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Hi8 Track System
White  Balance

Photography (Basic) - Introduction to photography and other graphic techniques
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302.291X Figure   13-8.–Hi8   video   camera. the camera to convert light rays into electrical impulses. The cathode-ray tube converts the electrical impulses back  into  light  in  the  receiver  (monitor). CAMCORDERS As  a  nonspecialized  Photographer's  Mate  without  a motion-media NEC 8143, you will be concerned mostly with  recording  motion-video  images  using  a  single camcorder.  A  camcorder  has  a  single  VTR  directly attached to the camera to form a camera and recorder unit. Each   camcorder   comes   with   manufacturer’s instructions on how to use the equipment. Because there are a great variety of camcorders in the Navy, you must consult the instruction manual supplied with your machine for best results. One common motion-video camera used in the Navy is the Hi8 video camera (fig. 13-8). The Hi8 camcorder is a small camera-VTR unit that records amazingly high-quality pictures and sound compared to a video home system (VHS) camcorder. It uses a special 8mm (about 1/3 inch) cassette with metal-oxide  coated  tape.  These  tapes  are  similar  in  size to an audio cassette tape. A  tempting  practice  while  operating  a  camcorder  is to shoot all videotape in the automatic mode. On the Sony Hi8 camcorder, when the AUTO LOCK switch is set, the iris, focus, white balance, sensitivity, and shutter speed (1/60) are set and adjusted automatically. If left unnoticed,  there  are  several  circumstances  under  which the   AUTO   LOCK   mode   will   produce   poor   or undesirable results. You, as the camera operator, must pay  attention  to  the  subject  and  the  surrounding situations  to  produce  quality  motion-video  coverage;  in particular, brightness levels, focusing, color tempera- ture  of  the  light  source,  and  subject  movement. Brightness  Levels The single greatest influence on picture quality is the brightness level. When the brightness level is too low, the recorded image looks grainy and flat. By familiarizing yourself with the brightness level of the subject, you can improve your recordings tremendously. In situations where the light level exceeds 100,000 lux, such as snow-covered scenes or a beach scene on a clear summer day, an ND filter is required. Under other daylight and bright, indoor conditions, the automatic iris is  capable  of  adjusting  to  provide  excellent  results; however, in a low-light situation, such as spaces onboard ship, auxiliary lighting may be required to provide clear, sharp images. Another alternative, when available on your camcorder, is to increase gain. By increasing the gain, you increase the level of amplification of the video signal. This increases the contrast and provides a higher-quality  recorded  image. In some situations, such as high-contrast scenes or backlit  subjects,  you  must  adjust  the  iris  manually.  Just like the aperture on a still camera, when the subject is backlit, open up the iris. When the subject is too bright, you must close down the iris. Manual  Focusing There are situations when you must manually focus the   camcorder   to   obtain   sharp   images.   In   the autofocusing  mode,  the  system  uses  a  sensor  at  the center of the viewfinder screen to adjust the focus automatically; therefore, in situations where there is insufficient light, the subject is strongly backlit, or with subjects consisting of flat colors or little contrast (such as bulkheads or the sky), the autofocusing mode may not  function  accurately. Other situations in which you should use manual focusing  are  as  follows: When the subject has finely detailed repetitive patterns When one subject is close to the camera and another  is  far  away When the subjects are located behind screens, nets,  or  frosted  glass When objects pass between the camera and the primary  or  intended  subject 13-9







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