Even if you've got a model, you can't take a picture without a camera. And you can't become a star of the various 'Tubes without the right kit.
What's best? Well, because YouTube rules the web, their compression scheme rules how people see video. You know it well-- choppy, blocky, like a person edited the video after a nice repetitive session of head-into-wall. The style looks like old Maysles films, and says: TRUTH!
Grainy, harsh images make you AUTHENTIC. People will trust you; you'll make friends; love will come your way.
Figure 1. I trust this cat. He's been through the wringer!That's life experience writ on his brow.
Figure 2. Who is this purveyor of deviltry?This slick huckster, greasing his paws?
So, here are you best options:
OPTION A
The best, grainiest images come from the crappiest sources. Cel Phones. Apple's built-in iSight camera. Or our favorite: a still camera. Most shoot video-- on this one, you can shoot in the QQVGA mode and you get 15 frames per second of video-- exactly the same as YouTube, and half as many as TV. Perfect! Make sure to shake it around a lot.
OPTION B You actually want a camera, not a toy. So get one! Just make it cheap. A regular video camera can do a nice job. Just crank up the gain and get right up on top of that thing.
OPTION C As a compromise between dirt cheaposity and actually having a touch of control over the look of your videos, we recommend as a last resort Canon's HV30. A later cousing of the HV20, it offers a full-frame high definition sensor that also takes cheapo DV footage on regular cheapo DV tapes. Amazing! Not a lot of control, but this isn't Holywood.
OPTION D
The worst madness of all comes if you're crazy enough to want to make a true professional image. You're an Auteur-- you have a masterpiece in you, and nothing can stop it coming out! It's coming!
Well, you think your masterpiece needs its equal in your kit. So you go to the top of the pile-- actually, the pile keeps getting bigger after this. A lot of indie filmmakers like
But we recommend the upcoming Canon Rocketlauncher, as we call it, for its military form factor, interchangeable lenses, and Canon reliability. Go to town! Just don't put your masterpiece on the 'Tubes-- it'll look like crap! By our measure, anyway.
Awright! Go shoot some video!
Next time: SOUND: THE HIDDEN COWBOY
(Special thanks to CATpitalism!, our sister blog, for pix)
