Camera Gear
Camera Gear:
Today’s technology has given us affordable, high definition cameras that take great movies for a fraction of the cost of the professional, high end ones. Basically all that is needed to produce quality videos are a good camera, microphone, tripod and editing program. Here are the cameras and equipment used to produce Vance Video movies.
Sony TRV-39. This model does not record in high definition and was purchased prior to the newer models becoming available. Still, it does a good job as is witnessed in the Predator Hunting Africa video. This camera has a night-shot feature that is great for capturing night-time footage. This particular model is no longer available but other Sony models incorporate the night-shot mode. If you plan to record in dark conditions, this feature is a must-have.
Canon Vixia HV30: This camera records in high definition and produces good quality footage at an affordable price. It was used to record the groundhog videos. It does not have the night-shot feature, but records fantastic day-time footage.
Rode Videomic: This is a good microphone that won’t break your wallet. Onboard camera microphones are lacking for producing good quality videos. The use of a good microphone is as important as the video quality itself. Wind is many times a problem for microphones, so I use a wind muff on the microphone when needed. While it doesn’t eliminate all wind noise, it cuts it down considerably.
Vanguard Tripod: This tripod is at the lower end in cost for an acceptable model. Fluid head tripods are needed to permit smooth panning. A tripod of sufficient weight is also needed for stabilization and the Vanguard is heavy enough for most applications. A good tripod is as important as the camera for taking quality video.
Currently, I am using a more professional model Tripod and head. The Manfrotto 503 HDV fluid head is a nice one, heavy and smooth as silk. The tripod legs are Manfrotto 055X. This outfit is rather expensive (around $500), but a good one, stable and heavy enough for good camera support.
Power Director 7: This editing program was used for assembling all videos to date. It is an inexpensive program, user friendly and has enough capability to produce good videos. A newer version 8 is now available. You will need a fast computer with large capacity hard drives for movie editing.
The above items are all that is needed to produce your own movies, with the exception of one other important ingredient. Knowledge and a sense of “how” to make a movie are as important as the equipment used. Learning how to pan the camera, proper zooming, the use of short clips, and editing to bring it all together can make or break a movie. A sense of how to transition from one scene to another is important, as is the content you record. Producing good videos is much like learning to do most anything else. The more you do it, the better you get at it.