Technical Know How
Archive for September, 2010
DIY Camera and Camcorder Repairs – Error Messages
Sep 16th
Why they occur and what you can do to when they come up
It can happen in the middle of a video shoot, or you haven’t used the camera for a while. The camera starts beeping, doesn’t accept tape or disc, or not even ejects the media inside. The use of the camera is very limited. Perhaps just enough to display a message or error code on the LCD screen.
The remedy suggestions from the user manual often don’t work, which means the camera needs to be booked in for a camera repair.
Why does an error message show up?
Cameras and camcorders are fully computer controlled. Sensors and other feedback devices in lens, video circuit and media compartment update the computer constantly. If this feedback is interrupted or the sensor does forwards an error, the computer shuts the camera down completely or just allows very limited use. This prevents any further damage to the camera, media or battery.
That’s the theory anyway.
What does the message mean?
Depending on camera brand or model the displayed error message is a code or even words. The principle is the same; it tells the technician and user in which part of the camera a fault occurred.
Although causes could be different and therefore remedy, parts and camera repair prices to rectify the problem.
Can I do anything about it?
One of couple of things could have happened;
1. A genuine problem in which case the camera needs to be dismantled and repaired.
2. An issue with media or battery, which may have caused an unrelated error message.
What you should do in any case and perhaps avoid a camera repair
- Reset – disconnect and reconnect battery.
- Disconnect battery and work from the AC power adaptor.
- Eject the media and use a different one.
- In case of picture distortion, playback a pre-recorded tape which may wipe off residue from the heads.
- Check tape – open flap and inspect.
- Never open camera and remove tape by hand!
- Do not overuse cleaning tapes.
Only use them when you experience picture and sound distortion in playback. Having said that, use it sparingly (once or twice) and refer to the cleaning tape literature.
Most of these tapes are very abrasive and can cause damage to the video heads if overused.
How to Shift Your Martial Art Skills onto the Fast Track!
Sep 10th
Thomas Klose
A lot of training where you repeat mistakes and bad habits doesn’t bring you very far. You may have heard about the saying: the right practice and training improves your technique and brings you forward. This is certainly what you need to do. How about we build on this fact and incorporate another step and take our skills to a whole new level? We add a feedback system, where we actually see how we progress, evaluate and do the necessary corrections towards perfection of our technique. It is a tool, which allows us to compare objectively our skills with others, in particular if you competing in tournaments.
It is no magic pill or a substitute of what you are doing, read on to find out.
In class you receive feedback and corrections from your Sensei and higher grades which is an excellent start. But now it is up to you to take this advice and use it to advance your skills.
Here is a little challenge; we are all human, which can mean, that we fall back (more or less) into our old habits. The truth is we have to condition ourselves and consciously work on the right technique over and over again until we develop the right habit and then built on it.
If you are serious about your martial art and want to achieve your goals and results faster, you can’t get past a video log.
Start to document certain techniques, combinations and Katas. Most cameras have a date/time stamp as well as audio. My advice: use it! Speak any comment onto the video. No pen and paper required! How good and easy is that. Once you watch yourself in the video, you see how others see you (Oh, I thought I am better than that). Now you have an excellent tool to analyse your technique and do the necessary correction for improvement. Do this on a regular basis over a longer period to break bad habits or just for improvement and progression of your art. After all, we all have cameras; this is an opportunity to put them to good use. Here is a video of myself in our backyard practising one of my grade Katas.
Digital Still Camera for Video Production
Sep 8th
Sure it is a compromise, but you will be amazed, how far it can take you, when it is done right.
To start with, the picture quality of most still cameras is similar to a camcorder of the same specification. There could be some limitations what the lens concerns, but on the other hand you have a camera, which fits in your shirt pocket. That is convenience. At the same time you have a camera handy, which takes excellent still shots. If you are like me, who takes a lot of pictures and the occasional video clip, a little point and shot camera is the ideal solution for holidays or any other event.
There is a setback though. Since these cameras don’t have a good image stabiliser, it is important to hold it steady with some sort of mechanical support or use a little table tripod.
Filming yourself couldn’t be much easier. Position the camera with tripod, choose the right framing with the zoom and switch on the self-timer. Any excess footage at the end of the video clip can be cut in post production.
Video setup
Post production
The recording format of digital still cameras is handled by most editing software. Since you recorded with a still camera, I can imagine that you have a good mix of still photos and video clips on your memory card, which you want to use in your video production.
- I would like to suggest, that you place all video clips and pictures in order on the time-line.
- After you trimmed the video clips, stretch the display time of the individual pictures as you need it.
- Now use your camera to record an audio track, which will be added to the original sound. To get the timing right, playback the whole time line while you speak your comment in the camera’s microphone.
- Add your newly recorded audio to your video project and place it as a second audio track under the video clip.
- Once both audio tracks are displayed, you can highlight one or the other and change the volume if required.
Summary
Personally I like the convenience of shooting video out of my shirt pocket during holidays. However, I would like to point out the importance of tripod for proper image stabilisation again.
If you want to learn more details about post production, read my article ‘Budget Video Production – A Step by Step Guide’ or visit me on my camcorder blog.
DIY Camera Repairs; Should I, or Not?
Sep 7th
A must read before you get started
This is a tricky question, even for the technical experienced person.
You may have seen camera repair videos on U-Tube, which make it look so easy and straight forward. But is it really?
Let’s have a closer look and start with common sense. Firstly, an expert in any field of endeavour can make it look so easy, that’s why he/she is an expert. Secondly, most videos are well prepared, rehearsed and edited for best results. Now, let’s have a closer look at the details.
Even during my 25years experience I sometimes have challenges in completing some repairs. This doesn’t have to be a technical or knowledge problem, it could be a general and basic issue like the availability, or over the moon prices for a service manual, spare parts or special service tools and equipment.
Let’s get technical
First of all you may want practice disassembling and assembling a camera, which is written off. So if you can’t pull it apart properly or have problems in putting it back together, it doesn’t matter. Keep in mind that assemble procedures can be unique to every camera model. Screws can be hidden even under stickers and doors. Housing parts are often clipped together. You have to apply the right amount of pressure to pull it apart.
If you are new to this, I strongly suggest you document every step with a camera. This will help, when you put things back together.
Before you get started with a camera repair, be aware, the following things can happen:
- The camera can be worse off as it was before you started to undo the first screw
- You can’t get it back together as it was
- You can’t locate or repair the faulty components
- The camera has multiple faults
- No spare parts available or you can’t buy the parts you need
- The part price is as expensive as a new camera
- You accidently brake something
Preparations before you start working on your camera:
- Make sure you can get parts
- Have the right tools
- Take notes or photos as you disassemble the camera
- Watch screws: length, head, thread and colour
- Obtain service manual and follow procedures, if you can
Summary
If you are new to camera repairs, use the points and steps above as a guide.
Start with a cheap camera you can afford to write off, if things go wrong.
I wish you great success with the camera repair. If you do get stuck or even before you start, take advantage of our ‘Free camera advice‘section on our camcorder blog.
Allcam for fast and efficient camera repairs
Camera advice and filming support; What do I do when I need it?
Sep 7th
Video filming and photography can be a complex task these days. It is not just the camera itself, there is a computer, software in post production and often the internet for sharing your photos and videos involved. What do you do, if you if you can’t get the results you want, or the whole setup doesn’t work at all? Or you just started and don’t know what to buy or set it up.
Of course, there are specialists for computer sales and service, camera sales, less for camera repairs and video editing. What do you do, when you don’t know the cause of any setup issues, or you not sure, what you need to accomplish a certain task in the most effective way. What I mean here is, often you can’t tell, if the problem is caused by camera, computer or software.
When you are in the market for a new setup, you don’t need the most expensive camera, the fastest computer and most sophisticated editing software to publish a short holiday video on U-Tube.
The thing is, once you go to a camera-, computer- or software retailer, you will find, that their area of expertise is just what they sell in the shop. To make things worse, they try to push you towards the promotion of the week, which is not necessarily what you need. Advice from friends and family is often outdated or reflects any sales person and brochure advice, which is most of the time biased towards a certain product.
In case you have an hardware issue with your camera, an internet search perhaps reveals, that other people have a similar problem and may talk about a solution, but to follow through and rectify your issue is a whole new story altogether.
Once you have found a camera repair centre and call it up for advice, in most cases you can’t get past the receptionist, who suggests to book it in for a quote, which costs between $50 -$100.
This could be a tricky situation if you have an older camera, where this fee is already a third or a quarter of the replacement value of the camera. If you do go ahead, the chances of an expensive repair bill or even an uneconomical repair is possible. Of course it doesn’t have to be this way, a simple repair or an adjustment could rectify your camera problem.
I have spoken to a lot of people who didn’t do anything and left it unrepaired for a few years. Once they heard about ALL-CAM, they took advantage of the ‘Free Estimate’ service to sort out their camera problem. Here is the good news: besides very, very competitive rates ALL-CAM Cameras and More gives free assessments and repair estimates.
ALL-CAM /e-Study takes it’s even a level further. On our blog website you find ‘Free online Camera advice’ many free videos and articles around the topic camera care, how to… filming tips and tricks and much more.
Furthermore, the e-Study website features in depth DIY courses, e-books and podcasts about the exciting world of Film and television technology.
With these products you can learn from home at your own pace or even supplement your official filming education.
Summary
The one address for all your camera issues
- ALL-CAM /e-Study provides free online technical advice
- Free in-house repair estimates
- Free videos & articles about filming, damage prevention and technical details
- DIY technical camera courses, Film and television technology courses, beginners and intermediate filming course.
Allcam for fast and efficient camera repairs
About
Allcam Cameras & More
Articles
Business & internet Marketing
Camera Advice
Film & TV Technology
follow us on facebook
follow us on twitter
Videos