ONLINE VIDEO ON A BUDGET
Part One: Buying the right digital video camera
Time to take the plunge
Outfitting a reporter to shoot video for the Web need not break the bank. One reason is that the price of digital camcorders keeps dropping. The technology in a camcorder that costs hundreds of dollars today probably cost thousands of dollars just a few years ago.
Good news as well is that most people don’t expect broadcast-quality video online – at least not yet. While television stations are facing the need to invest in expensive HD (high-definition) technology, the online audiences of today appear content to watch blurry YouTube clips of dogs . . .
| scratching themselves . . . | . . . and howling. |
Even so, you still want to give visitors the best video experience possible. You also want to begin mastering online video, so that you can continue to meet your audience's demands as they escalate in the future. So the time to go digital is now.
The right camera at the right price
Your first task in preparing to produce online video is to buy the best camera possible within your budget. While even many low-budget cameras today offer great options, there are two relatively costly features that can make a big difference in quality. (Cameras with three chips are particularly pricey.)
- Audio input jack for external microphone - Most people are quicker to forgive second-rate video images than substandard sound. Unfortunately, the built-in microphones on most cameras are not well suited for interviews. An audio input jack that allows you to use an external microphone solves the problem, but you need to check the specs or call the dealer to make sure you camcorder has this option. (Most built-in mics are omnidirectional, which obviously means they capture sound from all directions. The problem is that interviews benefit from a mic that focuses directly on the speaker. Built-in mics also do not work well beyond a few feet, so if that's your only choice, make sure your interview subject stands close to the camera.)
- Three-chip cameras (CCD or CMOS) - Video cameras use image sensors to capture visual information. The two primary semi-conductor image sensors are CCD and CMOS. [CCD stands for charge-coupled device (or color-capture device). CMOS stands for complementary metal oxide semiconductor.] Without debating their relative merits, the bottom line is that a camcorder with one chip simply cannot compete with one that has three. Three-chip cameras reliably deliver quality moving images with sparkling colors, even in low-light situations.
There is no single best camcorder for all newsrooms. The low end of the spectrum listed below may not offer the quality you need, while the top end might bust the budget.
The following categories can help guide you to the right choice, but due diligence demands that you scour the Web for reviews by experts and consumers about the model or models you are considering:
- Still camera that shoots barebones video ($150 or under) - Yes, technology keeps getting cheaper, but it is still hard to find a point-and-shoot camera that shoots acceptable video. And even if the images are OK, the bigger problem is inferior sound. (Some cameras in this category even shoot video with no sound at all, so again make sure to check the specs or call the dealer.) Best bet is to use these cameras to capture moving images that can be narrated with better audio recording equipment later, back in the newsroom. These cameras record onto a memory card, so you will also want to invest in a bundle of high-capacity cards since video chews up lots of space quickly.
| Plus | Minus | Example |
- Cheap enough so that
you can outfit almost everyone |
- Questionable video quality |
 Nikon Coolpix L10/L11/L12 - these models shoot Quicktime (.mov) movies with audio recording capability |
- Basic camcorder ($200 to $600) - These durable video cameras typically shoot onto mini-DV tapes. The top brands have come a long way with the invention of various proprietary stabilization technologies. At the low end of this range are cameras that have all the features you would want except the aformentioned audio input jack and three chips.
| Plus | Minus | Example |
- Inexpensive |
- May not perform well in low light |
 At the low end of the price range, the Panasonic PV-GS85 is a 1-CCD camcorder that lacks a jack for an external mic |
- Better camcorder ($600 to $1,200) - Almost all cameras in this price range allow you to attach an external microphone, but few feature three chips. Many advertise above-average low-light shooting capability. Some come with a screw-on wide-angle lens.
| Plus | Minus | Example |
- Easy
to carry |
- Features may or may not suit your
needs |
 The Sony DCR-HC96 offers a 10x optical and 120x digital zoom, as well as a built in, one-touch wide-angle option |
- Now you're talking quality ($2,000 to $2,500) - There are basically two main contenders in this category, the Sony DCRVX2100 and the Canon GL-2. Both are 3-CCD cameras. Both have hot shoes on top. (Hot shoes allow use of directional shotgun microphones or an adapter that allows you to attach top-quality external XLR microphones.)
| Canon GL-2 | Sony DCRVX2100 |
|
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| Plus and minus: In the spirt of full disclosure, I own two Canon GL2 cameras and will certify that the image quality and colors are amazing. (You should see the flesh tones!) The minus on both cameras, however, is that they are more fragile than some of the cheaper models - not good if they are going to endure heavy use in the field in the hands of novices. | |
- In my dreams ($3,500 and up) - Canon, JVC, Panasonic and Sony offer cameras that start at $3,500 and climb to almost $20,000. Many models use full-size DV tapes and feature XLR microphone inputs and a high-def option. It is difficult if not impossible to justify the expenditure if you are only shooting for the Web. (But if you do buy one, can I borrow it?)
A frame of reference: While you are drooling over those high-end cameras, consider that the Washington Post is giving its reporter camcorders that cost less than $250 each. (Deputy Multimedia Editor Chet Rhodes of washingtonpost.com hosts four-hour video training sessions. Reporters who attend are then asked to spend five minutes at the end of their traditional print interviews asking their subjects a few questions on camera. The video is then sent to a team of skilled video editors who prepare the material for the Web.)
A note about high-def video: Companies are beginning to offer new camcorder models that can switch between shooting regular and high-definition video. Since high def offers little or no advantage on the Web, there is currently no need to spend the extra money to buy a camera with high-def capability.
A note about mini-DV tapes: One additional piece of advice is to stick to the camcorders that shoot mini-DV tape. We are indeed headed to a tapeless future, where quality camcorders will record directly to a memory card or hard drive, but we aren't there yet. Mini-DV tapes are more vulnerable to damage, but my cameras have only eaten one tape so far. Sony, for one, also offers a Handycam that records onto DVDs, but it is hard to see a clear advantage in professional settings.
Save part of your budget for accessories: Buying as much camera as you can within your budget makes good sense, but there are some accessories that are absolutely essential. Make sure to read the rest of this series befor making a final determination about what you can afford to spend on the camera alone.
Equal time for felines: Yes, cats and kittens are cute, too.
Online video on a budget
Bonnie Bucqueroux teaches digital jouralism at Michigan State University's School of Journalism and is a self-described Web geek.