The TV/Video Camera

TV/video cameras range from lightweight hand-held versions to large heavy-duty units. Some are more automated, or have more ‘bells and whistles’, than others. Although camera design directly affects picture quality (i.e. color fidelity, stability, tonal range, detail resolution, etc.), even more modest units now provide very satisfactory results.

While earlier cameras were built as completely integrated units, many of today’s modular designs allow you to choose features to suit your particular shooting conditions.

The camera head

Basically, the ‘camera’ consists of:

• The camera head which contains its main electronics; including the image sensor that generates the picture.

• A suitable lens system (usually some form of zoom lens) fixed onto its front

• A viewfinder attached to its top.

• A power pack or a small videotape recorder (VCR) may be fastened to the rear of a stand-alone camera.

Main features

An increasing number of electronic cameras now use solid-state CCD image sensors to generate the picture, instead of camera tubes. Both can produce excellent pictures, but the former have increasing practical advantages.

The TV camera-system needs various power supplies, scanning and synchronizing pulses etc. to function:

• If you are using a stand-alone shoulder-mounted camcorder on location, these will be provided-within the camera head.

• Alternatively, as in a multi-camera studio setup, they may be supplied via a camera cable, from a distant camera control unit

While pictures from the stand-alone camera depend on preset or automatic adjustments, the cabled camera can be remotely adjusted by a specialist operator (shader, video control) to continuously maintain optimum picture quality and matching.

Cameras can usually be switched from single to multi-camera working. Then they are mutually synchronized by a central genlock system.

The zoom lens systems

Zoom lens systems are particularly complex. Where you want the highest optical quality., maximum light-gathering power, and a wide zoom range (i.e. max. to min. coverage) larger heavier lens systems are unavoidable. But where cameras are to be carried around, more compact zoom lenses are essential.

Types of viewfinder

To focus and compose shots accurately, you need a good viewfinder. This can take three often interchangeable forms:

• A small magnified (1.5 in/38 mm) monochrome picture tube, held up to the eye.

• A 5–7 in (12.5–18 mm) open-screen display with a light-hood.

• A clip-on LCD color screen (liquid crystal display).

The television camera

The TV camera consists of:

A. The camera head Z, zoom lens. IS, image sensors (CCDs). V, viewfinder. C, camera cable (taking technical supplies to the camera, and the resultant video to the camera control unit/CCU). A quick-release wedge-mount under the head slides into, a corresponding recessed plate on the panning head.

B. The panning head (pan head) This enables the camera head to tilt and turn (pan) smoothly. These movements can be restrained by deliberately introduced friction (drag), and can be locked off to hold the head rigid. Tilt balance positions the head horizontally, preventing it being nose- or tail-heavy. One or two attached pan (panning) handles (H) enable the cameraman to direct and control the camera head.

C. The camera mounting This can take many forms, e.g. camera-clamp, monopod, tripod, pedestal, crane.