Flip Video Vlog: A Tale of Two Formats
When I was in the fledgling stages of photojournalism I would blame my equipment alot.
If I only had this lens, or that camera body, or a certain tripod or whatever, I would be able to create photos like the big guys. As I left full time photojournalism to live a more balanced life, I found myself drifting back to storytelling. Several years later here I am: a budding filmmaker/storyteller/content creator at the University of Washington.
Now that my aim is film, that eternal question comes up again: how important is equipment?
As you can tell, my class has been using the diminutive Flip Video camera. And just like the technical constraints that Lars von Trier created in 1995 with ‘Dogme 95′ to make film more creative and real, I am finding the technical constraints of the Flip Video camera have made me a better film maker.
Because I have limited technical choices I am forced to concentrate on using what I already have in the most creative way possible.
Yesterday I set out to film the exact same mini-film using a Canon XH-A1 and a Flip Video camera. I actually taped the Flip Video to the side of the Canon XH A1 to ensure that each shot was exactly the same. Both sets of identical footage were edited exactly the same way: down to the frame! I wanted no bias in this test.
Both cameras were set to auto everything (the Flip Video is always this way) and only minimal color correction was applied in Final Cut Pro to make them both roughly the same color tone. I also cropped out about 30% of the Flip Video footage to make it have a 16:9 aspect ratio like the Canon XH A1.
When you see the side by side of HD vs. Flip remember that I have removed 30% of the Flip’s resolution!
16 hours later I have answered in my eternal equipment question.
I have to say the results surprised even me.
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3 Comments, Comment or Ping
rynsa
Hey brother,
Great blog entry and video–very insightful. I’ve been interested in low cost/low entry video tech for a couple years now, especially as it relates to online communication and, as you articulated, “mobile spaces.”
I use the slightly more expensive Sanyo Xacti vpc-cg65 (though I did purchase it at a discount in Hong Kong), and I love it. Compact, H.264-native, expandable with bigger SD cards, and just perfect for web video.
But, here’s what I’m thinking (and I’d love your suggestions of this matter): instead of dropping anywhere from $1500 to $5000 for a prosumer/professional level high-def cam, I’m gonna buy 10 Flip Vid cameras and focus distribution exclusively through the web. My “art/work” is centered around media literacy and social justice, which invariably means interacting with and within a variety of marginal communities who simply do not have access to high-end video technology. The Flip camera might enable more involvement in such arenas–less intimidation, less initial cost, etc.
Whatever, I talk to much. I really appreciate this real-time comparison, and I look forward to your upcoming fixie doc! I’m a commuter myself, though not fixed-gear. You cats are f*ckin crazy!
Much respect,
rynsa
Melbourne, Australia (via Portland, via Tucson, via the dirty, dirty South)
Apr 16th, 2008
Stan Orchard
Un-freakin’-believable! What a GREAT video. Thanks very much!
StanO
Jun 17th, 2008
rr
Can you tell me what the apple nano was used for with the flip video?
thanks
Aug 2nd, 2008
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