Here is a video review of the Panasonic AG-DVX 100B, a popular standard def miniDV camera that lets you shoot in 24p, 30p or 60i.

All the features Panasonic packed into this camera are pretty amazing.

The AG-DVX 100B is an updated version of the revolutionary DVX 100, the first small camera to shoot 24-frame per second video, which simulates the look of film. Huge, expensive video cameras had that nifty little trick down, but Panasonic brought it down to scale for lower-budget cameras.

If you shoot in these alternative frame rates, make sure you have video editing software that candle handle it.

For the price, (lists at $2,595) the AG-DVX is an amazing piece of video machinery. It packs lots of professional features into a 4.19 pound package.

Like all the cameras in this category, (Prosumer, a blend of a low-end professional or high-grade consumer level) the Panasonic AG-DVX is a 3-ship camera. It has 3-CCD, 1/3″ Interline Transfer-Type chips.

For quality audio recording, the AG-DVX 100b features two XLR inputs.  The camera also has a headphone jack too.

In reading all of Panasonic’s sales material on this camera, it seems clear they designed this camera for quality run-and-gun shooting, like news gathering and documentary style shooting.

It does well in low-light situations, it has a wider than average lens, plus it has a user-friendly mix of manual control, automatic and auto pre-set. For example, it has three buttons the user can customize to activate anything from the SMPTE color bars to the auto tracking white balance.

It also has unique features that allow it to be easily used in a multi-camera shoot. For instance, connect via firewire (IEEE 1394) and you can transfer or synch time-code, or transfer and match up user files containing camera parameters for a more uniform image between cameras.

For times when you want to mount the camera in a hard-to-reach position, you have wired remote control over zoom, iris, focus, and record/pause.

Even though this is a standard def camera, you can shoot in widescreen 16:9. The AG-DVX100B features three 16:9 Wide Modes, including something they call the “New Squeeze Mode” With the standard lens, you can record in letterbox mode or the newly added squeeze mode. This gives you extra flexibility when using the AG-DVX100B together with equipment from other manufacturers.

Activating the Aspect Ratio function on the LCD allows for a letterbox display for easier framing when shooting in Squeeze Mode or when using the Anamorphic lens. If you want to take this to the max, you will need to use the optional 16:9 conversion lens (AG-LA7200G, sold separately). Using the conversion lens will let you take full advantage of the higher image quality made possible by using all of the CCD pixels.

A quality lens is all important for a quality video camera. This one comes with a Leica Dicomar including an OIS, or Optical Image Stabilization system. It’s zoom out is wider than some, starting at 4.5mm, which is equivalent to a 32.5 mm on a 35mm still camera. It’s a 10x optical zoom, 4.5 – 45mm (10 x Optical Zoom) f/1.6. 10x is not a terribly long zoom and the short zoom was one of the most commonly listed consumer complaints.

On a practical level, a wide angle lens is much more advantageous and useful than a telephoto lens. The wide angle helps is small areas and most rooms you will find yourself shooting in are way too small!

In telephoto mode, you can focus at a minimum distance of .6 meters, or 1.9 feet. That’s good and close for a fully zoomed in shot. The lens also has a macro feature.

One cool feature was that they slowed the servo zoom (automatic) down from 20 seconds to a dramatic 30 seconds. So a nice, super slow zoom is easy with this lens.

As with all video cameras with the prosumer class, the videographer using the Panasonic ag-dvx100b has manual control over all of the many functions that affect picture quality, like shutter, white balance, exposure, focus and so forth.

If you are in a situation that calls for speed, all of these controls can be set to automatic if you wish. The sales literature brags on the speed of their auto focus but I know I will never like auto focus!

If you are in a dark place with no way to add light, the camera allows you to kick in some gain. (Video Noise) Your variable gain selection follows:

0dB, 3 dB, 6dB, 9dB, 12dB, 18dB O dB Fixed during Slow Shutter Mode

As a higher end camera, the photographer also has control over the shutter. You can set a range variable from: 1/24 sec – 1/2000 sec (Different Ranges for Different Recording Modes)

In reading the mostly stellar consumer reviews, the short zooming capacity (10x) was one of the major complaints. Even so, most people LOVED this camera.

Here is a fairly typical comment. To quote one consumer review: “I always shoot in 24p and this camera by far gives you better looking mini-dv video footage than any other camera in its price range. As a media study student…I have had access to many different cameras…I’ve used them and tested them and this one by far comes out on the top of my list…as a non HD camcorder.”

All in all, this is an extremely versatile video camera that gives you all the features normally found in camera costing (and weighing) three times as much.

Click here to see the at the Panasonic AG DVX 100B video camera at the B&H Photo website.

Panasonic AG-DVX100b Specs

If you are looking for a powerful, effective, yet easy video marketing solution, let me suggest CoVideo.CoVideo is an all-in-one solution for online video marketing.  With a CoVideo account you can:

• EASILY Create Talking Head Videos (Uploading the video and file conversion are both automatic.)
• EASILY Email or Blog those Videos
• EASILY Host and Manage your Videos
• EASILY hold online Video Meetings, Conferences, Presentations, Webinars, whatever you want to call ‘em!

CoVideo helps you with every step in implementing and profiting from online video marketing.

From getting the videos made, to hosting and distributing them, CoVideo offers a complete solution with a wide variety of functions.

Watch the video above to see how a car salesman named John Zarlino used video email to impress his customers and increase sales.

The video email system John used is incredibly easy and affordable.  All you need is a webcam, a high speed connection and a basic CoVideo account.  It only costs 29.95 a month.

From your CoVideo account, you click one button and the video recorder comes up with your webcam signal inside of it.   Click one more button to record your video and have it automatically uploaded into your video library.  From there, you can email it out inside of an interactive template or grab some embed code and use it to post the video on a blog.

In addition to easy video creation, video emailing and blogging, an advanced  Covideo account gives you a fantastic platform for holding online meetings.  CoVideo  meetings can take many forms.

You can have up to twelve people on the screen at once, each with the ability to speak, hear and interact.

If you want to show slides, videos, or an interactive white board, you can do that too.   The two videos below demonstrate the CoVideo system.  The first video describes the versatile meeting functions.  The second video is an overview of the entire CoVideo system.  Both videos are part of the extensive online video marketing campaign I am producing for the Center for Great Management Practices, (CGMP), a company promoting the CoVideo platform.

The CoVideo platform is capable of many incredible things, and they are constantly improving it. If you’d like further information on how the CoVideo Platform can benefit you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The Center for Great Management Practices has hired me to create their online video marketing campaign. I was quite flattered to be asked. I truly love the product so find it easy to think of creative ways to promote it.
Thanks for reading Video Production Tips
Lorraine Grula

Interactive video just got a new look with the Interactive Video Browser Bar from Veeple.

I added the Interactive Browser Bar with four buttons to the top of this video about the New Tek VT5. The interactive browser bar looks sleek and classy IMHO. Better than that, it adds a highly-converting form of monetization to my video and extends my social network/customer service to all viewers.

For this particular post, the video about the New Tek VT5 is primarily just a vehicle to demonstrate the new look of the interactivity.

I have several other posts on this blog describing the features, specs and benefits of the New Tek VT5, which is a computer based desktop video production studio system you can use to equip a mobile production van or a TV production studio.  It’s fantastic, go check it out.  But now let’s talk video interactivity.

If you read this blog often, you know I am a BIG fan of video interactivity.  Adding interactivity is advantageous for both me as the video producer and for any viewers who choose to watch.

Advantages of Video Interactivity

For the video about the New Tek VT5, the interactivity is tied with a hefty commission.   There are two affiliate links to the product that appear as unobtrusive, but still obvious clickable links.

Research done by the Veeple company shows that clickable links placed inside a video such as my two affiliate links will get significantly higher engagement rates than standard ads placed off to the side.  The improvements can be quite dramatic.  Some Veeple customers have demonstrated conversion rates as high as 70%.  I’ve never gotten that high, but I have gotten up in the 30-40% range.

In addition to better-converting forms of monetization, the interactivity also allows me to give viewers additional information about the VT5 plus easy ways to email or follow me on Twitter.

In short, video interactivity gives me more diverse, creative ways to communicate and monetize. It gives viewers more control, choices and options.  The classic win-win.

A More Fully Functioning Communications Vehicle

In a sense, adding interactivity to a video is like turning it into a complete website, or at least a complete web page.  The interactive video can travel, a step beyond just sitting on one domain name trying to attract an audience.

The interactivity functions as both links to the rest of the net and as a repository for products like PDFs and Power Point Presentations.

Adding links inside of your video that viewers can click to travel to other sites blends together your message, your sales funnel, your customer service, your social networking, or any part of the web you wish.

Where Do I Get Interactivity?

The service I use to provide interactivity for all my videos is Veeple. Veeple is extremely easy to use and provides a very affordable, unique, all-in-one video hosting solution.

Veeple recently created a new look for the same functionality they have been promoting and developing for the past few years.   The new look is called the Interactive Video Browser Bar.  (IVBB)

They did not eliminate the “old” look and the VT5 video in this post contains both.  Each look has advantages.

The IBVV displays the interactive buttons as a row across the top, just like we’ve all come to expect from computer task bars and browser bars of all types.  The “old” look was more scattered and did not resemble anything quite as familiar.

Making the interactive buttons look like something we’re all more familiar with helps viewers know intuitively how and why they should use the buttons.

Anytime people can behave naturally and comfortably, with a sense of familiarity of the process they are going through, it will help minimize confusion thereby increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome.

In other words, more scores for the bottom line. 

The Interactive Video Browser Bar creates functional and impressive looking interactive links for your videos.  To try out this innovative service yourself, sign up for a free trial at Veeple.

Video demo showing how easy it is to add interactivity to your videos using the Veeple service.

Adding interactivity right inside your video has been shown to DRASTICALLY increase conversions and viewer engagement. Viewers don’t have to wonder how to access your sales page or other info, it’s right there inside the video!

Recent research shows that conversions rates with interactive video beats the conversion rates of standard video by up to 12 times.  That’s an incredible increase.

IMHO, interactivity inside videos is absolutely where online video is heading.  Someday, video interactivity will be so common people will just expect it.  I say that because it works so well.  Wide-spread use is simply inevitable.

Interactive video is easy to do with the Veeple system.  In my experience, the Veeple system is WAY easier to use than most online video hosting services, plus you get the interactivity.

This video post demonstrates how to add an interactive spot using Veeple.  As you watch the video, make sure and click the PDF icons to download both a free report on interactivity and some PP slides that compare Click Through Rates.

There is also an interactive link to an in-depth video interview that I did with the Veeple CEO, Scott Broomfield.

If you are looking for a way to get your videos on line and have them really work at converting your customers (and impressing them with your cutting-edge ways) then look into getting the Veeple service.  I have been proud to recommend them as an affiliate for over two years, ever since they first came online.

Thanks for reading video Production Tips.
Lorraine Grula

I love it when people get creative.

Some guys over at the ZURB Blog came up with a way to get 3D video out of two iPod Nanos!  Here’s their configuration.

And below is one of their resulting videos.  Here, it just shows the two virtually identical shots side by side.  But if you go watch it at You Tube, you can click a little “3D” on the bottom right of the player and you can see it mixed in any one of a dozen ways.  Without the 3D glasses it looks like a bum acid trip, but with them it’s pretty convincing.  (All 3D looks horrible without the glasses so please do not get me wrong here.)

Such creativity deserves to be applauded IMHO.   3D is more popular after some recent Hollywood hits, so good to know you can do it on the cheap!

If you want to read more about exactly how they made the very low budget 3D video, then head on over to their blog to read more.

Thanks for reading VPT
Lorraine Grula

Flipcams are some of the hottest selling video cameras today.  It’s easy to see why.  They’re cheap, easy-to-use and produce a great shot.

If you want to get into creating videos but do not want to spend much on a camera, then a flipcam is a great place to start.

Flips are VERY basic, so they don’t provide a lot of videographer options, but that’s what makes them easy to use.

The final video image you get with a Flip is quite good, as they are HD quality.  Of course, as with ANY type of camera, you will get the BEST results if you know exactly what you are doing.

Dave Kaminiski of Web Video University has come out with a low-cost product called Flip Camera Secrets. (Gosh, must EVERYTHING be a secret?)

The video on Dave’s sales page is excellent and shows you exactly what sort of mistakes he can help you avoid.  Bad lighting, bad audio, bad green screen, bad movement, Flip Camera Secrets will help you avoid all these common pitfalls.

The total price is only $49 and it comes with 25 high-def backgrounds and 2,500 sound effects.

The product itself features over a dozen high quality training videos you can watch in under an hour.   There is a 60-day unconditional money back guarantee.

Dave Kaminski’s products are ALWAYS good.  Not a lot of hype, just good pure content.   He teaches in a very straight forward style that is easy top understand and follow.  I have been an affiliate of Dave’s now for a couple of years and every single thing I have ever seen him do was top-notch.

I have full and total confidence that for the price, this product is one of the best values available for learning to make your own videos.

Thanks for reading VPT

Lorraine Grula

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Imagine having an Grammy Award winning musical composer bidding to provide a customized musical score for your video project at no cost.

Yeah, I said no cost.

At least the bidding part won’t cost you. 

A new website, Score A Score.com, has set up an easy-to-use platform that unites video producers with composers of original musical scores.

If you have a video project, you can post it for free after establishing a free membership account.   Composers then create an original sampling to go with your project at no obligation.  If you like it, then you can hire them to complete the score.

The site also has a library of already composed music you can select.  The payment methods include paying the established price, or similar to PriceLine.com. you can name your own price and see if the composer will agree.

Prices that were already set began at $700 and went up to about $2,000.  I am assuming that setting your own price would be lower than that but we all know how assumptions can work out. 

I sampled lots of the clips on Score a Score and they were indeed excellent.  They sounded like movie soundtracks, not royalty free music.  There’s a huge difference.  Royalty free music tracks are more monotonous and simplistic.  These tracks were more variable in tone and mood within the individual track and were also clearly more complex musically than standard royalty free music.

If your video project needs to be unique and project a polished professional image, a customized musical score is one of the best ways to do it.

A customized musical track will follow every nuance and tangent of emotion within your program.  Customized music will help create a more unique and cohesive story.

If you have the budget for it, a custom musical score will no doubt take your video from being good to being great.

Score-a-Score was developed by Jordan Passman, who has a music business background and worked for a brief time in the Film/TV membership department of ASCAP.   (American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers).

Jordan was able to get a group of composers with very impressive credentials together to form the backbone of Score-a-Score.   Together they include:

• An Emmy Award winner
• A Grammy Award winner
• Multiple Emmy Award nominees
• Multiple Grammy Award nominees
• Multiple Clio Award winners
• Multiple ASCAP’s Foundation’s Henry Mancini Emerging Film Composer award winners
• Multiple ASCAP’s Morton Gould Award for orchestral work
• Multiple ASCAP’s Harold Arlen Award
• Multiple ASCAP’s Plus Award winners
• Multiple Finalists for the Annual Turner Classic Movies Young Film Composers Competition & more.

Here is how Jordan described the process for getting a video project scored:

“At no cost, you create Projects that we expose to composers who can choose to submit scores for your private review.

You build your projects with descriptive text and requirements for the score you want, your music budget, terms of use, any location requirements and deadlines.

At no cost, you can upload an excerpt or a complete project video clip (up to a maximum of three minutes in length). Our hand selected pool of professional composers will audition by submitting a example of the music that is their interpretation of the perfect score for your project.

We present the submissions in an organized format viewable within your personal Dashboard, which allows you to easily review and rate the materials and the composers.
Once you select a score, for projects of three minutes or less, you can (upon payment through PayPal) immediately download a high-quality file of the music.

For projects over three minutes, which will involve the creation of additional music and often a creative discussion directly with the composer, upon payment of our fee, we will give you the composer’s contact information, so that you may conclude an agreement directly.”

So if you are looking for a way to have your video project scored with an original tune done by a highly-qualified professional Film and TV soundtrack composer, then Score a Score.com is a site you should check out.

Thanks for reading Video Production Tips.

Lorraine Grula