nd-filter at DVinfo.net

Geir Inge · February 8th, 2007, 10:56 AM

i wonder about the built-in nd-filter that comes along with the xlh1 camera, if turned on, can you film briefly at the sun or do you have to put on an external filter?

A. J. deLange · February 8th, 2007, 11:27 AM

I wouldn't. The 1/32 filter corresponds to a density of only 1.5. I'd want about twice that before I'd point directly at the sun.

Steven Dempsey · February 8th, 2007, 11:45 AM

You can also compensate for the intensity of the sun by choosing the maximum shutter speed.

Geir Inge · February 8th, 2007, 02:42 PM

thanks for responding so quick, this is a very helpful forum :)
i think i'll have to get me an extra nd-filter, any tip what to buy?

Allen McLaughlin · February 8th, 2007, 04:44 PM

I once shot a solar eclipse putting lots of layers of ND lighting gels in front of the lens, an affordable stop gap solution.

A. J. deLange · February 9th, 2007, 06:35 AM

In the old days we were always advised to look at eclipses through a piece of completely exposed and fully developed black and white film which, as I recall had a density of about 3. I did it and I can still see (with trifocals) so a 1.5 with the 1.5 (1/32) on the camera should serve. I think the advice to rely on the electronic shutter is very bad advice indeed as this will not protect against heating of the CCD's. I suppose things are a little better in a 3 ccd device in that the energy gets split 3 ways rather than one CCD getting the whole brunt but remember that higher shutter speed does not reduce the amount of energy impinging on the CCD, only the number of electrons taken out (there is no mechanical shutter AFAIK).

February 8th, 2007, 10:56 AM	#1
Geir Inge Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Larsnes, Norway Posts: 1,343	nd-filter i wonder about the built-in nd-filter that comes along with the xlh1 camera, if turned on, can you film briefly at the sun or do you have to put on an external filter? __________________ Geir Inge B. Brekke Visit me at: https://vimeo.com/gibbfilm

February 8th, 2007, 11:45 AM	#3
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	You can also compensate for the intensity of the sun by choosing the maximum shutter speed. __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

February 8th, 2007, 02:42 PM	#4
Geir Inge Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Larsnes, Norway Posts: 1,343	thanks for responding so quick, this is a very helpful forum :) i think i'll have to get me an extra nd-filter, any tip what to buy? __________________ Geir Inge B. Brekke Visit me at: https://vimeo.com/gibbfilm

February 8th, 2007, 04:44 PM	#5
Allen McLaughlin Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Paisley, Scotland UK Posts: 99	I once shot a solar eclipse putting lots of layers of ND lighting gels in front of the lens, an affordable stop gap solution. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/theeejit

February 8th, 2007, 11:27 AM	#2
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	I wouldn't. The 1/32 filter corresponds to a density of only 1.5. I'd want about twice that before I'd point directly at the sun.

February 9th, 2007, 06:35 AM	#6
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	In the old days we were always advised to look at eclipses through a piece of completely exposed and fully developed black and white film which, as I recall had a density of about 3. I did it and I can still see (with trifocals) so a 1.5 with the 1.5 (1/32) on the camera should serve. I think the advice to rely on the electronic shutter is very bad advice indeed as this will not protect against heating of the CCD's. I suppose things are a little better in a 3 ccd device in that the energy gets split 3 ways rather than one CCD getting the whole brunt but remember that higher shutter speed does not reduce the amount of energy impinging on the CCD, only the number of electrons taken out (there is no mechanical shutter AFAIK).