Comments on: Video on the cheap http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/ Notes from the classroom and observations about today's practice of journalism online Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:55:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: ScribbleSheet Blog http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4854 ScribbleSheet Blog Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:57:09 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4854 [...] small and easy to carry camcorder that can fit in your pocket. Plus it starts at $119.99 (£60.00). Not bad at all. You will have to upgrade a little to reach the 528 x 132 pixels. This is not too impressive but [...] [...] small and easy to carry camcorder that can fit in your pocket. Plus it starts at $119.99 (£60.00). Not bad at all. You will have to upgrade a little to reach the 528 x 132 pixels. This is not too impressive but [...]

]]> By: Mindy http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4696 Mindy Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:05:36 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4696 I agree with your concerns about credibility, Nick. I don't advocate the use of a camera as cheap as the Flip, which is why I offer the comparison of Mark's Burma rally video (shot with a better camera, the Canon HV20) and the student video shot with the Flip. I guess the journalist can decide -- or the journalism organization can decide -- if they want to offer cheap video to the public. If the organization decides this is what they want ... well, I might not like it, but I'm not running their shop. I agree with your concerns about credibility, Nick. I don’t advocate the use of a camera as cheap as the Flip, which is why I offer the comparison of Mark’s Burma rally video (shot with a better camera, the Canon HV20) and the student video shot with the Flip. I guess the journalist can decide — or the journalism organization can decide — if they want to offer cheap video to the public.

If the organization decides this is what they want … well, I might not like it, but I’m not running their shop.

]]> By: Nick http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4691 Nick Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:39:47 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4691 This sounds like the video camera equivalent of some editing I'm trying to do on Microsoft Movie Maker. It does the job (barely), but looks amateur, which I think has bearing on your credibility. That said, I think these cameras have some value for breaking news (house burning down, giant protest outside of city hall, etc.) Every day use, though, yikes. This sounds like the video camera equivalent of some editing I’m trying to do on Microsoft Movie Maker. It does the job (barely), but looks amateur, which I think has bearing on your credibility.

That said, I think these cameras have some value for breaking news (house burning down, giant protest outside of city hall, etc.) Every day use, though, yikes.

]]> By: Howard Owens http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4689 Howard Owens Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:27:12 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4689 While more expensive, I still recommend the Casio. Not only is it better video quality, it's much, much better sound quality, and that's the big issue with the flip. It's one thing to maybe have a little background noise, but the Flip distorts sounds, and that can be heard to listen to. And the model of Casio we use looks more like a camera. While more expensive, I still recommend the Casio. Not only is it better video quality, it’s much, much better sound quality, and that’s the big issue with the flip. It’s one thing to maybe have a little background noise, but the Flip distorts sounds, and that can be heard to listen to.

And the model of Casio we use looks more like a camera.

]]> By: John@ScribbleSheet http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4682 John@ScribbleSheet Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:28:22 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4682 I once tried to use a similar device to do some Vox Pops but people didn't believe it was a real camera, people though I was some weirdo trying to take videos of them. We need this to break into the mainstream. I once tried to use a similar device to do some Vox Pops but people didn’t believe it was a real camera, people though I was some weirdo trying to take videos of them. We need this to break into the mainstream.

]]> By: Andy Perdue http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4677 Andy Perdue Thu, 25 Oct 2007 05:55:18 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2007/video-on-the-cheap/#comment-4677 We've purchased seven Pure Digitals so far. The video quality isn't bad (considering the price), and the audio definitely is the worst part of the package. However, our reporters and photographers have pretty good luck with the head/shoulder-type interviews, as they've learned to stick the cameras right in the subjects' faces. For price and pure speed, the Pure Digitals aren't bad at all. Our bureau reporters are able to use them, too, then upload the video to an FTP site for us to process. Thus, we're getting video from our outlying areas - something we couldn't likely afford even with inexpensive Handycams. We’ve purchased seven Pure Digitals so far. The video quality isn’t bad (considering the price), and the audio definitely is the worst part of the package. However, our reporters and photographers have pretty good luck with the head/shoulder-type interviews, as they’ve learned to stick the cameras right in the subjects’ faces.

For price and pure speed, the Pure Digitals aren’t bad at all. Our bureau reporters are able to use them, too, then upload the video to an FTP site for us to process. Thus, we’re getting video from our outlying areas - something we couldn’t likely afford even with inexpensive Handycams.

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