In-camera ND

[HBlack]

How does it work? I'm a bit curious as to why it's only available in 1, 2 and off as opposed to being fully adjustable, but I assume it has something to do with the nature of how it works.

Also, another question. Is it safe to lift a camera attached to a lightweight shoulder rig by its handle? This is an HVR-V1U. Just wondering if it's build to withstand that kind of stress.

 

[Barry_Green]

ND filters are usually actual physical filters mounted on a rotating or sliding mechanism. On a DVX or HVX they're two three-stop filters (.9 ND). Don't know what they are on a V1U.

On some cameras the ND is done by a free-spinning rotating graduated wheel, like on the HV20. No sliding a filter into position, instead a disc rotates from purely clear to quite dark with all sorts of gradient levels of gray inbetween. But that's because the HV20 doesn't have a switch.

As for picking up by the handle -- I see nimrods picking up a camera and tripod together by the camera handle all the time. That's a good way to break the tripod socket or even perhaps the camera handle. I don't know about how heavy your shoulder rig is, but if it's of any substantial weight at all, it sounds like a bad idea; always support the weight rather than expecting the handle and tripod socket to drag that weight along.