I decided to try out my iPad and iMovie app in a real world situation this week.  I wanted to make a video about some aspect of a conference I attended (SWS/INTECOL) this week in Orlando.  There were several options, but I settled on a video about the SWS Undergraduate Mentoring Program. I was participating as a mentor and was able to do a few interviews with my iPad and additionally shoot some of the events and activities.

Here are my observations regarding the iPad and iMovie app.  I found it convenient to use my iPad to shoot video and stills  because I also used my iPad to take notes during sessions as well as carry the conference schedule (electronic version) and have access to the Internet even when there was no wireless available.  I did not have to lug around a camcorder plus computer plus notebook plus  meeting schedule book. It was all on my iPad.

If I ran into someone I wanted to interview, I was able to whip out my iPad and shoot away.  It was also convenient to shoots clips directly into the iMovie timeline.  The trick was to shoot short clips that could more easily be manipulated or deleted later without having to scrub through long  clips looking for a specific  section.

The downside was that I found it awkward to hold the iPad steady and position the camera lens where I was comfortable and could see my subject.  See these brief clips illustrating what I mean:

I found myself yearning for my Sanyo Xacti, which I can handle with one hand like a pistol (in fact that’s what it looks like) and can hold as steady as a rock.  Granted, I did not practice much beforehand with positioning my iPad for doing interviews….compared with the time I’ve spent shooting interviews with a camcorder.  Although I did not try this approach, I think a possible solution would be to set up your iPad on a stand on a table with the lens facing the subject.  You could then be in the scene I if you chose to without worrying about a wobbly camera.  Of course, you may be going for  that unsteady effect and want some camera movement.

In upcoming posts, I’ll continue my critique of the iPad camera and the iMovie app as well as conclude my series of tutorials.