HD Camera Recommendations

As High Definition Camera’s  are now the cutting edge of video recording technology, we here at tripfilms, have comprised a list  of our member’s favorite HD Camera’s  from budget traveller to the pro-filmmaker.  Each has features that are unique to the type of filmmaker that uses it.  So read on & find out which one best fits your shooting style...

If you’d like to tell us what kind of camera works best for your shooting style, 

email us at: info@tripfilms.com 

GOPRO HERO CAMERA 

It’s a waterproof digital helmet camera capable of capturing still photos and HD  video.  Use of quick release mounts allows it to be used on motorcycles, bicycles, four-wheelers, skis, kayaks and more. It’s pretty amazing how much a tiny little camera can capture! 

BecomingAdventure Uses this in his video: 

South Korean Adventure #18

More info: http://www.goprocamera.com/

FLIP - ULTRA HD VIDEO CAMERA 

This High Definition pocket video camera sports some nice features packed into a frame that's about the size of your typical smart phone. It offers 720p video at 60fps, a fixed lens with image stabilization, and a 2.0-inch LCD screen

More info: http://www.theflip.com/en-us/Products/ultra.aspx

KODAK PLAYSPORT Zx3 HD 

WATERPROOF VIDEO CAMERA

You'll be able capture "HD" video in 1080p or 720p  & easily share your creations on Tripfilms. However, what's interesting about the PlaySport is that you can take this thing underwater (up to 10 feet). While we've seen other pocket camcorders that do this, the Zx3 is arguably the first mainstream model to offer this feature. All you need is your own SD card, and your ready to shoot!

More info: http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/pd/PLAYSPORT_Video_Camera__Zx3/productID.169976100

CANON HV30 

Traditionally, a camera that can capture 24P is a two-handed, few-thousand-dollar beast of a machine. Canon now delivers it in a camera that fits nicely into the palm of one hand. The HV30 is easy to operate, with convenient hand controls for focus, zoom, exposure and back light correction, and a nice little video light.  Canon put together a solid camera weighing in at just about a pound and a half, which makes it easier to perform long-duration shooting.

More info: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/camcorders/minidv_camcorders/vixia_hv30

Sony V1U 

The V1U is a well-built, feature-packed HDV camcorder capable of producing professional quality video. This camcorder is packed with a host of features designed for serious amateurs and budding professionals.

sgorman uses this camera for his videos: http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Video-v75694-Florence-Skirmish_at_Gambles_Hotel-Video.html

More info: http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-HVRV1U/

NIKON D3

Known as one of the top professional photography camera's , it’s now being known to cature some of the best HD video out there: Records smooth 24 fps HD video, leveraging low-noise D3S image quality along with high fidelity stereo sound capability.

More info: http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Digital-SLR-Cameras/25466/D3S.html

Traveling by Plane... Can't beat it!

Breaking Update: Adam and I are in fact, moving to New York City! At the beginning of July, we packed our bags and flew to the Big Apple. Adam started his new job in the Restaurant Industry, and I came for a short visit. We will both be there for good at the End of August. (I am 2 months away from Graduating with a Degree in Web Design!)

While we were on the plane, we both took note of how many places we had been in the US, on the napkins they give us with the beverage of choice. (I prefer Coke or Pepsi with ice, it is the best I've ever had up in the sky.)

Soo Many Options....

Hello to anyone who has followed this travel blog so far...

It's been a while since I have written an updated post. SO... I figured this morning, it was time to set things straight:
Because of the down-turn in the economy, as many of you know, it's found to be quite impossible to obtain work visa's anywhere in the world, besides your own country. Unless you make more then $60,000 a year,  hold a master's degree, and hold a unique skill that no one else holds in that country, then working in such Country, in Europe especially, it's quite impossible at the moment. Not to say that working abroad is impossible, but at the moment, for what we are looking for, it is. But there are alternatives that might or might not suite such as:

1. WOOFING- working on a farm or vineyard, or orchard, in exchange for a place to stay & food to eat. 
2. Under the Table- Finding work illegally in such countries, no paper trail, no proof of work. 
3. TEFL- Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Bachelors degree required, and TEFL certificate)
4. Freelance work in such countries with "under the table" pay. With specialized talent. 
5. DON'T WORK, and live abroad, volunteering, and come back when one is out of money. $$

SO, as you see, these are roads less travelled for obvious $$ reasons, but roads travelled non the less. In the last few months, Adam and I have done extensive research, and found that if we wanted to make our travel dreams come true, we need to SAVE Up, and put our careers as priority.  Either that or .... all sails to the wind, and off to a far crazy adventure with pennies in our pocket!

HENTZ, our FINAL CONCLUSION:
Because of our many "brainstorm plans", and driving our  Friends and Family CRAZY with our insane wild dream antics, we have decided to keep quite, and not tell a sole. Our true plan, weather it be Traveling over seas in a few months, NYC, California, Chicago, WHO KNOWS!?  Once we find ourselves there, and have set sail, whatever the Call to Action is, we will let you know when we  physically get there.

Thank you to all who have tuned in, and don't loose hope just yet. Keep checking our site, and definitely check back in August, the mighty winds will be a'stirrin'.

Kapich, kapich.

Leavin' On a Jet Plane

228 D.B.T
Adam and I have finally booked our flights to Europe!! After a good three weeks of flight research, we came upon this great site, www.statravel.com, and they had the best prices we could find. 

FLIGHT DATE: Oct. 5th, 2010.

PRICE: Priceless (na, haha, just kidding. $720 total for two one way tickets) 

I also talked with a flight specialist prior, and asked her when the best time to fly and when to book a flight like might be?  She explained that most of the great deals are in the Winter because no one is flying. Summer is the high season which means thats when prices are the most expensive. Then there's fall which is on the cusp, which means prices fall somewhere in between. The best time is to book is at least 6 months in advance, or weeks or days before you leave. I've been told (but based on people's expertise on this one) that the airlines never drop the price below it's baseline price which is what you get at least 6 months in advance when they put the tickets out. I don't know if this is completely factual, but it makes sense. 

In using Kayak.com, priceline.com, cheapflights.com, and a few others, I found that yes, it is good to compare prices, but look further, and find offshoot places like statravel.com, which might be "off the beaten flight" booking sites. Find deals that have student discounts, travel locations, like www.airlingus.com (Irelands airline) or do a google search to see what other people say. This is the best advise that I can offer. Oh yeah, and go through a european airlines website if traveling within Europe... WAY CHEAPER! But that's a whole different story. (Which I plan to cover when we get there.) 

Silent Film Night With The Chicago Symphony Orchestra!

237 D.B.T  (Days Before Travel)

Tonight, Adam and I went with Family & Friends to a showing of Buster Keaton's, Sherlock Jr., accompanied by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It was absolutely brilliant, and I loved the music and how it took me back to once was.

So your probably thinking... how does this have anything do do with Travel? Well, as of right now, we have not travelled, but I live in a City of Lights, which I have been exploring and experiencing for the last two years. Every day presents something new and different, and an occasion like this deserves recognition. So fellow readers, if you ever find yourself lucky enough to attend any Chicago Symphony Orchestra event, in Chicago, IL, USA, I suggest you do go.

The Visa Run-around

240 D.B.T. (Days Before Travel)

Being somewhat rusty to the process of aquiring International Visa's, I have found myself at the beginning again.
Step one: Aquire International visitor and work visa's well in advance to your travels:
So... I started a list of countries and their Embassy contacts. I proceeded to call the Embassies and what I got....were a variety of situations: Some of the contact numbers were disconnected, or would ring forever and ever. The Embassy of Brazil picked up, but the man on the other line kept telling me to go online for the information. As I told the man that I was interested in talking with real people about such mannors, he bluntly told me that he knew nothing about the vistors visa or work visa in Brazil, and that I would find the information online. Granted the man had a point, I was a bit upset that I could not get this type of information from a real person with real facts.

The beast of aquiring Country Visa's, is that it's not always black and white. It takes quite a lot of online research, forms to print and fill out, tons of time, and money. This is not to scare anyone who is reading this, off from getting such visa's, but you must put fourth effort.
PLAN OF ATTACK: To spend my free computer time, looking up as much as I can about each Countries Visa's! Starting with the Most important places that we want to travel, to the least important. As I am a "TO DO" list type of person, I'm going to print out the countries list, and mark them off as I go alone. So the last thing I ask is: Anyone reading this, if you have any other opinions or ways to go about getting visa's, let me know. All support is welcome.

Signing off
~Brooke

FIRST BLOG!
246 D.B.T. (days before trip)

Purpose of Blog: to document and update followers on this two year journey around the world!
Where: 37 countries spanning over 6 Continents.
WHO: Brooke (myself) & Adam (my Fiance) are two young traveller's, currently living in Chicago, planning the biggest trip of our lives! We want to do away with so called "normal life" for two years, and see as much as we can, meet as many people as we can, and eat some tasty food along the way. I'll be documenting it with photos and hopefully some great videos, and Adam will be writing his own blog, global stage, about cooking with the international locals, and gaining recipes found around the world.
WHY: Why not.

MESSAGE TO FOLLOWERS: Whomever finds themselves reading this blog, thank you! We want give insight into travel and how to make it happen for anyone who has the desire to travel. Spread the word to your fellow friends and bloggers, and if you can, support us through blog comments, and possible a donation or two. Thanks!