HELP WITH VIDEO CAMERA QUESTION?

Video Camera question PLEASE HELP?

• I will be sitting in the way back at a Taylor Swift concert and I want to get a video camera that will zoom in really close and wont be burly! I want to spend around 250 dollars on one. Could some one give me some links to buy some please?! Thanks

• Answer:

  Hi Daisy: Having attended dozens of concerts over the years, as well as photographing & videotaping many of them for myself and professionally, my best advice is to just relax and enjoy the live concert without feeling you have to capture every second of the event with your camera. There will most likely be one or more video projection screens to give you a close-up view of Taylor and her group, along with dazzling lighting effects that will only look puny on a home video camera. (Think of trying to capture the sound and excitement of a live fireworks display on a home camera, and you'll see what I mean.) You'll end up spending all your concentration on trying to zoom and pan to follow Taylor onstage and miss out on the "big picture" and the full view of the stage effects. Plus, the sound you capture will be mostly screaming fans around you (I've worked every "teen heart-throb" concert since New Kids on the Block). But as far as equipment, your best investment — no matter what size camera you use — is a good small tripod to hold your shots steady. I say small, because anything large or "pro" looking will probably get snagged by security at the door. When you are far back in a concert hall, your camera will be zoomed in, and any hand-held shots will be too shaky to be of any quality. Even a "monopod" (do a Yahoo!Search or Google it) is better than no tripod at all. If I was planning to shoot from the "cheap seats", I'd make sure to get a seat behind a balcony rail, for two reasons. One, so no one is in front of me and my camera. And two, so I can use a "bendable tripod" mount on the rail to hold my camera (and not have a tripod in the row that I'd have to move out of people's way). Here's a link to a typical "mount anywhere" flexible tripod (Gorillapod $15) that will fit in your purse: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/519603-REG/Joby_GP1_AGEN_Gorillapod_Flexible_Mini_Tripod_Grip_f_.html When shopping for a camcorder, look for OPTICAL zoom (12x or 18x at least) not DIGITAL or "dynamic" zoom (those are worthless) as a primary comparison feature. JVC Everio series will probably give you the most "bang for the buck" (Sony & Panasonic are great, but overpriced for the same features.) hope this helps (and enjoy the show!), --Dennis C.