Basic Betacam Camerawork, 3rd Edition

Basic Betacam Camerawork, 3rd Edition

by Peter Ward
Released April 2013
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781136049538

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Book description

Basic Betacam Camerawork offers a complete introduction to both the analogue and digital beta camera formats: Betacam, Digital Beta, Betacam SX and DV & DVCAM. Step-by-step instructions are given covering everything from pre-recording checklists, to technical camera specifications, instruction on exposure and lighting, composition, editing and sound and techniques for different programme styles.



Aimed at TV camera operators just starting out and film cameramen and women converting to video this book will also appeal to students on film and television production courses.

Peter Ward is a freelance cameraman and trainer working with the International Television Training Consultancy and ex-Chairman of the Guild of Television Cameramen. He spent many years working on a variety of programmes at the BBC before becoming Head of Cameras at Television South West. Peter is author of the following books for Focal Press: Digital Video Camerawork, Picture Composition for Film and Video , Studio & Outside Broadcast Camerawork, TV Technical Operations and co-author of Multiskilling for TV Production.

Basic Betacam Camerawork offers a complete introduction to both the analogue and digital beta camera formats.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  6. INTRODUCTION
  7. TELEVISION FUNDAMENTALS
    1. THE (NON) STANDARD TV SIGNAL
    2. COLOUR
    3. THE DIGITAL SIGNAL
    4. WHY COMPRESSION IS NEEDED
    5. COMPRESSION STANDARDS
    6. CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES (CCDs)
    7. FRAME INTERLINE TRANSFER (FIT)
    8. CCD INTEGRATION
  8. FORMATS
    1. RECORDING FORMATS
    2. FORMAT AND PRODUCTION BUDGET
    3. BETACAM FORMAT
    4. DIGITAL BETACAM FORMAT
    5. BETACAM SX
    6. THE DV AND DVCAM FORMAT
  9. THE ZOOM LENS
    1. THE ZOOM LENS
    2. ANGLE OF VIEW
    3. DEPTH OF FIELD
    4. RESOLUTION
    5. DUAL FORMAT CAMERAS
  10. CAMERA CONTROLS
    1. CAMERA CONTROLS
    2. LENS CONTROLS
    3. COLOUR TEMPERATURE
    4. IN-CAMERA FILTERS
    5. WHITE BALANCE
    6. BLACK BALANCE
    7. VIEWFINDER
    8. MONOCULAR AND 5-INCH VIEWFINDER
    9. EXPOSURE
    10. CONTRAST RANGE
    11. VISUAL PERCEPTION
    12. CONTRAST CONTROL
    13. ELECTRONIC CONTRAST CONTROL
    14. ADJUSTING EXPOSURE
    15. ZEBRA EXPOSURE INDICATOR
    16. PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS
    17. FACE TONES
    18. GAIN, NOISE AND SENSITIVITY
    19. ELECTRONIC SHUTTERS
    20. TIME-LAPSE CONTROLS
    21. TIME CODE
    22. TIME CODE AND PRODUCTION
    23. TIME CODE LOCK
    24. MENUS
    25. GAMMA AND LINEAR MATRIX
  11. CUSTOMIZING THE IMAGE
    1. CUSTOMIZING THE IMAGE
    2. EFFECTS FILTERS
    3. SCENE FILES
    4. THE ‘FILM’ LOOK
    5. ASPECT RATIO
    6. WIDESCREEN
    7. PROTECT AND SAVE
    8. VIEWING DISTANCE
  12. PROGRAMME PRODUCTION
    1. INVISIBLE TECHNIQUE
    2. PROGRAMME PRODUCTION
    3. CUSTOMARY TECHNIQUE
    4. SHOT STRUCTURE
    5. COMPOSITION
    6. COMPOSITION AND THE LENS
    7. CAMERA MOVEMENT (1)
    8. CAMERA MOVEMENT (2)
    9. CONTROLLING COMPOSITION
    10. CAMERAWORK STYLES
  13. VIDEO JOURNALISM
    1. VIDEO NEWS JOURNALISM
    2. OBJECTIVITY
    3. STRUCTURE
    4. INTERVIEWS
    5. LIVE INSERTS
    6. SATELLITE NEWS GATHERING (1)
    7. SATELLITE NEWS GATHERING (2)
  14. EDITING
    1. CAMERAWORK AND EDITING
    2. CONTINUITY EDITING
    3. PERENNIAL EDITING TECHNIQUES
    4. NON-LINEAR EDITING
    5. EDITING TECHNOLOGY
    6. EDITING REQUIREMENTS (1)
    7. EDITING REQUIREMENTS (2)
    8. EDITING REQUIREMENTS (3)
  15. LIGHTING
    1. LOCATION LIGHTING
    2. CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHT
    3. CONTROLLING LIGHT
    4. LIGHTING A FACE
    5. LIGHTING LEVELS
    6. COLD LIGHT
    7. COLOUR CORRECTION
    8. MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE
    9. COLOUR AND MOOD
    10. ELECTRICAL LOCATION SAFETY
  16. SOUND
    1. PROGRAMME PRODUCTION AND AUDIO
    2. THE NATURE OF SOUND
    3. AUDIO RECORDING TRACKS
    4. BASIC AUDIO KIT
    5. CHOICE OF MICROPHONE
    6. RADIO MICROPHONES
    7. AUDIO LEVELS
    8. RECORDING LEVELS
    9. DIGITAL AUDIO
    10. USING AN AUDIO MIXER
    11. LOCATION SOUND
    12. RECORDING AN INTERVIEW
    13. STEREO
  17. ROAD CRAFT
    1. ROAD CRAFT
    2. OPERATIONAL CHECKS (1)
    3. OPERATIONAL CHECKS (2)
    4. CAMERA MOUNTS
    5. BATTERIES
    6. PRE-RECORDING CHECKLIST
    7. SAFETY
    8. GLOSSARY OF PRODUCTION TERMS

Product information

  • Title: Basic Betacam Camerawork, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s): Peter Ward
  • Release date: April 2013
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781136049538