By Matt Bohar
Do you love watching those smart, fun videos on social media? Of course you do! Everyone does. They are so creative, and what’s more, they’re effective. A whopping 87% of video marketers say video has increased their website traffic and 83% say video helps them generate leads. And perhaps most importantly, 80% boast increased sales because of video marketing. For this reason, 95% of video marketers plan to increase their video marketing budget next year.
Video marketing is hot right now with no signs of slowing down. You can capitalize on this trend with one simple piece of equipment – a camera. If you’re worried about video quality or all the different types of cameras out there to invest in, read on to discover how best to use the different devices available.
DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) CAMERAS: the DSLR camera is a higher quality, more professional version of cameras you’ve used in the past. The difference between these and your old point-and-shoot is the ability to change out different lenses on it. The mirror inside the camera reflects the light from the lens into the viewfinder, so you can look right through the lens at your subject. However, by changing lenses, you can perfect the look you’re going for. These are a solid choice for video marketing.
MIRRORLESS CAMERAS: Unlike a DSLR camera, this type of camera doesn’t have a mirror, which merely means it has an electronic viewfinder or no viewfinder at all. Instead, there is a digital interchangeable lens that does all the work. Because of this, mirrorless cameras can be much smaller and thus, more portable, making them popular with novices and non-pros. Like with the DSLR, the lenses can be changed out for different occasions.
ACTION CAMERAS: You probably know these as GoPros. These kinds of cameras come with a wide range of accessories allowing you to attach them to helmets or take them underwater. Action cameras bring your videos to life by offering perspective and a first-person viewpoint. With their origin, action cameras tended toward a narrow fishbowl lens, but now they have wider lenses so you can get more width to your videos.
CAMCORDERS: Are you surprised to see this in this list? Are you thinking of your dad videoing your ballgame from 8th grade? Well, camcorders are new and improved and here to stay. They are versatile, budget-friendly, user-friendly, and loaded with options. Today’s camcorders are designed to be weatherproof, shockproof, wireless, and “smart.” With dozens of presets and automated features, they are the smart choice for someone already familiar with the device.
POINT-AND-SHOOT CAMERAS: You are probably already familiar with these kinds of cameras because they’ve been around so long. Newer point-and-shoots offer new features and capabilities like GPS, face-detection, and other technologies. They are usually lower profile and lower cost than other cameras. The one prominent downside to a point-and-shoot is image quality, which can be less than ideal depending on the environment and subject.
SMARTPHONES: Small, easy-to-use, and you already own it! Smartphones are great for on-the-spot videos. They are also the go-to for uploading videos to social media because they have ready connectivity to the Internet. They can’t really be your only camera option, however, because they are limited in their image quality and depth of field and lighting control.
FIRST PERSON VIEW CAMERA: FPV cameras (like cameras on drones) are attached to a drone or a copter and wirelessly transmit video feed to a remote device (goggles, a headset, mobile device). They are unbeatable for videoing aerial views and other hard-to-reach places perspectives. We used an FPV camera in our Skyline IDC Facility Tour video and it turned out great.
Lots of websites review the different types of cameras by brand and price point and features. Once you decide on the type of camera you’d like to invest in, you can find all kinds of information to go with it. Another selling point is that these cameras are constantly on sale for hot prices during Black Friday sales and other times of the year. Big box stores like Costco and Sam’s often have package deals on cameras, too, offering online training and subscriptions to photography content for members only.
Attract Decision Makers to Your Exhibit Through Design, Strategy, Marketing, Information and Technology!
This article was inspired by "What Type of Camera Should I Use for My Marketing Video? by Matt Bohar, and first appeared at www.skyline-etips.com/
