Surgery
 

So the primary use of the company I work for getting a new camera (XDCAM EX1) is to record surgeries where our products are used. Now I have experience with recording 3 surgical videos. (One colectomy using a Z1U and two c-sections using an F350) In all cases I rented a spider pod as well to get above the surgeons and nurses. Now in all cases I didn’t put anything around the camera but now I am thinking I need something like a rain jacket but disposable. I am thinking about using these clear bags we use in the clean room and some gaff or medical tape to secure it to the front of the camera (with a hole cut for the lens) and leave it open in the back. Do I need to worry about the camera overheating at all or should I be fine? Some surgeries can last 4-6 hours and I would like to be able to change the cards as needed in the camera as well as the battery.

If any of you have any experience in the matter please give me your thoughts. I am flying out to a cadaver lab on Friday (which I am told is extremely smelly) and would like to keep that smell off of my new camera if I can.

Thank you!

As someone who has taped surgeries as well as having shot in an intensive hog operation, I can tell you that I prefer to wrap my camera in store brand cling wrap and carefully cut access to switches, tape doors etc. as necessary. Use as little as possible and be aware that you may be trapping heat so try and establish what areas of the camera get warm in practice before heading out into a mission critical scenario.

My surgery experience includes skin grafts, hip and knee replacement and some minor procedures.