This is probably one of the most asked questions in the world of digital video. The answer is not always simple as it depends on the answers to a number of additional questions.
1. How will you show/use the video you shoot while you’re away when you get home?
2. What sort of video are you making, a travel documentary?
3. Who is the video for, yourself and your family or for wider distribution?
4. How will you edit your video footage (if at all) and do you have the software and hardware to do this?
5. How much do you want to spend on a video camera? (Prices range from $500 to over $6,000 for a quality DSLR)
An example
Here’s one example that I shot in Hong Kong. It was just meant to be a tourist video that captured the very short journey across the harbour. Notice that I followed a person (my wife) for some of the walk on and walk off shots, which gave each shot a foreground element. I also chose some suitable music and let the natural effects run underneath.
This was shot with a handheld Panasonic still camera in video mode. Nothing too complicated and I could just as easily have used an iPhone (held ‘sideways’ or in ‘landscape’ mode of course) Here’s a quick example of iPhone footage.
iPhone
An iPhone is perfect for this sort of footage. It integrates beautifully with the iPad iMovie app and iMovie for Macbook. It does save an awful lot of mucking around.
The one thing you need to consider is that on a holiday, your iPhone will fill up pretty quickly so you need to think about how you can download the footage already shot.
DSLR with memory card
These types of cameras are ideal because you can keep buying memory cards (or take a supply with you) so that you don’t have to download footage you’ve already filmed. An option is to also take a laptop or an SD/CF card reader that has it’s own internal storage so you can re-use your cards.
The top of the range DSLR’s like the Canon 5D and 7D will produce superb still and video footage, but they are at the high end of the market.
Handycams
These are the cameras with a flip out screen which offer slightly higher quality than an iPhone. These also record to SD of MiniSD cards, so you take a supply with you.
Summing up
There is no one answer to the question about which camera to use, My suggestion is to start with what you have and upgrade when you need additional features.
Handy tips
1. Practice holding the camera steady and let the action/movement happen within the frame
2. Zoom with you feet. Don’t use the zoom on your camera to get closer, walk if you can to get a closer shot. If zoom is the only option, stop the camera, zoom in and hold the shot steady and then start videoing again.
3. Shoot close ups to give you cutting points if you’re going to edit.
4. When editing, make your videos short – 3 to 4 minutes is enough to cover each place you visit.
Any other tips? Make a comment below.
PS. Click here to see what you can do with an iPhone and some editing know how.
