Keeping the dust bunnies out! at DVinfo.net

Chris Harding · October 1st, 2015, 08:07 AM

I shot a wedding on Friday and it was under a tree with continuously falling, not leaves, but tiny bits of stuff in the air ..quite visible on the footage and even saw it on the guys jackets. My main cam seems fine but I did worry about these particles getting sucked in when zooming so I zoomed out just once for framing .. Trouble is when you turn the camera off, the lens closes so that could easily suck in debris.

I did however extend it to full zoom afterwards and gave the lens and body a blast of clean canned air so no issue.

I was wondering if shooting outdoors whether it would be wise in situations like this to have some canned air right on hand so if you zoom you can give it a quick blast before turning off so no debris is sucked into the lens???

Anyone been in less than ideal situations???

Dave Baker · October 1st, 2015, 12:18 PM

Wouldn't compressed air blow debris in?

Dave

Noa Put · October 1st, 2015, 12:27 PM

My nex-ea50 stocklens had dust inside within the first year of use, I think there is not much you can do about that.

Chris Harding · October 4th, 2015, 06:33 AM

I haven't had an issues as yet I must admit but with a non weatherproof camera I figure that in really dusty conditions it might happen ..However on average, weddings are pretty darn clean affairs!!

Mark Watson · October 4th, 2015, 08:33 AM

I've had problems with high humidity. Bringing my XF305 from an ice-cold air-conditioned space, out into the hot, humid sunshine on a tropical beach caused the lens to be completely fogged up. Looking into the lens, it was like it was stuffed with cotton balls. Took 40 minutes to clear up, leaving the camera on to heat the internals faster. There's a spot on an internal lens that shows up when filming the sky.

My HDV cameras are even more susceptible to humidity, despite the O-ring around the cassette door. Same tropical beach, the camera wouldn't function due to the moisture detection circuit shutting it down. Took about an hour to get it to work.

I've used canned air to clean the sensor on my dSLR a couple times and it saved me from having to get it done by a pro.

Last night I was up around Mt Fuji shooting a time lapse and had my FS7 along just in case I ended up staying until daybreak and on my way down the mountain about 1am, a deer was standing in the middle of the road and I jammed on the brakes. FS7 tumbled forward from the back seat and I reached back and caught it from going all the way to the floor, but that viewfinder popped off. It went back on okay and no other damage. It was wrapped in a jacket, but could have been much worse since the lens was mounted.

Mark

October 1st, 2015, 08:07 AM	#1
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Keeping the dust bunnies out! I shot a wedding on Friday and it was under a tree with continuously falling, not leaves, but tiny bits of stuff in the air ..quite visible on the footage and even saw it on the guys jackets. My main cam seems fine but I did worry about these particles getting sucked in when zooming so I zoomed out just once for framing .. Trouble is when you turn the camera off, the lens closes so that could easily suck in debris. I did however extend it to full zoom afterwards and gave the lens and body a blast of clean canned air so no issue. I was wondering if shooting outdoors whether it would be wise in situations like this to have some canned air right on hand so if you zoom you can give it a quick blast before turning off so no debris is sucked into the lens??? Anyone been in less than ideal situations???

October 1st, 2015, 12:18 PM	#2
Dave Baker Major Player Join Date: May 2014 Location: Brandon, England Posts: 459	Re: Keeping the dust bunnies out! Wouldn't compressed air blow debris in? Dave

October 1st, 2015, 12:27 PM	#3
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: Keeping the dust bunnies out! My nex-ea50 stocklens had dust inside within the first year of use, I think there is not much you can do about that.

October 4th, 2015, 06:33 AM	#4
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Keeping the dust bunnies out! I haven't had an issues as yet I must admit but with a non weatherproof camera I figure that in really dusty conditions it might happen ..However on average, weddings are pretty darn clean affairs!!

October 4th, 2015, 08:33 AM	#5
Mark Watson Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Whidbey Island Posts: 873	Re: Keeping the dust bunnies out! I've had problems with high humidity. Bringing my XF305 from an ice-cold air-conditioned space, out into the hot, humid sunshine on a tropical beach caused the lens to be completely fogged up. Looking into the lens, it was like it was stuffed with cotton balls. Took 40 minutes to clear up, leaving the camera on to heat the internals faster. There's a spot on an internal lens that shows up when filming the sky. My HDV cameras are even more susceptible to humidity, despite the O-ring around the cassette door. Same tropical beach, the camera wouldn't function due to the moisture detection circuit shutting it down. Took about an hour to get it to work. I've used canned air to clean the sensor on my dSLR a couple times and it saved me from having to get it done by a pro. Last night I was up around Mt Fuji shooting a time lapse and had my FS7 along just in case I ended up staying until daybreak and on my way down the mountain about 1am, a deer was standing in the middle of the road and I jammed on the brakes. FS7 tumbled forward from the back seat and I reached back and caught it from going all the way to the floor, but that viewfinder popped off. It went back on okay and no other damage. It was wrapped in a jacket, but could have been much worse since the lens was mounted. Mark