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.
