Reason #1 to buy a screw on UV filter for your lens at DVinfo.net

Dylan Couper · October 20th, 2010, 02:51 PM

...because you could be... THIS GUY.
TBS cameraman's 15 minutes: Very scary | MLB.com: News

Bryan Cantwell · October 20th, 2010, 03:44 PM

That is definitely something I'd like to avoid!!

Though the article on Yahoo did, in the comments section, provide my new personal favorite quote of all time...

#16. "Hopefully they had a lens cap on to protect the actual lens."

Broken bat of Yankees' Gardner busts TBS video camera - Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

Gene Gajewski · October 20th, 2010, 11:22 PM

Quote:

#16. "Hopefully they had a lens cap on to protect the actual lens."

ROFL! What a genius!

Ray Barber · October 20th, 2010, 11:37 PM

I've seen a similar thing with a cricket ball and a TV camera. I hope he had good insurance.

Dave Blackhurst · October 21st, 2010, 01:40 PM

Nope, according to the writeup, he had a "a protective glass cover", now where do I go to pick one of those up?

Actually to be fair in the next paragraph they do call it a filter...

Brian Drysdale · October 21st, 2010, 04:27 PM

You can get an optical flat (optically flat glass), which you can use for protecting your lens from damage. I believe there was a toughened version made at one time.

Jim Ross · November 2nd, 2010, 05:53 PM

Let's see. I've filmed: Racing in-car and beside the road in the sandy Baja Desert, On and beside snowmobiles down a volcano. While climbing a glacier. Filming combat shooting with shells flying around. Just to name a few. Hmmm. My lens has been sprayed with dirt, paint, ash, smoke, water, ice, and hit with a paint ball. Yet it has no scratches! Yup! You better believe I keep a protective cover on my lens. Even though it sometimes ruins the shot. And it has. Freakin' reflection has spoiled more than one take.

Jim

Sareesh Sudhakaran · November 2nd, 2010, 10:43 PM

I've got a UV filter on my Fujinon that I can't take off!

Allan Black · November 3rd, 2010, 04:42 PM

That's a protective plate and check the shattered pattern, like your cars windscreen.

Also the shotgun strapped to the top of the lens, no padding underneath it, might have woken the audio folks right up. But you can hear a 'tink' that's out of sync.

Pity they didn't sync up a 16" canon blast, no sense of fun in the truck .. I'd have been at that like a shot with a shot.

Cheers.

Sam Mendolia · November 5th, 2010, 10:35 AM

Back in my 2 1/4 camera day, I was hiking to a water fall, camera in the backpack.

Backpack slips, a crunch is heard. I thought that I toasted my wide angle.

Opened the pack, no shards of glass anywhere- nice, I thought.
Took the camera out, looked at the lens, still worked like nothing happened.
Took a closer look at the front filter- small hairline crack and a bent front thread.

Thanks to the screw on filter, the front of my lens was spared, as when the camera came down in the pack and hit the rock, the angle was just right.

I have asked about shooting with the filter on the front, on these forums, and a lot of people tell me they don't use them, because it "ruins" the shot.
I have done both, with it on,and with it off. If it's clean/dry, then off comes the filter.
Wet, the filter stays on, as I really hate to clean the actual front element of my lenses-read possible scratches.

Now I have a proper camera backpack, and my video and still equipment can be spared the occasional rock.
A hardcase is cumbersome, but I have used that too.

Bill Davis · November 5th, 2010, 11:33 PM

Just a minor note on a related topic...

If you KNOW your camera lens will be at risk - for example, videotaping stuff shattering, etc.

Any hardware store of size will have sheet Lexan available in various sizes.

Set up a few C-stands with arms to secure the LEXAN in front of your lens and you can build an optically clear very effective shield for a very low cost.

Like I said, just a note when you KNOW you're in dangerous territory.

October 20th, 2010, 11:37 PM	#4
Ray Barber Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 103	I've seen a similar thing with a cricket ball and a TV camera. I hope he had good insurance. __________________ Six out of seven dwarves are not Happy

November 2nd, 2010, 05:53 PM	#7
Jim Ross Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 54	Let's see. I've filmed: Racing in-car and beside the road in the sandy Baja Desert, On and beside snowmobiles down a volcano. While climbing a glacier. Filming combat shooting with shells flying around. Just to name a few. Hmmm. My lens has been sprayed with dirt, paint, ash, smoke, water, ice, and hit with a paint ball. Yet it has no scratches! Yup! You better believe I keep a protective cover on my lens. Even though it sometimes ruins the shot. And it has. Freakin' reflection has spoiled more than one take. Jim __________________ Jim Ross, Cinematographer CinematixHD www.Cinematixhd.com

November 2nd, 2010, 10:43 PM	#8
Sareesh Sudhakaran Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 1,385	I've got a UV filter on my Fujinon that I can't take off! __________________ Get the Free Comprehensive Guide to Rigging ANY Camera - one guide to rig them all - DSLRs to the Arri Alexa.

November 3rd, 2010, 04:42 PM	#9
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,931	That's a protective plate and check the shattered pattern, like your cars windscreen. Also the shotgun strapped to the top of the lens, no padding underneath it, might have woken the audio folks right up. But you can hear a 'tink' that's out of sync. Pity they didn't sync up a 16" canon blast, no sense of fun in the truck .. I'd have been at that like a shot with a shot. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

November 5th, 2010, 10:35 AM	#10
Sam Mendolia Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 217	Back in my 2 1/4 camera day, I was hiking to a water fall, camera in the backpack. Backpack slips, a crunch is heard. I thought that I toasted my wide angle. Opened the pack, no shards of glass anywhere- nice, I thought. Took the camera out, looked at the lens, still worked like nothing happened. Took a closer look at the front filter- small hairline crack and a bent front thread. Thanks to the screw on filter, the front of my lens was spared, as when the camera came down in the pack and hit the rock, the angle was just right. I have asked about shooting with the filter on the front, on these forums, and a lot of people tell me they don't use them, because it "ruins" the shot. I have done both, with it on,and with it off. If it's clean/dry, then off comes the filter. Wet, the filter stays on, as I really hate to clean the actual front element of my lenses-read possible scratches. Now I have a proper camera backpack, and my video and still equipment can be spared the occasional rock. A hardcase is cumbersome, but I have used that too. __________________ I was told I have no vision, but boy do I see great!

October 20th, 2010, 02:51 PM	#1
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Reason #1 to buy a screw on UV filter for your lens ...because you could be... THIS GUY. TBS cameraman's 15 minutes: Very scary \| MLB.com: News __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

October 20th, 2010, 03:44 PM	#2
Bryan Cantwell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 277	That is definitely something I'd like to avoid!! Though the article on Yahoo did, in the comments section, provide my new personal favorite quote of all time... #16. "Hopefully they had a lens cap on to protect the actual lens." Broken bat of Yankees' Gardner busts TBS video camera - Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

October 21st, 2010, 01:40 PM	#5
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Nope, according to the writeup, he had a "a protective glass cover", now where do I go to pick one of those up? Actually to be fair in the next paragraph they do call it a filter...

October 21st, 2010, 04:27 PM	#6
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	You can get an optical flat (optically flat glass), which you can use for protecting your lens from damage. I believe there was a toughened version made at one time.

November 5th, 2010, 11:33 PM	#11
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	Just a minor note on a related topic... If you KNOW your camera lens will be at risk - for example, videotaping stuff shattering, etc. Any hardware store of size will have sheet Lexan available in various sizes. Set up a few C-stands with arms to secure the LEXAN in front of your lens and you can build an optically clear very effective shield for a very low cost. Like I said, just a note when you KNOW you're in dangerous territory. __________________ Classroom editing instructor? Check out www.starteditingnow.com Turnkey editor training content including licensed training footage for classroom use.