Tips for Shooting Video

Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:05AM EDT

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Sony recently held a digital photography family day to teach people how to take better videos. The mini-convention showcased an array of products, but it was the new Sony camcorders—seven of which now record in HD—that really caught my attention.

High-definition looks great, but it can be even more unforgiving than low-resolution when you're a novice at shooting video. But Sony supplied me with a few essential tips to keep in mind as you go for the video memories. Check them out; they're sure to improve your movie-making.

  • Keep your camcorder charged and bring extra batteries along.
  • Always shoot a few seconds before and after the action you're shooting to make certain that you don't miss anything.
  • Imagine that your camcorder is a cup of hot coffee. You'll hold it steadier.
  • Use a tripod to steady your camera or use a camera with image stabilization. (It's called SteadyCam on the Sony camcorders.)
  • Zoom in to compose your shot, but avoid zooming in while recording.
  • Keep the sun behind you while you're shooting.
  • Place your camera at eye level with your subject (especially when shooting kids and pets).
  • Avoid a cluttered background when framing your picture.
  • Take photos with your subject off center to make it a more interesting composition.
  • Avoid unwanted shadows by keeping your subject away from any walls.
  • Ask your subjects to look at your shoulder and use built-in red eye reduction on cameras to eliminate red eye.
  • Hold your breath before pressing the shutter for a more stable image.

 


To really ace the technique, read Rick Broida's tips on Lifehacker and Izzy Video for some video podcasts.

Those of you looking to make the move into high-definition video will be interested in Sony's new camera. At only 15 ounces, the Handycam HDR-CX7 is one of the smallest and lightest camcorders on the market. It records and saves to a memory stick, using the controversial AVCHD, a format that saves HD video. According to Sony, you can record nearly three hours of full HD 1080 video on an 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media card.

I like memory sticks because they're easy to work with, but Sony's other HD camcorder, the HDR-SR7, records on a built-in 60GB hard disk, which holds even more video.

All of the new Sony HD camcorders have 2.7-nch LCD preview screens, a capable sensor, Zeiss optics, and little extras like Nightshot Plus, an infrared mode for capturing images taken in dark places. The cameras also support HDMI so you can connect the camera to your HDTV and watch the family movies before the guests leave. At $1,200 and $1,400 respectively, the HDR-CX7 and the HDR-SR7 are not cheap; it's that gorgeous HD picture you're paying for, after all.

 

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  • 46 Posted by caddy76daddy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    There's really no need to spend that much money. The only thing these Sonys have that my Hitachi doesen't is the memory stick capability. $800 should be able to get you a camera that has absolutely superb HD quality, 60 gig of memory, immediate playback to your TV, and a dvd recorder built in to the camera as well. Did I mention that an extra 2 hour battery and carry case fits in to that $800?

  • 47 Posted by doti.sandback on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Agreed with Stefanicole. While a quick and shaky zoom can be bothersome to the eye of the viewer, a steady and slow one can have a great effect on your videos. Of course, it depends what you're shooting. If you're shooting something in motion, for instance, stay away from zooming, or you might lose your subject in a split second and searching for it with your camcorder will just look bad.

  • 48 Posted by rcassel@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    From your tease, "Don't zoom while filming," how do you shoot film in a video camera? Answer, you are "taping," not "filming."

  • 49 Posted by scratches86 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Everybody should listen to us_test and davescott29. Everything they said was what I was going to post, but they probably explain it much better then how I was going to write. In regard to the not zooming in tip while recording I would like to remind people that zooming in is a difficult task to accomplish on a hand-held consumer level camcorders without practice. If people think of the audience Sony was aiming to help, which was beginners, they did their job. This mini-convention they held wasn't for film/video professionals, like us, who have master these techniques with practice and help. Please think of the context of what was written before ripping up the tips.

  • 50 Posted by scottroutt on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    You might as well have posted tips on how to do surgery like a pro. The junk that people turn out from their cameras is usually relegated to the closet cemetery. If it was really worth shooting, then get a real pro to shoot and edit it. I'm sorry, but you can't make a $500 camcorder with an on-board microphone look and sound like a $3000 camera with external shotgun microphones. I haven't even mentioned the difference a Bogen Manfrotto tripod ($500) and a non-linear editor (Final Cut Pro- $1,200) make in creating enjoyable video. But what the heck, its only your memories.

  • 52 Posted by tehpastaboy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    Stupid tips for anyone with more than 5 minutes experience with a camcorder. Zoom while filming is require for the "JAWS" style shot, for one. And keeping the sun behind you? Yeah, unless you want a backlit shot. Duh.

  • 53 Posted by nofear01525 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    very helpful tips. i do action shots of ultimate frisbee and these definitely helped. thanks!

  • 54 Posted by choice49 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    Re zoom, I think the original tip's intent is correct, that zooming way too much, too fast, and too often is annoyingly hard to watch. But also, yes, a shake-free smooth zoom, usually quite slow, that starts with a good wideshot and ends with a rational "focus point", is a really good way to improve viewer interest. This works especially well with coordinated voiceover that ends up speaking to the same focus point, just as the video rests there.

  • 55 Posted by captain_kirk10 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    us_test and dave scot you dont have to yse all 3000 characters. snager mark students have gone to school to learn about filming so you probly know less than thy do. I personaly dont like Sony cameras there other stuff is grate, but Canon is number 1 in my book.

  • 56 Posted by rifle_toting_hillbilly on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    You people complaining need to realize this "article" is just an advertisement for Sony products, like that "article" about video games a couple months ago that mentioned only games for Sony's PS3, or like movie "reviews" by the "critic" known as David Manning.

  • 58 Posted by markmarriage00 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    One of the cooler effects you can do with your zoom, is to simultaneously pull foward or back with the camera and zoom in or out (whichever is opposite).

  • 59 Posted by generaln00b on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    Unless you are a stuck-up "film student," taping and filming are the same thing. What do you call it when you use a hard-drive or disc-based camcorder? driving? discing? Gotta go, I'm making a mix tape.

  • 60 Posted by elbodude on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Don't shop at www.bestpricecameras.com

  • 61 Posted by johnbrew on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    stafanicole doesn't know what she is talking about. A dolly always looks better than a zoom. If you do have to zoom it should be a very slow one.

  • 62 Posted by lynnk111 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wow! Pretty snarky comments for a brief article with tips on videotaping. Need more fiber in your diet, folks? :) For the film students, I'd love to know whether you like your school. My daughter's starting her senior year in high school and is looking for a terrific video production/film program. Anybody love or hate theirs? Please e-mail me at lynnk111@yahoo.com. Thanks!

  • 63 Posted by stafanicole on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    Here is an interesting article on zooming if anyone is interested.. http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:dTI9CUi3jt0J:www.hermenaut.com/a18.shtml+tarkovsky+zoom&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

  • 64 Posted by walejamiu on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    hello can u plaese explain how to use camera from a to z.

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