Posted by R. Ticle on
URL: https://www.es-forum.com/Camera-Motor-EMF-Cause-for-concern-tp1546119.html

I have really gotten into photography in the last couple of years.
With the advent of digital cameras, I am able to take pictures without
dealing with developing chemicals, or the cost of many takes in film
to keep one shot.

I was recently gifted (birthday gifted) a Digital SLR Camera. It
works very well and takes great pictures.  

First thing I did was check it's EMF output. Very low electrical
fields. That can be dealt with simply. Great!, I thought.

Then I check it's magnetic fields. And I thought, "sh*t!". Because
naturally whenever the lens focuses automatically, or the shutter
opens to take a picture, there is a burst of a magnetic field from the
motor. I can't BELIEVE I didn't think of this before. Gah...

It jumps to about 35 milligauss on average (meter up against the
camera, just like the face of whoever's using it - this is the kind
where you look through the viewfinder, it's not a point and shoot
where you use the screen).

Do I have reason to be concerned about these bursts of magnetic
fields? I mean, it's not constantly against my head, and they last for
perhaps a second or less at a time, only when the shutter fires. I
can even get away from the motor focusing the lens most of the time by
using manual focus and adjusting it by hand.

Unfortunately, I can't just take this thing apart and try and shield
the motor from the inside, myself. There is a very thin and flexible
foil called Met Glas that sounds like it could be used for such a
purpose, but it's the matter of getting it inside that's the issue.

Maybe I can find a technician who's willing to do it?...Hmm...

I can theoretically shield some parts of the camera from the outside
with this material.  

But - what are your thoughts on these brief magnetic fields?

Best,

R.