This is the ultimate "WHAT NOT TO DO" how-to. This is filled with some outrageous (yes, they have all happened before) and some more practical guides on what not to do with your camera and equipment.

1. WARNING:
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE ON
WHAT NOT TO DO WITH YOUR VIDEO CAMERA
This E-Book features Acts & Stunts performed either by professionals or idiots.
Accordingly, Campbell Cameras must insist that no one attempt to recreate or re-enact any stunt or
activity performed in this book.
by: Campbell Cameras

2. This book is dedicated to the many customers, professionals, and Campbell Cameras staff that made the
costly mistakes reported in this book. Some of these tips are helpful and some are random acts of
genious. Cheers to those who were smart enough to purchase the 3-Year Diamond Warranty.
DEDICATION PAGE

3. TIPS 1-5
Tip 1
Do not use a tripod as your support
system while in a tree stand.
That is what Tree Arms are for.
Why?
A tripod is a perfect support system
when used on the ground. However,
when placed in a tree stand that you
hardly fit in, it is bound to go over the
edge and take your $2,000 camera
with it!
Tip 2
Never leave your camera unattended
on a tripod for any length of time
(timelapse, etc.) without weighing it
down.
Why?
Wind will eventually catch it and blow
it over. Or someone will come along
and find a free camera and take it.
Tip 3
Forget to Press Record.
Why?
We’ve all been there, the heat of the
moment when you take the shot
before you turn on the record button.
#fail
Tip 4
While sandpaper will remove small
bits of mud stuck to the lens, its not
conducive to image quality.
Why?
Sandpaper will scratch your lens and
leave you with an everlasting mark.
Tip 5
Never listen to anyone who says
“Never film like this.”
Why?
Use your imagination. Creativity is
what sets you apart.

4. TIPS 6-11
Tip 6
Never leave your camera at home/ in
the truck/ car/ etc.
Why?
You are never going to get the chance
to film that hunt of your lifetime if
you left your camera at home.
Tip 7
Don’t leave the lens cap on.
Why?
Silent films used to be all the rage.
But, your audio of the 160” you just
killed won’t win you any awards!
Tip 9
Never use rope or string to lift your
video camera up to your stand.
Why?
It is bound to drop one of these days.
Tip 10
Never wind up your video camera or
audio cables too tight.
Why?
If you do not properly wind your
cables you put stress on the fibers and
they can break or you could lose audio
quality
Tip 11
If you are using a battery powered mi-
crophone. It needs a battery to record.
Why?
Don’t forget to bring extra batteries
for your microphones. Remember in
the cold, the battery life goes down!
Tip 8
Don’t be an idiot

5. TIPS 12-15
Tip 12
Never use napkins/paper towels to
clean your lens or lcd screen.
Why?
It may not look it at first, but it will
scratch the lens and over time, you will
see the quality loss. (Use micro fiber
cloths and lens cleaning supplies)
Tip 13
Never set the camera on the seat of
the treestand while you finish setting
up the rest of your stuff.
Why?
If you make a habit out of that, it will
fall out of the tree one day. Leave
your camera in the bag until you are
ready to connect it to the tree arm.
Tip 14
Never leave your camera black.
Why?
Authorities may believe it is an ‘assault
camera’ and therefore could harm
thousands at any moment. Instead,
disguise it as a tree by adding cam-
ouflage. This transforms your device
into a ‘sporting camera’ and as such, it
is no longer a threat to those around
you.
Tip 15
If you are using a phantom-powered
shotgun microphone, don’t forget to
turn on its power.
Why?
Phantom powered (+48v) means that
the microphone gets the power from
the camera. To give it power, you
have to make sure that you set the mi-
crophone input to +48 on your camera
mic settings.

6. TIPS 16-19
Tip 16
If your camera is “weather-resistant,”
this does not give you permission to
dunk your camera underwater to get
that shot of you reeling in your catch.
Why?
Weather-resistant and water-proof
are two different terms, with two
VERY DIFFERENT definitions! Get a
water-proof camera like the GoPro to
capture underwater shots.
Tip 17
Don’t leave your camera without a
rain cover while it is sprinkling,
raining, storming, snowing, even in
the fog.
Why?
Unless your camera is water-proof or
weather-proof, it will not last without
a rain cover in the conditions listed
above. Even the moisture from fog can
damage your camera.
Tip 18
You may think you have super powers,
but your camera does not.
Why?
Cameras break. Cameras fall. Cameras
get water on them. All is inevitable.
Why not save some time and money
by protecting your camera when you
buy it. I recommend the 3 Year Dia-
mond warranty that covers accidental
abuse. Basically everything except for
fire and theft. This is a must for every
cameraman.
Tip 19
It’s not a good idea to hang outside of
your truck window by your tires with
your $5,000 video camera trying to get
the shot of the mud spinning on the
tires.
Why?
It’s a bumpy road and you will
accidently drop your camera and run
over it in your truck. Good thing you
got the 3 Year Diamond protection
plan. Save time and money, get a
GoPro for those shots.

7. TIPS 20-24
Tip 20
Although, dishwashers are a fast and
easy solution to wash your dishes, it is
not recommended for your video
cameras.
Why?
Soap and hot water are not good
for video cameras. Even if they are
“water-proof” or “weather-proof.”
Save the dishwasher for the dishes.
Get your video camera professionally
cleaned. .
Tip 21
Never leave the camera filming a time-
lapse through the window over your
bed throughout the night.
Why?
Your wife will not understand this,
and your equipment will meet an
untimely demise.
Tip 23
Never stand on your camera to cut a
tree limb that’s just out of reach.
Why?
You’ve been working out, I can tell.
However, you will never be light
enough for your video camera to
withstand you standing on it.
Tip 24
Never place your camera just over your
3D target to catch that bad ass impact
shot while you sight in your new bow.
Why?
No one is perfect. And neither is your
new sight. You will miss the target and
hit your video camera. That cool shot
just cost you $4,000, unless you have
the 3 Year Diamond Warranty.
Tip 22
Don’t be an idiot.

8. TIPS 25-29
Tip 25
Don’t run out of batteries as 4 bears
walk under your stand
Why?
Batteries just don’t last as long as they
used to. It is important to remember
to always have spare batteries and to
have them CHARGED! So you never
have to be without your camera.
Tip 26
When crossing a body of water,
protect your camera by carrying it in a
Pelican Watertight Case.
Why?
If you have it on your back, you are
bound to slip and fall backward and
your camera will go for a swim. Have
it in a Pelican Case and it will be
protected.
Tip 28
There is a time and place for video
cameras. Bars are not one.
Why?
Although a bar does tend to lend itself
to some good drama video, it is also a
great place to spill your beer or
margaritta. Cameras like sobriety.
Don’t drink and record.
Tip 29
Don’t use the recording mode that
allows you to record the longest
amount of video.
Why?
Yes you can record 10 hours of the
“LP” footage using that mode, but
your quality suffers. It doesn’t make
sense to downgrade your quality to
save a few bucks on SD cards.
Tip 27
Buy your camera at least a couple of
weeks before your hunt.
Why?
This gives you time to PRACTICE!

9. TIPS 30-34
Tip 30
Do not copy over all your videos to
your computer’s hard drive
Why?
Your computer is already slow enough,
bogging down it further by adding all
your LARGE video files only makes it
worse. Always store your video files
on external hard drives. Saves speed &
space
Tip 31
Don’t just use one video camera
Why?
One perspective is boring! Switch it up
by getting a POV camera. You can now
even mount your cell phone to a gun
or bow to gain a different perspecitve
and keep the audience entertained!
Tip 33
Do not run your camera on AGC (auto
gain control)
Why?
When the light starts going down and
your chances of scoring a giant buck
goes up, you don’t want your camera
to automatically add gain (pixelates
your image).
Tip 34
Don’t let your camera go naked in the
winter time.
Why?
Would you go out in the dead of win-
ter naked? No, don’t let your camera
suffer that embarrassment, wrap it up
with a Polar Mitten case guaranteed
up to -50ºF. Go ahead and go on that
trip to Antarctica.
Tip 32
Don’t overuse the zoom.
Why?
Too much zoom makes for some
annoying footage, and an annoyed
audience.

10. TIPS 35-38
Tip 35
Take those Silica packets that you find
in your shoe box and keep it in your
camera bag.
Why?
Their purpose is to absorb moisture
and prevent mold from forming. Just
throw a few in there, and if your
camera gets a little damp, the silica
will absorb the moisture and prevent
your lens from becoming filled with
mildew.
Tip 36
Don’t wipe your lens with a cloth after
it has been exposed to dust and dirt.
Why?
Wiping it when dirt is present may
scratch the lens. To that end, always
protect your lens with a UV filter. Use
a lens cleaning pen that has an air
blower to remove the dust and dirt.
Tip 37
Get a car charger for your batteries.
Why?
When you are out on long hunts or
out camping, car chargers allow you
to charge your batteries without the
need of a wall outlet.
Tip 38
Do not run or jog with your camera.
Why?
Some people do not realize whe you
walk or jog your body goes up and
down. This is much more evident in
your footage. Tip: get a support
system like a shoulder mount. If you
don’t have one, when you walk, bend
your knees and elbows. Your bent
limbs will help absorb the bouncing
of any movements. Also, zoom all the
way out.

11. TIPS 39-42
Tip 39
Do not leave your video camera in
your front seat without it being
protected in a bag or case.
Why?
That one time you slam on your
breaks, your video camera will go
flying into the dash and do some
damage. Always good to be protected
with your 3 Year Diamond Warranty.
Tip 40
Do not try and save some time by
transporting your video camera on
your tripod
Why?
You are bound to do some damange
to your lens of the video camera by
not having it securely in a case or bag.
This might save you time, but it will
cost you money in the end.
Tip 41
Do not use a trash bag as a rain cover
for your video camera
Why?
Although it can hold some trash, it is
not designed to protect your camera
in a rainstorm. It will tear, as it always
does and your camera will be ruined.
Tip 42
Do not buy your gear from B&H
Why?
These city slickers have never been
hunting before and have no idea how
to set you up. We are all hunters here
at Campbells and we know exactly
what you will need because we do it
too! And we are price competitive.

12. TIPS 43-47
Tip 43
Do not let your friend borrow your
camera.
Why?
Because when they break it, they
won’t buy it and then you are out a
camera. Send them over to Campbells
and we will set them up with their
own!
Tip 44
Formatting means gone forever.
Why?
Not really. But Formatting your SD
cards or your media will delete
everything on your card. You have to
pay money for programs to go back
and retrieve your files. Sometimes it
works, sometimes not.
Tip 46
Digital zoom is a marketing tool.
Don’t use it.
Why?
Digital zoom is where you get the
pixelated image. It looks terrible and is
not worth watching! DON’T USE!! Stay
in optical zoom.
Tip 47
Don’t settle for the Software that
came with your camera.
Why?
The bundled software that comes with
your camera may be good enough for
basic tasks, but to truly enjoy the full
potential of your video, you should
consider upgrading to a more flexible,
editing software.
Tip 45
Don’t get stuck with a full card.
Why?
Always bring spare SD cards and
transfer all your files to external hard
drives.

13. TIPS 48-50
Tip 48
Don’t forget to put the quick-release
plate back on the fluid head.
Why?
All too often, we are lazy and we
pack up and leave the quick plate on
our camera instead of removing it
and putting it back on the fluid head.
This causes headaches when we loose
them, because eventually we always
do.
Tip 49
Stop shooting yourself in the foot.
Why?
Remeber to stop recording once you
are done. That saves you battery life,
memory space, and you don’t have to
go through and watch your legs on
playback.
Tip 50
Don’t be an idiot.

14. THE END
We hope that you never encounter any of the trials mentioned in this
book.
Got any suggestions to add? Tell us your biggest camera mistake you
made by leaving a comment!