It Vids

If you look on the internet there are hours and hours of videos of model trains.  Enthusiastic hobbyists love to show off their layouts and brag about the authenticity of their scenery and trains.  These videos vary widely in quality and length, but there are some excellent videos out there to learn from.  So what does it take to make a great model train video?

Aside from good subject material, you will need a video camera.  These days most cameras are digital and indeed, those are the best ones if you plan on transferring your video to YouTube or your favorite model train forum.  It is as easy as uploading any other file.  Video’s cameras are available in various price ranges, with different bells and whistles, different zoom ranges and various other options.  Most of that is fairly unimportant for the amateur videographer who just wants to make a video of their layout.  If you purchase a reasonable video camera in the $250-$400 dollar range it will have all of the features you need.  Specific things to look for are:

a threaded fitting for mounting your camera on a tripod
a type of media that is easy to transfer to your computer or a direct connection from the camera to the computer with a USB connection.
Zoom level in the range of 20-40 “optical zoom” (not digital).
Ease of use
Remote control

OK, you have your camera, what else do you need?  A good tripod is probably the next most important accessory.  We’ve all seen handheld videos – they are shaky and difficult to watch.  A good tripod solves that.  Make sure it is easy to adjust for height, rotation, and tilt.  Also make sure it is sturdy enough to hold the camera you choose without showing any vibration on the finished video.

Another key piece of equipment is your computer.  When shooting your video, you will want to pick up the train sounds, but not do any voiceover at that point.  Editing is a key step in producing a quality video and to do that, you will need a computer.  A large hard drive is important if you are going to shoot a lot of video.  A fast processor will also make your work easier and faster.  If you want to do voiceovers to explain what your audience is watching, a quality microphone will come in handy, although you can use the one that is on the video camera.

Professional videos usually have some supplemental lighting as well.  Normal incandescent or fluorescent lights will give a color cast to your video that you may find objectionable.  If you don’t have lighting specifically designed for photography, you can replace your normal light bulbs with natural lights to eliminate these color casts.

Making a great model train video is not difficult if you have the correct equipment and use the right techniques.  The equipment does not need to cost thousands of dollars or take years to learn.  Today’s equipment is light, inexpensive, and easy to use.  So go ahead and take the plunge, and show off your pride and joy to the world.