Whether you’re creating a video blog (vlog), taking some product/service/work-related video, or just playing around, there are a few do’s, a few don’t s, but lots of questions! To be honest, there’s no absolute right on wrong answer to many of these question, but rather than sit on the fence, I thought I’d lay out a few personal preferences and experiences. So here goes…
Of course, you need a video camera 
There is naturally a plethora of cameras out there and with technology changing all the time, it is likely that whatever you have is already out of date. But the good news is that you don’t need to spend a small fortune.
Which camcorder is best for web video?
- Choose a digital video camera with USB input. In short, these camcorders record straight to memory, which you can then download/export in exactly the same way as you would with a digital camera. Simple, compatible with all modern PCs / laptops and fairly idiot proof. I like it! Most AVCHD (Hi Def) camcorders will have a USB input, but not all ’standard’ definition camcorders will, so check first!
- Some digital video cameras have in-built memory, some have Flash memory, some have both. If using a camcorder with Flash memory, you will need a PC/laptop with an SD card slot, or SD card reader, the latter being super-cheap, so Flash memory is not a problem.
- Older digital camcorders should have a Firewire input (DV). If using one of these type of cameras, you will need a Firewire card in your PC! To me, this is just an added complication, so given the choice, I would avoid this.
- Camcorders that record to DVD is not advised, due to the file format that they record.
External microphone jack
Which camera takes the best video? The truth is that you probably can’t go wrong, in terms of video quality. We’re talking web video here, not a Hollywood production! The one thing that will separate an amateur from a good quality production is the sound. This really is an important point!!! A camcorder’s built-in microphone will never provide good enough sound quality - NEVER. Fine if you’re taking video of your kids playing with their first train set, but shabby sound = amateur. SO YOU NEED A VIDEO CAMERA WITH AN EXTERNAL MICROPHONE JACK.
Here are two digital video cameras which fit the bill.
1. Canon Legria FS20 / FS21 / FS22 Camcorder. A ’standard definition’ digital video camera that is simple, but does everything you need. The only difference between each model is the available memory. The FS20 just uses internal memory (there is an SD card slot), whilst the other two include SD cards, in addition to the internal memory. Avoid the entry-level FS200 which has no internal memory. The FS20 is good for 3 hours video recording time (and battery life), which is truly more than enough! Expect to pay around £300.
Read a review here: http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/camcorders/0,39029967,49302854,00.htm
2. Canon Vixia Legria HF20 HD SD Camcorder. A ‘High Definition’ digital video camera, similar to the above, but in High Definition (HD). HD is not really required for your web video, but it is the way forward and by capturing in HD, you can always publish at a lower resolution. It just gives you more options, both now and in the future. Expect to pay around £700.
Read a review here: http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/camcorders/0,39029966,49302060-1,00.htm
In Part 2 of ‘How to create web video’, we’re going to talk about all the peripherals: Tripods; Camcorder Microphones; Lighting; Video Editing Software etc.
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Bigplanet Internet Marketing
http://www.bigplanet-multilingual-seo.com
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Tags: best camcorder, best equipment, canon fs20, canon hf20, create web video, review, video editing software, web video