How to Learn to Use Your Video Camera

Before you use your camcorder, take some time at home to learn how it works and how to make use of its features. That way you won't be faced with a mad scramble under pressure when you want to do something and can't figure out how.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Camcorders

1. Locate the power-on switch. Learn what position it must be in to power up the camera system.

2. Find out if the power-on switch has two settings: one for recording and one for playback. Become thoroughly familiar with which is which.

3. Learn where the record button is on your camera. Some units have more than one.

4. Learn where the recording indicator (usually a red light) is located.

5. Practice inserting new tapes and ejecting used ones.

6. Read your camcorder's manual about color balance.

7. Learn how to zoom in and zoom out smoothly.

8. Learn the zoom capabilities of your lens. Become familiar with the widest (least zoomed) shot you can take, compared with the tightest (most zoomed) shot.

9. Look at a scene and try to figure out where the frame line of your shot would be for both a wide and a tight shot. Then take your camcorder and see how close you came.

10. Continue to practice matching your "mind's eye" margins with the actual ones your lens produces until you get it right most of the time.

11. Use your manual to find out about other camera status indicators: what they mean and where they're located.

12. Find out if you can control the sound level as you record. If so, learn how to adjust it as you shoot, so you don't interrupt a good shot to set volume.

13. Rehearse switching from one battery to another, or from a battery to your battery eliminator. These are sometimes tricky, and if you don't get them in just right, they won't fit.

14. Learn accessory control: It's just as important to know how to turn an accessory off as it is to turn it on.

Tips & Warnings

• New cassettes are usually shrink-wrapped, and some packaging is hard to open. If you plan to use more than one tape, consider unwrapping the second cassette at home so it'll be ready to go.

• Some camcorders must be reset when moving from indoor to outdoor shooting. Familiarize yourself with which kind you have.

• Try to make your camcorder fail before you go out to shoot something important. That way you can find out what you did wrong and change your moves so you don't make the same mistake when it counts.