Camera Reminders

Boots.

Try to purchase tripods in groups of three and GUARD the boots. When possible purchase extra boots. The tripod is useless without the boot. The boot is the small piece of plastic that attaches the camera to the tripod. They were originally designed to allow the user to quickly remove the camera from the tripod. However, many camera manufacturers place the tape eject button and tape caddy at the bottom of the camera. This means that the boot must be removed when changing the tape cassette.

 

Use digital tapes only ONCE.

You are probably using digital tape in order to digitize the game film on a computer. Using a digital tape more than once may prove to be problematic. Using a tape more than once will occasionally create tiny and large flaws on the tape.

 

Set the time on your camera - and check it each week!

Even if it is wrong! Most users think that computers are able to cut-up digital game film automatically because it senses the PAUSE button. In fact, the computer reads the time-code on the digital tape and checks to see when the time changes more than a fraction of a second. If your camera's internal date and time is not set, time code will not be placed on the tape. You don't have to have the date and times displayed, but it needs to be set. You will always be prompted to set the date and time when you initially turn your camera on - if it was not previously set. Your camera has a small, disk battery that keeps the date and time in memory. Should this battery fail or lose its charge, you will lose the date and time also.

 

Conserve battery power.

When filming without an AC adapter, using only battery power, close the pop-out view finder. It is much easier to film with a pop-out view finder, but it uses twice the battery power.

 

Always pack an extra, charged, battery.

Always. You just never know when you won't find an outlet or when the circuit breaker blows. Always have two completely charged batteries in your bag.

 

Keep your camera dry.

Pack extra large plastic food bags in your camera case to use as rain covers in inclement weather. But if your camera does get wet follow these simple steps to a full recovery.

a) Get the tape out - and leave the tape door open.

b) Unplug everything.

c) Open pop-out view finder.

d) Sit the camera on several towels to absorb any "dripping".

e) If possible, use a fan to gently blow air over and around the camera.

f) Wait absolutely as long as you have. Forty-eight hours at LEAST. Seventy-two would be better.