Using Your Video Camera
A. Introduction
1. Types of Video Cameras Digital Still Camera – Still pictures (image .jpg – recorded on disk or removable memory card) – Motion clips (animated .gif – same) – Video clips (motion .mpg – same) – Videos (motion DV format – recorded on tape) – Video clips (motion .mpg – recorded on removable memory card) – Still pictures (image .jpg – recorded on removable memory card or tape) – Videos (motion AV format – recorded on tape)
Digital Video Camera
Analog Video Camera
2. What to Use a Video Camera for Videos Movies Still Pictures Slide Shows Animations Music Video – Family, wedding, vacation, documentary, sales promotion – Entertainment package made from images, video clips, videos, and sound – Images (i.e., called frames when making movies) – Made from images placed one after another – Slow image rate (e.g., cartoons) – Focus is on music (e.g., MTV)
3. How to Buy a Video Camera Types – Digital still camera, digital video camera, analog video camera
Buy for the Intended Use Hobby–type videos – Varied length, type, polish Polished movies – 1–20+ min Short video clips – ~1 min Still images – Displayed in video format Still image slide shows – Displayed in video format Authored DVD w/ menu – Professional, rental–type DVD Backup/archiving data – To save computer data Surveillance – To watch house, business, etc. Product promotion – To sell products Buying Accessories Shotgun microphone Lenses Batteries/charger Help for Buying Prices Analog Digital – < $500 – > $500 – stereo, directional, eliminate wind noise – wide–angle, telephoto, UV, polorizer, fluorescent – LCD screen eats batteries
Retail stores – Web Stores – Magazines Video Maker – www.videomaker.com/ Camcorder and Computer Video– www.candcv.com/ Video Camera – www.videocamera.com.au/ Web Sites How Video Cameras Work VHS–to–DVD Conversion – www.howstuffworks.com/camcorder.htm – www.yesvideo.com/ and homemovie.com/
4. How to View Your Videos (and, Video Clips and Images) Video camera LCD screen TV VCR player to TV TV Computer – From camera tape/memory card to camera LCD screen – From camera tape/memory card to TV – From camera tape to VHS–type tape to TV – From camera tape to CD/DVD–type disk to TV – From hard drive or CD/DVD–type disk to computer monitor – Computer generated videos must conform to standards
5. How to Share Your Videos (and, Video Clips and Images) Camera tape – DV/AV–type tape Removable memory card Floppy disk Removable hard drive Removable disk (e.g., Iomega) CD–type disk DVD–type disk Printed hard copy Printed contact sheet Email attachment Email video postcard Internet web site – personal or web host
B. Using Your Video Camera
(Note: Speed of exposure of many video camera systems is about ASA 1000) 1. Typical Operating Modes
Recording mode
– Record videos/images to tape (with default or manual settings) – Auto flash, auto focus, auto exposure, auto white balance – Record an image after timed period (timer mode) – Record images at timed intervals until stopped (interval mode) – Capture images and video clips to memory card – Search/scan tape by title, by date, by photo, or by photo scan – Use advanced tools and techniques (see below) – Control video camera with remote or tethered device (LANC mode)
Memory mode Edit mode
Remote mode
2. Typical Setting Buttons and Screens (for manual settings) External Setting Buttons External Tape Buttons – Program/AE, shutter speed, white balance, exposure, auto levels – Rewind, play, fast–forward, search, volume
Internal Menu Screen Settings – Many and varied
3. Typical Connections for (In/Out) Data Transmission Hardware Data Stream Type – Headphone, TV/VCR, computer, Internet (Bluetooth), LANC – Composite (audio/video), S–video, USB, Firewire, LANC, Bluetooth
4. Typical Setup Procedures Set date/time/location/GMT Pre–stripe (digital) tapes Format memory card Charge and install battery(s) – Change settings when on vacation in different time zone – Record “nothing” to establish continuous timecode – Use camera format tool (not My Computer program) – Remove battery when not using camera – Use AC adaptor when possible
5. Typical Pre–Recording Procedures Set up tripod Set up lights Attach power supply Attach lens and lens filters Attach external microphone Attach headphones Install tape and memory card – Makes pans and zooms steadier – – Battery or AC adaptor (preferred) – Telephoto, wide–angle, UV, polarizer (outdoor), fluorescent (indoor) – Install battery, set features, and turn on power – Make sure you’re recording sound –
Position tape at proper timeline – Select manual settings –
6. Typical Camera Adjustments before Taking the Shot Set storage media Set type of shot Set image size and quality Set special image effects Set audio quality Set lights or flash Shoot a color bar – Tape or memory card – Video, clip, or image – High or low (memory card) – B&W, sepia, negative art, solarize, slim, stretch. mosaic – 12 bit/32 kHz, 16 bit/48 kHz (CD+ quality) – hot shoe or external, manual or auto – To calibrate the colors for reference in post production
7. Typical Procedure for Taking the Shot Get position with sun/subject – Sun/light objects provide too much contrast
Turn off LCD display until ready – Save battery Adjust exposure Adjust focus Shoot the video Shoot the image Shoot “B–Roll” footage – Auto or manual – Auto or manual (macro to infinite) – Don’t pan, tilt, or zoom too fast – Don't press shutter button too fast – For fill–in material (e.g., movie or edited video)
Write–protect memory card/tape – After the shoot
8. Dealing with Typical Special Shooting Situations White balance Indoors vs. outdoors Camera motion Glare and haze Spotlight (contrast too high) Backlight (contrast too high) Highlights and shadows – Off /dull colors – Poor skin color, sun vs. fluorescent lighting – Shaking, panning, tilting, blurring, zooming – Use filters or proper position – Bright spot on subject (can also use spot metering) – Bright background behind subject – Use flash for shots of faces outdoors
Zoom Flash Nighttime problems
– Optical vs. digital – Red eye, distance, when to use/not to use – Low lux, saturation, bleeding, spurious pixels
(NOTE: When taking shots, recognize the tradeoff between subject motion, shutter speed, exposure, and the available light.) (NOTE: Don’t forget that video clips can be cleaned up after shooting with your layout program, Virtual Dub, etc. This is called “post production” editing.)
9. Settings and Techniques that Give Special Effects Shoot at various heights/angles – Adds interesting perspectives Shoot through something Shoot into something Take long (i.e., wide) shots Take interval shots Play with motion Play with lighting (sun, lights) Pan both ways (in/out) Use pan and zoom together Use telephoto/wide angle lens Use wide or narrow aperture – Adds interesting perspectives – Adds interesting perspectives – Allow viewer to get perspective/really take in subject – Speed up time (during, e.g., sunrise) – Adds interesting perspectives – Adds interesting effects and shadows – Effective transition between scenes – Makes video look interesting – Adds interesting perspectives – Sets depth of field (depth of focus)
Use camera card for transitions – Effective transition between scenes Use background graphics/signs – Adds interesting effects and shadows Use picture effects Use fader effects Record music track only – Makes video look interesting (e.g., old) – Fade, dissolve, etc. from one segment to the next – Put lens cover on camera
10. Typical Ways to View Videos, Video Clips, and Images From Camera Tape With video camera – View on LCD screen With A/V cables (analog)– To TV or VCR With D/V cable (digital) – To computer or capture card
From Memory Card With video camera
– View on LCD screen – View slide show With USB cable – To computer With serial cable – To computer With remov. mem. card – To card reader With included software – With USB or serial cable
11. Personal Observations from Using a Video Camera The Differing Objectives/Capabilities of Video vs. Still Cameras The Need for/Use of a Still Camera The Need for Improved Audio Pickup The Need for Headphones The Need for Special Lenses The Various Ways to Shoot Motion The Various Ways to Enhance Exposure The Special Challenges of Shooting in Low Light Avoiding Problems with Auto Focus Taking Videos with Movie Making in Mind Using Special Built–In Video Camera Features (NOTE: Overall, video camera work is more difficult and time consuming than still camera but rewards are greater.)
12. Homework: Experimenting with the Capabilities of Your Video Camera (Playback test segments on Camera LCD Screen or TV.) Test #1 – Try to zoom smoothly in and out. (Use optical and digital zoom.) Test #2 – Find the limits of your zoom and focus. (How close/far can you go?) Test #3 – Try to pan and tilt smoothly. (Try 180 deg and 360 deg.) Test #4 – Try a fast pan at the end of a segment. (Use this as a transition to the next segment.) Test #5 – Find the lowest light capability of your camera. (Set exposure to the max.) Test #6 – Try special exposure settings like spotlight, backlight, etc. Test #7 – Try different manual shutter speeds. (How does this limit your shooting ability?) Test #8 – Try a picture effect like sepia or black and white. (Interesting enough to use? Where?) Test #9 – Learn about white balance. (Set white balance on your camera per instructions.)
Test #10 – Try to take still pictures with various settings. (Small size/low quality. Large size/high quality.) Test #11 – Record six different, short video segments. Copy every other one to a VCR. Rerecord back to same camera tape from the VCR. (How many segments are on the camera tape now?)
C. Managing Video Segments Before and After Shooting
1. Typical Problems with Video Segments Moves or shakes – Stabilize camera with tripod – Use less zoom – Timecode tape before using – Reduce/slow down the zoom, pan, tilt – Set focus properly (auto/manual) – Be careful what you record – Watch exposure settings – Watch for undesirable background lighting – Watch exposure settings and camera subject – Adjust White Balance and/or use Color Bar – Take shots in landscape mode only – Increase volume – Add a better microphone – Watch what/how much you tape
Hard to find Blurry
Dead or bad Dark or highlighted (hot)
Poor contrast (too high/low) Poor colors (weak/bland) Wrong orientation Poor sound (low, wind noise)
Too long
2. Typical On–Camera Tools Tape Browsing Rewind/fast forward Edit search – – One–frame edit searching
Tape Operations Extracting single images– Store on memory card Compositing segments – Put image over video segment Adding titles – Put title on each video segment – Put title on tape cassette Adding (dubbing) audio – Add additional audio track to tape Adding (dubbing) video – Add additional video track to tape Record tape to – VCR or memory card Record tape segment to – VCR or memory card
3. My Video Camera has these Editing Tools Review/make a list from your User Guide . . .
D. Understanding Video Files
1. Download Virtual Dub from http://www.virtualdub.org/ 2. Looking Inside a Video File File information – File type, format, content, data rate, duration – Video frame size, frame rate – Audio format, sampling frequency, data rate, mono/stereo – Can also use MovieID program – Codecs, effect on file size – Progressive, interlaced, intra, key, delta, predicted, dropped – Relation to player hardware – Relation to player hardware
File compression Types of frames Frame rate Other parameters
3. Types of Video Files (or, Streams) (Lightly) Compressed stream of progressive files (Higher–/Intra–) Compressed stream of progressive files (Higher–/Inter–) Compressed stream of progressive files Uncompressed stream of interlaced frames – As .gif (computer motion clip) – As .mpg–j – As .mpg – As .avi (common video format)
4. Editing Videos Selecting frames (and, frame sequences) Extracting images (i.e., frame grabbing) Deleting frames and frame ranges
5. Other Video File Management Techniques Using filters (dubbing) Indexing videos (making image sequences) Making videos from image sequences
E. Making a Simple Movie with Video Clips and Images
(Note: Cull and discard unwanted media stock first.) 1. Make Still Images with Paintbrush Program For Title Frame
Make new file Make 640x480 pixels Make blue background Put large black box on background for text Put text title “Across Norway by Train and Boat” in blue in black box Change to 256 colors and 72 dpi (use Irfan Viewer) Save file as title.jpg For Credit Frame Open title.jpg file Edit text to read “Produced by (Your Name)” Change to 256 colors and 72 dpi Save file as producer.jpg For End Frame Open producer.jpg Edit text to read “The End” Change to 256 colors and 72 dpi Save as end.jpg
2. Edit Video Images with Irfan Viewer Download Irfan Viewer from http://www.irfanview.com/ Inspect and Adjust Each File (as needed) for: Rotation Brightness and contrast Color balance Sharpen Resize 1024x768 to 640x480
3. Edit Video Clips with Virtual Dub Download Virtual Dub from http://www.virtualdub.org/ Review of Virtual Dub (see above) Inspect and Adjust Each File (as needed) for: Rotation Brightness and contrast Delete dead frames Resize 320x240 to 640x480 and add blue border
4. Layout Movie with Irfan Viewer Open Irfan Viewer to Slideshow Select files sequentially and add to movie Play movie and review for edits Save movie as .exe file Save movie file playlist as .txt file
APPENDIX
Advanced Camera Tools and Techniques
BASIC MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS Flash Modes Level Focus Manual Spot (touch screen) Push Auto (button) Shutter speed Exposure Back light Spot light Spot metering Program/AE modes Zebra pattern White balance adjustment – Adjust focus under special conditions or for special effects – To focus on particular spot – Change from auto focus to manual focus while recording – (Auto), various (to 1/10,000) – For backlit subjects – For subjects lit with spot light – Adjust exposure on a spot – Soft portrait, sports, beach & ski, sunset & moon, landscape – To help avoid overexposed subjects – A critical parameter – (Auto), red eye, forced flash, no flash – (Normal), high, low
(NOTE: Loss of power resets all manual settings to auto on some cameras.)
SHOOTING TOOLS Picture effects (images) – B&W, sepia, negative art, solarize, slim, stretch, mosaic Color bar Zebra pattern Wide screen TV Audio level Custom presets – To help player/editor adjust to shooting conditions – To help avoid overexposed subjects – For 16:9 TV screens – – Preset recording parameters to improve recording quality
TAPE TOOLS Playback Fast forward/rewind Search mode Photo scan – – Press button or hold down (to scan) – By title, by date, by photo – Search and scan images on tape
COPY AND CONVERT TOOLS Copy Image – From tape/VCR to memory card as still image (extracting) – From tape/VCR to memory card as video – From memory card to tape – From tape to memory card
Video Convert
Video to images – From tape to memory card (indexing) To different image size – Of scenes on memory card (video edit) To larger image size – Record with Playback Zoom
SPECIAL DIGITAL EFFECTS TOOLS Title maker Picture effects Superimpose images Fade Images Video – Fade tape video on top of memory card image (fading) – Precede segment using preset blending patterns (in fading) – Link two segments using preset blending patterns (transitioning) – Add additional video to video tape (dubbing) – Add additional audio track to video tape (dubbing) – Title cassette tape and video segments – B&W, sepia, negative art, solarize, slim, stretch. mosaic – Replace memory card image color with video (keying) – Replace memory card image brightness with video (keying)
Add video Add audio