Operating a Video Camera 

Friday, December 4, 2016 Chris Clark, Kaneb Center, clark.96@nd.edu | 574­631­7434  

Basic steps 

1. Get a camera (and tripod?) ... check the battery! 

2. Insert recording media (SD card) 

3. Enter basic settings 

4. Make a test recording ­ Check lighting and sound 

5. Record the real stuff 

6. Transfer video file(s) to computer 

7. Edit (mix in other content?) 

8. Export and share 

 

 

Resources 

● OIT — 5­day loans of cameras – 115 DeBartolo. 

● Remix­U tutorials ­ camera and Adobe Premiere 

● Camera — JVC GY­HM150U  ­ website   |   manual 

● Tripod — Manfrotto 055XB legs + MV502AH head 

○ Tripod basics (Manfrotto) 

○ When to use a tripod (PDF) 

 

Shooting better video 

● Video 101: Shooting Basics 

● Types of angles 

● 8 Ways to Shoot Video Like a Pro (LifeHacker) 

● Directional lighting  

● Basic Sound Recording Tips   

 

 

Live links at tinyurl.com/o4kv2c8  

JVCvideocamera–basicsetupandoperation

1. Camerasetupa. BATTERY–insertbelowtheeyepiece–letitsnapin(mayalreadybethere)b. LENSCAP–makesureit’sopen(backoflenshood)c. LCDSCREEN–flipitopen(oppositesidefromthemic)d. SDCARD–flipdownthemediadoor(belowscreen),insertcardinslotA(left),closedoore. POWER–onthesliverknob(rightofeyepiece)pressthebluebutton–moveittoSTANDBY/ONf. CHARGE–checkthatthebatteryhaspower(iconatbottomleftonscreen)

2. Videosettingsa. FULLAUTO–pressbuttonbelowscreenandtotheleft–letterAconfirms(Mmeansmanual)

Forthedetailedscreen–pressDISPLAYuntilyouseeAattopwithlotsofinfobelow.b. MENU–presstheMENU/THUMBbutton(rightsideofscreen)c. THUMBSTICK–tweakitupordowntonavigateamenu,

tweakrighttochangeasetting,pressintoselect.d. SETTINGS–selectRecordSet>RecordFormat,thencheck:

• SystemDefinition......HD(MPEG2)• FileFormat................MP4• CameraResolution....1280x720• FrameRate................30p(HQ)Whenyou’redone,chooseSet.PresstheMENU/THUMBbuttontoexit.

3. Microphonesettings(micshouldbeattachedandpointedtofrontofthecamera)a. PLUG–Input1(baseofmic)b. SETTINGS–thetopofthecamera,samesideasLCD

• CH2Input..................INPUT1()• AUDIOINPUT.............Mic+48V• AUDIOSELECT...........AUTO(bothchannels)• AUDIOLEVEL.............7-8forstarters(bothchannels)

c. TESTLEVEL–askyoursubjecttospeakinanormalvoiceandchecktheaudiometeronthescreen–itshouldregisterat50-75%(notinthered)

4. Testrecordinga. RECORD–presstheredRECbutton(byLCDscreen–OR–torightofeyepiece)b. CONFIRM–runningsecondsatthetopoftheLCDscreenc. STOP–pressRECagain

Nowpreviewtherecordingtobesureitwasinfocus,welllit,andloudenough.d. CHANGEMODE–forpreviewmode,movethesliverknob(rightofeyepiece)down

andholditatCAM/MEDIA–letgowheniconsappearontheLCDscreen.e. PLAY–usethethumbsticktonavigateandselectaclip.f. STOP–pressthethumbstickbuttontostopplaying,pressMENUtoselectanewclipg. CHANGEBACK–forrecordingmode,tweakthesliverknobuptoCAM/MEDIA

TaketheSDcardoutofthecamerabeforeyoureturnit!

Know your video camera  

Basics 

1. Managing the power 

a. Turn on / off 

b. Check battery level 

c. Charge batteries 

2. Controlling the camera 

a. Record / pause / stop 

b. Play / review 

c. Zoom 

3. Using automatic mode(s) ­ exposure, focus, volume 

4. Recording sound / audio 

a. Monitor volume level ­ check with VU meter or earphones 

b. Adjust volume level 

c. Microphone ­ know where it is on the camera 

5. Holding the camera steady ­ best way to grip 

6. Transferring video files to a computer ­ cable / card 

 

More advanced 

1. Using manual controls 

a. Focus 

b. Iris ­ brightness / exposure / aperture (width of lens opening) 

c. White balance ­ natural colors under different conditions 

2. Setting the shooting mode [e.g., 720p24] 

a. Resolution ­ number of pixels, horizontally [e.g., 720] 

b. Scan ­ P (progressive, cinematic) or I (interlaced, "raw" feeling) 

c. Frame rate ­ number per second [e.g., 24 fps] 

d. File format ­ e.g., MP4 

3. Using an external microphone 

4. Working with video files 

a. Erase a recording 

b. Remove / add a memory card 

Teaching and Learning with Video  

1. Use someone else’s work 

a. Clip from a DVD 

b. YouTube, etc. 

2. Create original video 

a. Screencast ­  movie of a computer screen 

b. Camera­based 

3. Student projects / assignments 

 

 

General best practices for video 

● Keep it short ­ 3­5 minutes 

● Make best use of available light ­ watch out for backlighting 

● Make the audio loud enough, but not distorted ­ use an external mic, if possible 

● Avoid “talking heads” ­ minimize dialogue and use b­roll 

● Tell a story ­ beginning, middle, end 

● Think ahead ­ capture video for later use 

 

 

 

Generic applications 

● Introduction ­ professor, course, topic 

● First exposure to new material (“flipping”) 

● Illustrate a concept 

● Review or clarify a concept, mini­lecture 

● Provide students audio­visual feedback 

● Content that students can access anytime, 

anywhere 

 

More specific 

● Skill tutorial (a la Khan Academy) 

● Feature story 

● Answer a frequently asked question (FAQ) 

Student Projects – Remix­T website 1. Digital storytelling   

2. Video story problem 

3. How­to video 

4. Public service announcement 

5. Book trailer 

6. Documentary 

7. Video essay 

8. Popcorn Maker mashup 

9. Scavenger hunt 

10. TV commercial 

11. Lip dub / Re­dub 

 

● Conversational demo of a website, software, procedure, assignment, etc. 

● Evaluation / commentary on a website / service / document / Image 

● Animated whiteboard ­ draw on “paper” ­ blank / graph / lined 

● Concept video ­ about software (or something else) that doesn't exist 

 

 

G.C.Clark,UniversityofNotreDame,2015—CC:BY-NC-SA

VideoActivityIdeasfromtheRemixGallery—learning.nd.edu/remix/projects

DigitalStorytelling

Studentstellshortpersonalstories–canmixofvideo,stillimages,voicerecording,andmusic.

BookTrailer

Likeamovietrailer,thisvideoisdesignedtopiqueinterestinabook.Morethanaplotsummary,itwouldinvolvesomedeeperanalysis.

How—toVideo

Tellabeginnerstep-by-stephowtomakeordosomething.

VideoEssay

Awrittenessayreadaloudandmixedwithastreamofimages,sound,orvideo–oftenexploringthetopicinasubjectiveorpoeticmanner.

PublicServiceAnnouncement(PSA)

AmessageonradioorTVtoraiseawarenessorchangeattitudes.

TVCommercial

Createanadvertisement(seriousorparody)foracommercialproduct(realorimaginary).

Technical Criteria for Evaluating Student-Created Media

  Audio Project Still Image Project Video Project

Sound Quality Loud enough, but not distorted

Minimal background noise

Consistent volume level

Voice narration is clear and slow,

not slurred or garbled

Loud enough, but not distorted

Minimal background noise

Consistent volume level

Voice narration is clear and slow,

not slurred or garbled

Music Soundtrack Does not overpower or distract

Appropriate mood for content

Does not overpower or distract

Appropriate mood for content

Color Scheme 2-5 colors with good contrast

Appropriate for content

Color-blind-sensitive

Text / Titles Easily readable font and color choice

One font face, or two of different types

Block text isn’t centered or decorative

Easily readable (font, color, motion)

One font face, or two of different types

Block text isn’t centered or decorative

Visual Composition Balanced, follows rule of thirds

Not crowded, good use of white space

Appropriate zoom level in photos

Few distracting elements

Balanced, follows rule of thirds

Not crowded, good use of white space

Appropriate framing, shots, angles

Appropriate variety of content

Camera Motion and Sharpness

Photos in focus, not fuzzy or pixelated

Depth of field used well

Appropriate use of camera motion

Pans and zooms are smooth and slow

Steady, not jumpy or shaky

In focus, not fuzzy or pixelated

Depth of field used well

Lighting Photos well lit, not dark or washed out

Angle: not backlit or too shadowy

Camera flash used well

Well lit, not dark or washed out

Angle: not backlit or too shadowy

Editing Smooth edits and transitions

Effects used appropriately

Smooth edits

Filters and effects used appropriately

Smooth cuts and transitions

Effects used appropriately

Copyright External media used with permission

Appropriate credit given

External media used with permission

Appropriate credit given

External media used with permission

Appropriate credit given

wp.me/prJu2-40l — v.1.0 — Chris Clark, University of Notre Dame — 11/11/15