college seminar wants to use flip video hd for website use? at DVinfo.net

Rob Katz · June 20th, 2011, 02:00 PM

i'm involved in a college seminar doing oral histories.

the students want to post their interviews on a website they will put together.

several students already have flip cameras-the ultra hd

http://store.theflip.com/en-us/produ...aHD4GB1HR.aspx

for talking head shots in well lit environments, the 720p image isn't bad.

the camera is simple for the kids to use.

the audio is adequate.

the flip hd shoots a h264 codec so its very web-able.

the kids have macbooks so the can cut the footage in imovie.

my question:

has anyone ever actually seen any flip video posted on the web?

thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.

be well

rob
smalltalk productions

Wayne Reimer · June 20th, 2011, 07:15 PM

It wouldn't be my first choice by any means, but for web use it's quite adequate, assuming a tripod or some kind of stabilization is going to be used ( otherwise it's terribly jittery). If they already have the cameras....good technique will go a long way towards making the footage useable

Rob Katz · June 21st, 2011, 09:41 AM

wayne-

thanks for the info.

be well

rob

Sean Walsh · June 24th, 2011, 04:23 PM

Rob,

I teach TV journalism at the University for the Creative Arts in Surrey, south of London - and our students use Kodak Zi8s.

The model has recently been replaced but the Zi8s have been great - shooting 720p and having the benefit of being able to take an exetrnal mike - which improves the sound and interview capabilities hugely.

(Maybe Kodak should pay me for endorsing their camera!)

Here's a review I did of the camera ( YouTube - ‪UCA Today - road-testing the new Kodak Zi8 pocket cam‬&rlm; ) - it's not a techy guide but it shows what sort of pictures you can get using it straight from the box.

For what it's worth, many of my students like using the camera - primarily because they don't have to hump a load of gear around with them.

Sean

George Kilroy · June 28th, 2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Walsh

For what it's worth, many of my students like using the camera - primarily because they don't have to hump a load of gear around with them.

That's students for your, anything for an easy life (wink).

Jim Cancil · October 13th, 2011, 10:58 AM

Rob. It will work fine.. Sean had a good point about external mikes because of the 'soup can' audio you often get in rooms with hard floors and empty walls. The last thing you'd want is boor'ing video ..and bad sound. Think about doing close-to-zits, head-only shots..

If they already have the cams, then you're done .. if not then, for example, Kodak -just this week- released the Playfull which is $100 and waterproof to 3meters. 720p - 30fps HD. Even the cheapest beer will not brick this cam.

I have one here and it seems made for 8yr olds to do post production in the cam and post directly to YouTube, Flicker, Facebook or even email. It only lacks WiFi. I'd worry less about the mechanicals than the actors curing insomnia while discussing their 'history'.

Jim

... when I looked at the picture - I remembered that Kodak when de-spec'ing this cam left the 1/4-20 tripod adaptor off the list. 'Hand Hold Only'.

Rick L. Allen · October 13th, 2011, 08:34 PM

Nothing like that drive for mediocrity in a collegiate environment!

If the oral histories are important enough to capture and people are kind enough to give of their time then at least your class can do them the courtesy of using a better camera with a lavalier mike and dare I say it maybe even lights. The Flips audio is inadequate at best - especially for oral histories which depend on clean sound! You are telling both your students and your subjects that the project isn't even worth a minimal commitment to using decent gear. What does that tell them about the standards they should strive for in the future?

Michael Johnston · October 13th, 2011, 10:55 PM

As a professional tv photojournalist, this thread is exactly what's wrong with tv journalism today. How can ANYONE think it's acceptable to use a Flip camera??? This is why kids leave college and can't make it in a tv newsroom. I would think someone teaching them would know better but it appears the teachers have become just as lazy as the students. Do the kids a favor and get them using a real camera, real lights, and real audio equipment. Easy=lazy.

June 20th, 2011, 02:00 PM	#1
Rob Katz Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: new york city, new york Posts: 594	college seminar wants to use flip video hd for website use? i'm involved in a college seminar doing oral histories. the students want to post their interviews on a website they will put together. several students already have flip cameras-the ultra hd http://store.theflip.com/en-us/produ...aHD4GB1HR.aspx for talking head shots in well lit environments, the 720p image isn't bad. the camera is simple for the kids to use. the audio is adequate. the flip hd shoots a h264 codec so its very web-able. the kids have macbooks so the can cut the footage in imovie. my question: has anyone ever actually seen any flip video posted on the web? thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts. be well rob smalltalk productions

June 20th, 2011, 07:15 PM	#2
Wayne Reimer Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 255	Re: college seminar wants to use flip video hd for website use? It wouldn't be my first choice by any means, but for web use it's quite adequate, assuming a tripod or some kind of stabilization is going to be used ( otherwise it's terribly jittery). If they already have the cameras....good technique will go a long way towards making the footage useable

June 21st, 2011, 09:41 AM	#3
Rob Katz Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: new york city, new york Posts: 594	Re: college seminar wants to use flip video hd for website use? wayne- thanks for the info. be well rob

June 24th, 2011, 04:23 PM	#4
Sean Walsh Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London, Milton Keynes, Bedford UK & Beijing, China Posts: 102	Re: college seminar wants to use flip video hd for website use? Rob, I teach TV journalism at the University for the Creative Arts in Surrey, south of London - and our students use Kodak Zi8s. The model has recently been replaced but the Zi8s have been great - shooting 720p and having the benefit of being able to take an exetrnal mike - which improves the sound and interview capabilities hugely. (Maybe Kodak should pay me for endorsing their camera!) Here's a review I did of the camera ( YouTube - ‪UCA Today - road-testing the new Kodak Zi8 pocket cam‬&rlm; ) - it's not a techy guide but it shows what sort of pictures you can get using it straight from the box. For what it's worth, many of my students like using the camera - primarily because they don't have to hump a load of gear around with them. Sean __________________ Sean Walsh http://www.visionworkstv.co.uk PPro, Z1, EX3 - Currently in Beijing at CCTV-News

October 13th, 2011, 10:58 AM	#6
Jim Cancil Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Salisbury Maryland Posts: 161	Re: college seminar wants to use flip video hd for website use? Rob. It will work fine.. Sean had a good point about external mikes because of the 'soup can' audio you often get in rooms with hard floors and empty walls. The last thing you'd want is boor'ing video ..and bad sound. Think about doing close-to-zits, head-only shots.. If they already have the cams, then you're done .. if not then, for example, Kodak -just this week- released the Playfull which is $100 and waterproof to 3meters. 720p - 30fps HD. Even the cheapest beer will not brick this cam. I have one here and it seems made for 8yr olds to do post production in the cam and post directly to YouTube, Flicker, Facebook or even email. It only lacks WiFi. I'd worry less about the mechanicals than the actors curing insomnia while discussing their 'history'. Jim ... when I looked at the picture - I remembered that Kodak when de-spec'ing this cam left the 1/4-20 tripod adaptor off the list. 'Hand Hold Only'. Attached Thumbnails

October 13th, 2011, 08:34 PM	#7
Rick L. Allen Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 536	Re: college seminar wants to use flip video hd for website use? Nothing like that drive for mediocrity in a collegiate environment! If the oral histories are important enough to capture and people are kind enough to give of their time then at least your class can do them the courtesy of using a better camera with a lavalier mike and dare I say it maybe even lights. The Flips audio is inadequate at best - especially for oral histories which depend on clean sound! You are telling both your students and your subjects that the project isn't even worth a minimal commitment to using decent gear. What does that tell them about the standards they should strive for in the future? __________________ "The good thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not." Neil deGrasse Tyson https://www.nautilusproductions.com/

October 13th, 2011, 10:55 PM	#8
Michael Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 130	Re: college seminar wants to use flip video hd for website use? As a professional tv photojournalist, this thread is exactly what's wrong with tv journalism today. How can ANYONE think it's acceptable to use a Flip camera??? This is why kids leave college and can't make it in a tv newsroom. I would think someone teaching them would know better but it appears the teachers have become just as lazy as the students. Do the kids a favor and get them using a real camera, real lights, and real audio equipment. Easy=lazy.