Top 10 Tips For Shooting Great Video





1. Buy as good a camcorder as you can afford.

It is easy to be confused by the array of video camera technologies currently on the market. Some record to DVD, others to removable media, still others to a fixed hard disk.

And then there is good old-fashioned tape. Believe it or not, purely from the standpoint of highest quality video, the mini-DV tape format is still the hands-down winner. But manufacturers have moved away from tape, as have consumers. (I don't know which is cause and which is effect.)

The odds are that you will choose one of the newer technologies, where the tradeoffs between convenience and quality are substantial. The best camcorder for you is the one that balances the two to your satisfaction.

For purchasing guidance, I primarily rely on the ratings and reviews on camcorderinfo.com. Then I check the user reviews at B&H Photo and Video, which is where I almost invariably buy.

Here is one tip: buy a camera that you will enjoy using. Fun makes a difference.


2. Put a premium on low-light performance.

Almost any camera can create an excellent image outside on a beautiful sunny day. But if you are like most people, much of your video will be shot indoors in less-than-ideal light. In those conditions, many cameras produce video that is simply unwatchable. As you select a camera, make low-light performance one of your top criteria. (It is almost always mentioned in product reviews.)


3. Resist the temptation to use built-in special effects.

Your camera may have come with built-in extras like the ability to shoot in black and white, sepia tone, split screen, reverse motion, psychedelic colors, and other effects. They are there for marketing purposes. Don't use them. They are destructive. There is no way to undo them. Shoot your video in its pure state. If you are hell-bent to see the scene of your high school reunion rendered as a moving impressionist painting, let us know. We can do it in post-production without ruining your original footage, just in case you change your mind. Which you will.


4. Go easy with the zoom.

Try not to zoom in or out too much during a scene. But don't lose a shot by avoiding zooming altogether. Just do it as gently as possible. And, once you have zoomed in or out, hold that view for a few seconds.

By the way, forget about your camera's digital zoom. Manufacturers love to trumpet how a camera has a 200x digital zoom on top of the 10x or 20x optical zoom. It is hype. The only thing that counts is the optical zoom, which is determined by the physical elements of the lens. Most cameras have about the same range of optical (physical) zoom lenses.

Digital zoom is simply a program in the camera that enlarges the image by interpolating pixels. It looks horrible. Don't use it.


5. Shoot from a variety of angles.

Vary the scene. Once you know you've gotten the shots you wanted, move around. Shoot from the sides, from behind, from on high and down low. Keep the camera running while you move around. The video may be useless, but the audio could be valuable to us in building the scene to tell the story.


6. Pan slowly.

Panning is the movement of the camera from side to side. Take it slowly. Don't jerk back and forth during the pan. If you make a mistake, start all over again. Hold the shot steady for a few seconds before you start the pan. Hold it steady for another few seconds when you are done.


7. Hold shots for about 10 seconds.

This is particularly important for scenic or vacation shooting. If you've got a great shot of the Eiffel Tower, count to ten while you are recording it. Remember that you're not taking a snapshot. Once you've got it, see Tip #5. Shoot it again from another angle. Get a closeup. Get a wide angle. Variety is a key ingredient to movie-making.


8. Get "establishing" shots.

Establishing shots are scenes that tell viewers where they are. So, if you are taping on a family vacation to Disney World, get a few shots of the entrance or of Mickey Mouse greeting people when they arrive. If you forget to get them on the way in, get them on the way out. Any number of images can work to establish a scene. Signs work well, but it is also fun to be a bit creative.


9. Beware of backlighting.

A backlit scene is one where there is a bright light behind the main action. Picture a bride and groom standing on a stairway in front of a large window on a bright sunny day. Uncorrected, your camera's light meter will probably try to expose the scene so that you can see what is outside the window. As a result, it will darken the whole image, leaving the bride and groom lost in shadow.

Some cameras have a prominent built-in backlight correction button conveniently located in the controls. When you activate it, you are telling the camera to overexpose the scene so you can see, in this case, the bride and groom (there will be no detail in the window). This is a very useful feature.

If your camera lacks this feature, you may want to learn from the manual how to do it by hand. Video cameras are pretty easy to operate. Most people don't read the manuals. Usually, you don't need to. In this one case, it may be a good idea.


10. Turn off the tally light.

The tally is the red light on the front of your camera that comes on when you press the Record button. Every camera I know of gives you the ability to turn it off. (Sorry – another trip to the manual!)

Generally, you will get better video the more you are unobtrusive. There is something about that red light that makes a lot of people self conscious of being videotaped. Turn it off.