Sony’s XDCAM camcorders are loaded with fantastic features and options that can bewilder even the most seasoned professional. It’s virtually impossible to memorize everything you need to know about your new camera, and that’s why you need one of Vortex Media’s Field Guides inside your camera bag on every shoot.

Each Vortex Media Field Guide is written in clear, easy-to-understand language for a specific model of camera. These books make the perfect companions to Vortex Media’s Instructional DVDs and ensure that the critical information you need will always be at your fingertips.

Each Field Guide is written from an operator's perspective to help you master the camera and maximize its performance. With over a hundred pages of essential information, you won’t find a single important topic left out. They’re packed with detailed explanations, tutorials, photographs, checklists, menu trees, parts diagrams, suggested settings, tips, tricks, and page after page of practical advice.

In the no-nonsense style for which Doug Jensen is known, he cuts through the clutter of confusing, misunderstood, and often overlooked features. He explains each camera function and provides real-world examples and step-by-step instructions for how to use them. His suggestions and advanced techniques will improve the quality of your footage, streamline your workflow, and make you more productive.

What could be better than a portable reference you can carry along with you on every shoot? Vortex Media’s Field Guides will help you set up your camera, configure the menus, choose a video format, achieve the best results with the special-effects functions, create custom Picture Profiles, set up shot transitions, delete bad clips on the fly, choose the right focus mode, control the exposure, and much more.

No matter how well you think you know your camera, you'll learn things in Vortex Media’s Field Guides that you didn't know before – plus they make a handy reference anytime you need a quick refresher course.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Doug Jensen is a cameraman, producer, director, editor, and consultant with over 28 years of video production and post-production experience. He is also the owner of Vortex Media, which produces instructional videos, camcorder field guides, and innovative production tools for video production, television, and digital photography.

As a member of Sony’s Independent Certified Experts (I.C.E.) team he has taught high definition XDCAM classes for Sony at NAB and special events throughout the United States. In the summer of 2007 Doug was chosen by Sony to shoot demo footage with a preproduction EX1 camcorder, and to operate the camera during field tests conducted by Discovery Communications.

In recent years he has produced and directed several popular training DVDs including: "Mastering the Sony PMW-EX3," "Mastering the Sony PMW-EX1," "Mastering the Sony HVR-Z7U," "HandsOnHDV: A Complete Guide to the Z1U and FX1," "A Guide to Shooting with the Sony XDCAM HD F355/F335 Camcorders," and "How to Set Up, Light, & Shoot Great Looking Interviews."

Doug owns several cameras, including a Sony PMW-EX3, Sony PMW-EX1, Sony F350 XDCAM HD, Sony HVR-Z7U, Sony HVR-Z1U, and an Ikegami HL59 Betacam. His credits and clients include: NBC News, ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, CNN, PBS, BBC, NHK, EBU, TNT, Discovery, ESPN, E!, A&E, HGTV, WGBH, Food Network, NASCAR Images, MLB Productions, Travel Channel, History Channel, Sundance Channel, Warner Bros., Weather Channel, Golf Channel, and NBA Entertainment.

Publication Date: 04/10/09

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