Effects of music on a camera.

[Discordia]

Standing a foot away from a 250w PA speaker won't damage the camera, will it? I was thinking that since I can feel the vibrations throughout my entire body that maybe that could be what caused my Err CF at my last (first) concert shoot. Anyone have any oppinons?

[KasiaFan]

Well it's certainly not good for your ears, you don't want tinnitus, trust me.

I suppose it's not unthinkable that it could damage a camera, although I would think it would have more effect on the shutter mechanism than the CF card. There's a pretty good amount of energy in those sound vibrations, I've been in rooms with bands practicing where you could see the cigarette smoke puffing in and out of empty bottles from the force of the bass notes, so it could certainly rattle your camera pretty good. If nothing else it will probably cause camera shake, so the front of a speaker is a good place to avoid.

[Exit]

I've been shooting in front of 20kW+ arrays for some time and my cameras and lenses are all still working fine. I wouldn't put the body near it as it may wipe your memory card (though I've never tired)

[DocFrankenstein]

I've been shooting in front of 20kW+ arrays for some time and my cameras and lenses are all still working fine. I wouldn't put the body near it as it may wipe your memory card (though I've never tired)
It may only do that if you're using microdrives.

CF cards type one can't be damaged by magnets.

[blackshadow]

Standing a foot away from a 250w PA speaker won't damage the camera, will it? I was thinking that since I can feel the vibrations throughout my entire body that maybe that could be what caused my Err CF at my last (first) concert shoot. Anyone have any oppinons?

People have bigger stereos than 250w PAs - try getting in front of a speaker stack that is blasting out 20KW - no effect on camera gear but I do recommend a good set of earplugs!

[SimonG]

Comparing system loudness based on wattage is going to yield a ballpark answer at best; it makes much more sense to speak in terms of SPL generated at the speaker. People with 250 W home stereos probablly have speakers that are signigicantly less efficient that those used in a PA system (or any other professional application really), and they probablly don't crank up their system the same way either; when I am listening to music at home, it's rare for my system to peak higher than 10W (this translates to an SPL of about 100 dB at the seating position).

Of course, all that being said, I probablly wouldn't worry too much about my camera in these situations, as I'd be more concerned about the long term hearing loss I might be suffering by standing in such close proximity to one of these loudspeakers for any length of time. Take care of your ears!

[blackshadow]

I was just trying to draw comparisons between a 250W PA and something seriously loud.

Some of my really loud moments have been (in no particular order)
Ministry
Motorhead
Radio Birdman
Dinosaur Jr
Rose Tattoo

These were all loud enough to take your head off.

[cosworth]

No. I shot under power lines all the time and the EM rads from them are crazy.