Inside-the-fridge shot... Avoiding condensation

sheeep

sheeep

Active member
Need to shoot a shot for a movie. Basically camera goes in the fridge, the door closes, the door opens, the actors film something, done.

The cameras probably going to be in there for less than a minute, I'd say only 10-15 seconds of it with the door closed.

What I'm worried (probably overly worried) about is condensation forming. Should I do an intermediate step, like when I pull it out of the fridge stick it in a chilled camera bag that's been in there just as long and let it warm up, or am I just over paranoid?

Thanks a bunch
 
I would think it would be ok, if only for a few minutes. If you really want to be safe, use a fridge that doesn't get cold.
 
Yeah, can you unplug the fridge and just run it warm for the shot?


Also, the camera should be just fine. A fridge (even when running) is warmer than a cold day in winter (Ok, maybe not in FL) where the camera's fare just fine.


- Mikko
 
If you just unplug it, then you won't get the light coming on when the door opens- which would be half the effect, right? The cooling unit needs to be either inoperable of disconnected.
 
Well, you could plug it in just as you put the camera in to shoot .. it takes some time to cool a fridge.

Or you could use your own lighting in the fridge (out of view of the camera) and trigger it manually as the door is opened. This would give you more control too.

- Mikko
 
open the refer door , turn it off from inside refer ( leave door open) - light will still work ... let it get to approx room temp which might take 30-60min ... then do the shot ... when finsihed - turn it back ON -shut door ... = no camera problems
 
I wouldnt worry about it. I've done it before with no problems..with a cold fridge. Honestly if its only going to be in there for a minute you shouldnt have any problems. Dont put it near the beverage chiller thing, you know what im talking about?
 
ok ok, the fridge problem has been solved, but what about condensation when you can't avoid it.

not that I'm having this issue now, but I would be interested in finding out what people are doing to combat condensation.

this past winter I was shooting at night with HVX and FS-100 and I notice that the FS-100 was getting alot of condensation on the body and the screen. I can't imagine that would be good for it.

I think I saw a bodyglove for the HVX almost make of the same material they make wetsuits, but I can't remember where. and it was expensive. I think over $175, but I have to imagine that would help with condensation. (at least on the camera)
 
Humdidity and condensation are the Devil's work for the video camera . . . any video camera. When a warm humid tape meets the cool air conditioned rotating head of the camera it causes sudden friction between the two and usually causes the tearing off of the iron oxide, plastic and adhesive of the tape and cloggs the heads.
If you keep the tape in a cold car (Winter) and the camera in the warm house Presto!
If you do the reverse Presto! When both are together you have much more wiggle room. Also that's what the dew light is for. Just remember that the dew light is only for telling you the humidity is too high for the camera. If you have kept your tapes in the cool air conditioned hotel room . . .well you know.
 
The only thing I know about condensation is what I've heard from snowboard filmers, which is to simply do the bag trick and gradually bring it back to a room temperature. Silica gel packets couldn't hurt either.
 
Impossible for condensation during this shot

Impossible for condensation during this shot

You have nothing to worry about for that shot. It's later you should worry.

Air holds water.

The warmer the air, the more water it can hold.

Proof: During a warm day with an unknown amount of water in the air, pour yourself an ice cold glass of beverage. As the air around the glass cools off, that cold air will hold less water. You can see what happens.

SO: put a warm camera into a cold fridge, no problem. Try putting a warm ANYTHING into the fridge, you'll see what I mean. Leave the door to the refridgerator open and you'll see all the cold stuff "sweat" as the cold air in it is replaced with warm air.

BUT: pull that cold camera out into the warm humid air... remember the glass of beverage?

Possible solution: If the camera is in the frigde long enough to get cold, put it in a ziplock bag when you take it out. Get as much air out as possible. Maybe even keep the bag in the refridgerator for a while before you use it. Once the camera has warmed to the same temperature as the air around it, it's safe to take it out.

Mike
 
So .. does the light really go off when the door is closed? No, don't tell me. There's certain things that are best left unknown.
 
Piggyback question...

Piggyback question...

I have a macro version of this problem. I'm going to be shooting in a 32 degree industrial cooler/freezer warehouse. The camera is definitely going to get cold and I'm in FL, so I'll be going from 32 to 90 when we're done with the shoot. Any other ideas on avoiding condensation? Do you think the plastic bag deal will work with these extremes?

Many thanks.
 
I think that a plastic bag will be fine, as long as you aren't in there for a long period. Grabb as many of those silica dissicant packs as you can find, and throw them in with the camera after the shoot. I have half a dozen of them in my camera bag all the time anyways, just to be safe.
 
Yes, I like the silica idea. I'll do that.

However, this is a music video and I will probably be in there for 2-4 hours. Obviously, I could leave the cameras outside until everything is set and ready to go, but I still think I'm looking at a couple of hours in there.

Why should I be concerned about the length of time?
 
Because the longer you are in the cold, the colder the camera internals will get, and that is the place you don't want the condensation to build up. Between shots in the freezer, put the cam in an insulated box or cooler with the dissicant packs. This will keep the camera from cooling and warming too severely.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top