Grey sphere captured on video during camera test in Buc

Summary

On October 2, 2008, a resident of Buc (Yvelines) was testing his new camcorder by filming a helicopter. Upon reviewing the footage, he noticed a grey sphere present throughout the entire recording—something he had not seen while filming. GEIPAN concluded it was likely an insect or bird passing very close to the lens, unnoticed by the operator. This type of capture is relatively common with compact digital cameras, whose short focal length can sharply render tiny objects that older formats would have blurred or merged with the background. The case illustrates how modern technology can produce misleading images requiring careful analysis to avoid misinterpretation.