THE HARDWARE

Basically we are using the same equipment as last year.
We are using a camcorder to record the video footage which is called a 'Cannon Wide screen MV 920'.

The Features are:

• LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.7" - colour
• 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery
• Optical zoom 25x.
• Digital zoom 800x.
• Lens focal length 2.6 to 65 mm.
• Filter diameter 35 mm.
• 12/16 Bit PCM Digital Stereo Audio
• Standard RCA Cable.

The camera itself is pretty easy to use. Basically you require a Mini DV tape to record your footage then upload it to the Computer Via a Firewire Cable to the Final Cut Express Program. The Basic Functions are set out easily using a Dial which you either set to Record Mode, Playback or Off.
It gets a bit more difficult though when using things like White Balance where you need to check it aginst a piece of paper to see if it contrasts. The White Balance is used to make sure each clip has exact lighting (alternatively you could set up your own lighting using lamps and torches instead of fiddling around with the white balance).


We use a 'TD-1932 Photo & Video Tripod' too.

This is a crucial piece of kit to get a steady shot instead of the wavy handheld shot. Alternatively they can be carried and used as a makeshift steadi-cam by attaching the Tripod to the camera but carrying the camera, the Tripod forming a sort of counter-weight underneath. Overall the Tripod a reliable piece of equipment but are in limited supply at school due to carelessness by other students who have returned them with bent/damaged legs so if we want to use one advanced booking might be in order.



We also use a 'Fuji film Finepix A900' Camera.

The features of this are:

• 9.0 megapixels
• Real Photo Technology (RPT)
• Intelligent Flash
• IrSimple™
• Large 2.5" LCD screen
• Sensitivity up to ISO 800
• 10Mb internal memory
• Selectable scene positions
• USB cable

 Basically we use this for any pictures that need to be taken for the project
e.g, Pictures of the Location of the film.
Its again, straightforward to use, simply plug in the wire that comes with the camera and import the pictures to a program on the Apple Mac or even simpler, open up the camera directory on the Mac and drag the pictures onto the Desktop Screen.


All the Editing of the Film will take place on an Apple 'IMac' Macintosh Computer.

Here are the Features of the IMac.

Here are the Technical Specifications for the IMac.

The Mac is very easy to use, just like a normal computer so we should have no problems at all while using them.