[Al Skierkiewicz]

Sorry I didn't see this earlier. Numero Uno...You can't operate a palm recorder handheld. Please use a tripod. I am surprised no one talked about lighting. Don't place your subjects with their back to a lighted panel or window. Don't have them wear bright clothes like a white shirt and don't let them wear geometric patterned clothing. It will play havoc with the pickup devices. If you can, two lights work well. A flooded light off to the right or left of the subject and a spot from behind but not pointing at the camera. The front light adds definition to the face by adding some shadow and the spot from behind adds definition and sets the subject away from background objects by highlighting the head and shoulders. Interviews are normally head and shoulder shots. Anything further away gives the eye more to look at and be distracted and closer (head only) prevents the viewer from concentrating on the spoken part of the interview. Only zoom out to show a demonstration or to incorporate other objects or people in the shot.
As far as panoramic pans goes, I always caution people not to make it less than tens seconds. That is easy to count off in your head while you pan a room or a vista outdoors. Don't be afraid to reshoot a scene a couple of times while changing the camera angle, lighting or background. Tape is cheap compared to having nothing usable when you get back to editing.
Zoom to give a perspective, show relationship or to move in on the announcer.