What's a good camera to use making a YouTube wrenching video?

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
06/24/2019 at 17:16 • Filed to: None

I am going to rebuild the front suspension on my ‘97 Safari — which has 100% less of its paint than this specimen does — and install new upper and lower control arm bushings and upper and lower ball joints*. This is a job that nobody has done for YouTube, and I thought I’d document my efforts and upload it for prosperity. What is a good camera to use? I have a GoPro, as well as a Lumix point-and-shoot that captures video. What would y’all suggest?

* Yes, replacing control arms is easier, but more costly by $200 or more, just in parts. And I’m off for the summer and all the joints and bushings are available in AC Delco, so here we go.

DISCUSSION (37)

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 17:19

i mean Doug DeMuro shoots all his videos on an iPhone so a gopro would probably be good lol

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
06/24/2019 at 17:20

I wouldn’t mind differentiating myself from that guy. But why not use a phone? Probably 90 % of what’s on YouTube now is being filmed on cell phones.

HammerheadFistpunch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 17:34

At this point its context over quality. the trick isn’t video, its sound. I would go with the lumix because its not fisheye and try and find a better audio solution, like a wired mic to a cellphone and sync audio later. Just make sure to do a single take, even if it means a crapton of dead airtime.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HammerheadFistpunch
06/24/2019 at 17:43

Thanks for the tip. I was thinking Lumix over GoPro for the same reason. Now, if I can find the bloody thing...

In other news, I bought the Carlisle trailer tires you recommended for the tent trailer and will pull them 1000 miles or more in the coming weeks. I will report. Thanks for that tip, too.

HammerheadFistpunch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 17:45

Hopefully they work for you like they’ve worked for me. I took the trailer to capitol reef a few weeks ago and they still looked great and didn’t get hot towing at 80

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 17:57

Years ago when I bought my DSLR I didn’t care that it won’t do video. Now I kick myself every time I think about recording something.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 17:57

I’m reasonably certain my S10+ is capable of capturing higher quality video than any camera I’d likely be able to justify buying. For whatever that’s worth. Which is very little, I’m sure. :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 18:18

I would say even a decent phone would work for recording video. Most do HD and if it’s just static looking straight at something, it would be fine. It might not pick up your audio that well though, so maybe getting a cheap digital recorder and fuz zy lapel mic?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MM54
06/24/2019 at 18:20

Boy, not me. Video is like this giant frontier for me that is a whole bunch of work to make it any good at all.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
06/24/2019 at 18:21

Yes, using the cell phone is certainly convenient...

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/24/2019 at 18:22

Yes, hammerhead also was talking about audio quality. I will be thinking about that issue. But I have to find the camera first...

Nibby > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 18:22

what Hammer said... make sure the sound quality is good and people are able to clearly hear your voice

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Nibby
06/24/2019 at 18:31

if nothing else, I can always make a point of turning to face the camera when I speak to the camera. Most of the people that make DIY videos talk way too much anyway.

Nibby > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 18:39

yeah you could do that... or use a clip microphone... there are plenty of ways

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Nibby
06/24/2019 at 18:50

Some guys don't speak at all and then just text over top occasionally as necessary.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Nibby
06/24/2019 at 18:50

Most of them just talk way too much.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 18:52

Your phone’s mic for audio might not actually be that bad. I used mine for my drive vid the other day and it was surprisingly clear, and it’s an ancient Samsung Galaxy Core LTE with Android 4.4.3, so if that can be decent, then I imagine your phone might just be OK!

Nibby > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 18:58

yea i find people talk too much when i’m looking at repair videos...

or sometimes people might talk too quickly and you gotta go back

the worst though is when they do not describe enough so you get confused

Under_Score > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 19:47

I’ve filmed YouTube videos in one take with iffy sound quality that got thousands of views.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Nibby
06/24/2019 at 19:47

This, i could care less what the video looks like. Quality sound and proper editing is what defines a professional video 100% of the time.

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 20:06

I have the charisma of a wet paper bag and no idea how to edit video decently (like even where to start with “what software”) so I’ve not done anything, either. I just often think that I’d like to.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/24/2019 at 20:15

I’m thinking that if I talk a LOT less than most people do, and face the camera when I do, then you should be able to hear me clearly.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Nibby
06/24/2019 at 20:16

Well, I’ve got a reputation to establish here...

I’m hoping to get a result that’s helpful to folks.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Under_Score
06/24/2019 at 20:17

Is Under_Score a musical reference, by any chance?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MM54
06/24/2019 at 20:17

I’m motivated by the idea that this might actually be useful to someone. So I aim to take the plunge.

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 20:19

Good luck! I just think it’d be fun, but have no idea where to even start.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 20:55

Only one way to find out! Looking forward to the video! :P

Under_Score > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/24/2019 at 21:09

It’s a pun. There’s an underscore between the words “under” and “score.” I’ve thought about changing it to something car related like “bfpRAV4,” but the penguin pillow pet is definitely staying. That’s my go-to picture for sites I don’t use my face on.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/25/2019 at 13:08

I appreesh the encouragement. Ask back later if you haven’t seen it yet. I just tracked down the camera I’ll use and I have plenty of SD card, so we’ll be off to the races at 720p.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HammerheadFistpunch
06/25/2019 at 13:14

Okay, so I’ve located the Lumix, DMC-ZS5, FWIW.

“HD” is 1280 x 720, which I believe is the resolution of 720p.

I have two 32gb SD cards and by my rough calculations, it looks like I can fit about 2-1/4 hours recording at “HD.” (I experimented and did some arithmetic.)

It appears to me that there may be a 2gb file size limit on the camera, since it wants to count down from 8m 24s, which also lines up roughly with my arithmetic.

As for sound, I do not think I’ll have time to track down an alternative. I am a teacher and I will be careful to speak to the camera when I am speaking, and not speak very much.

I have a small tripod and also a clip-on mount.

I think I’m off to the races. I’ll be starting the project Thursday or Friday (hopefully).

Thanks again for taking an interest and for your input!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Nibby
06/25/2019 at 13:15

My report back to Hammer:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/1835843981

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Nibby
06/25/2019 at 13:17

There is only a micro USB connection to the camera. I’m going to have to make do with what I have. My motivation here is not to release my own line of DIY videos, but to record the experience so that anybody else doing the project can benefit from it.

I’ll say to you what I said to Hammer: thank you for taking interest and sharing your experience; many appreesh!

HammerheadFistpunch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/25/2019 at 13:35

sounds good. yeah older cameras limited file sizes to 2gb to work within fat32 restrictions, it should create sequential files but you should tes t because some cameras didn’t go longer than 2gb or 20 minutes to comply with some stupid eu law involving distinctions in taxes between video and still cameras

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HammerheadFistpunch
06/25/2019 at 14:20

Does not make sequential files as far as I can tell. Just tested that. So I guess I’ll be working with a countdown timer. I don’t think it’ll beep when it cuts out, either.

What’s a good lower-end video camera for a putzer like me? I don’t need nor want anything higher than 720p because that standard looks great on my 52-inch plasma in the living room and it oughtta be cheaper. Any suggestions? Got anything you’re looking to liquidate?

Nibby > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/25/2019 at 14:45

good luck! have fun mate o7

keep us posted

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Nibby
06/25/2019 at 14:49

The Lumix has an 8-minute file size limit and won’t make sequential files, so I may be using the GoPro, but if I do, I’ll do it at 4:3.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/25/2019 at 14:56

Sounds good to me! :D