THOMAS HUTCHINSO - Early Television Foundation

14 HERE IS TELEVISIONrequire an extra man to move them as the cameraman rides thedolly. Several types have been tried out. But one camera on adolly of some kind is virtually "a must" in every television studiofor smooth flowing program production.In using the simplified and cheaper type of pedestal, the cameraman stands on the floor and moves his camera to a desiredposition by pushing the camera on its movable base. He shouldhave controls for elevating or lowering the camera as well as forpanning to right or left but he must get set in a given positionbefore the output of the camera is picked up. Equipment of thiskind limits the use of the camera as it must not be dollied whileit is on the air, due to the physical inability of a cameraman tocenter his picture properly and keepit in focus while he istryingto change the basic position of the camera. The first duty of acameraman is to keep the picture correct from an artistic pointof view and, at the same time, constantlyin focus. Televisioncameras today cannot be carried around nor may theybe usedwhile the cameraman isholding them, as they are far too heavyfor that kind of operation.Another choice in camera bases issimply a heavy duty tripodequipped with a panning head. These are used chiefly in outdoor pickups where the camera can be set in a fixed position andneed not be moved. However they have been used advantageously on movable mounts a triangular base on castors in manystudios where outside equipment has been brought in for temporary operations.The Camera CableIn addition to itsweight and the heavy dollies, the studio television camera is definitely limited in where it can go and how itcan be used, for (according to itpresent practice) is tied foreverto the studio wall byits coaxial cable. This coaxial cable is aspecially constructed electrical line capable of carrying the electrical impulses, which constitute the picture, from the camera inthe studio to the control room. It also has additional circuits forcommunication, that is, telephone lines between the control roomand the camera. The picture being picked up flows through thisco-ax in the form of minute electrical impulses, and thus it can