Learning Event 2:
DESCRIBE THE PURPOSE AND USE OF A PEDESTAL
1.
Camera mounting equipment: Ease and fluidity of camera movement are
essential factors of television and photography. Good and flexible mounting
devices for television cameras are extremely important.
2.
Three basic units have been developed that enable the cameraman to
move the camera freely and smoothly about the studio. These units are the
tripod dolly, studio pedestal, and the studio crane. The crane will usually
not be seen in military studio operations.
3.
The tripod dolly consists of either a wooden or metal tripod fastened
to a three-caster dolly base.
As a technician, you must ensure that your
cable guards and locking devices are in perfect working order.
a. If the cable guards cannot be locked down, this may allow your
cameraman to roll the camera over the camera cable, causing damage to the
cables.
b. If just one of the three locks does not hold securely to its dolly,
the tripod could slip out, causing your camera to fall to the ground. This
would probably destroy the camera beyond repair. You must ensure that the
leg height locks are in working order, because this could also cause the
camera to tilt, and probably fall as well.
4.
The studio pedestal gives you two advantages over the tripod dolly.
First it is one complete unit making it much more secure because no legs may
slip out of the locks. The other advantage is that you now have a means of
raising or lowering your camera easily.
5.
But as with the tripod dolly, you must ensure that it is in perfect
working order.
On the studio pedestal you must either check the air
pressure or its fluid levels. The cable guards must be checked because the
weight of this pedestal could destroy your cables.
6.
On the better studio pedestals, the steering gears should be checked
on a weekly basis for proper operation.
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