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Video Tutorial #1: What is Flip Video?

Reblogger Brad Andersohn
Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

 

The Flip Video is quickly becoming one of the most popular popular Video Cameras in Real Estate today.  Tara Jones provides this great video that talks about the Flip video, the features, and why you might want to consider one if you're in the Real Estate Industry. 

THIS IS A REBLOG TEST:

Original content by Tara Jones- Atlanta

As we begin our educational video series we wanted to let you know a little bit about who's doing the teaching! TJ Hedges is an Emmy Award winning photojournalist with more than 20 years experience in production and broadcasting. Tara Jones is an Emmy Award winning reporter, anchor and spokesperson with more than 15 years experience in production, broadcasting and public speaking. Both were working together at the number one station in the country, WSB-TV in Atlanta, GA, when they were approached by a successful broker in the area to join forces in the real estate world and form Reel Dwellings TV. It was then that they realized the need for quality video in this forum.

Everyone knows that video is the next "big thing" in real estate. Everyone is hopping on board and wanting to stand out from the crowd by incorporating the new medium in their website, e-mail, etc. But as a real estate professional, image is everything. So why put an inferior product associated with your name? Poor quality video can sometimes do more harm than good. It can relay an air of unprofessionalism and incompetence. Clearly, not the message you want to send to potential clients.

It is for this reason that we want to educate real estate professionals to give them an edge on promoting their services and skills.

While the Flip Camera can not compare to the quality finish that Reel Dwellings TV can provide, our goal is to show you how to create superior video using new technology to incorporate on your website.

So now, on to the FlipTM!

A flip camera is actually called Flip VideoTM and it's a small, ultra-light handheld device that shoots an hour of digital video. There is a small viewer in the back to show you what you are recording, a microphone in the front to record audio, a USB connection to hook up to your computer for downloading the video, and a small hole with a locking device for attaching a tripod. Best of all, it all runs on two AA batteries that can be found in the front of the camera.

To get started simply press down on the small gray button the side of the camera. You should see a quick Flip VideoTM graphic and then "ready" on the top left side of the screen and "Time left" at the bottom left. This is alerting you of how much time is left on the memory before you have to delete some video. As soon as you find a shot you want to record hit the red button in the middle of the silver square. The green "ready" should turn into red numbers which are counting how long your recording is running. When you want to end a shot, just hit the red button again and you've stopped your recording. It's that simple.

Because the camera is so light your video will likely be very shaking. That's not good for any viewer out there. That's why they sell an attachable tripod. This fits into the bottom of the device simply by sliding over the unlock button and then screwing in the top. The tripod is great for pans (moving the camera side to side or up and down) and zooms (moving into or away from an object) which can be done by hitting the plus or minus buttons on the gray square.

So now that you know the basics, let's get to shooting!

Next week's video lesson: The basics of shooting

Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Tara - thanks for this video and for opting to allow the ReBlog option on ActiveRain. I hope this will help generate you more traffic as I believe you are providing a wonderful service to the Real Estate Industry and I support you and your cause.

Aug 10, 2008 03:42 AM
Jeremy Blanton
Myrtle Beach Homes Blog - Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach REALTOR®- myrtlebeachhomesblog.com

Brad- this is great stuff...now I just gotta find the finances to purchase one!

Aug 10, 2008 06:00 AM
Jeremy Blanton
Myrtle Beach Homes Blog - Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach REALTOR®- myrtlebeachhomesblog.com

Question Brad, can I use a regular tripod with it?  or does it have a specific one only?

Aug 10, 2008 06:07 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

                                          This was a test post to see how AR's Reblog will work.

A few points and notes for the crew:

You'll notice the first comment here was a comment I left on her post, not sure that's suppose to show up here.

Second thing, I should not be able to go in and edit this post, which I can.  A reblog should only allow the reblog author to modify their own (optional commentary) not the original authors content. 

Third, I thing the option to reblog a reblogged Blog should be turned off. 

Fourth, I thought the reblog was only going to be for outside blogs, I don't have the option to select one or the other or both.  I only wanted this on my outside blog and not my AR Blog. Not sure about that one

Lastly, I think the original author should have a better link and get rid of the VIA. It should say "Author" or maybe "Original Author" and be hard coated to that post. Just some thoughts I needed to put down somewhere so I wouldn't forget to share them with the AR team and members later.

 

Aug 10, 2008 11:54 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Jeremy - Tara does a great job with video. She looks good, sounds good, and she's a pro.  She's has years of experience.  I was fortunate to meet her in SF at Inman connect.  She's a wealth of knowledge regarding video and Real Estate.  I just wanted to give her some kudos and see if reblogging would do that or really work. We'll have to see, not getting too many comments, but maybe her original post is and that was my intent. If that's the case, than the reblogging thing is working. I'll have to go check out her original post.  You'll see I took some notes just above.....

BTW - you can use any standard tripod with the Flip Video.  :-)

Aug 10, 2008 11:58 AM
Sam Miller
RE/MAX Stars Realty - Howard, OH
Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist

Brad - I love my Flip but I sure wish I could opt for a wider angle lens even if it was available at a higher price.  There are times when I want to shoot a couple of the smaller rooms that the Flip just can't get the entire room into the view even when I rotate it on a tripod.  The Flip is truly an amazing tool and the price is so cheap that every real estate agent should have one.

Aug 10, 2008 12:51 PM
Michael Sahlman
www.HomesForVIPs.com - Keller Williams Realty - Miami Beach, FL
e-PRO - Miami Beach Florida Luxury Homes

i have heard a lot about it...sounds great

Aug 10, 2008 01:07 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Sam - I could go for a wider lens myself at times, but I have a different camera for that.  Sometimes I have to use my phone camera or a digital to capture that stuff.  Just like a tool box, sometime one screwdriver doesn't work for every job. :-)

Aug 10, 2008 07:55 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Michael - and you'll probably hear a lot more in the future here...   :-)

Aug 10, 2008 07:56 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Okay -- this is a reblog -- I was wondering exactly how that would look and work.  This is very interesting.  Just wondering where the best place is to purchase a Flip VideoTM  -- any suggestions?  Thanks.

Aug 11, 2008 07:39 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Joan - it is a reblog from Tara Jones.  We will be adding the original authors photo to thereblogged posts as well.  The Flip Video can be bought at Best Buy, any Camera Store, or online.  If you google the words "Flip Video" you'll find all sorts of sites offering it at different prices. I have seen it as low as 100.00.  :-)

Aug 11, 2008 12:19 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Still loving my Flip video camera, I don't travel or leave home without it.  :-)

Nov 29, 2008 06:41 AM