Video blogging - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 02:34:55 am
content: Really thinking about starting up a youtube channel for myself.Lots of folks ask for help on different radio related forums. I think making video's would be an easier route to take. So the question is, How to start.I spent days looking at different "how to make a youtube video" and what cam is the best.So if you had 250 bucks set aside what would you do? Remembeing some shots would be close up of circuit boards.Camera, lighting. editing

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 03:27:17 am
content: In my opinion, the most important thing should be a tripod for stable image, then lightning, then good audio, then video resolution/quality .I bought one from Amazon UK for about 20 uk pounds, it's quite good :http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-Star-Tripod-Carry-Case/dp/B007JEL6IA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372256414&sr=8-1&keywords=hama+star+61+tripod+with+carry+caseIf your lightning sucks, the videos look ugly and unprofessional. The new camera I bought (see below) is more sensitive to light levels so when I record something in the afternoons I use additional lightning.Good lights/reflectors are expensive but you can cheat .. I used two of those garden floodlight/ building spotlights that come with 500w halogen lightbulbs from a diy store for about 12$ each, they look like this:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Palmer-Riley-CTH500S-Halogen-Floodlight/dp/B000GCFOYO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390274076&sr=8-2&keywords=500w+halogen+lightJust bought suitable cable and plug for these and attached them to the bar holding the curtains (but you might want to be careful, they can be very hot, i move the curtains aside when using them so they won't burn from the heat). The bulbs are cheap, under a dollar, but the light is not quite "white", it's a sort of warm white yellowish (but really not annoying or screwing with camera), so if you want a cool white you may have to buy more expensive halogen bulbs or get some led lightbulbs instead.Most good video cameras have more than decent microphones built in. If you're really serious, search for a camera that has a microphone input.I made some videos with a camera bought from eBay for about 150$, a Sony HD-SR5E ( 1440x1080, 40GB hdd, 5.1 sound) and the built in microphone was very good.Now I bought on Black Friday aSony HDR-CX410VEfrom Amazon UK at around half the normal price. This model has excellent motion stabilization (both the classic electronic system and one where the lens mechanism is stabilized with servo-motors), 1080p, uses sdhc cards up to 32 gigs, there's a big battery option doing 6-8 hours of recording etc) at and while it has microphone input, I didn't feel the need to use one.Like any good camera, this supports adding lens so it's quite easy to add macro lens on top of the normal lens and so on. Even the cheap 10$ macro lens on eBay can be of good enough quality to give you some decent pcb shots... i have a "newwer" (or something like that) macro lens I bought for around 5$ and it does an OK job (of course, image aberations on corners but the center is nicely zoomed)Video quality is directly dependent on how stable is the image and the brightness... resolution doesn't matter than much, most people won't care for anything more than 720p. I upload in 1080p but that's simply because it's the easiest to edit and upload for me.Nowadays there are some smart phones that can record 720p in quite good quality but they're kinda hard to stabilize and don't have tripod support. Previous generation HD cameras can be bought on eBay for quite good prices. I'd look for Sony, Panasonic, Canon@w2aew : your videos are great, but you have awesome natural lightning and that Canon still camera also has good sensor.I did my first Youtube with the Canon Powershot A580 I still use for stills... for video it's lousy because it only records 640x480 20 fps, and in Motion JPG format. A pain to use in video editors without converting to other formats.

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 03:30:06 am
content: Quote from: Radio Tech on January 21, 2014, 02:34:55 amTo me, good quality content is more important than fancy equipment. I started my YouTube channel using nothing more than my old Canon SX130is still camera (in movie mode), with no special lighting. Now, with over 120 videos, 11,000 subscribers and over 1,000,000 total views... ...what camera am I using? The same one.Produce good quality material presented in a clear and understandable style, and your viewers will be happy.

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 03:36:29 am
content: Quote from: w2aew on January 21, 2014, 03:30:06 amAbsolutely.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 03:41:58 am
content: Quote from: david77 on January 21, 2014, 03:36:29 am+2 , do not get distracted by the video production gadgets, ignore them at the beginning. Think hard about the content quality, uniqueness, effective presentation skill etc, and tons of other non gadgets issues that I think deserved more attention, especially you're making a new channel.

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 11:58:14 am
content: I would say, focus on content. You can always upgrade your production tools later if it turns out you like video blogging. People are forgiving for lower resolution, even bit bad audio as long as you provide them content they want to see.As other have pointed out, you could start with tripod to get camera stabilized. Nothing like shake image to irritate people.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 12:40:21 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on January 21, 2014, 03:41:58 amWhilst I agree with the sentiment, getting stuff right at the start can certainly help your channel get traction.e.g.screw the audio up and people may not come back.have crap quality shaky and noisy video and people may not come back$250 does not buy you much, but it's enough.Choosing a camera in that price range is probably pot luck, maybe a known good 2nd hand model is better.Get an Opteka x10 macro lens for closeups.If you are in front of the camera youwillneed an external mic (lapel is best) unless you have a whisper quiet environment with good acoustics.Otherwise if you are behind the camera doing commentary then the internal mic is usually enough on most cameras.Lighting is a huge deal. Forget the marketing BS, "low light" is NOT at night time, it is most ordinary indoor room lighting (e.g. sub 500lux) and most low cost cameras suck in just general room lighting. Especially when you increase the F stop to get more depth of field for things like PCBs shot at an angle.Cheap work lamps from the hardware store can work very well.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 01:55:37 pm
content: Cool, Lots of good info and opinions. Noted!Probably all of my video's would be pointed at the work bench and equipment I am working on. I would never point the camera at meOn another note my eyes are not as good as they once were so lighting is very nice in the shop. Too bright for some. Anyway I will be behind the camera.Bought a Fuji LJ510 a few weeks ago for taking better pics of boards and stuff. LAst night I played around with the video mode and was quite impressed with the quality.Alan,You already know I enjoy your videos. Never knew you were using such simple stuff to shoot with.Dave,Thanks for those tips, you crazy Aussie bloke youI would never be as good as you...The rest a big thanks also. Every bit of info I can grab is appreciated. I will start off small and simple and go from there. Will probably start with a test video with a tour of the bench and equipment I have. Post it and let you guys decide how it looks.Thanks for the tips

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 02:12:09 pm
content: Quote from: Radio Tech on January 21, 2014, 01:55:37 pmYes, if you have enough light then any modern P&S camera will give you decent video these days. I've shot quite a few videos on my Samsung WB2000 compact. I have a new Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 on it's way, and it's supposed to shoot really good video for a compact. I might use it one video and see if anyone spots the difference...What is a Fuji LJ510 ?

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 05:07:34 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 21, 2014, 02:12:09 pmBoy did I mess that up lol.That should had said Fuji JX520. At work and got many things on my mind