How to Shoot Video with a Digital Camera
Shooting video from your digital camera is much
different than shooting from a digital
camcorder. Newer digital cameras allow you to
take video clips, which are saved on a
flash
card for downloading or viewing from your
computer.
Here's a quick
overview of how digital cameras work
and what
features they
have:
-
Most digital cameras allow you to store
short video clips, ranging anywhere from 20 seconds to three
minutes, enabling you to shoot to the capacity
of your flash card.
- StashSpace only accepts .avi and
.wmv digital video formats, the two most common Windows
Video formats.
- Digital cameras shoot the best video in
bright, sunny conditions. Be sure that you have
plenty of natural light as well.
- Recent trends in digital video are the
ability of digital cameras to have a zoom
function during video capture. We recommend
against it, (especially if it
digital zoom and not optical zoom), as
you will most likely introduce video
digitization into your clip.
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- a d v e r t i s e m e n t -
| Choosing a Storage Card
Because storage cards come in many sizes and
shapes, it is important to take your time when
deciding on what type to buy. Here are some tips
on how to go about buying a storage card:
- Make sure the storage card is
compatible with your digital camera. Read the
manual to your digital camera to find out which
card is right for you. Some common types of
cards include:
- CompactFlash
- Secure Digital (SD)
- Memory Stick
- Microdrive
- XDPicture Cards
- Determine the storage-capacity-to-price ratio.
If you have a ong>Video iPod, the more
gigabytes (memory) on your iPod, the more songs
or videos you are allowed to import. But
naturally, the more storage on the card, the
higher in price it will be. Depending on how
much video or pictures you copy to your computer
and then delete, you may want balance the
convenience of fewer cards with the cost savings
of multiple lower capacity cards. Purchasing a
card with 1GB of storage space will probably run
you anywhere from $40 to $60, whereas a card
with only 512MB will run anywhere from $10 to
$20, depending on the manufacturer.
- Know the speed of the storage card.
The speed refers to how fast information is
written to or from the card. Generally, a
faster
storage card speed is better and costs more, but
is worth it in the long run. Faster storage card
speeds work well for shooting video as they
will capture the maximum frames per second (fps)
for smoother motion
- Considering the different storage card
manufacturers.
There may be little
difference in quality between highly priced
storage cards and those produced by well-known
(but cheaper) manufacturers. Any
differences that do exist most likely
will affect features such
as speed, performance and longevity. It’s very
important that you read the warranty before you
purchase a digital camera
storage card. Also research the
company website for technical and
customer support levels.
- When in doubt, shoot video
with your camcorder!
Consider taking your digital
camcorder with you. Although convenient,
camcorders are by far the hands down winner of
recording video memories. Unless you have
knack for still photography, your best bet is to
invest and use a digital video camcorder
anywhere you go!
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How to Shoot Good Home Video Tips
Understanding Digital Video
Getting to know your New Digital Camcorder
Shooting a Family Video Interview
Shooting a Family Reunion
Shoot Video with your Digital Camera
Recording Video in LP vs. SP Mode
Storing your Video Tapes
Storing your 8mm and 16mm film
How to White Balance Your Camcorder
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