Posts Tagged video
5 Things I Always Pack – Janna Graber
This month’s guest post of “5 things I always pack” is from Janna Graber, editor of international travel site www.goworldtravel.com and the Colorado uber-site, www.goColorado.com. A travel journalist and video producer, Janna has worked in some 38 countries. She feels completely at home on the road.
1. My “airplane sleeping gear”
Over the years, I’ve developed a routine for sleeping on airplanes, and I always bring the same items with me. First, I travel in comfy clothes (my friends call them my “travel pants,” but they are really just nice looking sweatpants). Then I have a stuffed neck pillow (leopard print, it was all they had on sale at the time), and two inflatable neck pillows. I put one half-inflated pillow behind the small of my back (no back ache then!), and use the two other pillows to keep my head in place while I sleep. Then I have my usual ear plugs, eye mask and lightweight blanket. Sure, I may look ridiculous, but at least I’m fast asleep.
2. My book.
Reading is one of my favorite pastimes, and traveling gives me the opportunity to catch up on my favorite authors. I always have a good paperback with me. 
They’re easy to stick in my backpack, and I can get some good reading in whenever I have to sit and wait.
3. My Rhonda Allison sunscreen
Since it comes in 1 oz bottles, this Rhonda Allison sunscreen is perfect for my carry-on. It’s not greasy and is formulated specifically for faces, which means I actually wear it every day. This sunscreen is usually only sold in high-end salons or dermatologists’ offices, but you can find it online for a good price.
4. My cameras
Photographs are the best souvenirs, and they’re also a huge part of our reader experience at Go World Travel and Go Colorado. I always have a good digital camera with me. Right now, I use the Nikon Coolpix S630. I like the 7x zoom it has, as well as its light weight.
If I have the space, I also have my Canon HV20 3MP High Definition MiniDV Camcorder and tripod. (The newer version of this is the Canon VIXIA HV40.) These days, we produce video stories whenever we can.
5. My Samsonite carry-on suitcase
The zipper is on its last legs and one of the wheels is starting to wobble, but I still cling to my favorite Samsonite carry-on suitcase. It has my faded “I love Canada” handle protector, so I can easily locate the suitcase on the luggage belt, and has traveled with me across the world. Someday, I’ll have to break down and buy a new suitcase, but I’m keeping this one as long as I can.
See other 5 Things guest posts
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on April 22nd, 2010
Is it a Video Camera or a Still Camera? Or Both?
So, I’ve just hiked to the base of a stunning waterfall in the Smoky Mountains National Park. Sitting on a rock with my Nikon camera hanging around my neck, someone shouts from the water below, “Is that a D60?”
Yes, people love their cameras. It was actually a D90, not a D60, that I’ve been taking on the road as the lines begin to blur between digital SLRs and video camcorders. And this camera is a pioneer in that trend.
The Nikon D90 was the first to introduce HD video recording in a digital still camera, though others are beginning to follow. While it won’t be replacing my video cameras any time soon on professional shoots, the tide is turning in that direction. And having video capabilities in a “still” camera can be very handy.
Like the time I was in Europe using the video function to record a message from my grandmother that I could play for my dad.
The D90 doesn’t have enough manual controls when I’m shooting “serious” (as in paid) videos. But for quick family memories or a variety of other uses, it can be priceless.
Since the D90 came out, Nikon has introduced some newer models which continue to push the envelope on video. My thought on the 12.3 megapixel D90 is that it’s worth the price just for the still photos. It takes great pictures and has an impressive list of features.
List price for the D90 kit, including an excellent Nikon 18-105mm Vibration Reduction lens, is $1199.95. See the link below to shop around on prices, but the price of this popular camera doesn’t vary a whole lot.
The video capability is a bonus, but it’s more than that. I think we’re seeing a glimpse into the future convergence of two different types of cameras that have always been separate and distinct.
So I can’t help but wonder when video and still cameras—good enough for serious, professional use—will merge. My sense is it won’t be long.
Nikon has also put together some tips on taking memorable pics during the holiday season. No matter what brand of camera you’re using, there’s some good information here.
Posted by JohnG in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family on December 12th, 2009
Getting the Shot: GoPro Helmet HERO Wide Wearable Camera
Whether you’re taking an adventure trip—or a business trip with a sporting trek on the side—it’s not always easy “getting the shot.” Sometimes, carrying a conventional camcorder is just not practical—or even possible.
That’s where the GoPro Helmet HERO Wide wearable camera comes in. This tiny and lightweight camera, which takes video and still pictures, would be right at home no matter what the sport—skiing, cycling, racing, skateboarding, surfing, parasailing or riding roller coasters.
Using GoPro’s suction mount, I even clamped it to the hood of my car and it held like glue. More on the mounting options later.
On the video side, the camera has a built-in microphone and stores nearly one hour of video and audio on a 2GB SD memory card. There is also 16MB of internal memory. Batteries will last two to three hours, depending on the type used.
The AVI video format will work well with many editing programs. The camera shoots at a full 30 frames per second, which means smooth movement.
The still camera has 5MP of resolution—amazing for its size. It can be set to automatically take a picture every two or five seconds.
The camera only weighs four ounces and comes with a plastic housing that’s waterproof down to 100 feet. It’s tiny—barely bigger than a small matchbox—though the removable plastic housing adds some to the dimensions.
GoPro really shines in the mounting options. Besides the suction mount I mentioned, the company offers mounts for helmets and handlebars, a chest harness, a head strap that does not require a helmet, roll-bar mounts and more.
Some of the big boys could even learn a lesson from the designers at GoPro. At the National Association of Broadcasters recently, I saw a demonstration of a Sony point-of-view camera that’s aimed at the professional market. But for the mounting, I was told they got the materials to make a helmet-mount bracket from a hardware store.
Who’s got two or three hours to spend rummaging around a hardware store and making a camera mount? With GoPro, they have ready-to-go mounts for just about any situation—and they are well built.
GoPro offers several different models. The Helmet HERO wide has a 170 degree wide-angle lens. The wide angle is good to avoid missing any of the action and it avoids the jerkiness of narrower lenses when the action gets fast. The lens does produce a fisheye effect with some curvature near the edges of the picture.
The list price for the Helmet HERO Wide is $189.99.
GoPro is promising support soon for a 4GB memory card to double recording times. With the new CMOS sensors now coming to the market, I’d also bet they’re working on future models that will produce even higher-resolution video.
Don’t be fooled by its small size. The GoPro Helmet HERO Wide is no toy, but a serious sports camera that will bring home some amazing shots.
See the full wearable camera line at the GoPro site
Get the GoPro Helmet HERO Wide at Amazon.
Posted by JohnG in Adventure Gear, Business Gear, Travel Light on June 15th, 2009
