Using the Digital Video Camcorder

1. Using the Digital Video Camcorder By: Dr. Punnipa Hossain Professor of Educational Technology Fall 2005

2. Before you Begin You will need: A camcorder kit A tripod A mini DV tape A camcorder kit Using the Digital Video Camcorder Before you begin... You'll need... A camcorder kit A tripodA mini DV tape - Make sure you label it with your name.A camcorder kit You might want... An external microphone. If you are taping yourself with one, two or three students the built-in mic should be sufficient. Make sure to test that the external mic fits the camcorder before you check it out. PowerMake sure the battery has plenty of charge when you check out the camcorder. Using the Digital Video Camcorder Before you begin... You'll need... A camcorder kit A tripodA mini DV tape - Make sure you label it with your name.A camcorder kit You might want... An external microphone. If you are taping yourself with one, two or three students the built-in mic should be sufficient. Make sure to test that the external mic fits the camcorder before you check it out. PowerMake sure the battery has plenty of charge when you check out the camcorder.

3. Load Tape 1. Load tape Battery must be installed, or AC power connected. Slide Open/Eject switch on the bottom of the camcorder toward the front. The lid will unlatch. Open the lid fully and the cassette compartment will extend and open.1. Load tape Battery must be installed, or AC power connected. Slide Open/Eject switch on the bottom of the camcorder toward the front. The lid will unlatch. Open the lid fully and the cassette compartment will extend and open.

4. Load Tape

5. Load Tape

6. Load Tape

7. Don't over-tighten anything. 2. Attach Camcorder to Tripod 2. Attach camcorder to tripod Don't over-tighten anything. a. Extend tripod legs completely b. Thread the bolt into camcorder2. Attach camcorder to tripod Don't over-tighten anything. a. Extend tripod legs completely b. Thread the bolt into camcorder

8. 2. Attach Camcorder to Tripod 2. Attach camcorder to tripod Don't over-tighten anything. a. Extend tripod legs completely b. Thread the bolt into camcorder2. Attach camcorder to tripod Don't over-tighten anything. a. Extend tripod legs completely b. Thread the bolt into camcorder

9. 3. Turn on power a. Set Power switch to Camera - POWER wheel goes down (you push up) ONE CLICK for CAMERA - WARNING!!! If you go ALL THE WAY DOWN (up!) (two clicks), you'll get an ugly flashing yellow icon and the camera won't work. - POWER wheel goes UP (you push down) for VCR functions - When you're not using the camera, turn it off to preserve battery power3. Turn on power a. Set Power switch to Camera - POWER wheel goes down (you push up) ONE CLICK for CAMERA - WARNING!!! If you go ALL THE WAY DOWN (up!) (two clicks), you'll get an ugly flashing yellow icon and the camera won't work. - POWER wheel goes UP (you push down) for VCR functions - When you're not using the camera, turn it off to preserve battery power

10. a. Open LCD screen b. Frame shot Use camcorder zoom and tripod pan and tilt Get close� Fill the frame with important elements: empty space is wasted space. But� Allow for image cutoff around frame edges. Keep the important parts of the image toward the center of the picture. Pay attention to the background. It can distract. 4. Set up shot a. Open LCD screen b. Frame shot Use camcorder zoom and tripod pan and tilt Get close. Fill the frame with important elements: empty space is wasted space. But. Allow for image cutoff around frame edges. Keep the important parts of the image toward the center of the picture. Pay attention to the background. It can distract. 4. Set up shot a. Open LCD screen b. Frame shot Use camcorder zoom and tripod pan and tilt Get close. Fill the frame with important elements: empty space is wasted space. But. Allow for image cutoff around frame edges. Keep the important parts of the image toward the center of the picture. Pay attention to the background. It can distract.

11. a. Press Record and record a little b. Press Record again to stop c. Change Power switch to VCR � VCR controls will light up d. Press Rewind e. Press Play f. Watch and listen g. Press Rewind h. Change Power switch to Camera 5. Test a. Press Record and record a little b. Press Record again to stop c. Change Power switch to VCR - VCR controls will light up. d. Press Rewind e. Press Play f. Watch and listen g. Press Rewind h. Change Power switch to Camera5. Test a. Press Record and record a little b. Press Record again to stop c. Change Power switch to VCR - VCR controls will light up. d. Press Rewind e. Press Play f. Watch and listen g. Press Rewind h. Change Power switch to Camera

12. a. Press Record to start. b. Press Record again to stop. 6. Record session a. Press Record to start. b. Press Record again to stop. Danger -- PITFALLS!! Background Noise! Be especially careful of "white noise" -- the humming of traffic, heaters, computers or drinking fountains. Our ears filter this noise out; the microphone does not! Speak Up! The speaker has to be loud enough. Think about an external mic. A mic can be closer to the subject and less subject to background noise and quiet speakers. The closer the better! During the interview, the camera should be as close to the subject as possible. (In other words, don't set up far away and zoom in.) The 3 rules of good video: Close up, Close up, Close up! Think about light! Beware of "back lighting!" If there's not enough light, you can tell the camera. If you have to take a shot with backlighting, press the "backlight" button.6. Record session a. Press Record to start. b. Press Record again to stop. Danger -- PITFALLS!! Background Noise! Be especially careful of "white noise" -- the humming of traffic, heaters, computers or drinking fountains. Our ears filter this noise out; the microphone does not! Speak Up! The speaker has to be loud enough. Think about an external mic. A mic can be closer to the subject and less subject to background noise and quiet speakers. The closer the better! During the interview, the camera should be as close to the subject as possible. (In other words, don't set up far away and zoom in.) The 3 rules of good video: Close up, Close up, Close up! Think about light! Beware of "back lighting!" If there's not enough light, you can tell the camera. If you have to take a shot with backlighting, press the "backlight" button.

13. a. Turn Power switch to Off. b. Take the camcorder off the tripod. c. Remove the tape from the camcorder. d. Close up the tripod. e. Put the camcorder back in its case. 7. Finish a. Turn Power switch to Off. b. Take the camcorder off the tripod. c. Remove the tape from the camcorder. d. Close up the tripod. e. Put the camcorder back in its case.7. Finish a. Turn Power switch to Off. b. Take the camcorder off the tripod. c. Remove the tape from the camcorder. d. Close up the tripod. e. Put the camcorder back in its case.