Can HV20 keep my pretty latina sisters pretty?

[Angela]

Hey guys. I just bought an HV20 and love it so far. Since I spent most of college shopping for clothes and chasing boys my friends think it’s a little weird I want to start videomaking as a hobby, but I don’t care! One of the first things I want to do is make some travel videos of my family on holiday. The only problem is my sisters never want to be videotaped because they’re afraid they won’t look good on camera (ironically they’re all gorgeous Latinas and always look hot). I’d like to take some interview style videos of each of them from the waist up and some close-ups. My question is what are the best camera settings to use to enhance facial features? Most of the shots will be done outdoors in sunlight but some will be indoors and at night when we’re out dancing. Do you have any suggestions? Also, is the LED light on the camera adequate for shooting up close in dark places like nightclubs? I was also thinking of getting an external mic because my videos so far all sound too much like home movies. Is it necessary if I’m just posting the video on our website? If so, do you know any good small mics that don’t dwarf my little HV20. Thanks so much for all of your help, I really love this forum. Bye! :hv20-smilie03:

-Angela

[skinnyboy]

Angela,

It's more about how you shoot than the camera. You should do some tests using different settings and different levels of zoom and see what works best for you. Some people look best as telephoto as you can get it, some look good wide angle (OK, not too many) and some just "normal.
I'm a fan of 24p, but other presets may work better for you.
Sunlight is a tough one, because you can get some really harsh shadows - try to be in the shade as much as possible when shooting outdoors.
The on-camera light is discussed in this link:
http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?t=806
basically folks are saying to get a different light, but they specify stuff.

There are plenty of links on here to microphones as well. I think the Rode VideoMic is a common choice. Do a search for that and you should get some good info.

Hope this helps...

[Erik Bien]

Hi Angela,

If you want your sisters to look their best, a light mounted right on top of the camera is almost never the best option. If you have to go this route, put some diffusion over the light or, even better, get a little mini softbox (http://www.chimeralighting.com/products/dspproduct.cfm?productid=13) for it.

The closest thing there is to a hard and fast rule for audio is a crummy mic close to the subject will sound better than a good mic far away; for interviews you might look into a wireless lavalier setup. Sony (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/9453/VHF_Frequency_Lavalier_Systems.html/bsi/80) makes a cheap VHF one (900Mhz cordless-phone frequency), I have a Samson AirLine (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/219777-REG/Samson_SWAMSLLU1_Airline_Series_Micro.html) which is about the cheapest way to step-up to UHF (although at a fixed frequency, so if something else in the area where you're shooting is using your channel, you're hosed).

To get something you'll never outgrow, you can save up for Sennheiser (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/324242-REG/Sennheiser_EW112PG2_A_Evolution_G2_100_Series.html ) ...

[David Susilo]

also for shooting under bright sunlight, you'll almost always need to use king-kong sized scrim to soften the harsh sunlight. That or shoot under the shade.

Furthermore, never shoot from the waist level, it'll never work. Besides, waist-level photography is not really from the waist anyway but usually from the mid-lung height.

now go shoot some videos and post the videos of your sisters here :D

[techstyled]

I _highly_ recommend buying an appropriate iRiver off eBay (like an IFP-890 for about $50) and buying a high quality mic (I use a Giant Squid mic) and recording additional MONO audio at the subject (or several).

Here's a good page about why this is so great, cheap, but _great_. I've got a 4GB version that can save 72hours of MONO audio with incredible fidelity when clipped on a lapel.

WARNING: Must get the right kind (old not made anymore) iRiver. Here's the link about it:

http://www.videouniversity.com/iriver.shtml

[PWHerman]

Yes, the HV20 will be perfect for all of this (you already have it, so you should know how awesome it is).

There's a "portrait" mode on the camera which should work nice for the facial shots you're talking about. It's all the way to the right in the modes selection in the first sub-menu (the little face icon / you must be in P mode, not auto).

The LED light should be fine for indoors stuff at nightclubs and such...just remember to put the white balance at "Fluorescent H" for it helps a bit with making the lighting look better.

As for a nice external mic...try out the Audio-Technica ATR25 (http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR25-Stereo-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B00006J04Y/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-0455728-4241521?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1184469693&sr=8-1). I personally use it with the HV20 and the audio is great for such a cheap mic. It also makes the camera look a little better. Just make sure to bump up the audio pickup all the way to the right when using this mic.

If you have any more questions, please ask them! Maybe you're in my area? I can help you set up the camera more, hahaha.

P.S. What's your website?

[David Susilo]

holy F*&K that clown gets me every time!

[PWHerman]

Haha. Don't worry...it can't get you...hopefully.

[HCoremark]

It's when you're trying to read and can just see it in the corner of your eye. Forums shouldn't be this unsettling should they?

[PWHerman]

No, they shouldn't...I didn't think that anyone would honestly be scared/unsettled by it, heh. It hasn't bothered me at all, and I don't know why. I've got to be one of the youngest people here, too...nothing has scared me whatsoever in a good 4 years. Does anyone really want it changed or what?

[kbrafford]

My question is what are the best camera settings to use to enhance facial features?

Depends on what the person looks like. For most people, very, very soft focus, and low light :hv20-smilie87:

[David Susilo]

No, they shouldn't...I didn't think that anyone would honestly be scared/unsettled by it, heh. It hasn't bothered me at all, and I don't know why. I've got to be one of the youngest people here, too...nothing has scared me whatsoever in a good 4 years. Does anyone really want it changed or what?

No change necessary, it's just the initial shock :hv20-smilie01:

PS: clowns freak me out (real clown, I mean :hv20-smilie81: )

[HCoremark]

Depends on what the person looks like. For most people, very, very soft focus, and low light :hv20-smilie87:

I learnt many years ago how to make myself look best. That's why I'm the one behind the camera.

[HCoremark]

PWHerman - don't go a changing.

If clowns weren't meant to be scary god wouldn't have given them hidden fangs and claws.

[PWHerman]

Heh, true. I don't see how clowns are funny, but I also don't see how they're scary. What is it that you guys find scary in clowns? Anyone ever seen Killer Klowns From Outer Space? ;]

[HCoremark]

I have seen that movie but I'd completely forgot it. Have to check it out again.