DVCAM

DVCAM

by Jon Fauer ASC
Released August 2013
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781136047619

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Book description

DVCAM: A Practical Guide to the Professional System, is a nuts and bolts guide for anyone who wants to learn more about Sony DVCAM, to determine what equipment to use, how various models compare, and how to use each of them.
A user-friendly overview of the DVCAM format and its equipment, the text covers camcorders, cameras, tape, VTRs, editors, and accessories. The focus is on quick guides (Jump Start chapters) that show how to use the various Sony DVCAM camcorders: DSR-PD100A, DSR-PD150, DSR-250, DSR-300A, and DSR-500WS. Professionals, film students, independent feature filmmakers, schools, government agencies and military services, and news crews will benefit from its hands-on approach.


This comprehensive, hands-on book is an overview of the DVCAM format and its equipment. DVCAM is the professional video standard developed by Sony, based on the consumer DV video format. In the five years since DVCAM was introduced, over 200,000 cameras and VTRs have been sold, making it the best-selling professional format of all time.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. Foreword
  6. Introduction
    1. Democratization
      1. Dimaging
    2. About this Book
      1. Learning by Example
    3. Disclaimer
    4. Conventions
    5. Trademarks
  7. What is DVCAM?
    1. DVCAM - How it began
      1. What’s the Difference Between DVCAM and DV?
    2. DVCAM Tape and Cassettes
      1. DVCAM Tape
        1. Speeds
        2. What plays back where
        3. Comparing tape widths
      2. Cassettes
        1. Cassette Memory
        2. Recording DVCAM on consumer DV Cassettes
        3. Recording DV on DV or DVCAM Cassettes
        4. Comparison of Cassette sizes
        5. Cassette Identification
        6. Labeling Your Cassettes
        7. REC - SAVE = Record or Playback Only
    3. Don’t…Because
      1. DVCAM Tape Online
      2. Replacement for U-matic?
      3. A Guide to DVCAM
  8. Choosing a DVCAM Camcorder
  9. Sony DSR-PD100A
    1. DSR-PD100A Camera Views
    2. DSR-PD100A Jump Start
      1. Removing Battery
      2. Attaching Battery
        1. Recharging Battery
      3. Loading Tape
    3. Shooting: Quick Start
      1. Auto Everything
        1. Auto Lock and Auto Focus
        2. Viewfinder Warnings
      2. Eyepiece and Eyecup
      3. Handgrip
      4. Lens and Sunshade
      5. LCD Viewing Screen
      6. ND Filter
    4. Manual Exposure
      1. AUTO LOCK Switch Off
      2. Setting EXPOSURE (Aperture)
        1. Backlight
      3. Shutter
        1. Slow shutter speeds
    5. Program AE
      1. Aperture Priority
      2. Shutter Priority
      3. Sports Lesson Mode
      4. Sunset and Moon
      5. Low Lux
    6. Focus, Zoom, Zebra Stripes, etc.
    7. Menu and Navigation
    8. CAMERA Menu
      1. MEMORY Menu
      2. VTR Menu
  10. DSR-PD150
    1. Overview
      1. For a Few Dollars More
        1. Three 1/3" CCDs
        2. 200,000 Dot 2.5" Color LCD Monitor
        3. 180,000 Dot LCD Black &White Viewfinder
    2. DSR-PD150 — 2 ch XLR Audio Input
    3. 16-bit/12-bit PCM Digital Sound and Audio Dub Capability
    4. Timecode Options
    5. 12x Zoom Lens
    6. DVCAM/DV Recording
    7. Power
    8. Digital Still Camera Functions with Memory Stick
    9. Progessive Scan Still Photos
    10. Accidental Tourists
    11. DSR-PD150 Camera Views
    12. DSR-PD150 Jump Start
      1. Attach the Battery
      2. How to Detach the Battery
      3. Attach the Microphone
      4. Set the Microphone Controls
        1. Windscreen
        2. Microphone Mounting further Aft
      5. Load Tape
      6. Power On
      7. External Power and Charging
      8. DSR-PD150 Battery Life
      9. Sunshade and Lens Cap
      10. DSR-PD150 Auto-Everything Settings
      11. DSR-PD150 Manual
      12. Settings
    13. Menu Selections
      1. Timecode Menu
        1. Set Timecode Hour
        2. Set Non Drop Frame Timecode
        3. Set User Bits
        4. User Bit Time
        5. TC RUN: REC RUN
        6. TC MAKE: REGEN
        7. Timecode Summary of Recommended Settings
      2. More Menu Settings
        1. M - MANUAL SET
        2. C - CAMERA SET
        3. LCD/VF SET
        4. TAPE SET
        5. ETC - OTHERS
        6. [MENU]: END
      3. Final Check
      4. Ready to Roll
      5. Manual Functions
      6. Viewfinder
        1. Cleaning viewfinder.
      7. Custom Preset
  11. DSR-250
    1. DSR-PD250 Camera Views
      1. DSR-250 Jump Start
      2. Attach the Battery
      3. Attach the Microphone
      4. Power up the Camcorder
      5. Set the Microphone Controls
        1. Fully Automatic
        2. CH-1 Manual - CH-2 Auto
        3. Audio Monitor Speaker
        4. Headphones
        5. Rear of Handle
    2. Load Tape
    3. Adjust Viewfinder
    4. Electronic Controls for Viewfinder
    5. DSR-250 Auto-Pilot Settings
    6. DSR-250 Manual Settings
      1. AUTO MODE: OFF
      2. AGC: OFF
      3. ATW: OFF
      4. SHUTTER: ON
      5. IRIS: MAN
    7. Lens
    8. Zebra, Zoom, etc
    9. Menu Selections
      1. TC/UB SET
      2. MANUAL SET
      3. CAMERA SET
      4. LCD SET
      5. CM SET
      6. TAPE SET
      7. SETUP MENU
      8. ETC - OTHERS
      9. Final Check
      10. Opening viewfinder
      11. Playback
      12. Custom Preset
  12. DSR-300A
  13. DSR-500WS
    1. TruEye, DynaLatitude
    2. Black Stretch and Compress
    3. Filter Wheel
    4. Wireless Mic
    5. Setup Data Management
      1. Camera Setup Files — Eight Setup Files
      2. SetupNavi — Camera Setup File Storage
      3. SetupLog — Automatic Recording of Camera Data
      4. Dual Zebra
      5. EZ Mode
      6. EZ Focus
      7. ClipLink
      8. 16:9 ID Pulse
      9. Power
  14. DSR-500WS Camera Views
    1. DSR-500WS Jump Start
      1. Power and Viewfinder
      2. Select the Lens
      3. Lens choices
      4. Lens Flange
      5. Remove Lens Cavity Cap on Camera
      6. Mount Lens
      7. Plug in Lens Cable
      8. Attach Viewfinder and Microphone
      9. Attach Battery
      10. Behind the Gray Door
      11. Install Backup Battery
      12. Power Camera On
      13. Set Up Lens
        1. Adjust Back Focus
        2. Set up Lens for Follow Focus
        3. Load Tape
        4. Filter Wheel
        5. EZ Mode
        6. Lens Controls
      14. Advanced Viewfinder Menu
        1. Set 16:9 and 4:3 Framelines
        2. Move 16:9/4:3 to Basic Menu
      15. Basic Menu
        1. Shutter Speed
      16. Black Balance
      17. White Balance
        1. ATW Auto Tracing White Balance
      18. Color Bars
      19. CAM: DL, CDD+
      20. Setting User Bits
      21. Setting Timecode
      22. VTR Menu
        1. Set Date
        2. Set DF/NDF
      23. ClipLink
  15. Common Features: All Models
    1. Focus and Auto Focus
      1. Autofocus
      2. Minimum Focus and Field of View
      3. Zoom
      4. White Balance
        1. Setting White Balance
        2. Manual White Balance
        3. Daylight (Outdoor, 5600°K) White Balance
        4. Tungsten (Indoor, 3200°K) White Balance
      5. Zebra Stripes and Exposure
        1. Determining Effective ASA
        2. Lightmeter
      6. Neutral Density Filters
      7. Gain
      8. Timelapse
        1. Interval Recording
        2. Cut Recording
      9. Batteries
      10. Playback
      11. End Search
      12. Edit Search
      13. In/Out and Dubbing
      14. i.LINK In/Out
      15. Keying
  16. Still Photos
    1. Progressive or Interlace Scan
      1. Recording Stills
      2. On Tape
      3. Recording Stills on Memory Stick
        1. Changing Image Quality
      4. Viewing Stills on Tape
      5. Viewing Stills on Memory Stick
    2. Transferring Stills to Computer
      1. Plug camcorder into Computer
      2. Using Sony DVgate Still
      3. Downloading Memory Stick Photos
    3. Sony Smart Capture
    4. Touching up Your Pictures
      1. Pixels, Dots and DPI
        1. Printer DPI to LPI
        2. Screen DPI to Printer DPI
      2. Adobe Photoshop
  17. Audio
    1. Audio Input
      1. XLR Connector
      2. 48K Audio
    2. Split Tracks
  18. Recording Audio Separately
  19. Lenses
    1. Comparison of CCD Size and Film Apertures
    2. Back focus and collimation
    3. Lens Specs
    4. DVCAM Lenses and 35mm Equivalents
  20. Lens Attachments
    1. Century Precision and OpTex
      1. Wide Angle Adapters
      2. Tele-Extenders
      3. Diopters
      4. Anamorphic
  21. Lenses for DSR-300A, 500WS
    1. Fujinon 1/2" and 2/3" Lenses
    2. Canon 1/2" and 2/3" Lenses
  22. Matteboxes and Filters
    1. Some Filter Sizes
    2. Filters
    3. Set Camcorder to Manual Control
    4. Lighting
  23. Tripods and Heads
    1. Baseplates
    2. Mounting
      1. DSR-PD100A, DSR-PD150
      2. DSR-250, 300a, 500WA
    3. Heads
    4. Remote Control
  24. Camcorder Care
    1. Head Cleaning
    2. Lens Cleaning
    3. Eyepiece and Eyecup
    4. LCD Viewing Screen
    5. Low-Tech Rain Covers
    6. High-Tech Rain Covers
    7. Sun/Dust Covers
    8. Splash Bags
    9. Underwater Housings
    10. Cases and Shipping
    11. Expeditions
    12. Tripod Case
    13. Cutting Cases
    14. Taping Cases
  25. VTRs
    1. DSR-11
    2. DSR-20
    3. DSR-30
    4. DSR-40
    5. DSR-1500
    6. DSR-1600
    7. DSR-1800
    8. DSR-2000
    9. DSR-85
    10. Dockable Recorder/Player
      1. DSR-1/1
    11. Portable DVCAM VTRs
      1. DSR-V10 Video Walkman Recorder
      2. DSR-50 Portable Recorder
      3. DSR-70A Portable Editing Recorder
    12. Dubbing to Betacam SP UVW-1800
  26. Editing
    1. Exporting to Quicktime
    2. Simple Boards and Software
      1. Pinnacle Express DV, DV200
      2. ADS PYRO
      3. IntroDV 2.0 and CineStream (previously EditDV)
  27. Serious Editing
    1. Serious Software
    2. Avid Xpress DV 2.0
    3. Apple Final Cut Pro 2.0
    4. Adobe Premiere 6
    5. Matchback
    6. Serious Boards
      1. Matrox RTMac
      2. Matrox RT2500
      3. Pinnacle DV500 PLUS
    7. DV/DVCAM Compression
    8. How Many Hard Drives Do I Need?
      1. Uncompressed
  28. Where Does It All Go?
    1. DVCAM to Film
      1. Auteur Theory
      2. Enter the DVCAM
      3. Low Budgets
        1. Shoot on DVCAM
        2. Shoot on 35mm Film
        3. Shoot on 16mm Film
        4. Peddling the Project
      4. DVCAM to 35mm Film Costs
        1. DVCAM to 16mm Film
        2. 16mm to 35mm Blowup
        3. DVCAM to Film Transfers
        4. Laser Film Recorder (Printer)
        5. CRT Film Printer
        6. Swiss Effects
        7. Electron Beam Recorder
        8. Kinescope
        9. 2K - 4K Resolution
      5. Keeping DVCAM to Film in Mind
    2. “Look”
      1. Depth of Field
      2. Why DVCAM usually looks better than DV
    3. John Bailey, ASC on Anniversary Party
  29. Theory
    1. Origin of the Species
    2. Comparisons: DV, DVCAM, DVCPRO
    3. DVCPRO
    4. Digital 8
    5. Digital S
    6. DVCPRO50
    7. How DVCAM Camcorders Work
      1. Through the Lens
      2. Three Chip Cameras (3 CCDs)
      3. Luminance and Chrominance
      4. Components
      5. Composite Video
      6. DVCAM Components and Conversion
        1. Sampling
        2. 4:2:2, 4:1:1, 4:2:0
        3. Quantizing
        4. Digitizing
        5. Compression
        6. Heads and Tape
      7. Audio
        1. Sampling
        2. Quantization
        3. 16 bit
        4. 12 bit
      8. Comparing DVCAM with Digital Betacam
      9. Comparing DVCAM with Betacam SP
      10. Image Stabilization
        1. Optical Stabilization
    8. i.LINK - FireWire - IEEE 1394
      1. Cable
      2. Multiple Devices
      3. Data Rates
      4. Data Throughput Speed Chart
      5. SCSI
  30. Sony Contacts
  31. Suppliers
  32. Technica Specs
    1. DSR-PD100A Specs
      1. Supplied Accessories
      2. Optional Accessories
    2. DSR-PD150 Specs
      1. Supplied Accessories
      2. Optional accessories
    3. DSR-250 Specs
      1. Supplied Accessories
      2. Optional Accessories
    4. DSR-300A Specs
      1. Supplied Accessories
      2. Optional Accessories
    5. DSR-500WS Specs
      1. Supplied Accessories
      2. Optional Accessories
      3. Still Images on Memory Stick: Quantity and Quality
  33. Credits
    1. Bibliography
      1. Books
      2. Magazines
      3. Internet and Other
  34. Index
  35. About the Author
  36. Focus Charts

Product information

  • Title: DVCAM
  • Author(s): Jon Fauer ASC
  • Release date: August 2013
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781136047619