http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Topic: Filming a Welder - Need Filters??? en Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:35:17 +0000 http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/filming-a-welder-need-filters#post-56808 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:22:04 +0000 KenzoFKC 56808@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Interestingly enough, I just shot the video in question earlier today.  Imagine my surprise to find it at the top of the  forums quick list.  I was worried about pitting the lens.  I used a clear face shield the welder had in the shop. I zip tied it on to the front of the camera and was good to go.  </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/filming-a-welder-need-filters#post-56806 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:28:41 +0000 MAJ 56806@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>As a frequent welder I must caution you not so much about the intense light but about weld spatter.  welds will frequently "explode" and throw molten metal around.  The spatter can hit your lens and it will stick to the surface.  There is a substantial chance of cratering under the blob.  You only have to examine the average welding hood (that the welder wears) to see plenty of spatter.  A UV or other expendable protective filter would be a real good idea.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/filming-a-welder-need-filters#post-50844 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:11:13 +0000 KenzoFKC 50844@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Heh, thanks again. I figured I would be able to dial it in altering exposure, and or ND filter if I needed to. I do a lot of weddings so I'm used to flipping ND filters on and off on the fly. I was just concerned about the arc damaging the CCDs. Which, it sounds like you guys have experience with that, and it should be good to go!</p> <p>Thanks for the info Grinner and Composite! </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/filming-a-welder-need-filters#post-50843 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:19:55 +0000 composite1 50843@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Kenzo,</p> <p>Looks like you're using a semi-pro camera so you should have a couple of ND filters on it. I rarely if ever use auto exposure. With autoex, you're completely at the mercy of the cam's exposure response time. If you use the ND filters, you'll have far more control over the scene. I've shot torch welding, arc and foundry furnaces in action and have used ND filters every time with great results. However, there's nothing stopping you from running test footage to see which method will get the results you can live with. </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/filming-a-welder-need-filters#post-50829 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:04:00 +0000 grinner 50829@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Filming it is hard only because of exposure challenges. If shooting video, throwing it in auto aint nuttin' but a thang. You can play with different shutter settings to your liking and you'll have no problem watching this all through the LCD screen in real time.<br /> ...assuming you're not shooting with an old tube camera, anyway. ;) </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/filming-a-welder-need-filters#post-50827 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:25:24 +0000 KenzoFKC 50827@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Howdy, a friend of mine is a welder, and he's going to build a steady-tracker type unit in exchange for a short business profile video for his website.</p> <p>My question is about shooting the actual welding. I know the arc is so bright it will damage your eye to look at. Does anyone know anything about pointing a video camera at it?<br /> Is there a certain filter you need?<br /> I would think if the arc was bright enough to hurt a human eye it could potentially damage the fragile circuitry of a modern camcorder. </p> <p>I don't want to ruin my camera in exchange for a steady-tracker... </p>