shooting welder.....whats the verdict? at DVinfo.net

Marty Hudzik · October 3rd, 2005, 12:27 PM

I have been put in a position that I will be shooting a welder welding on Wednesday or Thursday. What steps should I take to protect the CCD? I have used the DVX100 in this situation with no adverse effects but I am a little concerned because someone on this board had a problem with a laser frying the CCD block on the XL2 a few months back.

Any advice?? I have very little time to do anything about it but I'd like to try to protect the XL2 the best that I can.

Thanks.

Dean Sensui · October 3rd, 2005, 01:43 PM

I just videotaped one last month with an XL1s for a commercial. No problems at all. I also saw material shot by a Sony PD-150 with no ill effects to the CCD.

Marty Hudzik · October 3rd, 2005, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Sensui

I just videotaped one last month with an XL1s for a commercial. No problems at all. I also saw material shot by a Sony PD-150 with no ill effects to the CCD.

My experiences say that a welders arc would not be the same as a laser that is used to perform surgery. I am also guessing that the laser accidentally got pointed right into the lens to cause that damage but I want to make sure.

Jimmy McKenzie · October 3rd, 2005, 02:10 PM

I just finished up a corporate dvd featuring many direct and indirect shots of the arc from plasma to electric arc and mig. Incredible looking stuff in 24p with the sparks showing incredible non-interlaced detail.

Throw the ND on and iris down ... play with the iris once the arc strikes and you'll have some pretty video.

No ill effects on the XL2.

Dave Frank · October 3rd, 2005, 03:54 PM

Shot an arc welder from about 5 feet away straight on before. No protection at all. Everything was kosher.

Greg Boston · October 3rd, 2005, 04:01 PM

Apparently, the ccd's in cameras aren't all that sensitive to UV light like they are to IR. That's what is being emanated from the arc which requires eye and skin protection. It's enough to give you an instant 'sunburn' on your skin and will burn your eyes. I would suggest placing a UV filter on the lens to help improve image clarity. Most people have one on their camera anyway as a lens protector.

Just make sure that you don't stare at that arc with the naked eye from 5 feet away. You'll know you've burned your eyes when it feels like there's sand in them everytime you blink for the next few days.
-gb-

Jimmy McKenzie · October 3rd, 2005, 08:11 PM

Yikes! OK 5 feet is just too close unless you really need a wide angle shot. But the chance for a hot spark to hit you or the cam are quite high and while you will have a UV filter on at that distance for obvious reasons, it will be better to be about 22 feet away. Open iris, low frame rate = nice shallow depth of field. Just what you want from an intensly lit foreground with the background nicely out of focus and dark.

Also, Greg has descibed a malady known as "arc eye". You really want to avoid that outcome. It hurts and your viewfinder is useless once you suffer from it.

October 3rd, 2005, 12:27 PM	#1
Marty Hudzik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,771	shooting welder.....whats the verdict? I have been put in a position that I will be shooting a welder welding on Wednesday or Thursday. What steps should I take to protect the CCD? I have used the DVX100 in this situation with no adverse effects but I am a little concerned because someone on this board had a problem with a laser frying the CCD block on the XL2 a few months back. Any advice?? I have very little time to do anything about it but I'd like to try to protect the XL2 the best that I can. Thanks.

October 3rd, 2005, 01:43 PM	#2
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	I just videotaped one last month with an XL1s for a commercial. No problems at all. I also saw material shot by a Sony PD-150 with no ill effects to the CCD. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

October 3rd, 2005, 03:54 PM	#5
Dave Frank Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 244	Shot an arc welder from about 5 feet away straight on before. No protection at all. Everything was kosher. __________________ http://www.sleeptightmovie.com

October 3rd, 2005, 02:10 PM	#4
Jimmy McKenzie Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Waterloo Ontario Posts: 721	I just finished up a corporate dvd featuring many direct and indirect shots of the arc from plasma to electric arc and mig. Incredible looking stuff in 24p with the sparks showing incredible non-interlaced detail. Throw the ND on and iris down ... play with the iris once the arc strikes and you'll have some pretty video. No ill effects on the XL2.

October 3rd, 2005, 04:01 PM	#6
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Apparently, the ccd's in cameras aren't all that sensitive to UV light like they are to IR. That's what is being emanated from the arc which requires eye and skin protection. It's enough to give you an instant 'sunburn' on your skin and will burn your eyes. I would suggest placing a UV filter on the lens to help improve image clarity. Most people have one on their camera anyway as a lens protector. Just make sure that you don't stare at that arc with the naked eye from 5 feet away. You'll know you've burned your eyes when it feels like there's sand in them everytime you blink for the next few days. -gb-

October 3rd, 2005, 08:11 PM	#7
Jimmy McKenzie Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Waterloo Ontario Posts: 721	Yikes! OK 5 feet is just too close unless you really need a wide angle shot. But the chance for a hot spark to hit you or the cam are quite high and while you will have a UV filter on at that distance for obvious reasons, it will be better to be about 22 feet away. Open iris, low frame rate = nice shallow depth of field. Just what you want from an intensly lit foreground with the background nicely out of focus and dark. Also, Greg has descibed a malady known as "arc eye". You really want to avoid that outcome. It hurts and your viewfinder is useless once you suffer from it.