Camera work

Having only had experience using digital photo cameras, I was eager to get started and learn how to use a very technical digital video camcorder. My teacher gave us an instruction manual and once I read through it, I began to understand quite quickly how to use it as it wasnt as complicated I thought it would be.

There are many different formats which the camera must be set on in order to film in a certain way:

1. Firstly make sure you have inserted a power source. -Slide the 'EJECT' button across to release the cover -Load or unload the cassette -Press the 'PUSH' mark on the compartment until it clicks -Click the cover back into place.
   
2. I adjusted the 'white balance'. I found that we got better results by setting the white balance manually esspeacially in places lit by certain types of fluorescent or mercury vapour lights.
   
3. Optical zoom lense. The camera has two zoom controls from either the side grip or the camera handle. Turn the zoom control towards 'W' to zoom out to wide-angle, and turn towards 'T' to zoom in to telephoto.
4. Basic recording. -Simply turn to POWER dial -Press the start/stop button to begin recording -Press the start/stop button again to pause recording.
   
5. Using the STANDBY button. As long as the POWER dial is set to a recording program, you can use the STANDBY button to tirn the camera on & off. This makes it easy to save battery power, & prevents accidental operation of the start/stop button. -Press and hold the STANDBY button for a few moments to enter/leave stanby mode. When the camera enters standby mode, ENTERING POWER STANDBY is shown in the viewfinder.