Video is probably the highest-value and highest-impact content you can create. There are a number of different types of devices you can use to record your own video.
Here are the ones I use and recommend:
Webcams
Webcams are excellent, good-value devices for recording video via your PC or Mac. Most PCs nowadays have basic webcams built-in.
For example, this means you can login directly to YouTube and create videos using the ‘Quick Capture’ option
Logitech Pro 9000
If you want to record higher quality video via a webcam, however, you need to use a more sophisticated device. The most widely recommended ‘professional’ webcam I’ve seen recommended and used personally is the Logitech Pro 9000 (£50). This webcam records video at a resolution of 2MB so the quality of your ‘talking head’ video will be much higher than most basic laptop webcams.
Mobile Video
Webcams are fine if you’re sat in front of your computer, but obviously that format has some limitations. You can’t exactly record outside, for example, or when you’re networking at events.
The new kid on the block, however, for recording videos is undoubtedly the new generation of high quality mobile video recording devices. While many mobile phones can now record video, the quality is still generally poor, plus its generally not that easy to take the video that you’ve recorded on the phone and do something useful with it – like upload it to YouTube and put it on your website.
There are now a number of different mobile video cameras, but there is undoubtedly only one major player…
Flip Video Cameras
The Flip camera is probably the hottest gadget of the last 12 months (after the iphone). You know when something is a phenomenon when people refer to it to describe a category of product.
‘Flip’ video cameras are mobile-phone sized devices that are really simple to use. There are only a few buttons to press… record / stop /playback / delete is about all. Simplicity and ease-of-use is paramount, and much like the iphone, the combination of simplicity and quality output has created some raving fans – including me…
Its called ‘flip’ because when you’ve recorded a video and you want to upload it to your PC or Mac, you simply ‘flip’ open a little USB connector that simply connects to your computer.
What’s more, when you attach the Flip Video to your computer, the camera automatically starts up its own software that quickly and easily allows you to upload your videos to YouTube, or download them to your machine and edit them if you prefer.
There are three types of Flip Video, the Ultra (£80), the Mino (now reduced to £95) and the Mino HD (£170). The main difference between the first two and the last is that the Mino HD records video in amazing High Definition. You can now even watch videos on YouTube in HD mode, and the quality is amazing.
The non-HD Ultra, however, despite being half the price can still produce more than impressive results, and for just £80 its a great. If you’re on a budget, however, the new reduced price Mino (non-HD version) is probably the best deal, as its a smaller, sleeker version of the original Ultra.
I personally use the Mino HD, however, and if you’d like to see examples of my videos check out my YouTube Channel and or my blog.
There are other brands of ‘flip’ video from manufacturers like Kodak ZX1 (£136). However, from the reviews I’ve read the quality of these don’t quite match the original Flip Videos – hence I’d recommend sticking with the original Flip brand itself.
The lesson is this… creating video content has never been as simple or as cost-effective… and creating video products or even your own TV channel is now within reach of anyone. Are you going to take advantage of this opportunity for your internet business?
