Capturing Paris on Video -- Suggestions
 

Ok -- So I love taking pictures (buildings, gardens and wildlife) but I have never really gotten into the videotaping thing...however this year I decided I wanted to capture some of the things that are just better seen/heard than explained to our friends. Such as the crazy motorcycle drivers speeding down the middle of the cars on our drive from the airport to our hotel in Paris or the amazing acoustics in some of the churches such as Notre Dame or Sainte Chapelle (I love taking advantage of the free concerts posted all over the city). So.... does anyone have a recommendation for someone who doesn't want to carry around a bulky camcorder but does want to get great video and sound quality without breaking the bank. It would be much appreciated. :)

My daughter took one of those $99 Flip videocams with her when she went around the world on Semester at Sea and put together a quite stunning two-hour movie. I'm no video expert, but the quality seemed pretty darn good to me.

Yes, the Flip video recorders are very convenient and easy to use, but would recommend getting the Flip HD for higher quality, I think there about $150.

I had wondered how well the pocket videocams worked. I think I am going to stay in this category for my first foray into the videocam world. I am definitely going to purchase one that is HD as suggested, however I am thinking about getting the Kodak PlaySport Zx5. We have a Florida beach trip planned before Paris and I like the fact that it is waterproof and it is good with sun glare. My only concern is low light situations...which will be most things in Paris. I found a Kodak PlaySport vs. Flip Ultra HD (side-by-side) video online (see below) and I think the Kodak does okay in low-light...anyone have any good/bad experience with this videocam in low light. Thanks again for all your help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9z5cSIWGa4

Other people who go to concerts in Paris don't appreciate having to put up with video recorders and amatuer filmmakers buzzing around them. Neither to the performers.

Please have a modicum of consideration for other people for whom a visit to Paris is a one-time, lifetime dream. If your friends can't imagine what Paris is like from your verbal descriptions, rent them a copy of Midnight in Paris or any of the other bazillion movies set in Paris, shot in glorious color.

Honestly.

Also, I guess a lot of people fantasize they are going to "capture" Paris on video, but they have no clue how bored their friends are going to be when made to endure the mandatory showing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTVa2...eature=related

I've done quite a few with the video function of a point-and-shoot compact digital (in this case the Canon Powershot A510, though I have just upgraded to the SX220, which has a much better quality video). I thought some of the results reasonable, especially for low light
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDbhBLAcFuw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZohVuQZZ0ws
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhUmFDIiXf0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbomg5h7Mz4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMZ0y-QeuxU

Zeppole sounds as if you have had a bad experience. I am a courteous picture taker and I hope I will be just as courteous with any videos I take especially in such a revered place as a church. Thank you for keeping others best interest at heart in your comments. :) Having said that I never bore my friends with my pictures so I hope I also will not bore them with my video. What I do is post it to my personal website and only those friends of mine who are interested will view at their leisure. What usually happens is I will get questions after someone has viewed something and that to me indicates their interest in what I did or saw on my trip. Having said that, even if none of my friends ever look at the videos I take I can honestly say that I my self might enjoy it one day in the future when I want to plan my next trip or just remember what I great time I had.

PatrickLondon...thank you for the info on the images captured from your camera video. I have a camera I love and can't see replacing it but if it ever breaks this will be a feature I look for in my next one. :)

I am always reminded of a woman on a Girl Scout trip with me. Day 1 on trip of a lifetime, which she apparently planned to videotape, she fell and broke her collarbone and arm. And why did she fall? It is hard to walk and videotape ....

Honestly, I am not a fan on the "make a movie". While I will stop and wait while someone takes a photo so as not to interfere I generally don't do that for videos...sorry, but I don't want to wait 10 minutes while the photographer videos every square inch of the building :)

It's natural for tourists to want to record their trips. I see nothing wrong with photography or video recording.

Keep in mind that, in some cases, recording concerts may raise copyright issues, depending on the jurisdiction, circumstances, and final use of the recording.

I have used a Canon Powershot SX40 HS for both video and stills. It has a 35X zoom with image stabilization and will take true 1080p HD video, but it will eat up memory cards at a high rate if using the 1080p mode. A 15 minute video is about 4 GB. You can take lower resolution. It is also an outstanding point and shoot with great low light capabilities. It is about $400, not cheap, but the performance is worth it. You can see an example of it on my blog jackthetravelingman-seine.blogspot.com.