…that is the question.
We create video content and have talked about the power of online video. Some video we create for us (Lessing-Flynn), some for our clients. We use flip cams for almost everything that highlights Lessing-Flynn on this blog, or capturing guerrilla marketing tactics for an event like DSM: SUSHIBOMB.
We realize there are great professional firms in Iowa like Applied Art, Associate Producers, GrassHorse, Professional Video and Screenscape Studios for client related needs. There’s also great freelancers out there like Adam Beecher and countless others who made huge noise at the recent 48 Hour Film Project: Des Moines.
We recommend flip cams to our clients for blogging purposes. The YouTube generation doesn’t expect companies to spend $10,000 on some highly produced weekly video for a blog, YouTube or Facebook fodder. On the flip side, we’d never recommend flip cam usage for a new product announcement, a television spot or a major client event with the media.
For the most part the only criticism we get about our flip videos are from professional video production companies looking out for their own interest. I get it. You guys are stewards of the high production value video industry and any opportunity to promote the ability to produce high quality video is worth commenting on, whether it is positive or negative. Let me assure you folks that ad agencies will ALWAYS have a need for your services.
So, what do you think? When is it acceptable to use a flip cam? When is it not?
Author: Josh Fleming
www.lessingflynn.com
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
For the reasons listed above, tv spots & product launches, I agree it’s not acceptable. The microphone on the flip is the other drawback. I record sound separately for IowaDemocratsTV bc the background noise is far too distracting in my opinion.
We have a Flip and we love it. But we are only using it to shoot short clips of the kids and their crazy antics. I don’t think that I would want to use it for anything longer than 5 minutes at a time. It is a bit harder to get a steady shot with a Flip than with ‘regular’ video cameras and you can barely zoom in at all. In terms of creating videos for use in commercials, online ads, etc…, I don’t think I would recommend a Flip for anything other than YouTube or Facebook type sites. Uploading to those sites, by the way, is a breeze. It is also very easy to share videos with family and friends through email.
I don’t know if I answered your question or not, Mr. Fleming, but those are my two cents.
“On the flip side, we’d never recommend flip cam….”
Gave yourself a hearty, congratulatory pat on each shoulder after that fine line, didn’t ya Fleming? Prolly nodded your head with a pirate’s smile and said, “Word.”
@greg & @jason – thanks for reading and for chiming in.
@blueduder – Sometimes these things just write themselves.