How to Use the Pocket Digital Video Camera: Part 3

Greetings,

Today we are going over all the parts of the Flip Digital Pocket Video Camera, including the basic operations. Listed below are the Camcorder features. To see the picture up close, just double click on the picture below.

Basic Operations:
Recording Videos:
1. Press the Red Record button to start and stop.
2. Press Up/Down buttons to Zoom in/Out.

Playing Videos:
1. Press Play button to Start and Stop.
2. Press left/right buttons to view previous/next.

Deleting Videos:
1. Display the first from of the footage to be deleted.
2. Press the Trashcan button.
3. Press Yes to confirm.

For a great breakdown on the Camcorder basics, please see the video below.

Various Shots:

Wide shot: Establishes the scene.

Medium shot: Give more intimacy and focuses on one subject at a time.

Close Up: For emotion and direct connection to what is happening in the scene.

Extreme close up: Very close and personal, intimate and has an emotional effect to it.

For great video shooting tips with the Camcorder, please view the video below.

If you visit the following web site: www.flipvideospotlight.com/resources/storytelling.aspx you will get more information on storytelling, shooting, video production and distribution.

The camcorder comes with a step by step guide, instructions, strap, A/V cable, software and media are built in the camera. Additional items you can purchase include the rechargeable battery pack. If you invest in the rechargeable battery pack, you simply plug your camcorder in the computer to recharge it.

The specifications on the Camcorder are listed below:

Internal Memory: 4GB (120 minutes)

Screen Size: 2.0 (transflective TFT)

Screen Resolution: 960 x240 pixels

Video Resolution: 640 x 480 pixels

Frame Rate: 30 frames per second (constant frame rate, progressive scan)

Video Bitrate 4.0Mbps (average auto adaptive algorithm)

Video Format: H.264 video compression, AAC audio compression (Ipod ready), saves as MP4 file

Lens Type: Smooth multi-step 2x digital

Aperture: f/2.4 (fast lens for great results in low-light environments)

Zoom: Smooth multi-step 2x digital

Interface: 8 Buttons (Power, Play, Delete, Record and 4 way navigation)

Dimensions: 4.25" x 2.19" x 1.17 (H x W x D)

PC Connection: Built-in flip-out USB arm (up to USB 2.0 speed)

TV Out: Composite Video (cable included)

Battery Life: Up to 2.5 hours (with 2x AA Alkaline batteries). Up to 6.5 hours (with 2 x AA Energizer e2 batteries)

Tripod Mount: Yes

Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OSX

Min. Requirements: (PC) 2.0 GHz Intel Pentium 4 or faster processor, Windows XP SP2 with 512 MB of RAM 0r Vista with 1 GB of RAM, and USB 2.0 port. (Mac) 1.0 GHz Intel Core or faster processor, 512 MB of RAM, OS X Tiger 10.4, Leopard 10.5 or Snow Leopard 10.6 and USB 2.0 Port

Remember next week, I will be blogging about how to work with video footage and the software Flipshare. Hope to see you soon.

Tell the Whole World!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what is a talking picture worth? This week I am introducing a new web site that lets you turn any picture into a talking picture. That’s right, a regular picture into a talking picture. All you have to do is click on the picture to the left or click on the following link: http://www.blabberize.com/ Just like the picture says, it only takes 30 seconds. It's fast, easy and also fun to use. How would you like to use this tool to teach the students a concept or an idea from a talking picture?Your students or audience will love it. You can also put it in presentations or entertain your audience to make a point. Hope you have fun playing with it and we will see you next week.