PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICES
for
BINOCULAR OPERATION MICROSCOPES
for
GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERY

NAGASHIMA Two-way Attachment Lens, C-mount

NAGASHIMA Model BH Photographic Device

Lense Shades | Matte Boxes | Rain Jackets

Lens Shades

In the same way that our eyes must be shaded from a strong lighting order to see clearly, the camera lens also has to be shielded from direct light.

Even if a strong light striking the lens does not create obvious evidence of lens flare, it may reduce the contrast of the image.

Assuming you can't easily change your camera position, you will need a lens shade or lens hood to protect a camera image from offending glare or loss of contrast. Since most lens flare problems are apparent in the video viewfinder, the effect of a lens shade can be observed and checked.

Most zoom lenses have a rudimentary lens shade built in, but it's primarily effective at the wide-angle position. At long focal lengths, with prime lenses, or when you face conditions such as the church setting shown above, you may need a lens shade such as the one on the left.

It's sometimes just as easy to improvise a lens shade with dull black paper and masking tape, or even shield the lens with your hand. Just zoom the lens to the desired point and then try shading the lens as you would your eyes. Check the viewfinder to make sure that you can't see your efforts appearing at the edge or corner of the frame. Back to Top

Matte Boxes

A matte box is a small bellows device mounted on the front of the camera. In addition to acting as an adjustable lens hood, matte boxes are designed to hold filters.

As we noted earlier, instead of using circular glass filters, comparatively inexpensive four-inch square colored gels (gelatin filters) can be inserted into the back of the matte box, just in front of the lens.

Matte boxes can also hold small cutout patterns or masks. For example, a keyhole-shaped pattern can be cut out of a piece of cardboard and used to give the illusion of shooting through a keyhole (although in this day and age there are very few keyholes you can see through). Most of the effects formerly created by matte boxes are now more easily and predictably achieved electronically with a special-effects generator. Back to Top

Rain Jackets

Although use of a video camera in rain, snow, or wind-driven sand or dust is definitely discouraged, news stories often have to be shot under such conditions. Camera "rain jackets" are available that cover all but the very end of the camera lens.

In an emergency a plastic garbage bag can be used. Simply cut out a hole for the lens and use a rubber band to hold the plastic around the lens barrel. You will also need to cut out a hole for the viewfinder. Another rubber band can hold the plastic around this area.

If you can work the camera's controls through the plastic bag, you can keep most of the camera sealed off. Remember that camcorders are full of delicate moving parts, and all it takes is a bit of dirt, sand or moisture in the wrong place to put a whole unit out of commission. Back to Top

© 1996 - 2000, Ron Whittaker