It’s no secret that video marketing is hot right now. I see a lot of creative videos on social media on a daily basis and I don’t see this trend slowing down. But do you worry about video quality or which type of camera your department should invest in? There are a lot of different kinds out there.

Here are seven different types of cameras and how to best use them.

1. DSLR (or Digital Single-Lens Reflex) cameras: a DSLR camera has a mirror that reflects the light coming from the lens up into an optical viewfinder, by way of either a prism or a series of additional mirrors. This is how you can see what you’re shooting, right through the lens, and is where the term “reflex” comes from. One of the biggest advantages of a DSLR over a point-and-shoot is the ability to attach different lenses to it. These are considered higher quality, “professional” cameras.
2. Mirrorless cameras: the term “mirrorless” is a little confusing, but basically this style of digital camera lacks a mirror, like you’d find in a DSLR camera. So, the term “mirrorless” is generally used to describe a digital interchangeable lens camera that either has an electronic viewfinder or no viewfinder. Mirrorless cameras can be made much smaller than their DSLR counterparts and are popular with beginners and casual photographers. Plus, you can use a lot of the high-end lenses you would find with DSLR cameras.
3. Action cameras (like a GoPro): these types of cameras come with a wide range of accessories that allow you to attach them to helmets or handlebars…or to take them under water. Action cameras make your photos and videos come to life and allow for you to show perspectives that can make your videos truly epic. Most action cameras also have a wider lens so you can get more width to your images.
4. Camcorders: Yes, I bet when you hear “camcorder” you’re thinking about Christmas 1988 when dad was recording home movies with his handheld and then popping the tape into the VCR to watch later. But camcorders are far from dying out. In fact, the camcorder is experiencing a renaissance, with a remarkable choice for every budget, level of expertise and activity. Today’s camcorders also feature presets and automated features to ease the learning curve and are designed to be dustproof, waterproof, shockproof and able to handle temperatures well below freezing. They also offer wireless connectivity and the ability to stream directly online.
5. Point-and-Shoot cameras: these types of cameras have a long list of features and capabilities like GPS, face-detection, smile detection and many other new technologies that are making their way into the point and shoot market. Point-and-shoot cameras are also smaller, less expensive, quieter and easier to use than DSLR or mirrorless cameras. However, image quality is usually an issue with these types of cameras, so keep that in mind if you are shooting video or taking pictures.
6. Smartphones: these are great for spontaneous videos on the show floor that you can post quickly on social media. They are small, easy-to-use, seek less attention and have better connectivity to the Internet than the other cameras. But, of course, image quality can be a big issue, as well as having manual camera control for depth of field and lighting.
7. FPV Camera (like cameras on drones): FPV stands for first person view. These cameras can wirelessly transmit video feed to goggles, a headset, a mobile device or another display after you attach it to something like a drone or a quadcopter. These allow you to video aerial views and really get creative with your content. We used an FPV camera in our Skyline IDC Facility Tour video and it turned out great.

After you’ve chosen the type of camera to use, visiting websites that compare the different brands is always wise. And for pricing, be sure to search around. Lastly, plan to purchase your camera during Black Friday or when other big sales are happening to save even more money.

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