Flip Video Camera

A few years ago, that was the first handheld video camera that made it simple and easy to press the red record button. The major drawback to that was that it there was no way to plug in an external microphone to get great quality audio.

For those of you who have never used the Flip camera, you are not missing anything. There many other good alternatives. For those of you who used the Flip camera to immediately upload to YouTube, you should know better. The camera came with software that allowed you, with one click, to immediately upload the video you took directly to YouTube. For those of you who were using that video to create an educational message, there plenty of instances where the attorneys should have taken the time to edit segments of their video that simply did not belong online.

If you are going to take the time to invest and learn how to do video well, then you should take the time to learn how to edit your videos properly instead of simply using the convenience of shooting a quick and dirty video and immediately uploading to YouTube. The same goes for our smartphones, especially half the population who now has an iPhone. It’s extremely simple to take a quick video and upload directly to YouTube. My advice: Don’t. Instead, take the extra time to properly edit and optimize it before sending putting it online.

Skiing at Camelback Ski Resort

It was 4:15 pm and the sun was going down. We had just started our run on a quiet trail that headed right into the sunset. The image was beautiful. Gorgeous mountain scenery, great skiing conditions, the wind rustling through my dark gray helmet and yellow-tinted goggles. The air was fresh, clean and cool. The only thing missing was my video camera.

Well, not exactly. You see, I had a choice of cameras to take with me skiing: My Canon T2i dSLR with telephoto lens (55mm-200mm), my Canon Vixia HF S10 video camera or my Blackberry 3mp still camera. I was skiing with my 8 year old and my 12 year old. As any parent knows, skiing with kids is challenging. You have lots of equipment to take including gloves, goggles, helmet, ski pants, boots, hand warmers, balacava (we love our blacava’s to wear under our helmets- they keep our faces and necks warm), water, gum, etc.

CanonT2i

With all that gear, that brings me back to what video/camera gear I could take that’s easy to hold and keep on me, while still holding my ski poles. The dSLR with telephoto lens was OUT of the question, although it would have made for the best still photos. Oh, well. I decided to take my Canon Vixia video camera. It’s small, light and can fit in my breast pocket. However, it’s still on the chunky side for a quick video and going for that instant video shot is tougher than it looks.

My blackberry is with me all the time and is good for a quick informal photo. I love using it to share pictures on Facebook. I did have one alternative…my wife’s little Canon digital camera. It’s tiny. It also takes video. It has a little pouch with a sturdy clip that I could attach to my ski jacket that made borrowing her camera a no-brainer.

Helmet Camera

One last alternative I strongly considered was a “POV” or “Point of view” camera that attaches to my helmet. It takes video of what you see. B&H Camera sells a really cool POV helmet video camera and I honestly debated whether I should get it. Then I realized that I have absolutely no need for it, other than it being a cool little toy.

Here’s a short clip that I took skiing with my kids using my wife’s Canon Powershot 1400. Let me know what you think of the quality of this tiny digital camera.

At the end of our day, on the last run with my son and daughter, I reached the bottom of the slope first, followed by my kids. They whooped for joy since we had such a great day skiing on January 2, the day after New Years. The slopes were empty and the conditions were awesome. My 8 year old high-fived me and said in an anchor-news voice “That’s it for our great day of skiing…I’m Gerry Oginski in the Lawyer’s Video Studio…Thanks for watching!” I couldn’t stop laughing. I only wish I had my video camera at that moment.

Sony NEX-VG10 Interchangeable Lens Handycam Camcorder

Holidays are right around the corner. Here’s what’s on my video wishlist:

(I hope my wife is reading this…)

Video cameras:

1. Sony NEX-VG10 Interchangeable Lens Handycam Camcorder

What’s so cool about this camera? In two words, “Interchangeable lenses.” Just like you have different lenses for your dSLR camera, wide-angle and zoom lenses, the same is true for this video camera.

Cost: $1,999

The really cool thing about this video camera is that you can interchange lenses. You can’t do that with consumer-level camcorders. Why would you want to switch out lenses? Two reasons:

(1) The better glass (lens) you have, the better quality your videos and photos will be, and

(2) With interchangeable lenses, you can achieve depth of field, which is more commonly seen on high-end professional video cameras. A good way to describe depth of field is when you are in focus and your background is out of focus. This draws your eye to you, since your image is crystal clear and you disregard the background. However, the background adds important layers to your frame.

With ordinary consumer video cameras, there’s one lens and everything in the frame is always in focus, which is a really good thing. However, to achieve depth of field, you need good quality interchangeable lenses. That’s one of the primary reasons I opted for my dSLR that takes amazing video, for depth of field.

Here’s a video camera that accomplishes that for a fraction of the price of a professional video camera doing the same thing. Having said that, the cost for this camera is still expensive in comparison to my dSLR or my Canon camcorder. That’s why it’s on my video wish list.

JVC GY-HM100U ProHD Camcorder

2. JVC GY-HM100U ProHD Camcorder

Cost: $2,750

This video camera is a hand-held camera that may look ordinary but has something that no other video camera offers. You see, most consumer cameras shoot video in a format known as AVCHD. In order to get that video footage into a format your video editor recognizes, your video has to be transcoded to the correct format. That takes time. Lots of time. You may have simply wanted to drag and drop your videos from your camera’s hard drive into your video editing program and start editing. Sorry, you can’t do it.

However, if you have this camera, you can!

When you plug in your camera that has a hard drive or memory card, your computer simply recognizes it as an external hard drive. The JVC camera has teamed up with Apple to make things so easy. I use Final Cut to edit my videos. When the JVC camera is plugged into the computer it automatically recognizes the format. Why? Because the JVC camera shoots video in the same format as Final Cut. Therefore, all you have to do is literally drag and drop from the camera’s hard drive, right into your timeline and start editing. No transcoding needed.

That would save tons of time. However, the price is pretty high and does not justify my purchase…yet. That explains why it’s on my wish list.

3 Myths:

1. You need the best video equipment to create attorney video;
2. You need the most expensive video camera to create great video;
3. You need the most technologically advanced computer to edit your videos.

You just bought the latest and greatest video camera to shoot your attorney video. You got the best price for the most advanced camera on the market. Do you think a viewer can tell the difference between a video created with a $500 camera and one made with a $1,500 camera? The answer is “No.”

Why not? The internet is not broadcast TV. There are limits on how good is good enough for your viewers. They’re not clicking on your video to watch a George Lucas FX or Speilberg movie.

They’re coming to learn information. Content trumps all else. Having said that, remember that the bar for quality video is high. YouTube shows video in hi-definition. Most video sharing sites have hi-definition video. That means the quality of the video is markedly improved from standard definition video of just a few short years ago.

If your video is fuzzy, pixelated and grainy, your viewer may not respect what you have to say and leave midway through your video.

How much should you spend on a video camera?

As much as you can comfortably afford. Do you need all the bells and whistles? Unless you’re going to learn how to use all the manual settings, skip the fancy stuff and focus on the basics.

Computer: You need upgraded hardware and software. Gobs of hard drive memory too. Large amounts of RAM help greatly. Video files are huge, especially from hi-definition cameras. If you have an older computer, you’re in for a tough time to effectively edit and store your videos.

Don’t buy the most expensive camera just because it’s the latest and greatest. Use what you have, assuming it works. Also, don’t reject the option of buying used video equipment. You may get a great bargain with all the accessories from someone trying to upgrade. That’s how I started creating my videos.

I thought I had to have a professional grade video camera. I did tons of research about what was the “best” camera to create online video. The only problem was that it cost almost $2,700 and I clearly didn’t want to spend that amount on a camera; especially since I knew very little about creating video at that time.

I looked around on ebay and found exactly what I was looking for. An entire package of video equipment with every accessory possible, including a carrying case. The price was a fraction of what a new one went for and it had all the extras. I used that camera for almost 3 years. It was the perfect camera for me. I have since upgraded twice and sold my older equipment each time.

Want to know what happened to my original video camera with all the goodies? I sold it to a dad in Florida who was looking for a Bar Mitzvah gift for his 13 year old son who was very much into creating video. A budding videographer. Someone after my own heart.

Bottom line: If you have equipment that works, learn to use all the features well. Work with what you have. When you get really good, then it might be time to upgrade. Until then, use your available resources.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog!

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Ben Glass, Esq., Founder Great Legal Marketing

Fairfax Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer, Ben Glass, says, “Gerry Oginski is the master of online video. If you have not seen his videos, you should. He’s done more videos than any lawyer out there. The big edge that Gerry has over his competition is that his videos allow consumers to get to ‘know’ him before they even pick up the phone. His use of video on his website and his video blog is amazing.”

Ben Glass, Esq.,

BenGlassLaw.com, Fairfax, Virginia, 703-591-9829

Dave Kaminski of Web Video University explains and demonstrates the Kodak Zi8. Take a look and decide for yourself if this camera is right for you.

Flip Mino

Kodak Zi8

Sony Webbie

Shooting video is really simple now. We have the Flip Mino camera, where you just push the no-brainer red button. We have the Kodak Zi8, now. We have the Sony Webbie camera. Really simple: Just push the big button in the middle and start taking your video. We can even use digital point-and-shoot cameras to take hi-def video now too.

Here are 6 reasons to use the handy video cameras above:

1. Convenience,
2. Ease of use,
3. Simplicity,
4. No instructions needed,
5. Low price,
6. Good quality when fully lit outdoors.

Here are 5 reasons not to use the cameras above:

1. Poor in low-light
2. No external mic input (except Zi8)
3. Limited recording space
4. Battery time is limited
5. Do not use the “Press here to immediately upload to YouTube” button. (Can you say “Edit?”)

Do I use these cameras to post attorney video? No.

I use a very reliable, high-quality, hi-definition camera that provides consistent, excellent quality. Does it cost more than an ‘average’ camera? Yes. Can you tell the difference? I can. I use a Canon Vixia HF S10 that costs about $1,200.

Do you need to buy a high-end consumer camera to get good video online? Nope. You can and should make do with what you can afford.

Just remember, a top-of-the line BMW will get you to the same place as a Honda Civic. They both have 4 wheels, AC, heat, mirrors, power windows and an engine. But there’s a difference and everyone knows it. (BTW, if you drive a Honda, don’t get all bent out of shape; they’re great cars. I’m just trying to make a point here. FYI, I don’t drive either one.)

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ABOUT GERRY

Gerry is a New York medical malpractice and personal injury trial lawyer in practice for over 21 years. He has produced and created over 230 educational and informative videos to help consumers understand how lawsuits work in the State of New York. If you want to see how Gerry has used video to promote his own practice click here.

Gerry created the Lawyers’ Video Studio to help other lawyers get onto video. To get started with creating video to market your legal services, Gerry offers a simple and cost-effective turn-key video creation system where he doeseverything for you except appear on camera. To get onto video today, learn more in The Lawyers’ Video Studio.

Today’s blog post is about VIDEO equipment. Notice the double entendre in the title?

Most people think that in order to create good looking video, you must have a “professional” video camera that costs over $5,000 and looks like it came from a video production studio. That type of thinking is so wrong, on so many different levels. But it’s a typical expectation.

If you show up for a video shoot with little more than a rinky-dink handheld camcorder, people look at you like you’re an amateur. Guess what? They’re wrong.

Professional cameras cost anywhere from $2,500 up to $10,000. They weigh anywhere from 3 lbs to 10 lbs, which is really heavy when shooting without a tripod. B&H Photo in NYC has a great selection if you’re interested. They’ve also just built a neat little interview studio that showcases all of their pro cameras and equipment.

By contrast, most good consumer-level video cameras cameras cost anywhere from $500-$1,300, can be carried in the palm of your hand and typically weigh less than a pound.

So, does the minimal size of your equipment mean your quality suffers? The answer is no.

I use a top-of-the-line consumer-level camera made by Canon; the Vixia HF S10. It weighs nothing. My seven year old loves to play with it, thinking it’s so small and easy to use.

I used to own a professional grade Sony video camera that weighed a ton. It was a great standard digital (SD), miniDV camera and built like a rock. But I got tired of lugging it around. (It’s the camera at the top right of this page).

My Canon not only is tapeless and weighs next-to-nothing, but the quality of the HD video far surpasses what I used to own for a fraction of the price. Don’t worry about size. Instead, concern yourself with the quality.

Thanks for reading my blog and have a great day!

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“Gerry single handedly has changed the way attorneys are viewed by their website visitors. You see, Gerry “gets it.” He decided that instead of using online videos on his website to pitch his firms’ expertise and how he can handle your case, he decided it was better to educate his website visitors about the questions they have, prior to calling an attorney.”

Mike Acosta is a video production expert with www.HBProductionGroup.com.

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ABOUT GERRY

Gerry is a New York medical malpractice and personal injury trial lawyer in practice for over 21 years. He has produced and created over 250 educational and informative videos to help consumers understand how lawsuits work in the State of New York. If you want to see how Gerry has used video to promote his own practice click here.

Gerry created the Lawyers’ Video Studio to help other lawyers get onto video. To get started with creating video to market your legal services, Gerry offers a simple and cost-effective turn-key video creation system where he does everything for you except appear on camera. To get onto video today, learn more in The Lawyers’ Video Studio.

This statement comes to you directly from Jeanette Gibson, the New Media director at Cisco. Never heard of Cisco? You should have. They’re the largest company behind the internet.  In fact, they make the internet work.

This video interview by SocialMedia.biz asked how video and social media are used at Cisco. The answer provided the title for this blog post. These are her words, not mine. Watch the video because it is truly eye opening. If you do not understand the significance of using video to market your legal practice, you will simply lose every available advantage and opportunity to distinguish yourself from the crowd. Without further ado, here is Jeanette Gibson.

How Cisco uses social media from JD Lasica on Vimeo.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog!
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“Whether trying to learn valuable tips on how to shoot online video for yourself or knowing what to ask an online video company, Gerry Oginski and The Lawyers’ Video Studio has quickly become the hub for information about online videos for the legal profession. Online video is the future of law firm marketing and Gerry has more knowledge about that area than any other person. Gerry has become a leading expert about online videos for attorneys.”

Damon T. Duncan, Esq., Duncan Law, PLLC 628 Green Valley Rd., Suite 304, Greensboro, NC 27408 t:336.856.1234

DamonDuncan@DuncanLawOnline.com

Greensboro Bankruptcy Lawyer

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Gerry is a New York medical malpractice and personal injury trial lawyer in practice for over 21 years. He has produced and created over 200 educational and informative videos to help consumers understand how lawsuits work in the State of New York. If you want to see how Gerry has used video to promote his own practice click here.

Gerry created the Lawyers’ Video Studio to help lawyers get onto video. To get started with creating video to market your legal services, Gerry offers a simple and cost-effective turn-key video creation system where he does everything for you except appear on camera, click here to learn more.