Tape vs Digital Camcorders

Don,

Here's a 10-minute clip - How to Film a Video - from Askthebuilder.com:

http://www.copywriting1.com/2007/12/...ilm-video.html

Also, if you're just shooting short clips at your desk and that sort of quality, you might want to consider something like the RCA Small Wonder EZ205 that I just picked up last week at Circuit City for $89 that records up to 2 hours, or 30 minutes for the higher DVD quality setting. You can also find last years EZ105 (60 minutes) around for $50-$60, or even the EZ101 (30 minutes) for around $30.

It's pretty amazing what you can get for the price and the way that Youtube breaks your files way down in size, the quality is gonna suffer no matter what type of camera you use.

I also register free accounts at Box.net to upload and store the files directly from my camera to their server. Then download the clips back into Windows Movie Maker as I need them.

Good luck,

Rod

That's one heck of a tutorial!
Thanks for sharing.
Robert J.

Hey Rod....AWESOME!

Thanks for the input.

Now...I'll "give something back".

I've been a "Go" guy for over 30 yrs. I get an idea to start a biz....I research as much as I can about it and....I STEP OUT AND DO IT! Knowing that I have a 50-50 chance of making it or not making it.

Well...fortunately, Ive had more make it than didn't.

My very first "Biz-Op" had to do with offering a "PRE-View Video" for my Biz-Op, for which I charged a "Refundable, $20 Deposit".

This was a TAPE Video where I found a company that would make 100 (60 min) Tapes for $200. This was way back in 1985 when Video was just coming alive.

My "FREE Preview Video" (for which those interested had to send me $20) showed little ol' ME holding and demonstrating the product I was selling.

Now...the BIG DIFFERENCE in using Video to show prospects your product or program is; They can SEE IT and NOT COPY IT!

SEEING IS BELIEVING!

There's NO QUESTION the product exists. This is compared to showing your product in an email or ebook or fax or Printed sheets or even on a website...WHERE YOUR PRODUCT CAN BE EASILY COPIED!

So...I started getting requests for my "FREE Preview Video" for which they had to pay a "Refundable Deposit of $20".

They watched the Video and either bought my "Back-End" program or they didn't. About 20% BOUGHT my Back-Ender that I was showing on the FREE Preview Video. Only about 1 out of 100 asked for a refund of my "FREE Preview Video" for which they had paid a Refundable Deposit of $20.

Now....fast forward to 2008. We have YouTube and 5 or 6 other sites we can place our "PREVIEW VIDEOS"...where people can watch the video and see us giving a sales pitch for our "Back-End" product or program AND...IT'S ALL FREE!

Plus...you don't even have to take up space on your hard drive or server, let the FREE VIDEO sites host your Videos. No making up Physical Videos. No Mailing fees. No Nothing. Just upload and pick a good Title GRABBER and you'll get viewers. Awesome.

Only ONE problemo;
When people sent me $20 for my FREE Preview Videos...they were VERY QUALIFIED as to being INTERESTED in MY PROGRAM or PRODUCT!

Placing a Video on You Tube doesn't qulify people....the 3 good things about it is:
1) It's FAST to get a Video on YouTube
2) It's FREE
3) It could attract THOUSANDS of prospects

So...ya put yer money down and ya take yer chances. And...Video is the way to go.

So...that's where I'm headed. Thanks for the input.

Don Alm

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Also, if you're just shooting short clips at your desk and that sort of quality, you might want to consider something like the RCA Small Wonder EZ205 that I just picked up last week at Circuit City for $89 that records up to 2 hours, or 30 minutes for the higher DVD quality setting. You can also find last years EZ105 (60 minutes) around for $50-$60, or even the EZ101 (30 minutes) for around $30.

The RCA camera Rod suggested is great for video. I got it's cousin, a Flip cam for about $90 last year at Costco and have been happy with it - and one of the best features is you don't have to worry about losing or damaging it as much as you would worry with a $600 cam.

If you need more features or better quality, a $300 - $600 cam from Sony, Canon or just about any major company should work.

Depending on the editing you plan to do, Sony's entry level Vegas software is great for under $100.

Steve

Thanks Steve. You're right, I'm not talking el cheapo, but good quality for webcam type video to post on Youtube. I've been amazed at what you can get for under $100, even under $50. And it's really easy to get carried away and blow a lot of money on video equipment that you don't need for the audience you are intending to reach. Plus, a STRONG OFFER will always overcome any perceived lack of quality in terms of how you choose to deliver a STRONG OFFER.

Cheers,

Rod

On those video cams;

You are RIGHT! It's really NOT the "quality" of the presentation....it's the CONTENT!

Example: My first venture into "Selling stuff via Video" was the following;

1) Old Time Panasonic Video TAPE camera with an external Mic connection
2) Lighting - a ClampOn Flood Light I got at the local hardware store

I found a Video Dupe company in Caleefornya that would dupe my vids for $2 in quanties of 100 and I proceeded to "sell" over 7,500 of these...for which I received $20 each (my Preview Videos)....and these Vids helped me sell 500 of my Biz Ops at $1,500 a whack.

It's called....If ya got a GOOD topic...ya can sell it on "Toilet Paper"!

In fact, I called my Vids...not "Guerilla Videos"....I called mine "Jungle Videos".

They were so bad they were laughable.....BUT....they SOLD!

WHY! Because they were "Hokey"! In fact, many people who bought my program/s told me that my Vids were so bad...they bought my stuff BECAUSE they were "Hokey" and NOT professional.

Don Alm




1) do they have a way to attach to a tripod
2) have an External Mic connection

Thanks,
Don Alm

Originally Posted by Adman

1) do they have a way to attach to a tripod
2) have an External Mic connection

Thanks,
Don Alm

I tripod is no problem, but no mic connections as far as I know. The also make all kinds of cool accessories now like mounts for your mountain bike or waterproof housings for waterskiers or sufers in the crowd - and I made a quick windshield mount with a spare GPS suction bracket.

Michael - I have viewed videos played from the camera directly on the TV and they look very good and would imagine you'd get the same quality if burned onto a cd or dvd.

Editing with the basic software they give you is somewhat limited, but using a 3rd party program shouldn't be a problem.

Mill Myers has some great videos including this one about the flip on youtube.

Steve

Rod & Steve,

Thanks for your valuable input.

I've got another question...

I notice the RCA has removable memory and the Flip has internal memory (which limits it, as far as I can figure, because you cannot upgrade the memory).

From what you know, what pros/cons do you see with either method - removable v internal memory on those little camcorders?

Michael Ross

Originally Posted by MichaelRoss

Rod & Steve,

Thanks for your valuable input.

I've got another question...

I notice the RCA has removable memory and the Flip has internal memory (which limits it, as far as I can figure, because you cannot upgrade the memory).

From what you know, what pros/cons do you see with either method - removable v internal memory on those little camcorders?

Michael Ross

Happy to help Michael!

I think the memory issue really all depends on how much video you plan to shoot. If you're shooting short videos or will have access to a computer to download the videos you shoot thoughout the day then you don't really need the extra storage. If you're taking the family out for the whole day and want to capture it all - then it'd be nice to be able to swap in more memory if needed.

Also - a feature many of the RCA models have is the ability to flip the viewing screen around so it can be seen from the front - useful if you want to get yourself in the shot without needing a dedicated cameraman.

HTH,

Steve

Michael,

I think having the available memory is a big plus for the RCA.

It is surprising how fast you can shoot 60 minutes worth of clips. And the size of those one minute clips adds up at about 100 MG per minute.

For short clips taken within access to your PC and/or that are going straight to Youtube, the extra memory doesn't really matter. Because those larger .AVI files will be condensed to much smaller Flash files. And you can readily upload and store those clips at Box.net.

However, if you are shooting away from your PC and/or you want to get the highest resolution you can to maybe put to DVD, having the option to drop another 2GB or 4GB SD card is the way to go (with prices at roughly US$15 & US$25).

Running out of memory never seems to happen at a good time. And between my partner and I we're starting to rack up quite a few free Box.net and Orbitfiles accounts (shhh...quiet please)

Incidently, I prefer Box to Orbifiles and others because you can batch upload files versus selecting one at a time.

One other interesting feature that I don't have a VCR to experiment with and can't confirm but wanted to mention. I don't see any reason why you couldn't record your digital camcorder files to VCR. Which could be useful at times. Maybe Phil could put on his magic hat and find a link to that info?

Also, here's two very informative product reviews from the pros:

http://shopper.cnet.com/digital-camc...-32445372.html

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/e...orders_rca.htm

Cheers,

Rod