In my previous article at Effective Media, I looked at the approximate funds needed to start up a video studio. Please note this update is for those interested in using cameras and not PowerPoint/Camtasia productions. That will need a separate topic. Instead I will assume that you would like to make selling videos at decent quality but you have under $200 to start with.
Clarity and sound run hand in hand. Need I elaborate? If you are selling a product or service, you will need to sell it in the best possible environment which will illuminate your product and not make it look like it just came out of someone’s dirty cellar.
The good news is that HD is coming down in price rapidly and more and more of the cheaper cameras are adding features which two years ago, none of regular users of more expensive cameras could have dreamed of. Take external sound for example. If you’ve ever had a cheap video camera, you’ll know that the vision can be ok but the sound tends to let the whole thing down.
So your baby’s first words were drowned by a whirring in the background due to camera noise right? The technology, you will be pleased to know, is becoming smarter and more portable too.
I have three recommendations for purchase which I will stake my reputation on, you won’t be disappointed with.
1) The Kodak zi8 is a point and shoot camera which shoots in HD and will do nicely on a bright day or well lit room. It will do badly in low light. And don’t bother with the zoom at 1080. At 720 zoom away. I could do a whole review on this but that’s basically the story. You will need just $125 to secure one. Perfect for vlogging. Look no further and no I am not leading you to an affiliate link here.
2) A Hama Star 61 Tripod retails in my own country (UK) for less than $25 on Amazon. For a light camera it will do the job perfectly. If you are shooting in high wind for get it. I have had one for a few weeks now and my professional cynicism soon wore off when it did the trick for my own vlogs.
3) An Audio Technica ATR-3350 is a lavalier mike which fits perfectly into the external mic socket of the Kodak zi8 nicely.
Total budget? Under $200. I can assure you that this is what I use for any daytime vlogging. It saves alot of precious set up time having to faff with more expensive cameras. I am not ignoring those but assuming that it’s quality budget solution your are looking for.
Obviously do some test video to start with. Find a place which receives a regular “glow” of natural light (not direct sunlight) and adapt this location for your studio.You need to be comfortable with your environment too. If you demonstrating a product by all means use a table and either stand or sit at the table. Many of the cable TV channel presenters stand because it looks more immediate and dynamic. But don’t rule out seated demos. People want to see what you’ve got NOT whether you can present.
Above all, enjoy the experience. Contact me at my blog at Effective Media if you need advice on what to do with the video once you’ve made it. OR it might be an idea to find out the potential before you buy the kit above.