Video Cameras for Real Estate Agents

Fellow real estate agents often ask me “what type of video camera should I get for my real estate business?”

If you are looking for versatility and lightweight, you can’t beat the line up of pocket camcorders on the market today.

And if you are “flipping” over to the latest video camera craze, pocket-sized recorders are worth the hype, but be aware of their limitations.

Below are a few suggested models (all prices approximate).  It wasn’t too long ago a quality camcorder broke your wallet and your back – expensive, clunky machinery that shot low-resolution video and was near impossible to connect to a PC for editing, archiving or sharing.

Fast-forward to today and for about $200 – easily a fifth of what you’d pay in the past – you have something no bigger than a cell phone that can shoot high-definition quality, and saves it all to built-in Flash memory (not unlike what’s in your iPod NANO).  Integrated software (read: no disc required) and flip-out USB connector make it a breeze to connect to a computer, not to mention one-click uploads to YouTube, if desired.

Spearheaded by Pure Digital’s ”FLIP” brand (now owned by Cisco), these trendy pocket-sized camcorders are an affordable and easy-to-use solution for real estate agents on the go.  Keep in mind, however, these products aren’t perfect; they lack good zoom (therefore not ideal for a child’s soccer final or outdoor rock concert); battery life won’t be as impressive as pricier camcorders; and you’re usually limited to shooting an hour or two of video at a time.

The following is a quick look at some of the hottest pocket camcorders available.

Leader of the pack

Cisco’s Flip Mino ($219.99) and MinoHD ($279.99), both of which include the signature flip-out USB arm and built-in FlipShare software to organize, edit and share video.  Both are capable of recording an hour of video: the Flip Mino in VGA quality (640 x 480 pixels) and Flip MinoHD in 720-p HD quality (1280 x 720 pixels).

Memories in a snap

Available in silver, purple or orange, the Sony Mobile HD Snap Camera, or “Webbie” as it is known in the United States,(model MHS-PM1; $229.99) makes it easy to capture and upload HD-quality MP4 video (1440 x 1080 pixels, at 30 frames per second) and still photos (5 megapixels) and upload directly to the Web.

A rotating swivel lens flips over so you can see yourself if you want to shoot a video podcast. Unfortunately, this model requires a USB cable (included) instead of the built-in solution.

Capture that “Kodak moment”

The Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video Camera ($159.95) is a relatively inexpensive and weather-resistant 720p HD model with a rubberized body (and protected ports) to withstand splashes or sand.

The Zx1 offers a huge 2-inch LCD screen to see what you’re shooting (or during playback), but the downside is you’ll need to snap in your own SD or SDHC memory card (up to 32GB) to capture memories. Included is an HDMI cable to connect to a HDTV.

Get creative

With its 8GB of built-in memory, the thin and lightweight Creative Vado HD ($229.99) records up to two hours of 720p-quality high-definition video (1280 x 720 pixels) or up to eight hours at VGA resolution.

Its wide-angle glass lens captures more action round you, and works well in dim environments, too. While it feels frailer than the Flip’s solid USB arm, a convenient computer connector pulls out of the bottom of the Vado on a flexible cord.

Getting the Right Camera for you is the First Step

Look out for our weekly tips and strategies email on using Audio, Video and Multimedia profitably in your business.