Digita Video Program (Cannon FS-300, Cannon ZR, and Kodak PlayTouch) 1
Table of Contents In this tutorial you will learn the following about using a Digital Video Camera: 1. Digital Viedo Resources Pg. 3 2. Digital Video Policies Pg. 4 3. Borrowing a Camera from TSC Pg. 5 4. What a camera kit contains Pg. 6 5. How to use a FireWire Cable Pg. 8 6. How to use a FireWire Hard Drive Pg. 9 7. Using a Digital Camera Pg. 11 8. Returning the Camera to TSC Pg. 19 2
Digital Video Resources Digital video (DV) production is now more accessible to consumers with home computers. What was once limited to video professionals using expensive equipment is now available to students at BGSU. Any registered BGSU student can borrow a DV camera kit free of charge. It comes complete with extra batteries and various adapter cables. In addition, students may also borrow tripods, microphones, lighting kits, and external Firewire hard drives. This hardware makes it easy to shoot, edit, and save digital videos for courserelated use. Editing digital video can be completed at dozens of DV-ready lab systems across campus and at the Student Technology Assistance Center (STAC). The following sections contain self-paced tutorials specific to student digital video use at BGSU, along with policies, and related information. If you are a BGSU student, feel free to schedule a tutoring session with ARC staff. If you represent a BGSU student organization and need additional help learning how to use digital video equipment to create your own videos, you may sign-up for our Digital Video Basics workshop on our Workshops page. 3
Digital Video Policies The information below lists policies for DV equipment borrowing and use. Please read through each item. Eligibility for participation requires enrollment in a BGSU undergraduate or graduate program. Equipment must be used for Academic purposes. You are responsible for providing your own minidv tapes. These are available at the BGSU Bookstore, and in retail stores. The DV camera kit and light kit can be borrowed a period of three (3) days. An external hard drive can be borrowed for seven (7) days. Late fees are as follows: Video and Still Cameras: $10 / day Tripods and External Hard Drives: $5 / day Late fees will be charged to your Bursar account. All equipment must be returned during regular hours of operation. Equipment may only be renewed by bringin the equipment back into the Technology Support Center in person. If the equipment in question is already on a wait list, you will not be able to renew it. If you withdraw from BGSU or graduate and still have DV equipment checked-out, you must turn it in as soon as you withdraw, or prior to graduation. All equipment should be turned in during our regular hours of operation. Failure to return DV equipment by the due dates will result in late fees (see above). SLR Camera Kits are only available to students enrolled in 3000 or 4000 Level VCT or Art Classes. BGSU does not assume any responsibility for damage or loss of the camera kit or any related accessories. You will be responsible for repair costs if the user damages any items in the camera kit due to misuse, accident, modification, unsuitable physical or operating environment or im proper maintenance. This type of damage may include, but is not limited to the following damages: Damaged LCD view finder from being dropped or other excessive force Cracked, scratched or broken parts Broken latches or connectors Liquid damage inside the camera or foreign material inside the system Damage caused by excessive force, shock or from being dropped. Repair costs will be charged to your Bursar account. Stolen or missing DV equipment should be reported immediately to BGSU campus police at (419) 372-2346. 4
Borrowing a Camera from TSC Any current BGSU student has the opportunity to borrow a digital video camera kit from the Technology Support Center (TSC). You can borrow a digital video kit for a period of 3 days. External firewire hard drives, used to store digital video files for editing, are also available for a period of one week. If you are interested in borrowing a digital video camera, stop by the TSC in Hayes Hall 110. You must be a current BGSU student with a valid ID. Only individual students may borrow a camera - no loans will be made to groups or organizations. You are responsible for the camera and accessories while they are in your care. When you check out the camera you will be asked to sign a contract. This is simply an agreement letting us know that you understand your responsibilities while the camera is in your possession. 5
What the Camera Kit Includes The camera kit from TSC includes the following items: Cannon ZR Camera Bag (Fig.1) Camera (Fig. 2) Battery (Fig. 3) Charging Cable (Fig. 4) Remote Control (Fig. 5) A/V Cables (Fig. 6) Manual (Fig. 7) FireWire Cable (Fig. 8) Cannon FS300 Camera Bag (Fig. 1) Camera (Fig. 9) Charging Cable (Fig. 10) A/V Cables (Fig. 11) Manual (Fig. 12) USB Cable (Fig. 13) 6
What the Camera Kit Includes (cont.) Kodak PlayTouch Camera Bag (Fig.1) Camera (Fig. 14) Wall Adapter (Fig. 15) Charging Cable (Fig. 16) Attention: Always remember to put items in the carrying case after each use or when not using at all. The back zipper compartment stores the Kodak PlayTouch. The front zipper compartment stores the camera charger chords and wall adapter. 7
How To Use the FireWire Cable FireWire is a transmission protocol used to send information between a computer and an external device. Similar to USB, but 20 times faster, devices that use FireWire range from digital video cameras to external hard drives. FireWire devices connect to computers using a FireWire cable. FireWire cables use 4-pin (on camera) or 6-pin (on older computers) or 9-Pin (newer Macs) connections, depending on the design of the device. In cases where the computer and FireWire device have FireWire ports with a different number of pins, an adaptor cable must be used. This adaptor cable (Figure 16-17) allows the two devices to be connected so that data can be transferred. Figure 16. 4-6 Pin Adapter Figure 17. 6-9 Pin Adapter How to Use a FireWire Hard Drive 1. To connect the FireWire hard drive, plug one end of the FireWire cable into one of the FireWire ports on the hard drive. 2. The drive will be powered on by the computer. 3. Plug the other end of the FireWire cable into the computer. 4-6 Pin 6-9 Pin 8
4. An icon that looks a hard drive with the FireWire logo on it will appear on the desktop. You can now use the hard drive like any other flash drive. 5. To disconnect the FireWire hard drive, drag the hard drive icon towards the trash can in the Dock. You may notice that as soon as you click and hold on the icon, the trash can turns into an eject icon. Simply drag the icon on top of the eject icon and in a moment or two your icon will disappear from the desktop. 6. Unplug the FireWire cable from the computer. 4-6 Pin 6-9 Pin Using a Digital Video Camera The following sections explain the basics of operating the digital video camera you have borrowed from the TSC. Each camera has a corrisponding diagram that will show you where the critical functionalities are controled. 9
Cannon ZR Series (control side) 2 1 5 3 6 4 1. Zoom Toggle- Use this switch to zoom either wide or tall. 2. View Finder- When not using the LCD pannel (explained on next page) you can use the viewfinder to see what you are recording. 3. Battery- Used to power the unit. Refer to Fig.3. 4. Control Toggle- This is used to power on the camera, as well as selct either Camera or Play mode. The camera will turn on when either mode is selceted. Use Camera mode to record and Play to view your footage. 5. Lens- This is the camera s eye point this in the direction you wish to record. 6. Port Pannel- This pannel houses three ports: A/V Out, MIC In, and D/V Out. Use A/V Out to connect your camera to a TV via the A/V cables provided (Fig. 6). MIC allows for the connection to an external microphone, and DV Out allows for a connection to a computer via FireWire cable (Fig. 8). 10
Cannon ZR Series (reverse view) 8 7 12 11 9 10 13 7. LCD Screen- This is the camera s view screen. This allows you to see what the camera is recording. 8. Function Key- This key accesses the camera s menu. Play functions as well as settings can be accessed by pressing the Function Key. 9. Joystick- This allows you to control the playback functions like fast for ward, re-wind, play, and pause. 11. Tape Deck Open Button- Pressing this button will open the tape deck. The DV tape can be inserted here. 12. Battery Release- Pressing this will release the battery (Fig. 3) from the camera. 13. Power Port- This is where the charging cable (Fig. 4) can be plugged into the camera inroder to charge the battery. 10. Digital Effects Key- This key allows you to access the digital settings that the camera offers. Exposure settings and night vision can be altered from this menu.ss 11
Cannon ZR Series (rear view) 1 3 4 2 5 1. Power Light- This will be illuminated when camera is powered on. 2. Playback Mode- Use this mode to playback your videoes and still images. 5. Record Button- Press this button to begin recording or take a digital still. Press it a second time to conclude recording. 3. Video Record Mode- Use this mode to record video. 4. Still Image Mode- Use this mode to take still images. Similar to a tradiditional point-and-shoot digital camera. 12
Cannon ZR Series (side view) 8 6 7 9 6. Video Snap Button- Use this button to snap a still frame while recording video. 7. USB Port- Use this port to connect your camera to your computer. Insert the smaller end of the USB cable (Fig. 13) into your camera and the larger end into an open USB port on your computer. Refer to Fig. 17 below. 8. Display/Batt Info Button- Use this button to change what information is shown on the LCD screen. Pushing this will also toggle the battery information display feature. 9. A/V Out Port- Use A/V Out to connect your camera to a TV via the A/V cables provided (Fig. 11). Figure 17 13
Cannon ZR Series (side view) 10 11 12 13 14 15 10. Joystick- Use this to navigate the menues, as well as access the play controls. 11. Function Key- Use this button to access the recording settings such as night vision and exposure. 12. Play/Pause Button- Use this button to either play or pause video when in playback mode. 13. Stop/W Button- Use this button to either STOP video when in plaback mode or adjust the zoom WIDE when in recording mode. 14. Playlist/T Button- Use this button to either access the file playl ist menu in playback mode, or adjust the zoom TALL when in recording mode. 15. Camera Connect Button- Use this button when connecting your camera to a computer. Make sure the camera is plugged into a wall outlet first and connect the camera to the computer via a USB cable then press this button. 14
Kodak PlayTouch (front view) 1 2 7 3 8 4 5 6 1. CAMERA KEY- Changes the photo contrast. Normal, Sepia and Negative are choices available. Also takes the camera into Live view. 2. Preview Button- After taking pho tos/videos, use to preview or discard. 3. Delete Button 5. Strap Post 6. Speaker 7. LCD Camera Lens 8. Pictured here are your TOGGLE KEYS and SELECT button. Utilize these to browse under SETTINGS or to ZOOM-IN and ZOOM-OUT. 4. Settings Button- Here you can ac cess your settings as far as sounds, h2o (under water option) 15
Kodak PlayTouch (back & side view) 10 12 9 11 13 14 9. Microphone- used to capture audio. 10. Flash- used to add light to the shot. 11. Lens- The cameras eye point this at what you are shooting. 12. Power Button- used to turn on the camera. 13. Headphone Jack- plug in head phones here. 14. USB Port- used to both charge the camera by plugging in the USB cable (Fig. 16) into the WALL ADAPTER (Fig. 15), then plugging it into a wall outlet, and to connect the camera to your computer by plugging the USB cable into an open USB port (Fig. 17) on your computer. 16
Returning the Camera to TSC Everything you ve borrowed must be returned to the TSC by the time and date specified. It is your responsibility to observe the TSC s hours of operation which are posted outside the TSC, as well as on the DV contract you signed, and return everything on time. No extra notice will be given regarding due dates or times. A member of the TSC staff will check the operating condition of the camera and all accessories when the camera is returned. For each item missing or damaged, your bursar account will be billed. By taking good care of the camera and all accessories and returning them promptly, you can make the experience of recording and editing digital video a pleasant one. 17