10 Tips for using your Camileo Camcorder

If you’ve got a Camileo camcorder, I think you’ll agree there pretty nice little camcorders. To get the most out of your camcorder we’ve listed some helpful tips that you might find useful.

• Depending on how long you intend to film for, it’s probably best to ensure that you have enough memory to record to. All Camileo camcorders come with SD slots, so it’s best to get as large a storage capacity as you can. A general rule of thumb is as follows:
  • If you are recording in 1080p (High Definition) you can expect to record about 15 minutes of footage per 1GB of SD card storage.
  • However, if you are recording in 720p high definition, you can expect to record about 30 minutes of footage per 1GB of SD card storage.
• The last thing you would want to happen is for the battery to go flat. Camileo camcorders have a good battery life of about 80 minutes, but it is a good idea to ensure you charge your battery up fully before you use it or that you either carry a spare battery with you. There’s nothing worse than the battery going flat after 10 minutes, because you forgot to put it on charge.
• The most annoying scenario to happen when using your camcorder, besides the battery going flat, is the lens being dirty and not having a good cleaning cloth with you. Always make sure you pack a good cleaning cloth with you in your camcorder bag, and what ever you do, don’t use your jumper/t-shirt as this can scratch the lens, which is easier to do than you would think
• Plastic bag. This could literally be a Camileo’s lifesaver if you are suddenly caught out by a freak rain storm. Simply keep a small bag in your pocket and if such a downpour happens, just wrap it up and this should keep it dry and safe.
  • Why can’t I just put it in my pocket?
    Well, you could. The Camileo range is certainly small enough to, but unless you’re wearing waterproof clothing you’re likely to still get it damp and damage it.

    Failure to plan is planning to fail!

• Why not play about with the lighting settings on your Camileo? Depending on your surroundings, whether its night or day or if you want to have ‘black & white’ video, the settings of the Camileo camcorder can handle all this – it’s a great way to break away from the status quo.
• All the Camileo camcorders come with a light at the front of the camera, for when you’re shooting in the dark. If possible, try to use some other form of lighting rather than light on the camera as this can drain the battery.
• Try not to zoom too much. Zooming in and out when you’re filming can cause a messy action scene for your viewers. The more you zoom in and out of a particular shot, the more your view has to take notice and focus more, which can subconsciously put your audience off. It’s best to only use your zoom once or twice in a 15 minute shoot.
• Try and use a tripod whenever you can. Tripods are fantastic devices when it comes to steadying the ‘shaky’ hands that we all get, especially when we are zoomed right in on an object. A tripod is a great way to show that you’re not in the middle of an earthquake.
• Storing your Camileo Camcorder. It’s important to note that storing your Camileo camcorder near other electrical devices can interfere with some features of the camera. For example, storing your camcorder next to a CRT monitor for a long period of time may affect the LCD screen on the Camileo camcorder, due to the magnet in the monitor.
• Lastly, if possible, try and keep to just using the viewfinder rather than the LCD display. If battery life is an issue for you, this is a great way to save the battery life on a long video shoot.

To find more information on our Camileo range, why not check out our other articles on the Camielo S10 & P10 and the Camileo H20 & P30