Camera Foundation
- Lesson4 of 8
- Time45 min
Building the camera, and caring for kit
Outcome
Describe the build order of a cinema camera and clean, cover and pack lenses and kit correctly.
Mapped to 2 ScreenSkills checklist lines
- ScreenSkills camera trainee skills checklist · Role-specific skills: "De-rigging, maintaining, cleaning and packing cameras"
- ScreenSkills camera trainee skills checklist · Core responsibilities: "Protect equipment and monitors from weather"
ScreenSkills checklists are guides, not accreditation. This course is not endorsed by ScreenSkills.
Watch
2 films · about 43 minutes
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More like this: Focus pulling (1st AC) path
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A typical build order
- Baseplate and rods onto the head or a build stand. Camera body onto the baseplate. Lens support if the lens needs it.
- Lens on, by the focus puller, never forced. Matte box (or clip-on) and filters. Follow focus or wireless motors on the rods.
- Monitor, transmitter and cables. Power last: battery or block battery on, then switch on.
- Every production and camera is different. The focus puller decides the build; you learn by watching and handing the right part at the right time.
Caring for lenses
- Caps on whenever a lens is off the camera. Hold lenses by the barrel, never by the focus or iris ring.
- Clean in this order: blower to remove grit, a soft lens brush, then lens tissue with lens fluid, working gently from the centre out. Never breathe on a lens and wipe it with your clothes.
- Cold to warm (outside to inside) causes condensation. Let lenses acclimatise in their case before you open it.
Weather and wrap
- Rain covers on before the rain. Shade the camera and monitors from strong sun.
- At wrap, de-rig in reverse order. Clean kit, especially after mud, sand, sea water or rain. Pack every item back in its own case, and check it against the list.
Check
3 questions drawn from 8 · pass mark 80% · safety-critical questions must be right · 3 attempts in 24 hours · new questions each time
Watch the films to open the check.
Do
Clean, cover, pack · 10 minutes
Write the steps, in order, for two jobs.
How it's marked
- Blower, brush, tissue and fluid, centre out; asks the focus puller first
- Power off, reverse de-rig, dry and clean, pack in own cases, check against the list
Met or Not yet, with a comment from a trained reviewer. Until accounts open, open the model answer after you submit and mark your own work against it.
Model answer (open after you submit)
1. Ask the focus puller. Blower first, then the brush, then lens tissue with a drop of fluid, centre outwards, then check. 2. Power off. De-rig in reverse order under cover. Dry everything with a clean cloth, leave cases open to air if damp, clean connectors, pack each item in its own case, check it against the kit list, report anything wet or damaged.
Reflect
Record
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Moving on doesn't complete a lesson. A lesson is complete when the films are watched, the check is passed and the task is marked Met.