in those old videos of atomic bomb tests destroying buildings, how does the camera/footage survive?

Question

I’m referring to those old black and white videos of US atomic bomb tests – it always shows buildings and other constructions being literally blown away but the camera seems fine

In: 81

Answer 1

Many of those films were of carefully constructed buildings to represent “average” construction of various types, specifically for the testing. The cameras were located in bunkers in the test area, protected from blast and radiation, filming through periscopes through armored glass. Even if the blast destroyed what was above ground, the film would survive in the camera mounting pit.