On the Road with a Camcorder Case

For fifty weeks a year, life seems to move with the predictability of a spinning washing machine. Then, all of a sudden, the countdown you've run for months reaches zero and you're about to embark on a vacation, camcorder in tow. Maybe you'll zoom in on a space shuttle launch, tape the kids screaming aboard Disney's Space Mountain roller coaster or watch through the viewfinder as Hong Kong's Star Ferry moves against an amber Asian sunset.

Travel is a way of temporarily escaping from routine daily living and video can help you freeze those exciting days for future enjoyment. Follow these tips for globe-trotting with your camcorder, and the next time you return from an exotic locale you'll re-experience the sounds and images that make travel so enjoyable.

An immediate question most people have before setting out to videotape their vacation is: What to pack in a camcorder case? The answer is as little as possible. If you load up on accessories, you probably won't take them farther than your hotel room.

Start with just your camcorder and its case, the battery charger/AC power supply, a current power converter and all of the appropriate plugs. A word on power sources: remember that power voltages and frequencies vary widely from country to country. Your charger probably can handle either 50 or 60 cycles seamlessly and, as most of the world uses 220 volt current, many power packs can accommodate that as well (check your instruction booklet). When you must plug something in, make certain that the power coming out of the wall isn't DC (direct current) or you may fry your power pack. Always ask your hotel staff if you aren't sure.

Other essentials to pack in your camcorder case include two or more cassettes, instructional booklets and a remote control unit if you have one. Leave the floodlamps home. Many historic houses and museums will let you take video as long as you don't use video lamps; this restriction includes small built-in camcorder lights. A handful of filters could be beneficial. They spice things up, and are easy to squeeze into a camera bag. Tripods are optional on vacation; a good compact model will provide stability in certain situations, but often will get in the way when you're and exploring the surroundings.

Invest in extra batteries--bring two or more high-capacity battery packs--and keep them fully charged. It's more than a little frustrating to run out of power while you're shooting a scene.

An ordinary suitcase or carry bag does not offer the protection and custom fit a camcorder case provides, so carry your camcorder in a proper case when traveling. There is a wide selection of lightweight, soft-sided camcorder cases available that will protect your video gear from scratches and bruises that jetliners, trams, taxis and ferries can cause. Soft cases are light in weight and can be effective carriers, provided they are weather-resistant with additional top and inner flaps that double-cover the contents when closed. Look also for a wide strap so it doesn't cut into your shoulder. Remember to install and use your camcorder's shoulder strap--this lets you carry the camcorder from your shoulder and bring the unit to shooting position in one quick movement when you're ready to record.

For extra protection, at the cost of more bulk and weight, a hard camcorder case, made of aluminum alloy or impact-resistant plastic, largely eliminates the possibility of damage during transit. Some hard protective camcorder cases come with foam inserts which you cut out and mold to fit the contents. Other camcorder cases have interchangeable compartments with Velcro straps and binders that allow you to change the inside configuration of the camcorder case, yet still keep the camcorder well protected. Look for lined or padded compartment separators as well as body armor on the base and sides of the camcorder case.

When traveling by air, always treat a camcorder as carry-on baggage--even if it's in a hard camcorder case--to protect it from rough handling. While your video gear may not be damaged by luggage handlers, checked luggage still could end up in Phoenix while you fly to Rome. In any situation, jot down your camcorder's serial number and keep it separate from your equipment when traveling. This will allow you to identify your camcorder if it's lost or stolen.

Make sure the camcorder case measures no more than 9 by 13 by 23 inches-the limit for airline carry-ons. By the way, there is no need to be afraid of airport X-ray machines; they won't harm videotape.

When you're shopping for a camcorder case, it's a good idea to bring your gear with you, so you can load up the camcorder case and carry it around the store to see how it feels. This test will keep you from being disappointed later when you find that the new camcorder case you bought is too small for your equipment.

Most people shoot travel video as a record of a visit to a place. You want your video scenes to convey the special feel of the location and to be visually interesting to the viewer. How many times have you been forced to look at a friend or relative's amateurish or just plain boring travel tapes? Have you wondered why vacation videos tend to be so bad?

For one thing, the camcorder user may not be comfortable with the operation of his or her equipment. All of us remember vacation videos that bounced all over the screen because the camcorder operator was not familiar with the use and placement of the function controls. It's one thing to play with the unit when it's sitting on your dining room table and quite another to be able to grab your camcorder to capture a spontaneous shot. You should be familiar--by touch--with the placement of your camcorder's buttons, knobs and switches, and know which way to push or turn each control. Don't hunt and peck. Practice until you can focus, zoom, set exposure and use the camcorder's primary features without thinking about the location of each control or which way it moves.

Now that you have become proficient with the operation of your camcorder, the next step is to be aware of the content of your vacation video, so that you take home more than a collection of postcard views. Remember that a prime objective of videotaping is to capture information. Let the viewer see the whole subject for a reasonable time, keeping the camcorder stationary. Don't zoom in and out without purpose just to give the scene movement.

Be aware, too, that there are some types of shots where manual adjustment will give a more interesting effect. The "follow zoom" is one example. As the subject moves toward you, a camcorder with a manual zoom lever lets you pull out slowly so that the subject stays the same size in the picture. The viewer will see the background changing, yet the subject does not seem to be getting closer.

The secret to interesting vacation videos is planning. Just as you plan lodging and travel itineraries, preparing a list of the sights and scenes you think you'll want to record on your trip will help to guarantee success. Keep on the lookout for unexpected scenes as well; some of the best shots are those you cannot plan. Plan your video story, and remember that you're trying to do just that, tell a story. You may find it helpful to research the customs, history and tradition of an area you plan to visit. Learning about a new culture can be fun and it will give you ideas for shooting video. Determine the shots needed to tell that story--don't just record various unrelated events. If you do find yourself shooting a series of static, tourist-type scenes, plan to take the next scene you shoot and add a story-telling figure or edit in shots of a group of people. The result will be a more interesting sequence.

Having said that, don't be afraid to shoot well-known travel landmarks. It may seem trite, but if you're going to London, even the most the seasoned traveler in your viewing audience will expect to see scenes of Buckingham Palace. What's more, famous monuments will give your travel video historical perspective and can be very effective when interspersed with shots of people in everyday activities. Commuters boarding those famous double-deck buses in London are a great example.