Video Team

Shooting schedule:

Traditional Service

First Sunday -               Gary

Second Sunday -          Gordon

Third Sunday -               Jack

Fourth Sunday -            Ken

Fifth Sunday -               Gary

Wednesday Bible Study

First Wednesday -                     Gary

Second Wednesday -                David

Third Wednesday -                    Gary

Fourth Wednesday -                  Gordon

Fifth Wednesday -                     Gary

Videographer's help

Digital Video Techniques: An Introductory Session

1.) Setting up the Camera and Tripod

                  * Turn on camera from mode switch in back (silver button)

                  * Open the lens cover from switch on back of lens hood (left)

                  * Open tape bay (bottom switch at base of camera)

                  * Wait for tape bay to rise and open, insert miniDV tape, close bay

                  * Attach tripod mount on camera, mount camera on tripod

                  * You must remove tripod attachment every time you change tapes

                  * To start/stop recording, press the red circle on touch screen,

                      or red-dot button on back

2.) Working with Audio

                  * Connecting the Wireless Microphone

                  * Sensitivity and Audio Output

                  * Inputs: XLR and Mic Input Setting

                                    Phantom Power

                                    Low Cut Filter

                  * Working with Aux Feeds

                  * Audio Sample Rates (32k/48k)  Choose 48k, DVD standard

3.) Working with Modes, Formats and Timecode

                  * Recording Modes (HDV, DV, DVCAM)

                  * Playback Mode (VCR Controls)

                  * Display Icons/Timecode

4.) Configuring the Camera for Capture (See Detail Sheets)

                  * Setting the Zoom

                  * Manual Focus (DOF, Soft Focus)

                  * Exposure Control

                  * Zebra Pattern

                  * Shutter

5.) Framing Your Shot, Working with Composition

                  * Eyes are the Key (1/3 rule) Tic-Tac-Toe

                  * Frame: The frame is the field in the viewfinder or LCD screen

                  * Composition: Composition refers to arrangement of subject, objects, backgrounds and lighting in the frame shot

                  * Headroom (Keeping eyes at upper 1/3rd reduces excessive headroom)

6.) Monitoring Your Captures

                  * Status Check

                  * Display Icons, Time Code

                  * Headphones

                  * Portable Monitors

Some Helpful Terms

1.) Focus (Depth of Field) - Refers to the range of distances between the camera and the focus point.  Focus ranges differ gradually in front and behind your subject.  A tight iris/exposure increases focus ability, because more light is available.  Wider irises reduce focus capability.  The greater DOF, the easier it is to focus.  Reducing shutter speed can also help focus, as more light becomes available.

2.) Exposure/Iris - A control that adjusts the amount of light entering the lens.  A wide iris setting admits more light, or greater exposure of subject.  A tight iris reduces light when available light is plentiful.

3.) Zooming - Moving closer in or further away from subject.  Zoom-ins can create tension or interest,   Zoom-outs resolve tension or close interest.

4.) Shutter - On digital video cameras, shutter is controlled by the imaging device (CCD/CMOS), which opens and closes (charges or does not charge) the shutter 30 times a second.  Shutter set to 1/60 means it  is open for 1/60th of a second.  Sports venues often use high shutter for high-action and slo-mo.

5.) Panning - Moving the camera horizontally left or right

6.) Tilting - Moving the camera up or down

7.) SMPTE - Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers - Time code 00:00:00:00

8.) Color Temperature - The temperature of light measured in Kelvins.  Low temps shift light to red/amber.  High temps shift light to blue.  This is important for white balancing a camera.

9.) White Balance - A control used to adjust the color sensitivity of the camera to match ambient lighting.    Since white is a master color, the camera will capture all colors more accurately if the WB is set to “true white.”  A white or gray card is placed in front of the lens, in the same light as the subject, when setting manual balance.  If white is not balanced, subjects outdoors may have a bluish tint.  Subjects indoors may have an amber or reddish tint, rendering unnatural-looking colors.

11.) Zebra Pattern - A guide used to determine areas of a frame that are approaching over-exposure. 

        Diagonal lines appear on areas of overexposure.  The tool is not perfect, and some zebra action is preferred on the subject.  The settings are 70 percent and 100 percent.

12.) CCD - Charged Coupled Device - The imaging sensor chip in many digital cameras.

13.) CMOS - Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor - Another imaging sensor, requires less power.

14.) Aspect Ratio - Aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of an image to the height of an image.  Standard   definition 4:3 is (4 parts wide by 3 parts high or 1.33:1); 16:9 (HDTV) is (16 parts wide by 9 parts high or 1.78).  Widescreen aspect ratios common to the film industry are 1.85:1 (widescreen), and 2:35:1   (CinemaScope).  When you rent a DVD, you will often see the aspect ratio printed on the back of the       cover.  These ratios refer to width of the frame.  A 1.33 ratio means that the frame is 1.33 times wider            than its height.  HD camcorders capture video in 16:9 aspect ratios.  This is because the HDTV standard   has adopted 16:9 format.

15.) Neutral Density Filter, ND Setting - ND reduces the amount of light without changing the color   temperature. This is useful for filming through windows and to remove reflective glare.  For example:    ND filters are sometimes used to film car conversations from outside, removing or reducing the reflective glare off the windshield.  The effect can be quite subtle, depending on light conditions.

How to Set Manual Exposure

1.) Make sure auto--lock switch is set to “off.”  (Auto-lock switch is located left-side of camera)

2.) Located the exposure lever.  (Lower left-side of camera near base)

3.) Push the exposure button, to switch on exposure.  (An exposure adjustment bar appears on touch screen)

4.) Pull exposure lever up or down to adjust exposure.  (Up increases exposure, down decreases)

Notes on Exposure

It can be difficult to determine the most accurate exposure level without a light meter.  However, you can come close by comparing the exposure level in the automatic mode to the manual mode.  Choose an evenly-lighted venue, set the auto-lock switch to on, or turn off manual exposure (pushing the exposure button).  This will turn on automatic exposure.  Check the viewfinder or touch screen for the exposure quality.  Next, turn “on” manual exposure and adjust to a similar level.  This process will help you to learn what good exposure looks like.  You will want to tighten the iris/exposure when outdoors in daylight, and open up the iris/exposure setting when indoors, especially in low-light room conditions.

How to Set White Balance

1.) Select the menu button from touch screen

2.) Scroll down to “White Balance” setting and select it.  (If button is disengaged, make sure “auto-lock switch is set to “off.”  The switch can be found  on the left side of camera.

3.) Place a white (matte) card in front of camera, or have subject hold the card if possible

4.) Fill the lens view with the card, or at least 80 percent

5.) Set exposure and focus

6.) If necessary, tilt card at an angle to reflect the light that fills your subject

7.) Select the “One-Push” option from the touch screen menu

8.) Check your view source one more time, then hold down on “One Push”  option

9.) In a few seconds the camera will finish its calculations, and you should notice a subtle tint

        change on the card.  You will also see a new white-balance icon on the view screen

10.) Avoid poorly lit areas of room or outdoors, if possible, when setting white balance

11) Camera should be set up for “one push” (no need to navigate through menu).

Some Notes on White Balance

Some videographers use cards designed for white balancing to avoid some losses of warmth when the camera is set to “true white.“  Digital video cameras can render a “cold” white balance, resulting in a loss of flesh tones or washed out scenes.  These color qualities vary depending on available light or a mixture of light temperatures, like a room with windows, lit with florescent light.

How to Use the Zoom

1.) Locate the Zoom control.  (Zoom controls are on the touch screen and top-right of camera near                 viewfinder)

2.) Press or toggle the “W” Zoom control to zoom out

3.) Press or toggle the “T” Zoom control to zoom in.

Avoid zooming during recordings, as this feature can be distracting to the viewer.  Zooms, however, can be very useful in creating interest, tension or variety in a shot.  As your experience grows, you will learn when and when not to use the zoom controls.  The “W” of the Zoom control stands for “Wide Angle.”  The “T” stands for “Telephoto.”  You will most often use the zoom control when framing shots.

How to Set Manual Focus

1.) Locate the Focus control.  (Left side of camera near lens)

2.) Slide the ring switch to “Manual Focus”

3.) Zoom in on subject as close as possible

4.) Adjust for as sharp a focus as possible. The ring should be turned clockwise for close focus, counter-clockwise for focusing far-away

5.) Zoom back a little, and your focus should still be reasonably accurate

How to Check Status

1.) From the touch screen, select the “menu” button

2.) Select the “check status” button

You will notice the audio meter and current sound level coming through the mic or XLR inputs.  Make sure your audio levels range from -12db to below 0, around -2.  Always have some set of headphones with you to monitor audio.  Make sure the signal is not clipping, at the red mark.  If so, you will need to reduce the audio output of the wireless mic receiver, or adjust the sensitivity on the wireless transmitter.  Listen to the recording, and if you hear distortion , set the XLR audio to manual settings. 

To Set Manual Audio for XLR

1.) Push the “menu” button on touch screen

2.) Scroll down to “Au. Ch 1 Level” and select this button

3.) Select the “Manual” setting.

4.) Press “+” or “-” buttons to increase or reduce level accordingly

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