How to Use Tripod With Digital Video Camera

Series Summary

Digital media is the next big thing, but we don't have to leave it to the big shots anymore. It's wonderful that this technology is finally trickling its way down to the amateur hobbyists, the art school drop out, the film school graduate, or the mother of three. Digital video cameras make it easy for you and your friends to create dramatic indie films, documentaries, or home movies. Computer editing software is as close as your desktop and fingertips, giving you the same applications the professionals are using right at home. You can even make animation and DVD menus! Get on board and make your professional quality digital videos and media from home.

If you are starting your own video production company or you just want to make home movies, this free video series is perfect for you. The camera is the most important part of video production. In this series, you will learn how to use a digital video camera. Our expert will explain the lens settings, filters and all of the other controls you need to take great photos. Watch this series and your movies will look better right away!

Video Transcript

"As you can see here, I have got a digital camera and a tripod. The first lesson is to how to mount a camera on the tripod. This is a very basic kind of tripod that has been used in our field. Every tripod will have some similarities. That is, firstly the head. This is where your camera gets mounted. A standard tripod will always have three legs. That's why it is called a tripod. And you'll find this kind of adjustable locks attached to the tripod. This is to adjust the height of the tripod. Once it is adjusted, you should always lock it securely so that the tripod doesn't move or get disbalanced. Another basic feature of every tripod is the pan rod. This is a rod, which helps you to move the camera left and right and up and down. Which is called the panning and the tilting. The pan rod, if you see closely, this is a standard pan rod. If you see very closely, it has got an edge, because it has got an ergonomical shape to it. This is done just to make you comfortable while panning and tilting your camera. Now let me show you how to fix a pan rod on the tripod. Every standard tripod head will have a place where you put the pan rod. In this head, you can see it here. Now there's a hole in it, and you have to fix the pan rod inside, and make sure that you tighten up the screws. This is done because the pan rod shouldn't be shaky. Once the pan rod is fixed, it is necessary that you keep it in the right position. What I mean here is the pan rod shouldn't be very close to the body. If it is very close to the body, then you'll have problems in moving the camera. So it is necessary that you keep it- the shape should be going outside your body, like this. Now once the pan rod is fixed, it is very important to know the position of the pan rod. What I mean, is that the pan rod shouldn't be very close to your body. Because if it is very close to your body, then it will have problems in the movement of the camera. That's why it is ergonometrically shaped so that the body- the pan rod is always going outside your body. And you have the distance from your body to the pan rod. This helps you to move the camera in a very smooth and precise manner. Somewhat like this. After the pan rod, there are two more important locks on the tripod head. That is the tilt lock and the pan lock. Now the tilt lock is also a very important function of the tripod head. This lock is important because it secures that the camera doesn't go down with the weight. So, make sure when you mount the camera, your tilt lock is firmly fixed. Make sure when the camera is on standby, or when you're not beside the camera, you tilt lock is firmly fixed. After this, there's another safety feature which is called the pan lock. Panning is a side movement, from right or left movement of the camera is called the panning. Now, when you are also leaving the camera alone, you make sure your tilt lock is tight and your pan lock, which is here, is also tight. So that somebody comes beside the camera, he or she cannot move the camera at all."