Help Needed - Video Product Review For Website

[fellatthefirst]

I want to start doing video product reviews for certain products we sell on our website. This is going to be an actress stood at some sort of table/workbench with the product in her hand talking about it in a short 30 second - 1 minute clip. Just to give our customers a clearer idea of what it is they are buying.

We have a studio and a presenter sorted but we need a video camera. I have zero experience on this so i'm wondering if anyone on here could give me some good advice on what video camera to use. I want it to look professional and the sound quality and video clarity needs to be perfect. We have someone that works for us who can do video editing.

Any advice on a camera would be great received!

[Foliage]

Lots of youtubers either use ipads/iphones or SLR cameras with video function.

What type of product is it?

[fellatthefirst]

Various products but generally small things like toys & games. I'm really looking to be recommended a specific video camera that would be up to the job and easy for me to use.

[Foliage]

I did say specific products.. Id just start with an ipad, if your after a video camera your looking at at least £1000, youtubers use slr's (ie Nikon or canon in your price range) or ipads because they record HD and are good value, ipads can also do slowmo, you can edit and upload the video direct off the ipad.

Also if your doing videos of toys/games don't use a woman, unless shes the right 'type' (coloursed hair, tattoos, edgy, extremely smart, geeky [amy dallen, Jessica chowbot, felicity day etc]) you want a young looking 20 something man, but it depends on your target audience. Its the only area id advise against having a woman representing your company. Look at the lego videos with the 'young mother' figure, they are bloody awful and have hardly any views. What child wants a mother figure try to sell them a toy?

Just my humble opinion.

Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 20th April 12:33

[fellatthefirst]

Our website gets over half a million orders a year, i need this to look professional so with all due respect i would like to rule out the use of an ipad. We do have a budget to spend out on camera equipment etc, i just need some good advice on what equipment to use.

The reviews will be done in a studio and we will be using 1 presenter to start with to review ALL products. We don't just sell toys and games we sell in lots of other categories such as home & leisure too so on one hand we might be reviewing a my little pony and on the other hand it might be a kitchen whisk. The reviews are not really to criticise a product as such but more just to show our customers what it is and what it does. Maybe i'm using the word "review" in the wrong sense?

Youtuber reviews are much more independent which is fine but our reviews are going to be just informational reviews of a product really.

[Magic919]

It's interesting to rule out the iPad on the grounds of it not being professional enough. They can be used very effectively for broadcast using something like Switcher Studio and maybe an iPhone or two.

They need proper support and can be gimbal controlled. Great for live streaming too.

[fellatthefirst]

I assume you can get tripods for the ipad? What about the sound? Surely this cant be as good as proper camera equipment?

[Magic919]

Tripods are generic, but the head/mount will be specific to iPad or iPhone. There are external mic options too.

A quick Google found this https://delta.ncsu.edu/knowledgebase/recording-pro...

[Foliage]

fellatthefirst said:

Our website gets over half a million orders a year, i need this to look professional so with all due respect i would like to rule out the use of an ipad. We do have a budget to spend out on camera equipment etc, i just need some good advice on what equipment to use.

The reviews will be done in a studio and we will be using 1 presenter to start with to review ALL products. We don't just sell toys and games we sell in lots of other categories such as home & leisure too so on one hand we might be reviewing a my little pony and on the other hand it might be a kitchen whisk. The reviews are not really to criticise a product as such but more just to show our customers what it is and what it does. Maybe i'm using the word "review" in the wrong sense?

Youtuber reviews are much more independent which is fine but our reviews are going to be just informational reviews of a product really.

I work as a store designer for a huge company. Customer perception and visual marketing is in my wheel house, social media and web not so much. But I do have a educated consumer prospective and a certain amount of insight, and its likely im your target market, being a single 20-30yo male with disposable income who buys lego, plays computer and board games..

I understand its not reviews, its marketing, feature highlighting, selling. You said toys and games so that's the direction I took with my advice.. now your changing your remit. And I specifically mentioned lego, ie the lego groups youtube channel, not reviews but exactly the videos id think you where intending to make. Huge companies have youtube channels doing the exact same thing your talking about, then you'll the enthusiastic amateur doing the same thing, with a more honest approach.

You need to do a lot more research, asking on here is great, but dismissing some ones thoughts 'coz not professional' is well rather remiss...

Their are lots of ways you could approach this. But it seems you have your mind set on a specific path.

[Foliage]

fellatthefirst said:

I assume you can get tripods for the ipad? What about the sound? Surely this cant be as good as proper camera equipment?

For sound you need a separate digital sound recording device, on the 'actor' (lapel mic with digital voice recorder). Your also going to need lighting.

Might be worth a read - http://www.toptengamer.com/best-youtube-audio-vide...

Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 20th April 14:07

Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 20th April 14:12

[Stupeo]

I think an entry level SLR would be a wise choice for shooting the videos - something like a Canon 700D.

I am biased btw, just bought one myself but the quality of the videos and audio captured so far is spot on.

[Simpo Two]

Can't help with the camera, but if you want a professional result you should have appropriate sound recording equipment and lighting - especially if you have a presenter. I suppose a video production company is out on grounds of cost?

[fellatthefirst]

I really want to buy equipment so that our in house staff can do the filming etc as over time we will be reviewing a lot of products.

[The_Jackal]

You want a professional and perfect quality series of videos but you will not get that from just buying an expensive video camera/SLR.
It is the experienced people operating the equipment that produce quality.
Someone who knows what they are doing will make better videos with an iPhone than staff "having a go" with a five thousand pound video camera.
I would speak to some people who have done this before, and get someone in as freelance. You will learn from them while not wasting studio time, and possibly take over in the future.

From your original post, the words "zero experience" and "professional result" do not normally go hand in hand unless you pay someone to do it for you. Use your money wisely.

[Simpo Two]

fellatthefirst said:

so that our in house staff can do the filming etc

Jackal is spot on (I used to produce corporate, promotional and training videos)

I'm not saying it's impossible but... can you direct? Can you light? How much time will you spend managing all of this this instead of getting cash in the front door? Can I do your job? I dunno, but these are questions you should consider before rushing out and spending Ks on kit.