Shooting Video: What hardware would you recommend?

[RobPell]

I'm looking to start publishing basic video guides for the company website. Me, a whiteboard and some useful information.... maybe weekly, possibly on a Friday. Think I saw some guy do something similar once...

I'm looking to spend about $300 - $350 on the hardware - I'm thinking $300 on the camera and $50 on an external mic.

Testing with iPhone videos and the video function on point and shoot digital still cameras came back with lighting and sound issues, hence the move to buy some equipment. I don't mind it looking simple, but don't want it looking (and sounding) too cheap.

Does anyone have any recommendations? What (if anything) do you use? Any videos I can watch to judge the quality? Anything you think I should definitely not go without (tripod? etc)

Thanks!

---

Thanks for the tips guys. Am currently trying to get hold of a bigger budget. Lighting, boom mike and two cameras. Will post a few examples once I have them.

Cheers!

[SEOTGT]

It may be a little outside your budget but one of the base model DSLR cameras from Nikon or Canon shoot excellent HD video and you can tap into their extensive line of interchangeable lenses. This method would probably cost about $1000.

I have also gone the cheap route before and used a couple Kodak HD pocket cameras (Playtouch or Playsport). These record a good image as long as the lighting is decent and you don't require any movement or zooming. I would setup a two camera shoot and attach either a lapel mic or shotgun mic to the on-board mic port of one of the cameras.

The two camera shoot is nice because you can edit cuts better so you don't run into jump cuts. This is great when the person on-screen can't do it all in one take. Then just sync up the two files in a video editing program and cut to different angles when necessary.

[reelaction]

I've been getting good results with the iphone but the mic was useless so I got a boom mic from photojojo for $40 and it solved the issue. Worth thinking about if you can overcome your lighting issues.

Hope this helps?

[Nick_Sayers]

Hey Rob!

Thanks for writing in! I would recommend you spend that money on lights. If you want to light a WB you will need something with a soft box on it. We use four lights to light our presentations. Two on the sides and two in front of the presenter. As far as a camera goes any HD point and shoot would be fine. I usually stick with Panasonic and Lumix lenses. When you are looking at mics, just look for a cheap audio technica with a mini plug in (most cameras you will be looking at won't have XLR).

Again I would focus on lighting.

Hope this helps a little!