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Blake Henegan

Optimus Learning Services

Managing Director

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Good video recording equipment

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Semi training related post,  my wife is being asked by her boss to look at cameras etc to start recording marketing advice and training sessions to upload on to their website.   The thing is she isn't technical in anyway (her words not mine) so I wondered if people have purchased cameras and video cameras recently and have any advice.  

 I can't even tell what budget they have!  I know this is very backward - not my wifes approach but a boss who wants to do things her way.  

Thanks

Blake

7 Responses

  1. it depends what they want to “film”!

    Blake, it depends what images the boss wants to have;

    ~for a talking head (which is potentially great for the individual, but what if they leave the compnay?) you will need a camera and backdrop and lighting

    ~for a "journalist piece to camera" you will need a mobile camera, locations and more sophisticated sound recording

    ~whereas if the intention is to produce a voiced over ‘video’ of product images or aspiration images, then Prezzi or even PowerPoint may actually be far better, supported solely by some still camera shots and a pretty bog standard recording facility (eg MS Accessories Sound Recorder)

    The important thing is to get the strategy right before starting to invest in (or even investigate) the technology

    I hope this helps

    Rus Slater

     

  2. thanks.

    Thanks Steve for the suggestion. 

    And Rus I agree re strategy, she agrees re strategy but her boss isn’t one to make plans.   Good tips about what is needed. 

     

    — Blake Henegan Optimus Sourcing

    http://www.optimussoucing.com

  3. What Do You Want To Do?

    The first question to be clear about is what exactly you want to produce and the conditions under which you want to produce it? Once you’re absolutely certain of the range of outputs you want to develop and conditions then you need to select a suitable camera, plus editing software. Will you be working in noisy conditions? Does the camera need to have microphone input capability? Will you be hand holding? If so camera shake technology (that works) needs to be present. There’s also a mass of sundries required. Tripod, spare batteries, suitable memory cards, etc etc.

    In the past I have used:

    Canon S90

    Sony Bloggie

    And I am currently using a Sony RX100 which outputs the best images and video in low light conditions I have ever encountered.

    For serious editing software I would suggest: Adobe Premiere Elements which you can get bundled with Photoshop Elements at the moment which is a great deal.

    For very basic editing you could get away with the Microsoft Movie Maker software. I now actually use my IPad and an application called Reel Director for editing, the Apple format and ease of use just make it a no brainer.

    I would be happy to talk through these options with your wife if she just wants to get a grasp of the challenges in going down this route. I have nothing to sell here but I am happy to share my experience. DM me if this is something you think might be useful.

  4. Keep it simple…

    Hi Blake,

    You could, undoubtedly, spend a lot of money on video kit but why not use what many of us already have? Smartphones like Apple’s ubiquitous iPhone can delivery excellent HD pictures and you can even mount them on a tripod or table stand to eliminate camera shake. I’d advise using an external microphone to help avoid that room echo that blights many YouTube videos. We’ve got a tip sheet that might help if you’d like one.

    — Ian Stubbs, Creative Impetus Limited

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Blake Henegan

Managing Director

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