Here’s a nice little tutorial on how to convert video footage to an animated .gif file so you can embed it safely in email and the like. Of course you don’t get the sound, but the technique is still impressive, eh? There are also freeware programs which will do this for you if you’re not macho enough. Your call.
There are free video to gif tools available. I prefer to convert the video file myself. It affords you more control, resulting in smaller file sizes and higher quality footage.