Studio Camera Study Guide

The Studio Camera system consists of four interconnecting

pieces of equipment:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The Vinten Quartz two stage pedestal.

The Vinten Pan and Tilt Head.
The Hitachi Z4000W Camera.
The Hitachi RU-Z2 & RC-Z3 Camera Control Panel.

The Vinten Quartz Two Stage Pedestal allows one to

move the camera in three planes:
1. Left/Right movement called Truck
2. In/Out movement called Dolly
3. Up/Down movement called Pedestal

To steer the pedestal make sure the brake lock is

off, point the red steering direction indicator on the
pedestal steering wheel in the direction you wish to
travel and apply a gentle push to the base of the pedestal.
To pedestal up or down make sure the pedestal column
lock is off then pull up or push down the pedestal
steering wheel in the direction you wish to move.

STUDIO CAMERA STUDY GUIDE

The Vinten Pan & Tilt Head controls the movement of the
camera. Panning is the action of moving the camera right or
left. Tilting is the action of moving the camera up or down.
The head has a Tilt Lock, a Pan Lock, a Tilt Drag,
and a Pan Drag. The Pan lock should always be unlocked.
When using the camera both the Pan and Tilt locks must
be unlocked. Always lock the Tilt lock when leaving the
camera unattended!
The Pan and Tilt drag apply resistance to the action of the
head allowing smoother movement.

The Hitachi Z4000W Camera has four areas that the camera operator must know:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Power switches and Filter selection.

Lens functions.
Viewfinder operation.
Focus and Zoom controls.

Power
1. Make sure the Power Select Switch is set to CCU/VTR.
Found on the lower back left side of the camera.

2. On the lower front left side of the camera locate the

Power Switch and switch it to CAM ON, VTR:STBY.
Notice the LED is red. If the LED is green camera
power is supplied but the camera is not on.

STUDIO CAMERA STUDY GUIDE 

3. The Filter Wheel is used to compensate for various

lighting temperatures. Filter #1 is for 3,200K light
(Studio), Filter #2 is for bright outdoor light, Filter #3 is
for cloudy outdoor light, and Filter #4 is a cross filter for
studio use. Make sure the Filter Wheel is set to position
#1.

Lens
All Zoom lenses have five main features:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Focus Ring
Zoom Ring
Iris or Aperture Ring
Macro ring
Flange Back Adjustment

The Focus Ring is controlled via the Flexible Focus Control

Unit located on the left Pan Handle. Turn the grip clockwise
to focus on an object moving closer to the camera and
counterclockwise for an object moving away from the
camera.
The Zoom Ring is controlled via the Zoom Servo Handle
located on the right Pan Handle. The Rocker switch is
pressure sensitive allowing one to zoom faster or slower.

STUDIO CAMERA STUDY GUIDE 

The Zoom Ring can be manually controlled by setting the

zoom select switch to MANU and rotating the Zoom Ring
by hand. DO NOT ROTATE THE ZOOM RING
BY HAND IF SELECTOR SWITCH IS SET TO
SERVO. This will damage the zoom motor and render the
zoom function useless.
The Iris Ring is controlled by the Camera Control Unit in
the control room. Make sure the Iris Select Switch is set to
A for camera control unit operation.
The Macro Ring is used to focus on objects too close to the
camera for normal focus operations. See Manual.
The Flange Back Adjustment screw is used to adjust
the back focus of the lens in relation to the CCDs. If the
camera is out of focus on the wide end of the zoom inform
the Lab Staff or Director.

Viewfinder
The Viewfinder is an under-scanned monitor. This enables
one to see the entire picture from one edge to another.
The safe composition area is outlined with a white border.
Only the picture within this border will be seen on a
television set. On the left and right of monitor are tally
lamps. These will light up when the switcher selects the
camera.
The viewfinder has several controls.
The Front Tally Switch turns on or off the tally light on the
front of the viewfinder.
The Aperture control allows the operator to adjust the
viewfinder to display a sharper leading and trailing edge to
the picture enabling easier focus.
The Brightness and Contrast controls allow one to adjust
the viewfinder to their own parameters.
The T handle located under the viewfinder allows one
to tilt and/or pan the viewfinder. Unlock the T handle by
turning it clockwise. Position the viewfinder and relock the
handle.

STUDIO CAMERA STUDY GUIDE 

Headset Control
The Headset Control is located on the left side from the
back of the camera, labeled Talk.
Adjust the volume and Talk function.

Camera Control Unit (CCU)

The CCU enables the operator to control several functions
of the camera.
1. Control Lock
2. Cam/Bar
3. Iris Selector
4. Detail
5. White Balance Selector
6. Auto White Balance
7. Auto Black Balance
8. Iris Control
9. Master Black Control
10. Enable Gain & Black Selector
11. Red & Blue Gain
12. Red & Blue Black
13. Gain
14. Scene Storage (4 scenes)
After powering up the CCu and camera set Lock (1) to On.
Set Cam/Bar (2) to Camera.
Set the Iris Selector (3) to Remote.
Set DTL (4) to desired detail (usually Var).

STUDIO CAMERA STUDY GUIDE 

Set White Bal (5) to Mem.

With the camera shooting a white card push the A.WHT
(6) button to White Balance the camera.
To set Black Balance push A. BLK (7).
To adjust the Iris rotate the Iris Knob (8).
To adjust the Master Black rotate the M. Blk Knob (9).
If cameras are slightly mismatched color-wise, press the
Enable button (10),
Carefully adjust the Red or Blue Gain pots (11) until camera
matches the other camera. Black in the Red and Blue can
also be finely adjusted (12).
If Gain is required for low light situations select the
appropriate amount. (13)
Four separate camera scene settings can be stored in the
Scene File. (14) To store a setting push Store and the scene
file number where you wish to store the settings. To recall
a stored setting just press the appropriate scene file.

STUDIO CAMERA STUDY GUIDE