Digital Video Camera Flip

Digital Video Camera Flip

Is it ok to video record my college lectures/classes?

It’s my freshman year, Calculus teacher speaks reaaaallly fast (you wouldn’t even believe) and advanced Spanish teacher is from Colombia and speaks rapidly with an accent I’m not used to. Is it ok to use my flip video camera (small like a digital camera) to video my classes so I can view them later? Would that be a weird thing to do?

The camera would just sit on my desk. It wouldn’t be very noticeable. In a lecture hall it would be easier, but these are like 25 student classes. Should I not even ask?

You will need to get permission to record, whether video or just audio.

You could just ask your teachers to speak a little slower. Your calculus teacher may be nervous too and not realize that he/she is speaking too quickly for the class to take notes. It’s a common problem with new teachers especially. I’m sure he/she will not mind you asking (better to find out now than on evaluations at the end of the semester) and will in fact be glad to make such a small, simple change to help the class understand. Other students will appreciate it too.

The Spanish teacher might resist somewhat, but will probably be willing to at least slow down for the first couple weeks to let the class get used to her particular accent and to hearing Spanish again after a summer away from it. Either way, you will get used to the Columbian accent and it might be good for you to get used to hearing fast speech in an advanced class if you ever want to be able to understand native speakers talking at normal conversational speed.

I’d ask them first to slow down and only if that doesn’t work, ask to record them. It’d be better to understand them the first time anyway, right?

What is a Digital SLR Camera and How Does it Compare With a Digital Compact Camera?

The term digital SLR stands for single lens reflex. It is so called because the SLR cameras use a mirror that is placed behind the lens.

Although SLR cameras for capturing still images have been in use for quite some time, the ones that could capture both the stills and the videos were introduced in 2008.

Earlier the SLRs were used only by the professionals. They were not very common and were costly as well. The good news is that the digital SLRs are becoming cheaper as the time passes and coming within the easy reach of even the amateur photographers. You can buy an SLR at the price of a high end digital compact camera.

How does the digital SLR work?

When the light enters through the lens, it falls upon the mirror. The mirror, in turn, reflects (throws) the light upon the focusing screen. The light passing through the focusing screen falls upon a block of glass called pentaprism, which reflects the image that can be seen on the viewfinder. When you take a photo, the mirror flips up opening the shutter which exposes the digital sensor to light.

What- you- see- is- what- you- get photos

The SLR uses the viewfinder to compose the photo and adjust the focus. You can, thus, get the photo of the original as you see it on the lens.

SLR camera allows for a wide range of lenses with different focal lengths. You can change the lens whenever you like. This is what makes the SLR ideal for serious photography. Moreover, the image sensors of the digital SLRs are large and produce high quality photos.

Lightness and compactness vs. versatility and image quality

An attractive feature of the digital compact cameras is that they are cheap, light, compact and easily portable. You can just pop in the compact camera in your purse or pocket.

The SLRs are weighty and voluminous. Some of them are tank-sized for professionals. But they provide the invaluable advantage of accommodating a large range of lenses and accessories that were originally designed for film SLR cameras.

Of late, new generation light weight ultra compact DSLRs have also been introduced in the market. They have small lens and weigh around 20 oz / 0.5 Kg.

While the crispness and sharpness of the photos taken with the digital compact camera and SLR camera in broad day is by and large same, the SLR scores over the compact camera when you have to shoot in dim light or capture the fast running scenes of actions. This is because the SLRs have high sensitivity larger sensors.

Anti shake/vibration designs

The photos shot with non-SLR cameras in dim light or with long telephoto lenses may be blurred. The reason is that the camera gets shaken during the exposure. The SLRs are equipped with Image Stabilization (IS) systems that protect them from the impact of motion during exposure. Therefore, the photos shot with SLRs even in dim light or at long focal lengths are sharp and excellent.

Speed

What makes the SLR much superior to the compact camera is its speed in taking pictures, which makes it ideal for action photography as there is a zero lag time. Even the entry level SLRs shoot faster than the best compact cameras. So you can easily shoot both a sleeping and a running tiger with this camera.

Dust Removal mechanism

If you have to shoot in arid, dusty or even in humid and damp conditions, no camera can beat an SLR. They have inbuilt dust removal systems that keep the sensor clean. They have weatherproof seals and solid magnesium alloy cases.

High Definition (HD) videos for HDTVs

This is another advantage of SLRs over the compact cameras. They can shoot High Definition videos. They come equipped with HDMI ports which allow the camera to be directly connected to the TVs. You can view your videos on the TV.

So which camera should you buy?

It all depends upon your needs. If you want speed, exquisite professional looking photos even in dim light and more control over the photos and are not bothered about weight and volume, go for an SLR. If you are just an occasional photographer wishing to carry the camera in your pant pocket, you can buy a compact camera.

Please read my Best Digital Cameras Guide for more information on digital cameras and photography.

Flip Video Tripod
List Price: ~~$14.99~~
Sale Price: $9.15
You save: $5.84 (39%)

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Description

The Flip Video Tripod makes it even easier to shoot high-quality video with your Flip Video Camcorder. The Tripod screws into the bottom of any camcorder in mere seconds, and flexible legs let you take steady video almost anywhere, and at almost any angle. The Tripod comes with a set of five interchangeable colored rubber feet that match Ultra and Mino camcorder colors. And at about 5-inches tall, this Tripod is as portable as your Flip Video camcorder is.

Features

Compatible with all Flip Video Camcorders
Flexible metal legs work on both level and uneven surfaces to allow you to shoot video at almost any angle
Makes it incredibly easy to shoot video of yourself
Comes with interchangeable colored rubber feet so you can match your Flip camcorder color, or mix and match
Package includes one black Tripod and five sets of interchangeable rubber feet (black, white, orange, pink, and green)

Reviews

Do not buy this tripod

by Dutch from Nebraska on 2010-09-03
This tripod has one very limited use. Static shots on a flat surface. It will not work to follow action. Panning with this tripod is a disaster. Forget about tilting up or down. In short, it will not do what you’re hoping it will do, which is keep your shots steady when you’re actually using the camera. The readysteady is a much better option.

Great stand for the flip video!

by Hoppaguy from San Diego on 2010-08-15
This tripod is a must if you own a flip video! With it’s flexible legs, you can basically put it anywhere and take a video from anywhere. We have been using our Flip video with tripod to video tape our tap dancing classes and the videos have been amazing!

Perfect little tripod

by David Edmiston from So Cal on 2010-08-12
This is the perfect little tripod for the Flip line of cameras. It’s just as portable as the camera and easy to take with you. It’s flexible enough to make it simple to level the camera and sturdy enough that you don’t have to worry about knocking the camera over. You can even wrap the legs around certain rails and fences.

It’s the PERFECT companion to the Flip cameras.

I returned the flip video becasue it would not record for more than a minute. It would then stop and go into step mode.

by Ron NYC from on 2010-08-09
I return the flip Camera
It was a very dissaointing experience

It would not record for more than a minute and would switch into “Setup” mode

I tried many times to see if I was doing something wrong

I finally gave up and returned the camera

Don’t use with Flip

by Bryan Wait from Denver, CO. on 2010-08-03
I recently bought a Flip Ultra HD which is nice except for the lack of image stabilization. So I figured a small tripod was in order. The problem with this product is that it is too flimsy to work with the Flip Video unit. The Flip makes this tripod much to top heavy which makes it topple over with even the slightest of vertical adjustments. Luckily it works fine for a small Sony cybershot that I have had for some time. If you are looking for a mini-tripod for any Flip Video recorder, I highly suggest you find one that is slightly larger and heavier to stabilize the Flip unit.

Flip MinoHD Camcorder 2nd Generation, 2 Hours (Brushed Metal)
List Price: ~~$229.99~~
Sale Price: $179.00
You save: $50.99 (22%)

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