Impact Filter

Luke J. Photography · January 13, 2009

Does anyone make on of these. A filter that protects from flying projectiles,ETC.

Cause I shoot paintball photography and getting shot it the lens isn't something I would enjoy.

pathfinder · January 13, 2009

Make sure YOUR EYEBALLS are protected first; paintball pellets have replaced BB guns for the "most blinded eyes" and the "most eyes in a bottle on the shelf" awards.

A glass UV filter will help protect your lens, but there is no guarantee that a paintball won't break your filter and scatter glass fragments across your lens surface either.

The military uses Lexan for its face shields for its personnel, but I do not know of a source for camera filters made of Lexan. Maybe there is a business opportunity there.....

Robinivich · January 13, 2009

Typically a "UV" filter is used. Since UV rays are already filtered out on most digital cameras, it just acts as a clear piece of optical grade glass that costs less than replacing a lens. Not sure how far I'd trust these to resist impacts though.

You may also want to check into various "camera armour" products for impact protection for the rest of the camera body.

If you need something you can just wipe paintballs off of without worrying about shattered glass, you might have to look at underwater housings, the glass ports of which are built to withstand forces of around 100 psi or more. This would be probably more expensive than your current camera though, and replacing a scratched port glass can't be cheap either.

ziggy53 · January 13, 2009

It is not enough to just protect the front element of the lens. That paint can cause problems if it gets into the lens controls or camera controls.

I have heard of some die-hards that used underwater cases to hold their camera/lens while they paintball. It seems a bit extreme to me and doesn't allow the use of long lenses so I don't see the point.

Here's a fair example of the coverage some apply:

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/12147/2644965770100589730S600x600Q85.jpg

Using this setup you would just use a high-quality weather sealed filter and hope that it holds up in a direct hit.

Robinivich · January 14, 2009

ziggy53 wrote:

It is not enough to just protect the front element of the lens. That paint can cause problems if it gets into the lens controls or camera controls.

I have heard of some die-hards that used underwater cases to hold their camera/lens while they paintball. It seems a bit extreme to me and doesn't allow the use of long lenses so I don't see the point.

Here's a fair example of the coverage some apply:

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/12147/2644965770100589730S600x600Q85.jpg

Using this setup you would just use a high-quality weather sealed filter and hope that it holds up in a direct hit.

All good points, and a sweet example to boot.

Maybe if one stacked a couple UV filters for redundant protection of the front element? This might be the one situation where you want more glass elements between yourself and subject, though at two (potentially busted) quality filters we're starting to enter cheap lens price ranges here.

troybal · January 14, 2009

Here is a thread you may want to read. Pics included.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=169640

http://www.paintballphotographyforums.com/thread1118.html

Here is some camera armor
http://www.photokina-show.com/0295/madeproduct/accessories/slrcameraarmor/

Or you can buy one of these Splat Cams
http://adrenalinecamera.com/product_info.php?products_id=231

Tips:
http://www.pbgen.com/tips.html

http://photo.net/wedding-photography-forum/00CiWi

Regards,
TR

Luke J. Photography · January 14, 2009

It's not the body i'm worried about it's the lens. And I refuse to use UV filters. I may just have to make my own impact resistent filter.

Also to the first post re guarding face protection.

I've got that covered.

ziggy53 · January 14, 2009

If you have to produce your own version I should think that some factory seconds or trimmings might be useful:

http://www.pacificbulletproof.com/

troybal · January 14, 2009

XPB Photography wrote:

It's not the body i'm worried about it's the lens. And I refuse to use UV filters. I may just have to make my own impact resistent filter.
Also to the first post re guarding face protection.

I've got that covered.

Buy a sheet of lexan and make your own.
http://www.instructables.com/id/S5FOEBYF5VMVA4Z/
TR.

Impact Filter

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