Video Camera Tips – Now I’ve Got the Camera, How Do I Use it?
The Library has cameras available to borrow for classroom presentations.
Both still and video cameras can be borrowed. If you want still images, the still cameras will take a much better picture than the video cameras will. This works both ways; video will be better if taken with a video camera. Some of the video files from still cameras cannot be edited later.
The video cameras are all digital at this time. They required a DV tape which holds one hour of video. You can set it to tape longer but it is not recommended as you may run into problems later when you need to transfer the tape for editing.
The user must supply the tape.
Because models change frequently, we have a number of different cameras for loan.
Listed below are the cameras and basic things one might need to know.
For all cameras, let the tape cassette carrier open on their own and close once loaded, please don’t try and force them.
The cameras all charge with the camera in the off position. Most will run for about an hour on battery. It is best to plug them in to be safe, if recording an hour or longer, also when downloading to edit.
The cameras down load for editing on the computer with a fire wire cable. Some come with it, some don’t. Check to see if you need to borrow one. They are silver braided cables.
The camera controls work on playback or vcr mode. The camera must be turned to this position, usually on the silver button. The control buttons are rewind, fast-forward, play and stop. VCR is the position you would download to the computer in.
Canon ZR60 video camera – This model has a bottom latch one slides to open to put in the tape. To record, there is a red bottom near where your thumb is while holding the camera. Push this once and a small rec should appear on the view screen. Push it again to stop recording. The control buttons are one the side, inside the display arm. The power adapter plugs into the camera on the bottom in the back and the fire wire plugs in under a panel on the bottom, front.
Canon ZR 70mc – This camera has a bottom latch, which opens with a slider. There is a silver button to press to record. The controls are on the left side near the top. The power adapter plugs in on the bottom left backside of the camera. Fire wire port in the bottom front of the camera.
Canon Elura 85 – This model loads the tape on the top, with a slider to open the tray. There is a silver button near your thumb to push for record, push again to stop. The controls are on the left side inside the display arm. The power adapter plugs in the back right side on the top. The fire wire plugs in on the right side near the front under the grey cover.
Canon Elura 100 – This camera opens to load the tape on the top, with a slider button.
There is a silver button which is turned to select camera or vcr. The center of this is the record button. The tape controls are a toggle on the back left of the camera. Top for play, right for fast-forward, bottom to stop and left to rewind. The power adapter plugs into the front, lower right of the camera. The fire wire port is inside the display arm, on the camera body.
Canon ZR800 – This camera has a bottom latch, which opens with a slider button. There is a silver button to select mode, and a white button to record. The controls are a toggle inside the display arm at the bottom left. Top for play, right for fast-forward, bottom to stop and left to rewind. The power cord plugs into the bottom back right of the camera. This camera comes with a fire wire. It plugs in on the right side, after you pop off the grey cover.
Panasonic camera – This camera has a side opening for tape, which you open with a slider on the bottom right side. There is a silver button with a red dot to press to record, near your thumb. To charge this camera you must remove the battery and put it into the charger to charge. The controls are on a round button on the left side.
If you have any questions, please contact
Dawn Van Hall
Digital Imaging Specialist
P: (607) 753-4890
vanhalld@cortland.edu