Magnets and Cameras = Oil and Water?

Coco Bermudez

Coco Bermudez

Well-known member
Hey guys:

quick question.......

I have been playing around with my static adapter for quite some time but it produces an upside down image on my flip out screen.

I have seen some people that attach a magnet right next to the screen (on the inside part between screen and camera) to flip the screen upside down. I have tried it and it works well......obviously I know how dangerous this migh be if I were to brig it close to a tape...but anyone has any thoughts as to how dangerous or non dangerous this "magent trick" is to the DVX cam?
 
Everything depends on the strength of the magnet and the distance. I have one that will completely wipe a VHS from almost 10" away. Another will do no noticable damage even when rubbed on the tape.
Personally I would not mess around with it at all. But I suggest that if you simply must do this you should find the very weakest magent that will do your trick, just keep it away from tape and heads anyway.
 
Home depot has little circular magnets that work perfectly. No damage will be done. We have tested it extensively. It takes quite the magnet to erase a tape.

J-
 
Super8 said:
I have seen some people that attach a magnet right next to the screen (on the inside part between screen and camera) to flip the screen upside down.
Click to expand...

I am missing something here, Can you explain what do they do with the magnet and for what reason.

Danny.
 
I certainly hope you guys are goofing around! A magnet next to a video camera?

How about erasing the magnetic tape that you record to?

How the seizing up motor in the zoom control?

How about seizing up the motor that ejects the tape?

How about seizing up the auto focus motor?

A magnet of any strength anywhere near the camera is a recipe for a horror story.
Did you ever put speakers near your monitor? They have a magnet in them too.
I'd like to laugh if this post was a goof, but if you are serious, start saving money for repairs or a replacement camera.
 
Gary said:
I certainly hope you guys are goofing around! A magnet next to a video camera?
How about erasing the magnetic tape that you record to?
How the seizing up motor in the zoom control?
How about seizing up the motor that ejects the tape?
How about seizing up the auto focus motor?
A magnet of any strength anywhere near the camera is a recipe for a horror story.
I'd like to laugh if this post was a goof, but if you are serious, start saving money for repairs or a replacement camera.
Click to expand...

Not true. We are not talking about an EMP machine here. It is a do it at your own risk thing of course. But I have personally shot 50+ hours of footage with a little 1/4" magnet hooked to the side of a DVX LCD. No issues at all. It's simply not true. It would be better to have a flipped LCD though. They are cheap enough and MUCH easier to focus with.


Gary said:
Did you ever put speakers near your monitor? They have a magnet in them too.
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Come on Gary, really. You are speaking of a 12lb magnet against a CRT vs a .01oz magnet against an LCD. Don't be silly.
j-



BTW, Do you know why people use a magnet near their DVX LCD? Because when you physically flip the LCD so the subject can view himself or herself, a little magnet tells it to flip the image. Don't you think Panasonic would be concerned about putting a little magnet in their camera if it were an issue?
 
JHouser,
A magnet near a device that used magnetic force for a good reason (recording on magnetic tape) is asking for trouble no mater what the size. A small magnet left in one place for a long time can cause problems like ghosting on tape or effect the heads that record audio and video.
Magnets are not my friend. Nothing magnetic is allowed in the studio area, not even the advertising ones that stick on the refrigerator.
It is of course your choice, but one should think it through.
By the way, I don't use monitor speakers with 12 lb magnets, I 'm forced to use little junkie ones that replicate the sound most people hear on their broadcast tv sets and even those can distort the video monitors.
it's still just a thought though.
Gary
 
Just to clarify the "why" - several 35mm lens adapters result in the image flipping upside down. While the 'developer' in each of us knows the prism assembly flips it rightside up, it adds cost and complexity, and invariably you lose some more light. the "upside down" problem is something that many - for the price point - are willing to live with and figure out a workaround. Hence the magnet approach. I've also heard Canon XL users can open up their viewfinders and physically flip it upside down, but that's a bit much for me :)
 
Both of you guys know that a russian made pechan room prism with a 12mm - 20mm
clear aperture could be bought for a couple of bucks each and placed into a housing and
mounted onto the viewfinder of a DVX100 or whatever camera--EXACTLY LIKE the
Century Optics anamorphic viewfinder adapter for an 180 degree inversion for the
viewfinder only. It's not hard at all.

That would turn both of your products from
"hack magnet viewfinder trick" to "wow, i could actually use this thing"
 
Personally, I use a tvone on-camera monitor already (which provides 180 degree flip) so it doesn't bother me in the least.

But you're right - we are both aware of the opportunity to take it to the next stage. :)
 
Brian,

Excellent. If you weren't gonna make it, then I would be.
I don't wanna be in the business of making lenses, but you know what I mean. You need it.

:thumbsup:

-Brian
 
Gary said:
JHouser,
A magnet near a device that used magnetic force for a good reason (recording on magnetic tape) is asking for trouble no mater what the size. A small magnet left in one place for a long time can cause problems like ghosting on tape or effect the heads that record audio and video.
Magnets are not my friend. Nothing magnetic is allowed in the studio area, not even the advertising ones that stick on the refrigerator.
It is of course your choice, but one should think it through.
By the way, I don't use monitor speakers with 12 lb magnets, I 'm forced to use little junkie ones that replicate the sound most people hear on their broadcast tv sets and even those can distort the video monitors.
it's still just a thought though.
Gary
Click to expand...

Please tell us you are joking???? Not even a refrigerator magnet in your studio? Come on - so I guess you have no CRT monitors in your studio either? What do you think the focusing coil and deflector coil in CRT monitors are? Giant electromagnets! I have this sound system in my studio:
rm6750.jpg

and I've never had a single issue. Just how big do you think the magnet is in that sub? And that center channel speaker sits on top of my 27" "CRT" Tv monitor...
 
Gary said:
JHouser,
Magnets are not my friend. Nothing magnetic is allowed in the studio area, not even the advertising ones that stick on the refrigerator.
It is of course your choice, but one should think it through.
Gary
Click to expand...

Cool, as you said, to each his own. There are always other options out there. That's whats great about it.

j-
 
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