Types of Cameras

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• The Video Camera and Support Equipment

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Objectives

• Explain the differences between the various video
  cameras available.
• Identify each part of a video camera and note the
  corresponding function.
• Differentiate between the focal length and the
  focal point related to a zoom lens.
• Explain the interrelationship between f-stops,
  the iris, and aperture in controlling light.

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Objectives

• Identify the challenges and benefits involved in
  using hand-held camera shooting.
• Recognize the types of tripod heads available and
  cite the unique characteristics of each.
• Implement the proper procedures for cleaning and
  storing video equipment.

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Types of Cameras

• Studio camera
• Camcorder
• Convertible camera

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Studio Camera

• Remains in studio
• Unsuitable for field work because of
• Size
• Weight
• Paired with
• Camera control unit (CCU) or
• Remote control unit (RCU)

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Tripod with Dolly

• Dolly has three wheels with tripod legs that fit
  into it

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Studio Pedestal

• Vertical column with base and three wheels on
  bottom
• Heavy
• Pneumatics or hydraulics assist movement
• Has wheel to steer it as it moves

Vinten Broadcast Ltd.
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CCU/RCU

• Two names for the same device
• Controls technical specifications of video signal
  from camera to match images from all cameras
• Color
• Tint
• Contrast
• Brightness
• Iris

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Camcorder

• Contains camera and recorder in one unit
• Lightweight and portable
• Sits on tripod or rests on operators shoulder
• Records on variety of digital tape and other
  media
• Usually can be directly connected to editor to
  download footage

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Camcorder (Cont.)
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Convertible Camera

• Camcorder that can be accessorized to become
  studio camera
• Larger viewfinder
• Rear controls for lens operation
• CCU/RCU may be added
• Less expensive than studio camera and more
  versatile

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Parts of a Camera

• Many parts are interchangeable, allowing user to
  customize camera to exact needs
• Camera head
• Viewfinder
• Camera lens

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Camera Head

• Actual camera
• Contains all the electronics needed to capture
  image
• Light enters camera and hits target
• Target is front of charge coupled device (CCD)
• CCD converts light to electrical signal
• Professional quality camera has three CCDs
• Consumer quality camera has one CCD

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Gain Control

• Feature found on higher-end cameras
• Allows strength of video signal to be increased
  or decreased
• Used when image is too dark or too bright
• Has negative effects
• Entire image becomes increasingly grainy
• Brighter areas begin to glow unnaturally
• Should not be activated without supervisor
  approval

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Viewfinder

• Small video screen that lets camera operator see
  image that camera is obtaining
• 1 screen with eye cup for operator with camera
  on shoulder
• Small screen (3.4/4.5) that unfolds from side
  of camera used when camera is on tripod
• Larger screen (57) separate unit attaches
  above studio camera head

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Diopter Adjustment

• Adjusts magnification on 1 viewfinder for
  operators who wear glasses

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Zebra Stripes

• Alert for camera operator
• Stripes only appear on viewfinder when camera is
  not recording
• Diagonal black and white lines in areas of
  viewfinder that are beyond set limits of video
  brightness
• Any area with zebra stripes will glow
• Action is recommended to eliminate stripes

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Camera Lens

• Assembly of glass discs on front of camera
  through which light passes into camera
• Focusoccurs when adjoining areas of contrast are
  as sharp as possible
• Auto-focusoptional electrical circuit that tries
  to automatically keep image focused
• Professionals do not use auto-focus
• Auto-focus removes possibility of creative focus
  techniques

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Zoom Lens

• Allows smooth transition from close-up to
  wide-angle shot
• Accomplished by moving zoom ring on lens assembly
• Transition from wide-angle to close-upcalled
  zoom in, or tighten
• Transition from close-up to wide-anglecalled
  zoom out, or widen

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Optical Center of the Lens

• Also known as focal point
• Place where the image inverts inside of lens
• Wherever actual zoom lens is located

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Focal Length

• Distance in millimeters between focal point and
  back of lens

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Variable Focal Length Lens

• Another name for zoom lens
• Since actual zoom lens moves back and forth
  within zoom assembly, and since zoom lens is
  always focal point, distance between zoom lens
  and back of lens varies
• Therefore, zoom lens is variable focal length lens

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Lens Control Rings
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F-stop

• Settings on lens which indicate size of iris

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Iris

• Metal blades form circle
• High blades create thick circle and small hole
• Low blades create thin circle and large hole
• Controls amount of light that reaches back of
  lens/target of camera

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Aperture

• Actual hole or opening in lens
• Large hole lets in much light (fast lens)
• Small hole lets in little light (slow lens)

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Iris/Aperture
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Relationship

• F-stop controls size of iris, which controls size
  of aperture

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Auto-Iris Circuit

• Electrical circuit that automatically controls
  size of iris
• Good feature that professionals may use

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Shutter

• Circuit that regulates how long CCD is exposed to
  light before sending signal to recorder
• Normal shutter speed is 1/60, i.e. CCD sends its
  signal 60 times per second
• Pro cameras can increase shutter speed to 1/8000
• Higher shutter speed clearer images when played
  back in slow motion
• Excellent feature for shooting sports

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Camcorder Camera Mounts

• Hand-held shooting
• Image stabilization devices
• Tripod shooting

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Hand-Held

• Should be avoided if possible
• Produces good images for mere seconds
• Otherwise, produces shaky camerawork
• Never use zoom-in settings when hand holding

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If You Must Hand-Hold
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Image Stabilization Device
Glidecam Industries, Inc.
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Subjective Camera
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Tripod

• Three legs
• Length of each leg can be independently extended
• Sometimes has vertical column in center which can
  be raised and lowered
• Pedestal column
• Handle that raises and lowers pedestal is
  pedestal control, which should not be used when
  camera is recording, or hot, to avoid audience
  seeing shaking screen

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Tripod Head

• Attaches to top of tripod
• Camera attaches to tripod head
• Head allows pans and tilts to occur
• Head has one or two pan handles attached so
  operator can stand behind camera and move it with
  handle

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Tripod Head and Pan Handles
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Fluid Head

• Two pieces of metal, separated by grease, screwed
  together
• Professional
• More expensive
• High quality because grease allows varying
  degrees of pressure to cause varying levels of
  resistance (drag) when panning and tilting

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Friction Head

• Two pieces of metal mashed together by tightening
  screw
• Unprofessional
• Inexpensive
• Low quality because drag is either fully on or
  fully off
• Offers poor resistance when panning and tilting

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Jib
EZFX Inc.
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Lens Cleaning Do's

• Use lens cleaning paper to wipe lens
• Use canned compressed air to blow dust off

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Lens Cleaning Donts

• Dont blow on lens with mouth
• Dont touch lens with bare fingers
• Dont use saliva to moisten lens before wiping

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After Use of Studio Camera

• Lock pedestal and tripod head of camera
• Close iris and place lens cap on camera
• Move camera to safe location in studio
• Coil camera cable as instructed

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After Use of Camcorder

• Remove tape, if present, from camcorder
• Close lens and attach lens cap
• Power down camera
• Detach camera from tripod
• Fold up tripod
• Secure camera in case
• Coil and secure cables where instructed

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Career Page

• United States Department of Labor
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera
  Operators and Editors information page
• http//www.bls.gov

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Review Question

• Why is a convertible camera a good investment?
• It can serve as both field camera as well as
  studio camera. In a pinch, it could be a spare
  in either environment.

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Review Question

• What is the function of a CCD?
• Light goes through lens, hits target on front of
  the CCD. Then CCD converts that light into
  electrical signal and sends it on to be recorded
  after electronics of camera head completes image
  processing and refinement.

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Review Question

• Why is a hand-held not the camera of choice?
• Produces shaky camerawork and low-quality images.

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Review Question

• Name and describe the different tripod heads.
• Friction headUnprofessional, inexpensive, low
  quality, offers poor resistance when panning and
  tilting.
• Fluid headProfessional, expensive, high quality,
  allows varying degrees of resistance when panning
  and tilting.

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Review Question

• What is another name for optical center of lens?
  What is another name for variable focal length
  lens?
• Optical center of lens is also known as focal
  point. Variable focal length lens is also known
  as zoom lens.

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Review Question

• Name the parts of a video camera and their
  functions.
• Camera headActual camera, target is front of
  charge coupled device (CCD).
• ViewfinderVideo screen that lets operator see
  image camera is displaying.
• Camera lensGlass discs on front of camera
  through which light passes into camera.

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Review Question

• What is the relationship between the f-stop,
  iris, and aperture?
• F-stop indicates the size of iris, which
  determines size of aperture.

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Review Question

• Why are f-stop, iris, and aperture important?
• Aperture is most important of the three. F-stop
  and iris merely determine size of aperture.
  Aperture is gateway for light to enter camera. It
  determines amount of light that camera receives.
  Too much light and image is over-exposed too
  little light and image is too dark.

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Review Question

• Why is auto-focus generally a bad thing to
  activate?
• It automatically tries to keep center of picture
  in focus. This prevents camera operator from
  performing creative composition of shots. It will
  cause important objects to be out of focus merely
  because they are not in center of shot.

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Review Question

• Which is bettera fluid head or a friction head?
  Why?
• Fluid head is better because it will provide drag
  when panning or tilting, which makes for more
  stable picture.

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Review Question

• Explain how to clean dirty lens.
• Use either compressed air from a can to blow away
  dirt or lens cleaning paper to wipe away dirt.

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Review Question

• Explain why you should not blow on lens with your
  mouth or use saliva to moisten lens prior to
  wiping it clean.
• Either method can cause saliva to touch surface
  of lens. Saliva is very acidic and will destroy
  coating on surface of lens. Lens is unusable
  after that happens.