Using A Video Camera
Cameras are an important piece of equipment , they need to be looked after and used properly. In order to get the best out of them there are lots and lots of different settings to consider such as; zoom, focus, white balance and audio levels.
Zoom: This enables you to achieve the effect of bringing the camera closer or further away from the subject without moving the camera about. The major downfall of zooming is that the further you zoom in, the harder it is to keep the shot steady.
Focus: Focus is usually adjusted using a ring or small dial. Focus can be closer or further from the object you are filming but most cameras offer an auto focus.
White balance: This is critical. It lets the camera know what each colour should look like. By letting the camera know what “true white” is, it can then adjust for other colours. Whilst most “consumer level” cameras have an automatic white balance, it is sometimes neccessary to set the white balance manually. This can be done by zooming in on a piece of white paper, focusing and then pressing the white balance button.
Audio: In other words, “sound”. Although most cameras have a microphone built in, sometimes it is benefitial to use an external mic. This can come in handy for filming things such as speeches. But generally the built in mic works fine, as long as these things are considered; Ambient noise, background music, wind, and not cutting of the dialogue.