The equipment is checked out from Old Main 328.  You will be given a camera and its carrying case, one or two batteries, and possibly a microphone, a microphone adapter and two attached cords. Also, if necessary, you may be given a the lighting kit and extension cord.

Tripods:
Set the tripod into position for your shot.
Unlock the leg screws and set the tripod to the height you want.
Secure all three legs, tightening them and checking the level indicator for uneven balance. Lean downward on the tripod to make sure it will not buckle.

Batteries & Tapes:
Install the battery so that the positive and negative sides line up. The arrow on the battery indicates which side goes down and you must match the positive (+) and negative (-) signs on the battery into the slot on the back of the camera.

If you're using a battery that is marked as fully charged, remove the tag so that it will be charged again after you use it.

Push the blue tape eject button on the back of the camera. The side of the camera will then open.

Load the tape with the label up and carefully close the tape bay. Don't force it close. If it won't close easily, chances are the tape is improperly set.

Cameras:
Push the power button on top of the camera back until the red light turns on. If the camera doesn't turn on, check to see that the battery is properly loaded and working correctly.  Make sure the camera is not in the VCR mode.

Press the OSD (on screen display) button located on the side of the camera so that the battery levels and white balance indicators can be seen through the viewfinder.

Make sure the date-time stamp isn't visible in the viewfinder. If it is, push the date-time button located next to the OSD button until you can no longer see the date-time stamp.

The camera should be in the Manual Mode at all times, not Automatic, not Portrait.  This means you will need to white balance and focus all shots.

White Balancing:
To white balance the camera, leave the lens cap on the lens. Then push and hold the WB button on the side of the camera until the white balance icon in the viewfinder stops flashing.

You can also white balance without the lens cap by holding a sheet of white paper or cardboard and holding the WB button until the white balance icon stops flashing. Remember to check the white balance before every shot and always white balance after the camera has been turned off or goes into the power saving mode.

Focusing:
The focus button is next to the iris button on the left side of the camera.  To focus the camera, zoom tight -- all the way in -- on your subject, using the zoom toggle on top of the hand grip (W=wide=zoom out; T=tight=zoom in). Focus on the subject so that the details are sharp using the focus ring on the lens. Then zoom back out to your desired shot range. Do this every time you change the shot or the results could be blurry.

Iris:
To allow more or less light into the lens, adjust the iris according to the amount of light in the shot. Use the positive button to allow more light and the negative to allow less.

Microphone:
The microphones are kept in small black cases (except for the handheld). Take out the adapter and slide it into its position above the camera and use the Y-cord to extend from the adapter. Plug one end of the microphone cord into the Y-cord, and the other end into the lavalier microphone. Put the AA battery into the battery slot of the lav. Attach the mike on your interview subject and hide the wire if possible. If using a handheld microphone, try to hold it out of the frame.

After you've finished recording, be sure to remove the AA battery from the microphone.

Recording:
To record your shot, push the red button on the back of the handgrip. The REC indicator flashing in the viewfinder shows that the camera is recording.

For editing purposes, record at least 10 seconds before your actual shot.  Be quiet while recording. When finished recording, press the red button again.

When interviewing, the reporter should stand beside the camera at eye level, if possible, with the interview subject. The cameraperson should frame the shot with looking space. If the subject is facing dead space on the left side of the shot, the reporter should be standing to the left of the camera. Or vice versa, if the subject is facing dead space on the right side. Don't allow too much dead space in the shot. Either put something in it, or zoom to avoid it. Don't center the subject too much in the frame.

At the completion of the shoot:

• If you choose, you can rewind and replay your tape in the camera. Pull back the panel on the top of the camera to display the function buttons. Push the rewind and play buttons to make sure your shots are adequate and your sound is audible.
• Cover the lens with the lens cap.
• Remove the microphone cable and return the mike equipment to the carrying case. Be sure you remove the battery.
• Eject the tape. Label the tape and store it safely.
• Turn the camera off.
• Unlock the camera from the tripod and remove it carefully.
• Remove the camera battery and place it in the camera case.
• Return the camera to its case. Secure it tightly.
• Unlock the tripod legs and restore them to their original position. Make sure to lock them again once in position.
• Return equipment to Room 328