Basic Equipment and Care   Camera Parts

 Each video camera has millions of tiny parts to it, but we're only going to talk about three main parts (and then some other more specific important ones after):
  • The lens is the eye of the camera.  It allows light in and has a significant impact on what the image looks like.  Better lenses = better images.
  • The body of the camera is what houses all of the components that process the light coming through the lens.
  • The viewfinder (or LCD screen) is what allows you to see what is being captured by the camera.
There are other components that you need to know as well:
  • The image sensor is located inside the body of the camera and is like the brain of the camera.  It breaks the light into Red, Green, and Blue and processes the light into a digital image that is then stored onto some sort of media (SD card, hard drive, etc.).  There are different kinds of image sensors, but the main ones are CCD and CMOS.
  • A battery is important (of course) to help power the camera when a plug is not nearby.
  • An SD card is what our cameras use to store your video/photo files.  Other cameras may have different ways for you to store your images.  SD cards have different sizes and speeds and I recommend using an SD card that is at least 4 gigabytes.
  • Cameras should also have a microphone and headphone jack in the camera so you can make sure you are recording good sound.  If you don't listen to your audio as you're recording you never know what you're going to get when you start to edit.  Reshooting a project just because you didn't use headphones as you were recording is not fun.

Camera Safety and Use

Since we live in a technologically savvy world, you probably can quickly figure out how to turn on the camera, zoom in and out, and record.  Here are a few things you may not know as much about:
  • Using a camera bag is important in my classroom to help keep the camera safe and keep all of your accessories (SD cards, tripod plates, batteries, etc.) in one place.  Please take a camera bag when you check out a camera and don't forget it when you bring the camera back.​
One last thing to remember, electronics have two major natural enemies: water and extreme temperatures.  Do not let the cameras (or other electronics) get wet.  If they do turn them off, remove the battery and bring them to me as soon as possible.  Extreme temperatures can also very adversely affect a camera.  Don't leave it out in freezing cold or the unbearably hot.

Tripod Parts

A tripod helps to stabilize the camera and is essential for most productions to make it feel more professional.  There are really four main parts to a tripod:
  • The three tripod legs serve as the base of the tripod and help give it its stability.
  • The tripod head is what you mount the camera to.  It also allows you to change how smooth you want any camera movements to be.
  • The tripod arm allows you to adjust the angle of the camera and generally what you would use for any pivoting camera movements.
  • The quick-release plate (or mounting plate or tripod plate) is what attached directly to the camera and then mounts to the tripod head.  Without this piece your camera will not stay put.
 
Tripod Safety and Use

​You have probably seen a tripod, but I have found that few students have actually used them before.  Here are a few things you will want to know:
  • When setting up the tripod make sure to expand the legs so the tripod is steady before you put the camera on it.  Extend the legs to the height you think you'll need.  You can always make adjustments later.
  • There is a level (the little green or yellow part of the head that has a little bubble in it) that will help you get the tripod head level.  You'll know its level if the bubble is in the middle.
  • Attach the quick-release plate to the camera before you put it on the tripod head.  This is something that a lot of students forget to do.  The camera will sit differently on the tripod depending on how you attach the plate to the camera.
  • After you've attached the camera to the tripod head, make sure the camera is secure before you start moving the tripod or filming.