Video camera kit for recording conferences.
April 10, 2012 10:49 AM Subscribe
Please help me put together a video recording kit for my company, on a budget.
We need to be able to videotape presentations at conferences. People on stage, talking to an audience of people sitting at tables set up in rounds. Some occasional panning, but most of the time, just the camera pointed at the stage.
So, what kit would you put together to accomplish this, as economically as possible? A DSLR on a tripod? What kind(s) of lens(es)? HD is a must.
Lighting shouldn't be an issue as the conference rooms tend to be very well lit. Sound also won't be an issue, as we'll be able to get a line out from the A/V guy's mixing board.
We need to be able to videotape presentations at conferences. People on stage, talking to an audience of people sitting at tables set up in rounds. Some occasional panning, but most of the time, just the camera pointed at the stage.
So, what kit would you put together to accomplish this, as economically as possible? A DSLR on a tripod? What kind(s) of lens(es)? HD is a must.
Lighting shouldn't be an issue as the conference rooms tend to be very well lit. Sound also won't be an issue, as we'll be able to get a line out from the A/V guy's mixing board.
If capturing sound is important to you, you're going to want to buy a camera with mic inputs (preferably 2) or a mixing board to capture more than one person talking. There's special mics as well that can sit on a conference table and pick up everyone talking.
posted by inviolable at 11:44 AM on April 10, 2012
posted by inviolable at 11:44 AM on April 10, 2012
Yup, a DSLR is going to be the most economical option. I've used the Panasonic GH2 for paying jobs and have been really impressed by it. If you have $2k or more to spend on a camera, my recommendation would be different, but at around $1k, you really can't beat this camera for HD image quality or features.
The 40-140mm lens in the kit I linked to would give you good range from relatively far back in a conference room.
It's way cheaper than the more popular Canon DSLRs and doesn't have the 12 minute per clip recording limit either (although that may no longer be an issue, I haven't looked at the Canons for a year or so).
For an event, you want two cameras (at least 2, maybe more depending on number of subjects on stage, or for that matter, how many camera operators you have available to shoot) so you always have an angle to cut away to in the edit. For your second camera, ideally you'd want another GH2 (or whatever model you buy) but you can also skimp on the second camera if your budget is really tight. At the very least, get the cheapest HD handicam you can find and set it up in the back of the room for the wide master shot. You cut away to the shot from the B-camera to cover the times when your manned A-camera is reframing or getting focus or whatever.
Choice of tripod is less important but you'll need to spend at least $500 to get anything even close to a decent setup that doesn't make you want to tear your hair out when you try to execute a smooth pan. Bogen would be a good place to start.
I'm not sure where your line out is ending up, but the Zoom H4N (even the much cheaper Zoom H2, for that matter) is an excellent digital recorder. You can run the sound from the board into the Zoom or you can use them as additional standalone sources positioned near the presenters.
posted by Cortes at 11:51 AM on April 10, 2012
The 40-140mm lens in the kit I linked to would give you good range from relatively far back in a conference room.
It's way cheaper than the more popular Canon DSLRs and doesn't have the 12 minute per clip recording limit either (although that may no longer be an issue, I haven't looked at the Canons for a year or so).
For an event, you want two cameras (at least 2, maybe more depending on number of subjects on stage, or for that matter, how many camera operators you have available to shoot) so you always have an angle to cut away to in the edit. For your second camera, ideally you'd want another GH2 (or whatever model you buy) but you can also skimp on the second camera if your budget is really tight. At the very least, get the cheapest HD handicam you can find and set it up in the back of the room for the wide master shot. You cut away to the shot from the B-camera to cover the times when your manned A-camera is reframing or getting focus or whatever.
Choice of tripod is less important but you'll need to spend at least $500 to get anything even close to a decent setup that doesn't make you want to tear your hair out when you try to execute a smooth pan. Bogen would be a good place to start.
I'm not sure where your line out is ending up, but the Zoom H4N (even the much cheaper Zoom H2, for that matter) is an excellent digital recorder. You can run the sound from the board into the Zoom or you can use them as additional standalone sources positioned near the presenters.
posted by Cortes at 11:51 AM on April 10, 2012
1. Camera with microphone input. DSLRs with video are nice, but they're fiddly and you probably don't want or need the shallow depth of field that you can get with them. Get a small HD camcorder. I like Panasonic (here's one), but Sony (here's one) is okay too. Whatever you get, doublecheck for a mic input - lots of camcorders don't have one.
2. A good tripod. Bogen/Manfrotto is good. Make sure you get a video head - that's the kind with a long handle sticking off the back. They're made to move smoothly and fluidly, and they should have knobs to adjust the tension so that it's comfortable for you. Get the biggest, heaviest thing you can afford. Most tripods are not terribly stable when the center column is raised, so you probably won't get the maximum height that they list.
3. Don't forget the audio cable that connects to the mixer. Ask the AV guy what you need to adapt to his outputs.
You should be able to get set up for $1000 or less.
Some general tips:
- Remember that if you're using the mic input, you won't be recording anything that's not said into a microphone. If there's audience participation you need to capture, you'll have to pass around wireless microphones or else have the presenter repeat the comment/question for the tape.
- Start recording before you think you need to.
- If you can't get your pans smooth, try looping a rubber band around the tripod handle and pulling the band instead. It acts like a shock absorber.
- Never leave video on the card/drive/tape/whatever. Transfer it to a computer, back it up, and erase the original media. It's too easy to lose or damage, and if you empty it every time, then you always know which files you just recorded (answer: everything on there).
posted by echo target at 2:12 PM on April 10, 2012
2. A good tripod. Bogen/Manfrotto is good. Make sure you get a video head - that's the kind with a long handle sticking off the back. They're made to move smoothly and fluidly, and they should have knobs to adjust the tension so that it's comfortable for you. Get the biggest, heaviest thing you can afford. Most tripods are not terribly stable when the center column is raised, so you probably won't get the maximum height that they list.
3. Don't forget the audio cable that connects to the mixer. Ask the AV guy what you need to adapt to his outputs.
You should be able to get set up for $1000 or less.
Some general tips:
- Remember that if you're using the mic input, you won't be recording anything that's not said into a microphone. If there's audience participation you need to capture, you'll have to pass around wireless microphones or else have the presenter repeat the comment/question for the tape.
- Start recording before you think you need to.
- If you can't get your pans smooth, try looping a rubber band around the tripod handle and pulling the band instead. It acts like a shock absorber.
- Never leave video on the card/drive/tape/whatever. Transfer it to a computer, back it up, and erase the original media. It's too easy to lose or damage, and if you empty it every time, then you always know which files you just recorded (answer: everything on there).
posted by echo target at 2:12 PM on April 10, 2012
Don't go the DSLR route unless you are a film maker. There is a much bigger learning curve, and too many chances for something to go wrong. You can get professional HD images out of consumer camcorders nowadays. The canon vixia line of cameras will do fine for what you want. I've got the HFS100 (I don't know which current model replaces it), and I've done plenty of projects similar to what you describe.
If you go DSLR, you will need a separate audio recording setup to get good sounding audio that you can reliably monitor.
posted by markblasco at 7:05 PM on April 10, 2012
If you go DSLR, you will need a separate audio recording setup to get good sounding audio that you can reliably monitor.
posted by markblasco at 7:05 PM on April 10, 2012
There is a much bigger learning curve, and too many chances for something to go wrong.
Maybe in the past. We're several video DSLR generations in now, and camera companies are adjusting accordingly. The GH2 I suggested is just one option, but it is apparent when using it that it was made with the video shooter in mind. The user interface is video-centric and very easy to use.
If you go DSLR, you will need a separate audio recording setup to get good sounding audio that you can reliably monitor.
There are obviously no XLR inputs, but most video DSLRs these days do have audio inputs. The GH2 has a 2.5mm sub-mini connection (and audio level monitoring). Not pro-level audio, but you're not going to find that in a handi-cam either.
Not to say that something like the HFS100 wouldn't work great for jbicker's purposes--but I think a prospective buyer is doing himself a disservice by excluding the current crop of DSLRs from his search.
posted by Cortes at 8:12 PM on April 10, 2012
Maybe in the past. We're several video DSLR generations in now, and camera companies are adjusting accordingly. The GH2 I suggested is just one option, but it is apparent when using it that it was made with the video shooter in mind. The user interface is video-centric and very easy to use.
If you go DSLR, you will need a separate audio recording setup to get good sounding audio that you can reliably monitor.
There are obviously no XLR inputs, but most video DSLRs these days do have audio inputs. The GH2 has a 2.5mm sub-mini connection (and audio level monitoring). Not pro-level audio, but you're not going to find that in a handi-cam either.
Not to say that something like the HFS100 wouldn't work great for jbicker's purposes--but I think a prospective buyer is doing himself a disservice by excluding the current crop of DSLRs from his search.
posted by Cortes at 8:12 PM on April 10, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. I'm leaning toward the DSLR route, but probably one of the less expensive ones - I'm thinking this camera with this zoom lens, or some similar setup. Any flaws in that thinking?
posted by jbickers at 8:46 AM on April 12, 2012
posted by jbickers at 8:46 AM on April 12, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by supercres at 11:14 AM on April 10, 2012