Shooting Tips

For a basic introduction to the camcorder click here.

Keep it Steady

• When handhold shooting, make sure you keep your hand steady and avoid jerky movements. When panning, do so very slowly to retain detail.
• Use the digital zoom sparingly. When possible, move physically closer to the subject.
• Stay focused on your subject the whole time they are speaking so you don’t miss any of the action.
• If conducting an interview, always use a tripod if one is available. Offset your subject to one side or the other to keep the frame visually interesting and set up close to the subject.

Sound Tips

• Remember that the microphone is on the camcorder so the closer you are to the camcorder, the better the sound will be.
• Be aware that if you shoot in a place with a lot of background noise it is likely that your subject's voice will be drowned out, so pay attention to your surroundings.

Lighting and Composition

• Sunlight is good, but be sure to keep it at the shooter's back. This will help you avoid backlight situations which leave your subject blacked out.
• If using artificial light, try to get more than one light source to fill the subject.
• Flip Video Camcorders do well in low-light situations but you will always get the best footage when you have good lighting.