7 Responses

1. How about

   This is probably not quite what your wife needs but it is my favourite little gadget. Excellent quality HD video. You can buy a minature tripod but the images are very stable even when hand held.

    

   http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-HM-TA2-Mobile-Camera-Touchscreen/dp/B004OR0VUE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349167862&sr=8-1

    

2. it depends what they want to “film”!

   Blake, it depends what images the boss wants to have;

   ~for a talking head (which is potentially great for the individual, but what if they leave the compnay?) you will need a camera and backdrop and lighting

   ~for a "journalist piece to camera" you will need a mobile camera, locations and more sophisticated sound recording

   ~whereas if the intention is to produce a voiced over ‘video’ of product images or aspiration images, then Prezzi or even PowerPoint may actually be far better, supported solely by some still camera shots and a pretty bog standard recording facility (eg MS Accessories Sound Recorder)

   The important thing is to get the strategy right before starting to invest in (or even investigate) the technology

   I hope this helps

   Rus Slater

    

3. thanks.

   Thanks Steve for the suggestion. 

   And Rus I agree re strategy, she agrees re strategy but her boss isn’t one to make plans.   Good tips about what is needed. 

    

   — Blake Henegan Optimus Sourcing

   http://www.optimussoucing.com

4. What Do You Want To Do?

   The first question to be clear about is what exactly you want to produce and the conditions under which you want to produce it? Once you’re absolutely certain of the range of outputs you want to develop and conditions then you need to select a suitable camera, plus editing software. Will you be working in noisy conditions? Does the camera need to have microphone input capability? Will you be hand holding? If so camera shake technology (that works) needs to be present. There’s also a mass of sundries required. Tripod, spare batteries, suitable memory cards, etc etc.

   In the past I have used:

   Canon S90

   Sony Bloggie

   And I am currently using a Sony RX100 which outputs the best images and video in low light conditions I have ever encountered.

   For serious editing software I would suggest: Adobe Premiere Elements which you can get bundled with Photoshop Elements at the moment which is a great deal.

   For very basic editing you could get away with the Microsoft Movie Maker software. I now actually use my IPad and an application called Reel Director for editing, the Apple format and ease of use just make it a no brainer.

   I would be happy to talk through these options with your wife if she just wants to get a grasp of the challenges in going down this route. I have nothing to sell here but I am happy to share my experience. DM me if this is something you think might be useful.

5. Keep it simple…

   Hi Blake,

   You could, undoubtedly, spend a lot of money on video kit but why not use what many of us already have? Smartphones like Apple’s ubiquitous iPhone can delivery excellent HD pictures and you can even mount them on a tripod or table stand to eliminate camera shake. I’d advise using an external microphone to help avoid that room echo that blights many YouTube videos. We’ve got a tip sheet that might help if you’d like one.

   — Ian Stubbs, Creative Impetus Limited

6. looking at it from a different angle…..

   ….perhaps, Blake, what your wife would benefit from most, is some coaching to help her to "manage" her boss! 

   Happy to oblige!

   Rus

   http://www.coach-and-courses.com

7. thanks everyone.

    The most benefit for her would be not having to return to work after having a baby! 

   — Blake Henegan

   Optimus Sourcing http://www.optimussoucing.com