Which Camcorder Should I Buy?

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One of the major advantages you have as small business is velocity from idea to actuality. While the corporations are still waiting for their next board meeting to put forward a proposal, we can pump out informative and timely content.

When filming videos for your small business, speed should be your main priority. Trying to achieve the same production quality as corporate America is nonsensical. Don’t spend weeks planning and producing one great video. Instead position to make lots of good videos, quickly.

Filming in hi-definition is not a good idea unless you have a quad-core computer with four (4) GB of RAM or more and professional editing software. Here’s a little secret though, you can set most hi-definition camcorders to film in standard definition. When you feel you need hi-definition, simply click the switch and change your camcorder back to hi-definition mode.

OPTION ONE – The Flip offer an inexpensive line of very easy-to-use camcorders. If you want to produce videos for jiveSYSTEMS (Video Email), YouTube, and other web based initiatives, it is a great choice. To record a video, you hit start and then stop, literally. A hi-definition version of The Flip is offered, it can NOT be set to standard definition. To learn more visit their website.

OPTION TWO – Go with a moderately priced digital camcorder. I recommend both the Canon VIXIA HF10 and the Sony HDR-11. The Canon cost $655; the Sony $820.

While some would motion that MiniDV (a tape) still produces the best quality footage, unless you are a professional videographer, it increases your production time. If you are a newbie to video, go with The Flip. When you have a few months of producing videos under your belt, pick-up either the Sony or Canon camcorder.

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About the Author:

Will Franco is the CEO/Founder of jiveSYSTEMS (a video email marketing software and training company). He also runs an online community / membership group called AskFlywheel, in which he teaches cutting-edge online marketing strategies. His mantra at work is "Think-Automate: Do it, Automate it, Delegate it, or Ditch it"


  • Aeyez Al Mohairbi

    Hello there would like to a pay pro camcorder and i am trying to get pro advice. i would like a camcorder that i can record ice hockey games with clear video resolution this is my main purpose and to injoy it.I have jvc Evrio brande, but I’m not satisfied with its preformance at all. you wont get clear video at all i main you won’t recognize the players faces.My budget is between 3000 to 4000 dollars.For your referece i am not pro in video recording so if it is possible to recommend camcorder easy to understand not complicated, light weight,easy to transfer the video to your pc or dvd and fine still pictures.If possible recommend at least 3 or 4 pro comcarder.

    Your prompt reply is highly appreciated.

  • Aeyez Al Mohairbi

    Hello there would like to a pay pro camcorder and i am trying to get pro advice. i would like a camcorder that i can record ice hockey games with clear video resolution this is my main purpose and to injoy it.I have jvc Evrio brande, but I’m not satisfied with its preformance at all. you wont get clear video at all i main you won’t recognize the players faces.My budget is between 3000 to 4000 dollars.For your referece i am not pro in video recording so if it is possible to recommend camcorder easy to understand not complicated, light weight,easy to transfer the video to your pc or dvd and fine still pictures.If possible recommend at least 3 or 4 pro comcarder.

    Your prompt reply is highly appreciated.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Flywheel Flywheel aka Ortonom

    Sorry for the delay.

    HDV does mix well with action sports [fast moving objects]. You will need to find a specialist in the area.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Flywheel Flywheel aka Ortonom

    Sorry for the delay.

    HDV does mix well with action sports [fast moving objects]. You will need to find a specialist in the area.

  • Steven Le

    You said HD recorders are not good. I just bought a Flip HD Mino and I noticed that it would not play video at all. Is it because of the HD?

  • Steven Le

    You said HD recorders are not good. I just bought a Flip HD Mino and I noticed that it would not play video at all. Is it because of the HD?

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Flywheel Flywheel aka Ortonom

    HD is a commonly misused term. All HD is referring to is the actual size of the video. This is typically 1920×1080 or 1280×720. If a video does not display, it simply is not a supported file type.

    Since you have a Flip HD, you can drag the video files directly off the device and upload them though jiveSYSTEMS.com. If you need any assistance with this, contact our support team by sending an email to askus@jivesystems.com

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Flywheel Flywheel aka Ortonom

    HD is a commonly misused term. All HD is referring to is the actual size of the video. This is typically 1920×1080 or 1280×720. If a video does not display, it simply is not a supported file type.

    Since you have a Flip HD, you can drag the video files directly off the device and upload them though jiveSYSTEMS.com. If you need any assistance with this, contact our support team by sending an email to askus@jivesystems.com