Technical Know How
Posts tagged camera course
Camera Check & Maintenance – Camera Technician Advice
Jun 7th
There is no maintenance as such with cameras. Even tape – or disc camcorders, which use moving parts in the media compartment, are usually maintenance free.
However, do the following when you want to get the most out of your camera or haven’t used it for a long time. Do it before an important shoot, holidays or testing a 2nd Hand camera.
General advice:
1) Do not overuse head cleaning tapes, as the can be abrasive to the video heads.
2) Use quality Tapes – I recommend camera manufacturer tapes.
- Try to use the same brand only
- Discard damaged tapes
3) Have at least 2 batteries. Battery test. Run batteries fully flat before recharge. You have to
know how long batteries last for proper shoot planning. If batteries behave odd or don’t last
very long, repeat a discharging and charging procedure a few times.
Even though modern batteries supposedly don’t develop a memory, I did resurrect some
batteries with this procedure.
Camera check:
Tape cameras
1) Fast forward and rewind a whole tape.
2) Play back a pre-recorded at the beginning and at the end of the tape.
3) Perform a test recording by constantly panning and zooming the camera in and out. Here you
look for distortion and pixilation in playback of the recording. If it does show up, you may
have an issue with the video head drum or tape path. A remedy can be a cleaning tape, if
unsuccessful, see a repairer.
4) Do this recording test in SP (Standard Play) and LP (Long Play)! A tape-path or video head
issue is much more obvious in LP.
Disc cameras
Do the test recording and playback procedure as described above for tape cameras.
If you do have any issues with the recordings, you may clean the laser lens. If unsuccessful, see a repairer. Repairs can be expensive, as in most cases the whole disc drive needs to be replaced. This drives are a lot dearer compared to computer disc drives!
HDD and Flash Memory cameras
Test record and playback. There is nothing else to do.
Lens check
- Test the iris by checking scenes on a bright sunny day outdoors and indoors under low light conditions.
- Check the optical zoom for smooth zooming from wide angle to full zoom in. Do this in both directions and observe the auto focus tracking.
- Sensor check, DSLR Cameras: Try to take a photo of a blue sky and look out for little dark spots in the picture on playback. Do this by zooming in on different sections of the picture. Any dark spots indicate dust and dirt on the sensor.
Fire-wire port This is an important issue, particular when buying a 2nd Hand camera. Make sure the camera is recognised by the computer. If not, there are in the most cases only two things which can go wrong. When you are lucky, it is the socket itself with broken pins or much worse the computer on the main circuit board. These circuit boards are none serviceable items and need to be replaced, which is extremely expensive.
Professional / domestic camcorder – Camera courses
May 30th
Allcam/eStudy camera courses and film making tips and tricks. The technical aspects of film and television.
The picture quality of domestic camcorders has improved dramatically over the last couple of years. Especially with HD video, which is now available for under $500. However, these low end camcorders come with a major setback – audio recording capability!
Perhaps one of the reasons the external microphone socket has been removed from low to mid range camcorders by almost every manufacturer is to keep manufacturer cost down and sell the more expensive semi professional models.
As you know, good audio can make or break a video production. To get the sound right, in a lot of cases you should take advantage of a good external microphone or even go wireless.
The solution!
Now you can have it all. Use a low to mid range camcorder and end up with a perfect audio track in your production! The same results as using a wireless microphone but cheaper! Simply add a small and independent audio recording device that is positioned where needed – close to the action! With an option for an external microphone connected to the digital audio recorder, this device opens a field of even more sound recording possibilities. All of that with a price tag cheaper than most wireless microphone setups!
So how do we put it together?
Now here comes the real advantage of the setup. Let’s start with the part you perhaps thought of already:
- First you open our favorite video editing program and import the pictures and video from the camera and add the relatively poor sound track from the camera onto one of the audio tracks.
- The stereo sound of the audio recorder goes onto the other audio tracks of the editing program.
- Now here comes the trick, use the sound track of the camera as a reference to synchronize the audio recorder sound tracks. When you are happy with the result, you may remove the camera sound track.
- Once you have completed your fine tuning and editing, you can end up with amazing results in your overall production.
When done properly it sounds like a professional video production. The audio from the voice recorder gives the impression as it is recorded by the camera.
Manual camera adjustments (White balance, Shutter speed)
May 19th
The first thing you should do is to consult your user manual, find the appropriate dials, and get familiar with the adjustment and their effects. Next time when you shoot the ultimate video, you get the desired results, fast.
The most common adjustments you can manually change on your camera are the focus, the iris or aperture, white balance and shutter speed.
Modern camcorders and cameras have very efficient electronics to adjust for sudden changes in light temperatures. Over the years the automatic adjustments in video cameras have improved dramatically. A modern camcorder delivers excellent results in automatic mode.
Shutter Speed
However, there may be some occasions, where you want to achieve a special effect with your shutter adjustment, the backlight is so strong, that you need to compensate a little with the manual iris adjustment and keep the focus on manual, so the auto-focus doesn’t get irritated with a constantly changing scene.
So what is a fast shutter speed for?
If you select a high shutter speed, the camcorder will capture very quick snapshots of the image as it is moving, meaning it appears sharper.
There is a downside. Because the image is captured in short bursts, the result is, that the picture will seem to jump from one frame to the other, giving the clip a jerky movement.
A good application for this effect would be any sports video-making.
When watching the footage frame by frame afterwards, you have an excellent tool to analyse your golf swing or tennis technique. With slow shutter speed fast moving objects become a blur.
Playing around with shutter speeds is the best way to see what they do, each camera is different. Take some time to see exactly what yours is capable of, and then use the different shutter speeds, which produce the effect you desire.
Another interesting effect is the writing on a passing truck. Next time you see one, try it. The signage becomes more readable with certain shutter speeds.
Waterfalls and fountains can look amazing, especially when filmed against the brightness of the sun. Using a fast shutter speed freezes the water droplets as they fall down. A slower shutter speed creates a more flowing and softer scene.
White balance
How can we see the differences between sun and fluorescent light?
White balance can be best judged on the human face. If you think it is not right, change the white balance manually. Keep in mind, if you decide to use your camera on manual white balance and you go into another room with different light conditions or outside, you must adjust manually every time or you will definitely see red or blue faces.
Summary
Even though automatic camera adjustments are pretty much perfect on a modern camera and camcorder, manual adjustments are the ideal way to add some creativity and special effects to your video. However, it is the camera adjustment together with the right framing and timing, which makes up a good video production. The same attention and even more needs to be given to the right sound recording. Bad audio recordings can ruin your whole video production.
Any Tapes to DVD – fast and easy!
May 19th
Allcam/eStudy camera courses and film making tips and tricks. The technical aspects of film and television.
The big advantage of DVD’s is, you can access certain content fast and direct.
When you watch your old wedding video or holiday memories, you can navigate to your favorite spots fast.
Of course you can connect your camera via fire-wire or USB to the computer, open moviemaker or your favorite editing program, start importing your footage and you are ready to go.
However, if you don’t want to do too much editing, the fastest and easiest way is to use a standalone DVD recorder hooked up to a TV monitor.
First generation copies are not too critical, so you can connect the camera with the AV cables instead of the digital connection. Set the recording settings in the menu of the DVD recorder for best quality and you are ready.
If you like to put the scenes on the camera in a different order or skip some, press the pause button on the DVD Recorder while cueing the tape to the desired spot.
Summary -Tip
For multiple DVD copies record the tape onto the HDD of your DVD recorder first and use the fast copy feature to burn the DVD’s. Additional copies are produced in a fraction of the time!
Trouble shooting (When things go wrong with your camera)
May 19th
Allcam/eStudy camera courses and film making tips and tricks. The technical aspects of film and television.
Where moving parts are involved, there is always plenty of scope for things to go wrong, particularly for such a mobile and versatile item like a camcorder. In the tropics, the temperature difference between a cool or humid forest, air-conditioned room and the heat of the sun can create everyday condensation problems.
In general, camcorders have a built in safety feature, which shuts down the camera, if there is anything wrong with the camera’s electronics or mechanism. This eliminates further damage such as burn out of components or chewing of tapes by the mechanism.
Summary check list – Error message or doesn’t work at all
- Reset – disconnect and reconnect battery.
- Disconnect battery and work from the AC power adaptor.
- Eject the tape and use a different tape or a brand new tape.
- Check tape – open flap and inspect.
- Never open camera and remove a jammed 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.
At the repair place
This is related to all faults, whether a genuine fault or a self-induced fault. A self induced fault can be:
Liquid damage, shock damage or sand damage.
1. If it is a self-induced fault, say so.
2. Mention only symptoms like: will not accept tapes, switches off after a few seconds, no playback
picture, no picture in the viewfinder etc.
3. List as many faults as possible, and be as detailed in the description as possible. All this helps to
make an accurate diagnosis and to rectify all faults.
4. Definitely mention any intermittent faults such as problems, which only occur say after 10 minutes
of use or towards the end of the tape etc.
Summary
If you do not mention any of these intermittent problems with your camera, they may neither be noticed nor rectified. To prevent any mishaps or problems with your camera in the first place, watch my video ‘DIY Camera Care and damage Prevention’. Here I show and explain in great detail how to get the most out of your camera, including other bonuses.
Camera Batteries & Battery Care
May 19th
Allcam/eStudy camera courses and film making tips and tricks. The technical aspects of film and television.
For proper shoot planning you must know how long your batteries last! The battery capacity of the same battery can change dramatically, depending on age, charge/discharge cycles and even ambient temperature. Read on, if you want to know how do we get the most out of your batteries?
How do they work?
The popular Info Li-ion batteries contain a small computer circuitry, which watches the state of the battery and communicates it to the camera, which displays the remaining battery power in minutes.
Original or generic batteries?
This can be critical for an accurate ‘battery remaining time’ display. It is not so much the capacity of the battery as it is the display. What I mean, a generic battery displays i.e. 5min remaining power or is flashing battery and the camera can run for another 30min?!
In the worst case scenario the camera doesn’t recognise the battery at all.
How to take care of batteries
Run batteries fully flat before recharging. Have two or more batteries and rotate them regularly. If batteries behave odd or won’t last very long, repeat a discharge and charge procedure multiple times. Even though modern batteries supposedly don’t develop a memory, I did resurrect some batteries with this procedure.
Tips for prolonging your battery power
1. Use Your Viewfinder Instead of the LCD Screen
Through the flip-out, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen, you do get the best visual representation of what your video will actually look like, but if you want more battery power, keep the LCD shut. You will have an energy saving between 10% -20% depending on the type of camera and screen.
2. Buy Large and Extra Batteries
When you buy your camera, it usually comes with a ’starter’ battery pack, that will last about an hour. You can use these ’starter’ packs for as long as you own the camera, however it is a good investment to upgrade to a larger battery as soon as you can.
Even though they can be expensive, you will thank me the next time you shoot your ultimate video and do not run out of battery power. You can keep the ’starter’ battery pack as a reserve, knowing you can tape for another hour.
Summary
Apply the procedures described above to all rechargeable batteries in your household, to get the most lifetime and maximum capacity from your batteries. To get the best performance and lifetime out of your camera or camcorder, visit me on www.estudy.net.au for our video ‘DIY camera care and protection’ or check out my free articles and videos on this subject.
DSLR Video – Camera courses and film making tips
May 18th
Allcam/eStudy camera courses and film making tips and tricks. The technical aspects of film and television.
DSLR Video – Turning a setback into a superior feature!
(With the help of a little pocket device)
DSLR’s employ excellent interchangeable optics and larger image sensors, which results in superior picture quality. A larger sensor doesn’t provide any higher resolution, rather it allows for narrower depth of field by controlling the aperture and focal length of the lens. The narrow DOF allows the videographer to isolate a subject from the scene and therefore give the scene a more “filmic” look.
Now with HD recording, video images are in the same ballpark of professional video cameras.
Even the recording media (flash memory) is often the same with both camera types. Video compression and output is often the same, AVCHD codec, which allows you to use the same video editing platform.
What is holding you back?
Of course, camcorders and photo cameras are purpose built. The camcorder has features that the still camera hasn’t and vice versa. For starters, DSLR’s lacking a power zoom, LCD viewfinder and exposure aids like peaking and zebra you find with professional camcorders. Last but not least there are no adjustments to the resolution and frame rate, which is important when you have to match and mix your footage.
In this article I will address only one setback of a still camera, when it comes to video filming, the sound or audio. Often DSLR’s are equipped with simple monophonic microphones, which don’t allow any electronic adjustments whatsoever. So if you can’t connect an external microphone, you end up often with a pretty poor sound track on your production.
The Solution is an independent high quality and extremely versatile audio recorder. If applied properly, the results can be as good as using a wireless microphone in a camcorder setup for a fraction of the price. The featured audio recorder is so small and versatile, that it can be positioned close to the action. With just centimetres or a few meters away for interviews or stage performances, you bring your audio in the final production to a whole new level.
Caution!
The audio recorder needs to be synched with the camera and/or cut and shift the audio timeline to the appropriate video clip.
The Bonus!
This is a real beauty. While you are on location, you may as well take advantage of your DSLR and take some nice still shots of the scenery, objects and people. Add these pictures into your production, if you want to emphasise a point or make a statement.
How do we put it together?
Now here comes the real advantage of the setup. Let’s start with the part you perhaps thought of already:
- First you open our favourite video editing program and import the pictures and video from the camera and add the relatively poor sound track from the camera onto one of the audio tracks.
- The stereo sound of the audio recorder goes onto the other tracks of the editing program.
- Now here is a trick, use the sound track of the camera as a reference to synchronise the audio recorder sound tracks. When you are happy with the result, you may remove the camera sound track.
- Once you have completed your fine tuning and editing, you can end up with amazing results in your overall production.
When done properly, the audio from the voice recorder gives the impression as it is recorded by the camera.
Summary
Even though the DSLR has its setbacks as a video camera, the video capabilities are nothing short of a revolution. The creative videographer will embrace them because of the new tool they provide ‘shallow depth of field’.
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