Digital video camera workshop

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Digital video camera workshop

• Panasonic AG-DVC7P
• Sony VX2000

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Borrowing Policies and Procedure
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Borrowing Eligibility

• Currently registered in an IAT course (most
  equipment limited to a particular course)
• Attended this workshop
• Completed quiz with score of 100
• Signed and submitted the borrowing agreement form
  (available from the library)

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Borrowing Policies

• Equipment is loaned for teaching, learning, and
  research, not for personal use
• Bookings are highly encouraged!
• Booked equipment is held until 300pm
• Loan period 2 day loan
• Return time 1200pm on the due date
• Late fee 3.00/hour (Max. 200)
• You may not book the same equipment twice in a
  single week
• You must pay for damaged, lost stolen equipment
  
• More information www.lib.sfu.ca/about/surrey/Equip
  mentLoansPolicy.htm

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Borrowing Procedures

• Make a booking using the booking binder
• You can also call the library to have equipment
  booked 778-782-7411 or lib-surrey_at_sfu.ca
• Request equipment from library staff
• Check that all required components are included
  and in working order before leaving.
• Check for all required components
• Check the battery
• Turn on the unit and check that its working
• Check the lens

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Video Camera Operation Safety

• Sony PCR VX2000 Panasonic AG-DVC7P

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Sony VX2000 and Panasonic AG-DVC7P

• The Sony VX2000 is a 3CCD camera
• The Panasonic is a 1CCD camera
• Both are excellent for all types of video work
• Both use MiniDV format (60min SP/90min LP)
• The Panasonic camera are larger, but lighter and
  easier to carry (shoulder-mount)

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Camcorder Kits

• Standard items in all kits include
• Camcorder
• Battery
• Battery charger
• Operation manual
• Lens cap
• Firewire

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Video Camera Safety and Care 1

• Only use approved cleaning cloths and solutions
  on the camera lens. You can damage the lens
  otherwise!
• Only use the camera in dry locations, these
  cameras are not weather proof
• Be careful not to leave batteries in your pockets
  or bags, you may damage the contacts
• Do not pick up your camcorder by holding the
  viewfinder, the LCD panel, the battery pack or
  the microphone
• Set up and test the stability of tripods first
  before mounting cameras

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Video Camera Safety Care 2

• Set up your shot without a tape to prevent
  dirtying the video heads unnecessarily
• Record in SP mode to maximize compatibility
• Keep the lens cap on when not filming
• If possible use a miniDV player/deck to transfer
  video to a computer
• Never leave equipment unattended
• Remember, safety first and you are fully
  responsible for any loss or damage while you have
  equipment on loan

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MiniDV Tapes

• Recommend you use Fujifilm tapes
• to ensure good quality productions
• to prolong the life of the camera heads
• purchase at SFU bookstore or electronics outlets
  in mall
• Repack new tapes
• to ensure correct winding tightness
• fast-forward tape to the end, then rewind it
• Black track new tapes
• to ensure a continuous timecode and make editing
  easier
• in Camera mode, close iris or set exposure so
  viewfinder is black
• if possible, turn off audio
• with lens cap on, record for full length of tape
  rewind
• never record picture on the first 30 seconds of
  tape

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Borrowing Tips

• Create and follow a schedule
• Book the equipment well in advance (10 days)
• Do all necessary pre-production work before
  borrowing any equipment
• Purchase your miniDV tapes ahead of time
• Best times to pick up equipment 1 3 pm
• Loan period for these 2 camera models is 2 days,
  or a weekend and must be returned by 1200 noon.
• Borrow a headset to monitor audio

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Production Notes

• Use an external microphone if good quality sound
  is needed.
• Try to use the same camera throughout your
  production to keep the look/feel of your
  productions consistent.
• Use a tripod whenever possible, or Steadyshot
  (Sony) when handholding the camera to help
  stabilize your shot.
• Play back video footage on a television monitor
  whenever possible to check color and exposure.
• Shoot to edit. Have an understanding of the post
  production process.

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Video Camera Operation

• Installing the Battery
• Panasonic AG-DVC7P

Insert the battery with the arrow pointing
downward, slide the battery downward until it
clicks into place.
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Video Camera Operation

• Installing the Battery
• Sony VX2000

Insert the battery with the arrow pointing
downward, slide and click the battery into place.
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Video Camera Operation

• Turn the Camera on in Camera Mode
• Panasonic AG-DVC7P

Rotate this black control to the ON position with
your thumb.
Now, toggle this MODE button until the red CAMERA
light comes on.
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Video Camera Operation

• Turn the Camera on in Camera Mode
• Sony VX2000

Press this green button in, and at the same time
rotate the control counter-clockwise.
Line up the white line with CAMERA. Be careful
not to slide the control all the way to MEMORY.
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Video Camera Operation

• Setting the Focus to Manual
• Panasonic AG-DVC7P

Slide this switch to the middle MANUAL position.
Now press the FOCUS button.
These indicators will show in your monitor.
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Video Camera Operation

• Setting the Focus to Manual
• Sony VX2000

On the left side of the camera, slide this
control to MANUAL. You will see this indicator in
your screen.
The outer ring on the lens is the focus ring.
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Video Camera Operation

• Adjusting the Shutter Speed
• Panasonic AG-DVC7P

Slide this switch to the middle (manual) position.
Now, push on this wheel, (It is spring-loaded)
until you see this indicator in your LCD
screen. 1/60 is the default shutter speed for
video. You may now adjust it by turning the
wheel.
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Video Camera Operation

• Adjusting the Shutter Speed
• Sony VX2000

Slide the AUTO LOCK/HOLD switch to the middle
position. Now, press this SHUTTER SPEED button
and you will see this indicator in your LCD
screen.
You may now adjust the shutter speed by turning
the thumbwheel. The Panasonic camera can be set
to shutter speeds faster than 1/60, and the Sony
to both faster and slower speeds. Slide the
switch to HOLD to lock your settings.
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Video Camera Operation

• Adjusting the Iris
• Panasonic AG-DVC7P

Slide this switch to the middle (manual) position.
Now, push on this wheel, (It is spring-loaded)
until you see something similar to this indicator
in your LCD screen. You may now open and close
the iris by turning the thumbwheel.
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Video Camera Operation

• Adjusting the Iris
• Sony VX2000

Be sure this switch on the back of the camera is
in the centre position. Press this button once,
and you will see an indicator similar to this on
your LCD screen
You may now adjust the iris by turning the
thumbwheel.
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Video Camera Operation

• Setting a Manual White Balance
• Panasonic AG-DVC7P

Turn the camera on in CAMERA mode. Put the lens
cap on the lens. Zoom the lens and make sure
that the viewfinder or LCD screen is filled with
white color. Toggle this switch to MANUAL. Now,
press on the thumbwheel once.
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Video Camera Operation

• Setting a Manual White Balance - Continued
• Panasonic AG-DVC7P

After pressing the thumbwheel, you will see the
AUTO WHITE BALANCE indicator on the
screen. Turn the thumbwheel slowly until you
see the MANUAL WHITE BALANCE indicator on the
screen. It is a flashing symbol of a small square
on top of 2 small triangles. Now press the
thumbwheel until the symbol stops flashing. You
are now properly white balanced.
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Video Camera Operation

• Setting a Manual White Balance
• Sony VX2000

Put the AUTO LOCK/HOLD switch into the middle, or
manual position. Now press the WHITE BALANCE
button. You will see the MANUAL WHITE BALANCE
indicator on the screen. If not, roll the
thumbwheel until you do.
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Video Camera Operation

• Setting a Manual White Balance - Continued
• Sony VX2000

Now, hold a white piece of paper in front of the
lens, and make sure that the viewfinder is
completely filled with white. Press the
thumbwheel in and hold it until the MANUAL WHITE
BALANCE indicator stops flashing. You are now
properly white balanced.
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Video Camera Operation

• Inserting a Videotape
• Panasonic AG-DVC7P

Slide this switch to upward until the cassette
door opens. Now, insert the tape with the label
side at the top, and the manufacturers info
outward as shown. Push it in all the way with
gentle pressure.
To close the door, push on this light grey pad
until you hear a click.
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Video Camera Operation

• Inserting a Videotape
• Sony VX2000

Press this blue button, and slide the eject
control down- ward to open the cassette door.
Notice there are actually two doors. Insert the
tape as shown. Use gentle pressure to slide it
all the way in.
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Video Camera Operation

• Sony VX2000 Continued

Close the inner door first by pushing where you
see the word PUSH. Now close the outer door by
pushing on the grey pad with the word PUSH above
it. NOTE Do not attempt to close the outer
door without first closing the inner one.
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Video Camera Operation

• Shooting Video
• Panasonic AG-DVC7P

Make sure you are in CAMERA mode. Focus and frame
your shot, and press the red RECORD button. When
you are finished the shot, press it again to
pause the recording.
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Video Camera Operation

• Shooting Video
• Sony VX2000

Make sure you are in CAMERA mode. Focus and frame
your shot, and press the red RECORD button. When
you are finished the shot, press it again to
pause the recording
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Video Camera Operation

• Playing Back Video
• Panasonic AG-DVC7P

Switch the camera to VCR mode by pressing the
MODE button. Use the playback control
buttons on the front left of the camera to rewind
and play your footage. Watch it on the flip
screen.
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Video Camera Operation

• Playing Back Video
• Sony VX2000

Switch the camera to VCR mode.
Use the touch-sensitive VCR controls under the
camera handle to rewind your footage and play it
back on the flip screen.
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Video Camera Operation

• Transferring Via Firewire

Examine the plugs on the Firewire cable. The
large plug connects to the computer. The small
plug connects to the camera. Because of their
shapes, they will only fit into their
corresponding jacks one way.
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Video Camera Operation

• Transferring Via Firewire - Continued

The Firewire port is at the back of the Panasonic
camera under a plastic cap. The Firewire port
on the Sony Camera is at the right front of the
camera just behind the lens, under a plastic door.
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Video Camera Operation

• Transferring Via Firewire - Continued

On a PC, locate the Firewire ports on the
rear. On an iMac, the ports are located on
the rear of the panel, and in the case of an
eMac, on the side of the monitor. Plug both ends
of the cable in, and turn on the camera in VCR
mode. Start your editing software and begin
capturing.
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Questions?

• Media Equipment information
• www.lib.sfu.ca/about/surrey/equipment.htm
• Online Digital Video Camera Tutorial
• cgi.sfu.ca/sfusur/tutorials/lib/videoCamera/index
  .php
• Contact the Library
• lib-surrey_at_sfu.ca
• 778-782-7411
• Contact Warren Bandzmer, Campus Media Technician
• Available in the Library 1200 130 daily
• help-surrey_at_sfu.ca
• 778-782-7490

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Quiz

• Must achieve 100 on the Digital Video Camera
  Online Quiz http//cgi.sfu.ca/sfusur/tutorials/li
  b/videoCamera/videoCameraQuiz/quizInstructions.php
  
• Launch the quiz to begin
• You can take the quiz as many times as necessary
• Show library staff your quiz results
• Sign the Media Equipment Borrowing Agreement
• Receive your DV1 equipment sticker