As you may have noticed, I’ve posted a number of videos here on the first video camera I’ve ever owned, a cheap $120 Flip Video unit. The videos I’ve posted are raw and unedited and it shows, but I haven’t purchased an editing program yet and since I don't own an Apple computer, my selection is limited to lesser Windows-based editing programs.

However, I’d suggest that those attending political events, particularly Democrats who are keeping an eye on the Republicans, lobbyists and similar dark forces, keep one of these handy. There are more Macaca moments waiting to be discovered — “the dark authoritarian forces” are what they are as we have painfully observed these last few years, and they aren’t going to change. The unit I have fits neatly in a shirt pocket. A just-released newer unit is even smaller and has some upgraded features.

As to the potential quality of videos that can be produced by these units, I’ll direct you to an article and video by a professor teaching students the art of making films and documentaries. A short portion of his post follows. But watch the short documentary film he produced for the real scoop on what you can do with one of these inexpensive toys.

When I was in the fledgling stages of photojournalism I would blame my equipment a lot. If I only had this lens, or that camera body, or a certain tripod or whatever, I would be able to create photos like the big guys. As I left full-time photojournalism to live a more balanced life, I found myself drifting back to storytelling. Several years later here I am: a budding filmmaker/storyteller/content creator at the University of Washington. Now that my aim is film, that eternal question comes up again: how important is equipment?

His answer will surprise you.