Camera Notes

Camera Basics

Camera Model: Canon HFM400

1. Make sure that the camera is on M (Manual)
2. Turn on the camera by pressing the Power button
3. To record: Red button (in the back) - Start / Stop
4. Initialize SD card

• Do not touch lens 
• Right side of Camera - SD (Secure Digital) Card 
• On top of camera - Zoom (left: W - wide angle , right: T - Telephoto)  

Screen 

Top Left - Function

Top Right - Battery 

Hand - Stabilization

PF25 FXP - 25 frames per sec

Settings

--> Function Button 

Initializing 

- Menu --> Initialize (1. Wipes all footage in the card 2. formats the card) --> Card A --> Press Initialize --> Press 'Yes'

White Balance

White Balance: Telling the camera what pure white is

--> Custom WB

To set custom WB, put a piece of white paper in front of camera (3cm / 4cm) and then remove paper, wait till symbol stops flashing

Every time you move to a new location, you have to set the White Balance again.

Focus

--> MF (Manual Focus) button --> Touch where you want to focus and 'target' will appear 

Leave some distance between background and character

Exposure : Overall Brightness of an image

Press M --> Increase to make it brighter / Decrease to make it darker 

Onscreen Markers

Function --> Menu --> Onscreen Markers

Level (White) 

Level (Grey) : Shows grid -- Rule of Thirds

* To reset everything: Switch back to Auto and then back to Manual 

* Every time you move to a new location, you have to set the White Balance, Focus and Exposure. 

• Tripod

- Three Legs - 2 sections each leg 

- Side of tripod has a lock 

- Pan arm for movement 

- Green air bubble : tells you if the floor is level

- Base plate - Lock --> Slides down plate --> Line Camera with plate --> Tighten it (do not over-tighten)

Movements 

- Tilt: Up and Down

- Pan: Side to side 

• Microphone

Videomic Pro Compact Shotgun Microphone 
Attaching:

Get Adapter --> Open top of camera ("magic door") --> Slide Microphone Adapter (Bottom) in --> Turn dial to lock --> Plug in microphone "Mic" --> Turn on microphone 

Function --> Menu --> AV/Headphones (Audio Output of Camera) --> Headphones

Turn headphone volume up:
Function --> Menu --> Headphone Volume

1. Attach
2. Turn on microphone O: Off I: ON 『: Cuts all low sound frequencies
3. Input Volume of Microphone: -10 (If it is too soft, put it on 0)
4. Headphone Volume & Microphone Volume

In-Camera Control
Mic. Level: ALWAYS Manual - Adjust
Green Dot: Decent Sound

Microphone Volume | Headphones Volume
Make sure you ADJUST both of them

Input Volume of Microphone: -10
(Manual) Microphone Close to 70
Headphone 8-10 / 15

*AIR CONS OFF

Always wear headphones when recording
Try to avoid using the small headphones (Apple)

At the end of section (during class time),  capture the footage and plug the camera in (with battery) and charge it.

Battery Lifetime: An hour and 40 mins
Take extra battery if you are shooting for a long period of time and make sure you charge before shooting
The camera will only charge when it is off.

Little Door at the back: Power plug