This is a silly hypothetical question that's been on my mind for quite some time. (I actually have faced the situation so I suppose it might not be so hypothetical in my case.)

If you have two or more makes or models of video camera please consider this situation.

It's a lazy Saturday afternoon and you're dozing on your sofa. You're suddenly awakened by a loud "boom" followed by the sound of sirens nearby. Looking out the window you see smoke and flames erupting down the street.

Assuming that each of your cameras was equally convenient to access and they were each loaded with a blank tape which one would you grab as you headed out the door?

I have a GL1 and a Panasonic DVC-200. I'd definately grab the 200 for several reasons.

1. Better image quality.
2. Easier to shoot a steady shot when handheld.
3. Better audio quality.
4. It just looks cool!
5. No bloody hot pixel (your mileage may vary).
6. I might be able to get better access to the scene like the news crews.

I just never seem to have access to either camera when something news-worthy happens.

Rick

Pd 150 as that's what I have except for the VX1000 which is almost always in the case. I have actually been in that type of predicament as I do training stuff for a fire dept.
The 150 works fine and I have an ID from that FD that preety much gets me in with any FD. It kinda looks like a press pass.
Don

Hypothetically I would grab my new XL2 <;~)

In reality I would grab our XL1s, and leave my GL1 in it's case.
We almost always use the GL1 for b-roll or cut away footage......

I'd grab one of my JVC GR-DVL9500U cams, of course, and set the cam on auto. Forget the tripod---no time!

Hmm, I'd grab the XL1 with the stock 16x lens (as opposed to the XL1 with the 14x manual or 3x). I figure if there was something good I would have to use the zoom to get close to it, so the IS would come in handy.

Wouldn't anybody see if there was something he could do to help?

Ha. I wondered how long it would take for someone to ask that, Hans! Good point.

In my case I've had two related incidents in the past year which prompted my asking the question here. (In neither case could I have offered help.)

Approximately two years ago during a late season snow and wind storm a work platform came loose on the south side of the John Hancock Center here in Chicago. Part of the platform crashed down to the street from approximately the 50th floor and killed two people in cars and gravely injured several other pedestrians. The other part of the platform dangled from the side of the building. In extremely strong winds it repeatedly crashed into the building hammering through the building's windows and a mechanical deck. I live one mile south of the the Hancock and had an unobstructed view of the platform and damage. In this case, I happened to have my XL1S already mounted to a tripod in my living room. So I merely turned it on, zoomed and shot. The chilling aspect to the story was that my wife and I had planned to lunch at a restaurant 2 blocks from the Hancock that afternoon but decided the weather was too nasty for the walk. Our path would have taken us down the affected street directly under the platform at about the time of the accident.

The second incident was much more frightening. Early one morning there were several very loud blasts emanating from the Jardine Water Treatment plant, the main plant serving Chicago's water supply. Since I can also clearly see this enormous plant from my windows I grabbed my GL2. Of course "terrorism" is what ran through my mind; it would be a horrific place for such an incident and is heavily guarded by land and water (it's along the lakefront) 24 hrs. As it turned out the blasts were caused by a contractor's accident; two propane tanks exploded. But it sure startled many people in the area for several hours.

But, yes, "How can I help?" should be one's first thought.

There are times when How can I help? is an appropriate response and there are times when it is not. I shot local news for a brief period (a little over a year) and witnessed on many occasion well meaning bystanders getting involved in situations that demand a professional's attention. In several cases they not only risked their lives, but the lives of firemen who had to assist or rescue the rescuers. Let professionals do their job unless called upon to help.

There are exceptions to this of course. Large man made disasters (such as 9/11) or large natural disasters (earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes etc). But the traffic accident at the corner or the house fire a few blocks away are not cause for unwise heroics.

>Wouldn't anybody see if there was something he could do to help?<

With simply shooting you'd be helping.

"Wouldn't anybody see if there was something he could do to help?"

And just where are you going to put your camera without it being stolen (while you are helping)?

I'd personally use the cheapest miniDV camera I owned because it's still good enough for the news and I wouldn't chance damaging my XL1S from the smoke, mist from fire hoses, or for that matter, getting sprayed by the firefighters (which has happened to me before).

I've shot plenty of news footage with my trusty ZR20 and it still looks as good or better than most news stuff. In fact, I carry it with me in my car most of the time along with a cheap Bogen 3001 fluid head tripod and Radio Shack boom mic. I've already paid for the equipment several times over by selling news footage. However, you're less likely to be run-off by the police if you have a professional looking camera like an XL1S.

As a former police officer myself, I agree with Jeff about letting the professionals do their jobs. Everyone wants to be a hero but the opportunities are VERY rare.

G

I can't help but get into this. Thank you all for saying "Let the pros do their work". My older son is a professional firefighter/paramedic (along with being a public saftey diver, you know, have alot to drink, fall off the boat in the middle of the lake and drown; he's the one that has to find you and bring you up), and a few other specialties as most all firefighters have. He has told me of times when the professional rescue workers have been put into jepordy because of well meaning civilians who just want to help. The stories can actually be horrifing.
Yes, in the case of 9/11 ABSOLUTLEY, do what ever you can, but otherwise the BEST thing you can do is call 911 (ironic isn't it?) and then get out of my son's way and let him do the job he has been trained to do, loves to do, is willing to do, doesn't get paid anywhere near enough to do and yet does it day after day after day.
Yes, we all want to help, but more often than not, all we manage to do is get in the way and hinder. If you see an accident, fire, problem of some sort that requires the aid of professionals, call them and then MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!
Thank you for letting me vent as the father of a professional!
Don

As a volunteer firefighter, I certainly agree with what everyone has said about staying out of the way. We probably wouldn't mind if you helped us pack all the hose, however :)

Bill

"I've shot plenty of news footage with my trusty ZR20 and it still looks as good or better than most news stuff. In fact, I carry it with me in my car most of the time along with a cheap Bogen 3001 fluid head tripod and Radio Shack boom mic. I've already paid for the equipment several times over by selling news footage. However, you're less likely to be run-off by the police if you have a professional looking camera like an XL1S".


Hey Greg

How much have you sold your news footage for and how many times have you sold your footage?

Scott

Hey Bill,
You couldn't pay me enough to roll up that heavy wet dirty hose. Thank you but I'll just video the guy's and gal's doing it.
I do however love my bunker gear! It really makes me feel well, warm!
Don

Hi Scott,
The local news stations in my area usually pay between $50 for one-time usage, to about $175 for exclusive rights. It all depends on the story. The "typical" building fire or car accident normally pays the least, if at all.

One exception was a large fight at our local bar district called Westport. A security guard sprayed pepper spray on a drunk which caused others to jump and beat the security guard breaking his jaw, both collar bones, and several broken ribs. I was the only one to have footage of the fight and I made about $500 from the various stations. The big payoff came when an attorney representing the security guard approached the news station asking to buy the footage. Since the station only had one-time rights to the footage, they referred the attorney to me. The exclusive rights were sold for $1000 and I had to sign over all rights to the footage. I'm not a big fan of lawsuits, but the security guard eventually won an undisclosed settlement.

You probably won't get rich shooting the news as a freelancer but always remember the potential for selling it to insurance companies and lawyers. It might just bring in enough money to buy another camera. My advice is to contact the news director from each of your local stations and let them know you're a freelancer who lives or works in a certain area. Tell them what kind of equipment you have and give your cell phone number asking them to call anytime there's a news event in your area that they can't send a crew to. Also find out what their station's policy is for buying such footage. Due to the economy, a lot of stations are running with minimum crews right now, especially on the weekends.

Hope this helps!
G

I would grab my Sony TRV8 and not the GL2. The TRV8 is always set to automatic everything, never has any attachments attached, is easier to get out of the case, is lighter, is smaller, and, as Greg says, is the cam I'm willing to lose in a pinch. I can be ready to shoot with the TRV8 faster than I can with the GL2.

I'd certainly let the pros do their job if they are around and I'll help if they're not. I'd help first, shoot later. I'd include news people in the pro category -- they need to do their jobs and shoot.

This happened to me a year and a half ago. It wasn't a Saturday. It was a beautiful Tuesday morning in September. I recieved a slightly hysterical call from my wife. She had been walking through the concourse of the World Trade Center when there was an explosion. Part of the ceiling fell not far from where she was standing. She ran for her life and stopped to call me when she was several blocks away.

I was just on the other side of the Hudson River in New Jersey. I grabbed my camera,a PD150, and went outside to see an an ugly plume of smoke streaming from the north tower. I saw friends out on the street. None of us knew what had happened. I walked toward the river to get a closer look. One friend with a radio said it was a plane. A few seconds later the south tower erupted in a ball of orange flame and black smoke.

The footage I grabbed wasn't the stuff you see on TV. I was farther away. I didn't catch the planes flying in. A friend of mine was shooting with his 8mm camera and caught footage of the building's collapse. Much later when I could stand to look at the footage, I cut together a personal record, a few of the things I saw and heard. Not great video but something that seemed important to keep.

http://spilmanlorentz.homestead.com/files/911.asf