Camera Training

In order for me to film my first football game, I had to learn how to use the equipment first. Seeing as I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, it was a huge relief to find out that one of our first lectures was camera training.
As journalism students we have been incredibly lucky to be provided with brand new macs containing the latest software needed for us to edit our film as well as being given a large number of light weight and compact cameras that are a lot easier to use and hold than previous ones.
Below are a few basic notes I managed to pick up from the lecture, for any other second years who are unsure these are the basic instructions on how to attempt to film. Emphasis purely directed at "attempt".


- On the new camera the zoom is now located on buttons rather than the twisted bit of the lens, located on the side of the camera.
- The T - W button which is located on the screen, allows you to access the menu
- MF = Manual focus
- AF = Auto focus
- Manual focus is best to be on pretty much all the time however in worst cases when you have limited time and the lighting is acceptable, you can use auto. When we are in manual we are in control, which is ultimately the best position to be in, we run the camera, the camera does not run us.

- On the left hand side of the camera you will find the iris, white balance and gain
- Gain = can be put on high, medium or low. The more gain the more grain, so it is therefore better to have it lower
- Iris = located next to gain. Iris allows more light in, allowing for a better picture in some circumstances.
- White balance = next to gain also. To use white balance, put the camera into manual by pressing the MF button, zoom in on something white, put up the gain if it is too dark, press the AWB button at the front of the camera then zoom in.

- Shutter speed is located at the back of the camera. Make sure the frame rate is always 50 or above. Press the shutter, then move the button up and down to change.
- AE+ button is a quick way of changing the brightness when it is in auto.
- The SD slot is located at the bottom of the camera on the left hand side. 'Slot Select' will choose which SD card you are shooting on.
- Zebra = 70/80 is skin colour. This button is beneath the screen.
- Menu/Thumb - T/W, use this joystick to move around the camera screen.
- Camera resolution should normally be 1920 x 1080

- Record mode =Normal - Simple Shooting
- Pre Record - You are recording all the time, even more you press record. This mode is good for things such as Football matches where you only want the highlights such as goals but you still record everything just in case.
- Clip Continuous - Changes between the 2 SD cards you have in the camera
- Frame Record - Stop frame animations, can have still frames.
- Time Code - Record Run
- LCD = focus assist if you put it on an object you are shooting, it will draw a line around what is in focus. Everything out of the blue/green line is out of focus. Ultimately if there is no blue/green line, nothing is in focus!
- Recording in display shows what you are doing, recording in manual can then control the level of each channel.

Lastly, to see the clips you have recorded, you push down on the recording button and hold. Click on specific clips to watch them.

With these new cameras, we are not using tapes like we had to do with the old ones, once we have transferred data to the computers to edit, we will probably have to wipe the SD cards before returning them to the camera.