Korean Job Discussion Forums

withnail · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea.

Hey Guys

I want to start making some videos of my experiences in Korea to post on youtube for my family to see. As I'm not a great tech whiz, I always imagined I'd need a very expensive camcorder for this purpose, to get good sound, good quality etc.

But I was checking out some guy's youtube vids and he appears to be just using a digital camera!

Question 1: If so, can you recommend a really good digital camera I can use for video? One that I can buy here in Korea? Preferably one that can switch to English user interface...one that can record sound well!

Question 2: How can I edit the video before upload? After I get the file on my notebook, should I be able to download some video editing software?

Really would appreciate you taking the time to help out!

I have been in Korea for three years and have done very little travelling and I am going to correct this immediately!!!!

Cheers

Mike aka (Withnail)

Auslegung · Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Location: MB, SC

Sony and (I believe) Samsung just released some sorta-revolutionary cameras. You should be able to find them pretty easily on google and see which one you like. I prefer Panasonic, but I also haven't found them easily here. Canon seems to be the Apple of the camera world (and by "Apple" I mean over-priced, over-hyped, and rarely better than the competition). Nikon is good if you're going for a DSLR, but for simple point-and-shoots, check out the previously named brands.

You should also be able to find some free video-editing software using google. I can't tell you which ones are best as I've never used any.

I don't remember if this is still a concept or a reality, but some cameras can upload directly to youtube, Facebook, etc. Sorry I can't tell you more than this, hopefully someone else can fill in some holes I've left unfilled.

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

Here's some free video editing software. I haven't tried it so can't say anything about it.

http://jahshaka.org/

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Note that you likely will not be able to plug a microphone into the digital cameras. Not sure about the newer models, but it has always been so in the past. You'd need a camcorder with mic input for that.

If you seek to go with a camcorder, I suggest Canon something.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Any digital camera should do. All of them nowadays shoot video, and they have a mic also. I have a Canon Ixus and it takes 30fps video WITH sound.

Youtube will most likely lower the quality of any video you upload to their site, so its kinda moot to pick an expensive one.

Personally, I'd pick up a Canon Ixus IS. It takes great pictures.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

An external mic is needed for good sound.

wanderingsalsero · Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Location: Houston, TX.

I made a video about my Casio. Here:
http://www.audioacrobat.com/playv/WtJf2904

withnail · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea.

Thanks so much! That was an amazing and informative video! Just to answer a few points - I am a guy (the "brothers" thing was just a kind of comic call for help!)

I have a very basic Nikon Coolpix digital camera I bought 3 or 4 years ago but until recently I didn't even notice there wasn't a mic (doh!)

That's because I never imagined a need for taking videos and probably thought the quality would be poor anyway.

That's what I want to do now and the camera you recommend seems perfect. Perhaps though you could talk a little more about the quality of videos (rather than pictures) that you get with it? Specifically sound and picture quality?

For example when you are shooting video, how far you can be away from the subject and still get pretty decent sound?

Like I said earlier, I was browsing youtube and saw a guy's videos on his life in Korea. He took the camera into his classroom, and he also talked straight to camera both on the street, in cars, and in his apartment to tell his folks what was going on etc. Maybe at home he is using a tripod? I don't know. I do know that my hands aren't the steadiest and my photos suffer a bit because of that!

His youtube site is linked here:www.youtube.com/user/prcrossman

In one of his vids, I think when he shows his apartment, you can clearly see a digital camera being used. The kind of videos he's making are exactly what I'd want to do.

I'm absolutely sure this is very old hat for seasoned and even not so seasoned amateurs but it's just I've never done it before. I''m even interested in how you put up that video where you shared your thoughts!

I wonder too if it costs anything or if it's free to post up vids and photos on sites like dropshots.

Feel free to do me another video! THat was really great and I appreciate it!!!

bixlerscott · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Location: Near Wonju, South Korea

Youtube is doing 720P high definition and states it prefers this as to improve the site. It's now allowing you edit videos by inserting text boxes.

withnail · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea.

Actually you know what? I've just seen the Sony Handycam DCR SX-40 and kind of fallen in love!!!!!

However my local store is asking 399, 000 won, but a guy doing a review on youtube bought it for $269!!

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

wanderingsalsero · Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Location: Houston, TX.

Regarding the quality of the pics and videos, that's why I gave you my sites. You can see for yourself:
www.dropshots.com/seoulsalsero
www.flickr.com/artwilliams/photos

I will say, however, that I think the quality of the Casio pics and videos is as good as any and better than most. Compared, for example, to the guy you found who had the videos (and I wonder if his 'Korean honeymoon' is over yet Smile

......my quality is even a little better than his.

No, don't worry about a tripod. You're not Cecil B. DeMille. You can get one, later, over here cheap but for the kind of 'life capture' stuff you'll be doing, it's not practical most of the time anyway.

For the storage of your pics and photos, I use Drop Shots. It's OK really but....if I had it to do again, I'd go with PhotoBucket.com . I think they're owned by Yahoo. I think you get a bit more for your money there. I've got a Pro account there but I don't use it.

You can make the 'players' for video on MovieMaker in you computer but there's lots of other ways you can embedd video in players. That thing that I used for you was something called Audio Acrobat. I know for a fact that it's the best deal on the web for what it does although it actually has more features than you probably want. Here's my affiliate link if you want to check it out. It's $20 a month...cheaper than anything comparable.

If you're gonna get heavy into this archiving-you-new-life thing, you might want to think about getting a domain name. Get'm for $7 at www.1and1.com .

Then get a blog (I'd recommend Typepad ...eg. www.wanderingsalsero.net) and redirect it to to your domain name. That'll get you all properly organzied for the experience.

That sony you found looks nice but it is a lot bigger than the Casio. If you're looking for spontaneity, I think the Casio is the choice. The sony might have some extra bells and whistles but, again, will you use them and will the view really care anyway?

Best regards,
Art
Skype: wanderingsalsero