1. Studio Camera Studio Camera: A television camera
placed on a tripod or studio pedestal
for exclusive use within the studio

2. Studio Pedestal Studio Pedestal: A large, single column on wheels
that supports the camera
and is pneumatically or
hydraulically controlled.

3. Camera Control Unit (CCU)
Camera Control Unit (CCU): A piece
of equipment that controls various
attributes of the video signal sent from
the camera to the video switcher, and
is usually placed in the control room.
Also commonly called the “remote control
unit” (RCU)

4. Camcorder
Camcorder: A portable
camera/recorder combination

5. Convertible Camera Convertible Camera: A camera
with a variety of accessory packages
available to make it operational
in a studio, as a portable field camera,
or both.

6. Camera Head Camera Head: The portion of the video
camera that contains all the electronics
needed to convert the reflection of light
from the subject into an electronic signal.

7. CCD (Charged Coupled Device)
A-component of the camera
head into which light enters
and is converted into an
electronic, or video, signal.
Target: Photosensitive
surface of a charge
coupled device (CCD).

8. Gain

9. Viewfinder

10. Diopter Adjustment

11. Zebra Stripes

12. Lens

13. Focus

14. Auto Focus

15. Optical Center

16. Zoom Lenses

17. Zoom Lens

18. Zoom In / Out

19. Focal Length

20. Focal Length

21. Variable Focal Length A camera lens in which the optical
center can vary its position within the
lens assembly, varying the focal
length measurement as well.
Also called a zoom lens.

22. Iris A component of a lens that is comprised
of blades that physically expand and
contract, adjusting the aperture size.

23. Auto Iris Auto-Iris circuit: A feature on many consumer and
Professional cameras that automatically examines
the light levels coming into the camera and adjusts
the iris according to generic standards of a
“good” picture.

24. Aperture The opening adjusted by the iris, through
Which light passes into the lens.

25. F-Stop A camera setting that determines the amount
Of light passing through the lens by controlling
The size of the iris.

26. Fast Lens / Slow Lens Fast Lens: A lens that has a large aperture
setting and lets a great deal of light into the camera.
Slow Lens: A lens that its maximum lens opening is
small and is limited by the amount of light it allows
so enter the camera.

27. Shutter A circuit on a video camera that regulates how long
The CCD is exposed to light coming through the lens.

28. Subjective Camera A hand-held camera technique, in which the
camera itself becomes the eye of one cast member.
the viewers see the world through the eyes of
that character.

29. Hot The state of a video camera when the image
captured by the camera is being recorded.

30. Tripod
Tripod: A three-legged
Stand that supports a
camera.

31. Pedestal Column A column in the center of a tripod
used to raise or lower the camera.

32. Pedestal Control A crank on the side of the pedestal column
that twists a gear
to raise and lower
the pedestal column.

33. Tripod Head The assembly at the top of the pedestal
column to which the camera attaches.

34. Pan Handle A device attached to the back of the tripod
head that allows the camera operator to move
the tripod head while standing behind the tripod.

35. Friction Head A mounting assembly on some tripods that
stabilizes the camera using the pressure created
when two pieces of metal are squeezed
together by a screw.

36. Fluid Head A mounting assembly on some tripods that
stabilizes the camera using the pressure
between two pieces of metal and a thick
fluid that provides additional resistance
to movement

37. Resistance to movement created
Drag
Resistance to movement created
by tripod head mount.

38. Dolly A three-wheeled cart onto which
the feet of a tripod are mounted.
A dolly allows smooth camera
movements to be performed.