[mdlug] OT - IR jamming

[Dave Arbogast]

Kristian Erik Hermansen wrote:

>On Feb 16, 2008 6:26 PM, Dave Arbogast <mdlug3 at arb.net> wrote:
>  
>
>>I was just in DC with my top of the line SLR digital camera. I was in
>>the right place at the right time to take photos of a motorcade entering
>>the big house. I was about 12 feet from them and 16 feet from the inter
>>gate as it opened. (I shot for several newspapers in the day, so you
>>could say I'm not am amateur.)
>>
>>OK, shoot, shoot, shoot.  Daylight, immediate response pro camera.
>>What's the problem ?  This was a high raking official as the tailing
>>S.S. Tahoe had the back 3 windows open and 3 armored soldiers with
>>fingers on their machine guns. Yes, they gave me the evil eye for trying
>>to take their photo from 4 meters, but my camera refused to take their
>>photo.... it took many photos minutes before they arrived and many more
>>minutes after the iron gates closed behind them.
>>
>>The only explanation is IR / RF  jamming of my system. I wish I had gone
>>to manual focus as I do often, but I have never held down the shutter
>>release with no result.  The guys following up the rear were too cool.
>>None of the other motorcades we saw that day had the heavy artillery
>>exposed in the trailing SUV ready to fire.
>>    
>>
>
>What model camera was this?  Of course, I am sure there are many ways
>to accomplish what you believe has happened, but check out this
>article...
>http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/HP-Developing-Picture-Jamming-Technology-to-Block-Unwanted-Photographs-.htm
>  
>
Very interesting.... I was guessing they were using something from the 
military to block laser guided whatever. It would be IR and certainly my 
focusing system would not be happy about it. I tried to get another 
chance but all the other motorcades last week were low value guests and 
didn't have the tailing gunship.

I have a Pentax K10 D. Its greatest asset is the anti-shake is in the 
camera body so I can use my long glass lenses from my newspaper days. 
Most of the others put the anti shake in the lens, rendering the older 
high end lenses much less useful. Its over 10m per shot and allows full 
manual for every option including turning off anti shake and auto focus. 
Both are a single separate switch.

They claim it is rain proof and the body has water seals for everything, 
but I worry about the lens, so I still shield it.

-dave