Category: Technology
Pocket Production
Picking up right where we left off from the last post, today were going to take a look why non-profits and small profits should add these little devices in their production pipelines. First I want to stress that I’m not talking about using these as your only camera – there’s a real reason that I call these things devices and not cameras (please go back to read “Why I want a Fake Camera“)
Why Small Business / Non-profits Need Pocket Production
Ease Of Use
First and foremost, easy-of-use! I don’t know that many businesses that have an in-house produciton unit, and even fewer non-profits that have the budget to have a videographer at every event. I’d have to say that 9 times out of 10 it becomes the job of a volunteer to capture the event and forever lock its legacy on tape. Because these devices have few features and no manual control you can turn one one hand it to someone and show them where the record button is – and just reclaim the device at the end of the day! I’d really love to have someone try that with say a HVX – or any other “real” camera.
Co$t!
This is a huge factor in my book; with the costs of these devices coming in at sub $250 – which is a vast improvement when you look at spending $1000 – $3500 on HD production gear! This means that you can put more of these devices at your event – yielding double, or triple the coverage.
Personal
How often do you have a camera that you want to take with you every where? (If you are a film student – your answer doesn’t count!)
Looking Beyond the Big Three (Flip / Vado / Kodak)
Every time I mention pocket video and I do a search to see what’s going on in this mini-revolution I find more camera and manufactures who are throwing their hat into the ring – over the next few weeks I’m going to take a look at some of the others who’ve come to compete – if you’ve found a device that I’ve not mentioned PLEASE list it in the comments of this post, if you are a manufacture of a device and you like to see it mentioned use the contact form to get in touch with me as I’d love to feature you!
Next time on Powered Production
On the next post I’m going to step you through all of the reasons that you – STILL need a real camera, so please stay tuned and chime in via the comments or send me a message on twitter (@big_b_rad) to tell me what you think.
Photos used on post
Why I want a Fake Camera
With all of the buzz and the hype around the pocket video camera revolution I still find my self wanting one of these ‘fake’ cameras. And before you ram me down with belittling comments about my lack of love for this cute little devices I’ll tell you why I call them fake.
I call a real camera a device with semi manual controls, I’m not asking for everything manual – but there is a level of control that is necessary for “real” camera operation. In Why The Flip – I really out lined where I’d love to see these camera go, and with the purchase of Pure Digital by networking giant Cisco – I’m sure they will make some adjustments, but most to its connectivity – not it’s control (I’m sure – but hope that I’m wrong). To save time – please take a look at “Why The Flip“. The two things that I’m looking for any camera to have is manual white balance and real audio inputs; this would be a minimum. I’d love to see manual exposure and audio levels and optical lens controls, but is that asking too much?
Even according to my criteria of what makes a real camera – I still see these devices having a place in the production pipeline; but hopefully not as your only camera. Most of us have done single camera production for far too long have neglected the role of the B (or secondary) camera. A locked off shot for cover or a funky cut-away can really save your production.
This Months Inc. Magazine took a look at four more of these pocket camera – and I’m really leaning toward Kodak’s latest release the Kodak Zx1 HD Pocket Video Camera. Main factors of me choosing that camera – form-factor, real memory card, replaceable (standard) batteries. I really wished that they kept the mirrored button on the front but w/ the new shooting modes and the size a bit smaller I’m sure that it’s going to be what I go with.
Why the Flip?!
The Mino HD (The Flip) was originally thought to be the ultimate in guerrilla camera’s allowing you to run and gun (in HD). If you’re not an editor – no problem as there are some in camera editing tools. There are now a few other competitors on the market and they have made some serious noise – and it’s really been fun to watch the shake down. I’ll also add that I run adds for the Mino HD, they are not a sponsor of the site. And I don’t own any of the camera that will be mentioned here – the point that I want to bring up, is “What the Flip!? Is there a clear winner here – or are we just flexing our tech muscles?
Fast Company (in their March 2009 issue) lists Pure Digital Technologies (maker of Filp Mino HD) as #7 of their list of “The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies” beating out Apple, Amazon, and Facebook. What make them so cool you ask?! Well – they have truly put HD video in the hands of the masses. In just 18 months, Pure Digital sold 1.5 million of its recorders and now commands 25% of the market. With competition on the rise the review have start to come in that have said that the Flip just ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Chris also did a side-by-side-by-side review of the three heavy hitters (Mino HD, Kodak Zi6, and Creative’s Vado HD) and I have to agree that they all bring a lot to the table. There are some core features that I’d really love to have seen in the Mino HD, namly – removeable media, and batteries would have been a huge plus. In the end Pirillo named the Creative Vado HD the best of the bunch, but I really don’t see it, and neither did Robert Scroble in his blog post entitled, “Chris Pirillo is wrong about best pocket video cameras.” Now I’ll also point out that Scroble is on staff at Fast Company – the mag that named the maker of the Flip as cool.
Before I get sucked into the stone throwing of the two tech legends – I’d like to take a few steps back and let’s look at the criteria that really should have been at the core of this – the features, and then talk about some things that I’d really love for someone to address. With the goal of pocket HD shooting, I think that there are some critical things that the Kodak nailed – namly the lense, audio quality, the removeable / rechargeable batteries; but form factor kills it for me. Sure the larger screen size is nice – but if 75% of the video that you shoot – is going to be of you in front of it – I’d gladly go for the smaller size (and I’m sure that means a bit longer battery life too.)
What critical features do I still long for in pocket video camera’s?
- White Balance – The ability to tell the camera what true white is so that it can properly balance skin tone and determine the space between true white and black, this is a critical area in all camera’s! It’d be killer if there were some setups for a few different presets (user defined) so that I could switch from a warmer look – or just tell it day light and start shooting. (If 1980 era VHS camera’s could figure this out – why can’t we have this in a pocket camera?
- External Audio Jack – The one thing that really separates good video from great video – is always the audio. George Lucas says that it makes up 50% of the movie – I really think that it’s much more than that! Would move these camera beyond a great thing to have – to an essential thing to have!
It’s because of these two critical features that I still believe that you need a “real” camera – like a HVX, or even one of the new tiny-cam’s (HV30 or HF10) and a real microphone, to be able to deliver ‘real’ results but these new camera’s have made some great in roads in what you can use to bring HD video to your audience! When I say “real” I really am striving to convey the whole air quote thingy – but if you really want to know what makes shows like the highly produced “WineLibrary.TV” and what you see most marketers deliverying is this thing call “REAL”, in order to deliever the real – or as others like to call it production value you have to have exposure control and a microphone that’s not inside of a plastic box!
Judging these cameras by what has better color or which has a wider lens – is really a mute point to me. What video are you shooting at any point that you’re not doing some type of post process?? Also for the record – I always shoot as flat as possible when shooting for broadcast and digital film – this is a very standard pratice across the board, so that when you do color correct your shots you have the most latitude to start.
Am I missing anything else here? Am I being too critical of these two views on these three camera’s?
Photos used in post:
Flip Mino HD: Design Tag by bfishadow // Flip Video MinoHD by woodleywonderworks
Can technology replace a hug?
There’s something to be said about all of the technology that we have at the touch of our fingers. We txt / tweet the most random and often boring aspects of our everyday lives. We have libraries of RSS feeds with blog posts that could fill many, many books. Our cell phones have become extensions of our very being. We have access to more information than ever before – but does all of this replace a face-to-face experience?
Gary Vaynerchuk – @garyvee (of WinLibrary.tv fame) sent up a tweet the other day that really hit me.
“Was thinking about how many new tools there are to communicate but a hand shake or a hug still DOMINATES!” @garyvee
Months ago, my best friend decided to move back to his homeland of New Zealand and before this we lived miles apart in different cities, but at least in the same timezone. The difference in time zones has placed a strain on us to be able to connect, and I have to admit that we don’t interact nearly as much as we once were, but technology has enabled us to stay in contact. Although there’s nothing that would be able to replace a hug from my friend!
I have to admit that there’s much that we can do with technology – but it doesn’t replace being face to face, or the power of a hug? Does touch via technology – replace or deepen the bond that we have with those we are close to?
Post photo by: //amy// – titled: “Two of a kind“
R3D in CS4 – Follow-up
Sometimes I rush to say something about the technology developments of the day – and it takes a bit for everything to sink in, and allow everyone else to make noise about what’s been released. In my last post I pointed out that it’s going to take a very serious machine to be able to cut this footage! And that’s no joke – I love what Jonas of General Specialist has said about this whole development.