Do you ever watch what you videotape?

To put it succinctly, almost no one as far as I know, ever watches the home video he has recorded. I don't, much as I think I want to. The reason is that it is just utterly boring. Perhaps home videos are meant for parents and grandparents to appreciate, or for you to look back many years from now on. It is hardly entertaining to watch.

Things have changed. With the introduction of tapeless videocam, it has become much easier to record and compile short clips that may be more tenable to watch. With that in mind, I got to work on short video clips to show that it is feasible to produce a "watchable" video show. Using the Proshow software, I made a slideshow using a combination of short clips and still pictures. As a result, I managed to produce a 15 min video slideshow that is almost as good to watch as a still-pictures only slideshow. Since I can't upload the entire show, I have uploaded sections of it to my Facebook site.

Show 1: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=myuploads#!/video/video.php?v=113554852002332

Show 2: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=113454362012381

Videotaping myself playing the guitar

I am still having a croaky voice from a recent bout of infection, but I can't wait to try out my Bloggie. One major reason why I chose the Bloggie over the other videocams is the ease of recording myself. From the picture here you can see how the camera lens is rotated over to me. All I need to do is reach out my hand, set the timer to 10sec, and press start.

Here is a sample of my very modest effort. Alternatively, go to http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=109404342417383&saved

Workflow on the Bloggie video

In the last couple of years, videocams that use flash memory instead of tapes have seen a dramatic improvement in quality, thanks to new compression technology (H.264), high definition video, and large and inexpensive flash memory cards. The Sony Bloggie is an excellent example. The workflow is simple; all you have to do is to shoot in VGA mode, download the video clip to your computer (just like a still picture) and emailed as an attachment. Every Start/Stop process on the videocam creates one clip. You simply choose which clip you want to use.

If you are into video production, you can choose to shoot in higher resolution. You can use ProShow to edit, combine clips, mix and match still pictures, and produce the final output in any format you choose. This is by far much simpler than using a tape-based videocam.

Long before ProShow came along, I used Pinnacle Studio 7 to do the same work of mixing still pictures and video, and cut a DVD for viewing on a player. The workflow using tapes was much more challenging. It involved a lengthy process of "capturing" the video into a computer. For non-digitized video (pre-DV tape days) you must have a video capture card. For digitized video you must have a Firewire port on your computer. In both cases, you need to have the capture software installed.Next, I used Studio 7 to do the editing, and then did the rendering overnight before burning a DVD. Unless you are dead serious into video production and demand very high video quality, I think videocams like the Sony Bloggie are more practical.

My new Sony Bloggie PM5

Here is a sample video from my new videocam; go to Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/video/video.php?v=108824012475416&ref=nf

I am rather pleased with the video quality achievable with this videocam. Of course, it is possible to obtain a higher quality using DV tape-based videocams, but that's a different story altogether. What I have been after is a videocam that uses flash memory, is compact in size, produces a reasonably good video, very easy to operate and very easy to process the workflow (I will discuss that in my next blog).

Among the competitors for this form factor are: the Flip UltraHD, the Kodak Zi8, the Samsung HMX-U10, the JVC Picsio, and the Creative Vado HD. For various reasons, the Sony Bloggie is the one that best meets my needs. I am sure different people will have their own preferences to dictate their choice.

Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5

This is the Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 camcorder. It has just been released by Sony in direct competition to the Flip UltraHD. The Flip has a couple of features I like over the Bloggie: Flip UltraHD uses AA batteries, and it has a brighter F2.4 lens, while the Bloggie uses proprietary battery and the lens is F3.6.

Apart from those two shortfalls, the Bloggie beats UltraHD hands down, based on design and specs. The Bloggie lets you take 5MP still pictures; it has image stabilization, it is thinner, it has a larger LCD (2.4" vs 2.0"), and it has a bigger digital zoom (4x vs 2x).

Most significantly, it has a very useful 270degrees swivel lens. One of the most useful things you can do with this is to lay the Bloggie flat on a surface when you don't have a tripod. You can then tilt the lens to the required direction, and start recording to your heart's content. I wish Sony had thought of providing a foldaway support, so that you don't have to carry a tripod with you. With that, you can stand the Bloggie upright and it will be less likely to pick up any vibration noise from a table.

Panasonic DMC-GH1 - an exciting new camera

This is really cutting edge for a still/video hybrid camera. This camera is announced in March 2009. I find this to be an exciting camera that is worth serious consideration (provided the image and video quality stands up to scrutiny). Based on published specs, it is as good as it gets for now. The DMC-GH1 is the HD version of the G1 announced in Sept 2008.

Here's the exciting bit on the HD video recording of this camera:
"In addition to Motion JPEG images, the DMC-GH1 can record high-resolution full-HD 1920 x 1080 movies at 24 fps (frames per second) or smooth HD 1280 x 720 movies at 60 fps in AVCHD (MPEG-4/H.264)* format.

"A special, separate button on the back lets the user instantly start recording movies while shooting photos without any having to make any extra settings.

"The LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. kit lens boasts a focal length of 28-280mm (35mm camera equivalent) and supports the continuous AF function of the contrast AF system for both photos and movies...... This lens is also designed for movie recording use by minimizing the mechanical sound generated by the continuous AF/AE action.

"For more creative sound recording, an optional stereo microphone (DMW-MS1) is available. A Wind Cut function blocks out most of the noise from background wind even on breezy days."

In addition to all the standard features you'd get in a self-respecting DSLR, it has a 3-inch, articulated LCD (albeit 460k pixels only, but it is good enough).

My only disappointment is with the lens aperture of f4.0 on the wide end of the lens. Fortunately, one can always buy Olympus lens or other third-party lenses for the open-standard Four-Thirds system.