Video Specs That Matter for Real Estate in 2011

Real estate professionals use video in three primary ways:

• To convey the visual appeal of a listing with a virtual walk-through tour.
• To educate prospective buyers on an area and its amenities.
• To introduce themselves as they discuss the real estate process or through recorded testimonials from satisfied clients.

If you foresee recording any of these yourself, you’ll need some kind of video-capture device. In fact, you may already have what you need, but just haven’t discovered or mastered its recording features.

Nearly all of today’s smartphones have the ability to capture both still photos and video. As their imaging capabilities and optics improve in the next few years, your phone may be able to eventually serve as your primary camera and camcorder, too.

Today, though, how much you use it for video depends on which smartphone you have. Although HD video capture is now found in some phones, it comes with limits. Most offer a fixed-focus lens, only digital zoom, and no wide-angle capability. For convenience, though, carrying just a smartphone can’t be beat,

Any digital camera bought in the last year is a hybrid device: both a still camera and HD digital camcorder. You’ll find better optics, wide-angle capabilities, and improved performance when recording in a variety of settings, including poorly lit interiors. Not every camera allows you to use its zoom lens in its video mode, and that’s a feature you’ll probably want for video.

Current camcorders are much more compact than previous generations. These, too, can do double duty, capturing both movies and high-resolution stills. The reduced size and weight from the elimination of tape means that movies are captured directly to memory, some form of removable SD card, or in some cases, an internal hard drive. A true camcorder gives you the most video options and creative control in terms of the lens and zoom, other functions, and in-camera editing.

There are some specific real estate needs to keep in mind as you compare your options. HD video, either at 720p or 1080p, is now the standard; you can always compress your files for display on other devices or online, but you want to start with the best quality for professional-looking tours.

As in cameras, a wide-angle lens is required for showcasing an entire home or room in one frame. Zoom matters, too, because you’ll want to highlight some features. For filming dimly lit interiors, look for a low lux rating or a built-in light.

Basic video editing is now offered on many models, as is the ability to easily upload video to sites like YouTube and Facebook. On several models, video sharing is a one-button process. But expect to do some editing on a PC; if your model doesn’t use an SD or Micro SD card, make sure it has a USB port.

Start your search for video capture with devices you already have and carry. They may offer enough for your needs. If not, where your smartphone or digital camera falls short will be your best guide to what you want from your next camera or camcorder. Don’t overspend for features you’ll neither use nor need.

Hardware and software vendors have made it easy to capture high-quality video, package it into an effective production, and post it online. Sample and compare your options; decide what’s just good enough — no more, no less — and start making those movies.