Re: Safe distance for photographing operating tesla coils with digital cameras?

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Peter Terren" <pterren@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

I have taken many pics of  TC's in action.  Generally the cameras are 
not sensitive to the RF presumably as they are encased in a metal 
body.  I have wrapped them in foil with a hole for the lens at 
times.  I also have modified a tin box that will fit either my 
digital, SLR or video camera attached to the tripod and I use this if 
I am concerned.  No problems so far.  I typically take shots from 3-4 
times spark length away to get sufficient field of view.

Your TC pictures show the sparks blurred and this is a function of 
your camera rather than interference.  Some cameras including yours 
just don't show sparks well.  Interference tends to be vertical lines 
rather than individual pixels which are an indication of low light 
and turning up the exposure or auto-exposure.  You would have to try 
a different camera although possibly a UV filter (or a thick piece of 
normal glass) might work .

BTW I use a tripod for virtually all my shots.  A few other photo 
tips are here:
http://tesladownunder.com/Misc.htm#Photos

Peter

> Original poster: "Garry Freemyer" <garryfre@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Recently, I posted a url to my website that has some pictures of my tesla
> coil in the photography Usenet group and the subject came up about the main
> picture here ....
> http://home.pacbell.net/garryfre/
> and what is the minimum "safe" distance one should be from a tesla coil when
> taking a picture, given the output power or voltage of the coil before it
> starts messing with the camera.
.........