Sunday 23 September 2012

CAMERA CHECK AFTER SWITCH OFF [FILM TECHNOLOGY]






Camera check after switch off

[Film Technology] 


[1] Panning head- Look off and secure the pan/tilt movements[including securing chain if fitted.]. Do not tighten drag controls [friction control]. Has the head been operating smoothly ? [regular cleaning lubrication is needed.] If weighty accessories [e.g. prompter, matte box] have been removed. Check that the camera is not left ‘ back heavy’. 

[2] Pedestal/column- Lock off vertical column movement. Remember, if a prompter is removed, the column will be wrongly balanced [hard to lower] if used without one next time. 

[3] Camera lens- Before fixing its lens cover, look along its surface against the light; Is it clean of dust and finger marks ? Lenses have a very thin coating [blooming] which reduces internal reflections and improves picture contrast. This coating is easily scratched or worn, so never touch the lens surface. Use a special lens brush to dust it. or a can of compressed air. Only when these are ineffective, use lens tissue or lens cleaning fluid

[4] Camera head- Is the camera head clean? Dust and grime soon build up. Have you had any mechanical or electronic trouble that now needs attention ? Did the various controls operate correctly ? [Focus contol, zooming control, Shot box, indicators] Is the viewfinder OK ? [sharpness, brightness, linearity, mixed feeds etc.] Intercom working properly ? [communal and private lines]. 

[5] Camera mounting- Have there been any problems ? [steering, elevation, motor controls etc.] Check over the dolly’s general cleanness, including tire surfaces. Odd remnants of plastic floor-tape etc. get picked and can be bumpy dollying, an oil/grease streak can cause tire slip. Check cable guards to ensure that they are not lose, too high or too low. 

[6] Camera cable- Having made sure that the equipment is switched off, remove the camera cable. Check that its ends are not protected [capped] and store it neatly, ready for next time. Typical methods are a figure-of-eight pile on a canvas cable carrying sheet, or a cable drum. Finally, place dust covers over the equipment. 

[7]  Studio storage area- Many studios simply leave cameras grouped on the floor at the end of the working day. If, however, scenery has to be moved in and out of the studio, it is to have a nearly equipment storage room, away from the general traffic.







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