10.3: Tapes, Batteries and other Accessories

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Page ID: 306539

Mark Briggs
University of South Florida

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Several hours before you need to use the camera, check to make sure the battery and back-up battery (if there is one) are completely charged. Most cameras come with a standard battery that won’t cut it for many professional uses because it lasts less than an hour. If possible, purchase the largest capacity battery available for your camera and then use for back-up the one that came with the camera. A three-hour battery is available for most cameras.

Also, check to make sure you have enough mini-DV tape for the assignment plus a back-up tape in case you need more than you originally anticipated. Tapes can be re-used, which is nice since they’re not cheap (about $7 for a 60-minute tape).

While a charged battery and ample tape are the most important accessories you’ll need for your shoot, there are many others to consider, including external microphones (see Chapter 7: Digital Audio), external lighting devices, a tripod and headphones.

Tripod: The easiest way to make your videography look professional is to always use a tripod. A steady shot is essential for quality video and, even though many cameras have fancy “image stabilization” features built in these days, nothing will provide a rock solid shot like a tripod. That said, developing a steady hand is necessary if you’re going to start branching out and doing different types of shooting.

All cameras have a round (usually silver) hole on the bottom with circular threads. All tripods have a round (usually silver) bolt-like stem on the top. All you have to do is place the camera on top of the tripod so the stem matches up to the hole and then turn the dial below the stem until the camera is tightly affixed to the tripod.

Headphones: As we will discuss later, audio is essential to video. And the only way to be sure you are recording good audio with your video is to plug in a pair of headphones and listen while you shoot. All cameras have a headphone jack; simply plug in the headphone cord.

If it’s not practical to use headphones during the shoot, use a co-worker or the subject to test the audio while setting up the camera to check the audio level. Simply talk to them while wearing the headphones to make sure the mike and sound are working correctly.

Lighting: If you have ever “shared” an interview with a cameraman from the local TV station, you probably thought, “Why do they have to use that spotlight? It’s blinding the person talking.”

There’s a good reason. Just as still photographers need a flash in almost all indoor settings, powerful lighting is essential to shooting video.

There are several options for lighting, spanning various price ranges. Most clip into a “shoe” on the top of the camera. As with most photography equipment, the better products are more expensive. In this case, more powerful lights are brighter and give off more even light. So if you don’t have access to the big, bright lights that TV people use, look for a more “entry-level” version for around $100.

The “shoe” is where you connect an external device such as a light or shotgun microphone. The “zoom” rocker bar lets you zoom in on, or away from, your subject.

Or do as I did covering the Super Bowl in 2006: Stand next to a TV cameraman and mooch off his light.

Note

Running a light — especially a powerful one — will increase the drain on your battery, so having a back-up battery is even more important.

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