Good, inexpensive accessories to have for a camcorder like the Flip are a tripod for stabilization and an extra mount that comes with a light.
The camcorders aimed at non-experts and YouTubers--most famously, the Flip, the Flip Mino, and others such as the Creative Vado--are quite satisfying and easy to use. They don't offer much in the way of manual controls, though: Chances are, though, that you won't be entering the video you shoot with them into Sundance. But there are ways to ensure that your videos look and sound much better than you might expect. Here are some tips on how to get the best out of your low-end camcorder.
Light your subjects well. As with still photography, proper lighting, especially in Web video, is fundamental if you want to take a video that will keep your image quality high and your viewer hooked. Consider using a small mount with a light, in ill-lit places, like this one from Targus.
Sound is important. In film class, they teach you that sound is anywhere from 50 to 60 percent of your video. Good sound is key, because while viewers can forgive a bad image, terrible or low audio will make them stop watching your video. Bring the camera close enough to your subject so that you don't lose audio, but not so close that you risk distortion because things are too loud.
Don't use the zoom. For the love of YouTube, do not zoom in with cameras like the Flip Video Ultra, Flip Mino, and Creative Vado. These camcorders have only a digital zoom--which you should never use while shooting photos or video. You're much better off getting up close and personal with cameras like this.
Keep still. Sometimes, handheld camera work is preferred or just simply necessary, but for most videos a tripod should be used. One innovative and flexible way to mount the camera is with the GorillaPod tripod, which comes in a variety of sizes.
Make your video interesting to look at. This can be as simple as choosing unusual angles and points of view. And it leads nicely into the next topic: editing your video.
Don't be afraid of video editing programs. I recommend Windows Movie Maker or iMovie, for most home videos. These programs are readily available for most PCs and Macs and are very easy to use, with intuitive interfaces. PC Magazine has an in-depth article on this subject.
Consider editing online, too. Web sites Jumpcut and Flickr, along with numerous others, offer simple online video editing. Once you're done, you can share your videos easily, as well.
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July 1, 2008 3:59 PM
Great advice on how to use these gadgets properly. They are specifically made for putting video online, but most of what is shot cannot be seen due to lighting, jerkiness or other weird effects.
July 2, 2008 8:29 PM
These are VERY good tips. :D In many cases, when the video is reviewed later, a layperson may not even know you were using budget equipment if you pay attention to the things that often make the pros pros, like lighting and proper post-processing and editing!