it is super easy to use.

      And Camtasia has made my life so much easier, cannot
      recommend it enough.
      I agree, Camtasia is a fantastic program and gives me a great deal of choices. One of the best pieces of software I've purchased.
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  • Profile picture of the author Griffon
    Dear Fellow Warriors,

    Thanks for all the input, greatly appreciated!! It appears that Kodak product is not only better, but cheaper than the Flip as well!

    Best,

    Neal
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  • Profile picture of the author Maddi
    Neal. Yup, I know someone who bought it refurbished from ebay for around $100 or something like that and it was in great condition.

    Although amazon will give you more options. Go for it mate, much better than the Flip.

    Jill. A wired would do for now, as I reckon it will be cheaper. Plus I guess I'm going to have to buy a tripod too if I want to do indoor videos with a fixed shot.
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    • Profile picture of the author KevinTorrence
      I second (or third or fourth ... whatever it's up to now) the Kodak Zi8. Awesome picture, HD, removable/expandable memory, & mic input if you wanna use a lapel mic or whatever.

      I had a Flip for quite a while, it served me good ... but I like my Zi8 even better now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mehak
    you can use a flip cam, mine came with a stand which is very handy but one without a stand is also good because they can stand up alone on most surfaces.

    If you are on a budget, the iphone camera is very good for internet marketing too.

    I recommend imovie for editing videos, camtastia does the job but I find it very fiddly to work with. If you have windows, movie maker also does the job!
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonmorgan
    A little tip.... don't forget about lighting. It's the secret sauce that makes the difference.

    Just about any camera these days will get the job done if you light the scene properly.

    And please get a lav mic. Don't rely on the cameras mic unless you want your viewers to hear ambient room noise and hiss.

    Poor lighting and cam mic = amateur hour.
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    • Profile picture of the author Maddi
      Originally Posted by jasonmorgan View Post

      A little tip.... don't forget about lighting. It's the secret sauce that makes the difference.

      Just about any camera these days will get the job done if you light the scene properly.

      And please get a lav mic. Don't rely on the cameras mic unless you want your viewers to hear ambient room noise and hiss.

      Poor lighting and cam mic = amateur hour.
      Yes. Great point you bring up here. Although this is a 'Best Video Camera' thread and I'm not meaning to hijack it, but Don Schenk as I've mentioned above has some great youtube videos with his lighting setup with Kodak Zi8 too.

      Also, a very ingenuous post I came across Maria Gudelis blog sometime back was where she had setup a white board with lighting, which was nothing more than strategically placed Lamp shades, meaning you don't even need a professional setup.

      Jason, and others who have pointed out the importance of a good mic, please give some examples (with amazon/ebay links perhaps?) as what are the best affordable mics to use with the Kodak Zi8.

      Maddi
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      • Profile picture of the author Pluton
        I use the Zi8 for indoor video ( speaking to the camera ) but you do need a tripod and some form of extra lighting ( tablelamp with a whiteboard as a reflector ).

        I use an external microphone (reason I bought the Zi8) on a long lead and it works fine but if anyone knows of a good, cheap, wireless microphone I would really like the details.

        I use Camtasia for editing, bit pricey but is excellent and reasonably intuitive.

        I've just started making video stills / slides and for that I use Powerpointand Camtasia.
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      • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
        Originally Posted by Maddi View Post

        Jason, and others who have pointed out the importance of a good mic, please give some examples (with amazon/ebay links perhaps?) as what are the best affordable mics to use with the Kodak Zi8.

        Maddi
        I can't emphasize enough how important using a quality
        mic is to increasing the perceived quality of your video.

        For a budget mic, consider the Audio Technica ATR-3350
        lavalier mic.

        Here's a link to a useful review of the ATR-3350 on YouTube:


        The cheapest price on eBay.co.uk is £18.98 (incl. shipping) from
        a US seller:

        B88 Audio Technica ATR-3350 ATR3350 Lavalier Microphone on eBay (end time 15-Jan-11 04:33:41 GMT)

        If you want it quicker from a UK Seller then there's one for
        £24.99:

        Audio Technica ATR 3350 Condenser Lavalier Microphone on eBay (end time 21-Dec-10 10:29:32 GMT)

        I've got the lav mic for impromptu work and the Audio Technica
        AT-3035 desk mic for when I need even higher quality sound.

        By the way, here's the best YouTube videos I've found on the
        Zi8 so far...


        And Part 2...


        (They're also great examples of how to do an excellent product
        review).

        Note that the Kodak Zi8 has now been replaced by the Zi10
        (the Kodak Play Touch).

        Dedicated to mutual success,

        Shaun
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  • Profile picture of the author jushuaburnham
    How about Canon VIXIA HF M31, it works well for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Meaney
    Kodak Zi8 works great for me.. get some really nice high quality HD footage when used outside.. if using the zoom inside it can darken the footage slightly (even with the update).

    But overall it's the best budget camera I've used so far.
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  • Profile picture of the author Griffon
    To all,

    You guys are awesome with the feedback. Thanks a lot for the big help and Happy Holidays!

    Best,
    Neal
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  • Profile picture of the author chasnsx
    I've been using a Canon FS20. It is less expensive than the Vixia series, but it has a port for an external mic, and it also has a really good zoom lens. I needed the zoom capability because closeups are an important part of the videos that I do.

    Hi def is nice, but remember your market -- if your viewers are in a part of the world that has less than optimal web access, then it may be better to shoot your videos in standard def. If you are putting videos on Youtube you may have problems with the file size limits if you shoot in hi def (depending on the length of your video).

    Also consider how you are going to edit and upload your videos. The easiest method is to use a cam that records to an SD card, and the better cams hold two of them.

    Charles M
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Denney
    Hi Neal,

    I strongly recommend the kodak over the Flipcam since it has a mic input, unlike the Flipcam.

    For editing softwares, I suggest you use Sony Vegas or adobe premiere for editing live video, and I suggest using Camtasia for editing screen capture videos.

    - Jonathan
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Most of these cheaper cams like the Zi8 and Flip don't really offer stellar video quality, especially in low light, as the miniscule image sensor chips in them limit their low-light capability. This deficiency manifests itself in the form of graininess and distortion under low light (especially in the shadowy areas of your video).

    These smaller videocams mainly focus on having compact dimensions and convenience features like the built-in USB interface, together with integrated software for uploading your videos quickly to the internet. With that said, if you have a requirement for an external microphone, then the Kodak beats the Flip hands down (and is also slightly cheaper).

    Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author Andre Slater
    I went on ebay and bought a flip HD... It has the software built in, but the only issue is that it takes forever to charge.

    Then I upgraded my phone to iphone 4 and now I have no need for a flip... The iphone is a beast. I saw an article in Mashable.com that showed music videos made with the iphone 4 and I was blowed away.

    So I use my phone now. Easier to lug around and don't have to carry two things on me...
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    I'd go with the kodak playsport before the Zi8, because they are practically the same camera, but the playsport is more rugged, and it's water proof. I took mine swimming over the summer, and got some fun underwater footage.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by garyv View Post

      I'd go with the kodak playsport before the Zi8, because they are practically the same camera, but the playsport is more rugged, and it's water proof. I took mine swimming over the summer, and got some fun underwater footage.
      Gary, I think this is going to depend on the needs of the user. While I can appreciate the rugged durability and water resistance of the kodak playsport, it does not allow you to hook up an external microphone, and some users may be particularly interested in utilizing this feature.

      Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author randoggle
    Originally Posted by Griffon View Post

    Hi Everyone,

    I wanted to ask all you video marketers out there what you think is the best video camera for IM. Looking at the FLIP product as well as few others, but I thought I'd throw this out there to see what you all thought.

    Also, best video editing software (camtasia, etc)

    Thanks!

    Best,
    Neal


    Im not sure about a camer to use but as a free online video editor with all the bells and whistle go to Jaycut.com

    You can make videos quick. You can voice record and do webcam videos quick.
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonmorgan
    Jason, and others who have pointed out the importance of a good mic, please give some examples (with amazon/ebay links perhaps?) as what are the best affordable mics to use with the Kodak Zi8.
    You don't necessarily need to buy an expensive mic, you just want something that is close to your mouth.

    lavalier microphones



    We've all seen videos where the audio is coming from a lav mic or a cameras built in mic and you can hear a difference.

    It's a little thing that most people don't think of but it'll improve the overall quality of your production.

    As far as cameras go. They keep getting better and cheaper. The stuff sitting on the shelves at wal-mart can handle most jobs. There has already been some great suggestions so no need to muddy the selection pool.

    Oh yeah, learn how to manually white balance (subject holds a white piece of paper, you zoom in, hit white balance, zoom out and get your shot) and don't use auto focus especially if other objects are going to be moving in the shot. I'm sure we've all seen small market TV news where they are interviewing someone and the camera loses focus and focuses on the car moving in the background then refocuses on the person they are interviewing.

    Thus concludes production 101. Next week we will discuss 3 point lighting, the rule of thirds and lead room.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mitchell_Symonds66
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 is the best video camera according to me.
    It has many nice and unique functions. Its results are very nice.
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Deegan
    Another option that I've heard works well is using a FLIP with no built in mic, but then recording your audio using a lav mic connected to a digital voice recorder thats in your pocket. From what I understand you'll get higher quality audio, plus you don't have to worry about being tethered to the camera, so you can move (or drive) around and get high quality audio & video while still going the budget route. The major difference is you'll have to combine & sync your audio and video track some in type of editing program.

    Also the cool thing about using a digital voice recorder to capture the audio by it self is that with the right digital voice recorder you can connect it to dragon natrually speaking and the software will transcribe the audio into a text document. It's a nice easy way of adding value using transcripts without adding additional costs or much time. (the transcript will still need some editing as DNS is not perfect)
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  • Profile picture of the author Rick TVG
    All great tips & I agree the Zi8/AT 3350 lav mic is a good place to start.

    If you're doing "talking head" stuff:

    Wouldn't advise external audio recording as lip-synch issues can get really nasty - unless you want to go for the whole Hong Kong Kung Fu movie style. Experiment with wardrobe vs background. No plaids, no yellow flowered wallpaper, and remember to trim your nose hair! You want to "stand out" from a darker background, not blend in. And it's true, everyone has a "good side", so practice a relaxed stance that doesn't stick you "square on" to the camera lens.

    Budget editing on a Mac - for some spiffy titling & other effects you can load a QT clip into Keynote and experiment with timings, trim clips, add an audio subtract, still image inserts. All kinds of possibilities, export the thing as high quality 24 fps perfect for YouTube. Start with a plain back 1280X720 show, if you want to get fancy you do some basic compositing.

    Yeah, brand new here, but not to the whole gig...
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    • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
      Originally Posted by Rick TVG View Post

      Wouldn't advise external audio recording as lip-synch issues can get really nasty - unless you want to go for the whole Hong Kong Kung Fu movie style.
      This can be an issue but depending on what Non Linear Editor your using can be easily solved by using this----->Plural Eyes

      It automatically syncs video captured with your camera with audio captured from an alternate source.
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      • Profile picture of the author Rick TVG
        Originally Posted by Kevin AKA Hubcap View Post

        This can be an issue but depending on what Non Linear Editor your using can be easily solved by using this----->Plural Eyes

        It automatically syncs video captured with your camera with audio captured from an alternate source.
        Good follow-on, Kevin. Occurred to me that OP was looking at lowest-cost possibilities, Plural Eyes is a stand-alone interface for high-end editing platforms that go above that. At that point there's also the learning curve/cost vs expected usage. Gets pretty pricey if you're just looking to punch out a few simple clips every son often.

        Other points about 1080p vs subsequent file size, etc. If the camera will shoot smooth 1080p at image/saturation/sharpness quality better than its 720p 30/24 fps, using the 1080 as your "master" gives you more headroom for render & compression to a smaller frame. Down-sizing in post has fewer side effects than enlarging, and if you want to crop the image - always a factor - or take it to DVD/BluRay, the margins are much easier to work with. But if you're working with Camtasia, iMovie, WMM & other simple platforms and YouTube or on-page streaming is the objective, 720p should suffice.

        Since YouTube is crushing the hell out everything you send it, if final YT HD quality is your objective, render the largest aspect/lowest compression file you can get under the 2 GB cap. Really makes a diff for those who elect to full-screen your product. You're delivering a compressed format, YouTube is "re-compressing the compressed", and that always degrades things. Again, it's a case of how important final "viewing quality" is for your chosen delivery.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chad Heffelfinger
    I agree with a lot of the others above about the Zi8. I had a Flip, but I like the Zi8 a lot better. I just saw them on sale at Target the other day for only $99, which is a steal in my mind if your looking for a great little camera.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post


    I bought it for the external mic functionality but actually I don't need it if the camera is on my person, it picks up my voice just fine.

    Remember, 1080 is overkill and most people prefer using 720 because these cameras are too sensitive for 1080 which is only usable if you attach a tripod.

    Also, Youtube will reduce any videos to 30fps so I don't bother with the 720 60fps mode which I have heard is great, I stick to 720 30fps.

    Don't forget that Youtube limit uploads (for new accounts anyway) to 15 minute maximum length.
    Great point, Chris. This is something that many people new to videocams don't even realize. 1080p is overkill, and that resolution is not even supported on Youtube. People primarily record videos on these devices for posting on Youtube, and recording in 1080p is only going to result in a larger file at a resolution that isn't even supported, and your video is going to be downscaled anyway once it's uploaded to Youtube.

    If you're planning on recording yourself talking, then I'd highly recommend getting a stable tripod for that purpose, as these handheld cams typically do not have any image stabilization hardware built in, and holding it in your hand is going to result in blurriness and lots of shaky imaging.
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  • Profile picture of the author 1960Texan
    I went for overkill. I just purchased a Canon EOS T2i DSLR to shoot video and regular photos. There's a small but growing group of filmmakers shooting feature length movies and documentaries on DSLRs, and the quality is nothing short of amazing. Maybe it's my own personal tastes getting in the way, but if I come across a video with poor picture quality or sound I seldom see it through to the end, especially if it's more than 2 minutes long.

    I'm using a wired lavalier mike to start, poor sound will get me off of a video faster than poor picture quality. The Audio Technica ATR-3350 is doing a great job.

    I'm using Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10 for editing. There are more advanced programs out there but for my current needs and skill level it's more than enough.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
      Originally Posted by 1960Texan View Post

      I went for overkill. I just purchased a Canon EOS T2i DSLR to shoot video and regular photos. There's a small but growing group of filmmakers shooting feature length movies and documentaries on DSLRs, and the quality is nothing short of amazing. Maybe it's my own personal tastes getting in the way, but if I come across a video with poor picture quality or sound I seldom see it through to the end, especially if it's more than 2 minutes long.

      I'm using a wired lavalier mike to start, poor sound will get me off of a video faster than poor picture quality. The Audio Technica ATR-3350 is doing a great job.

      I'm using Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10 for editing. There are more advanced programs out there but for my current needs and skill level it's more than enough.
      The T2I produces great images but being primarily a still camera you will need to make comprises.

      That being said have fun with it.

      I've seen some really great video shot with the T2I and its two stablemates the 5D and 7D.
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  • Profile picture of the author julesw
    zi8 is best its price range (price has been dropped due to arrival of playtouch)

    I have a playtouch here loaned to me by Kodak.. it has a bigger playback screen and headphone jack for playback. One stop better in low light.

    The new flip ultra hd 3g 8gb has a flip port so it can take mics except you need to wait for the new accessories coming out soonish.

    eg the blue mikey will give you a great on board mic and audio in socket, in spring there will be a wireless blue tooth mic, also card readers and a projector are due too.

    jules
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  • Profile picture of the author tinman2207
    I love my little Sanyo Xacti.

    It works great indoors and out!



    Tinman
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