Shooting into the sun with a digital camera?

Hi,

I was taking a sunset photo with my Canon 10d recently, when someone stopped
me and asked whether I didn't know that shooting into the sun is bad for the
camera. I've always operated on the rule that if it doesn't hurt my eyes,
it's OK.

Do I need some kind of filter to shoot into the rising/setting sun?

Thanks.

-Scott

 

Oh, yes. Open the shutter of your digital camera for about two weeks,
and open the lens all the way, and point it right at the sun. That's
the best thing that could happen to digital cameras!

 

Warning - generalisations follow. Your mileage may..etc.. Read your
camera manual and heed the warnings.

Now, onto the opinions!

Yes, CCD and CMOS sensors can be damaged by sunlight exposure, but...

No, in 'normal usage', this should not be an issue. In other words,
including the sun in shot, as long as your exposure times are
appropriate (?) should not cause a problem. Pointing the camera at a
midday sun and taking a time exposure is likely to be a dangerous
proposition, however. And it's certainly not a good idea to leave any
camera un-lens-capped sitting around in the sun, or any bright light
source for that matter.

There are a few, but very few, references on the web to digital sensors
being damaged by sunlight. Personally, I take a lot of shots that
include the sun when both low and high in the sky (much more likely to
do damage) and have never encountered a problem (cameras include Sony
717, 828, P73, P93, Olympus C3030, c8080..)

Fingers crossed.

 

another useful post.. keep it up. it all adds to your reputation.

\O;

 

Why don't you quit asking such imbecilic questions, moron.
Ask the manufacturer, dumbass.

 

Well, if you don't know, just say so.

 

I have done some photography of welding and cutting processes that put
out a ton more (about 4~5 times midday summer sun) UV and visible light
than the sun would at any time of the day.
What I've found is that apparently no damage has occurred.
There are seemingly no images "burnt into the sensor" and other, later
photos in all conditions seem to bear this out.

Many things that are "uncomfortable" (brightness wise) to look at even
with eye protection (glasses, goggles, etc) on are seemingly safe to
photograph.

 

Why do you come here?

 

By acting like an assholeand insulting others he tries to make himself look
better.....too bad it makes him look like a complete cock.

 

I just added him to my killfile after reading his initial response to my
post, and a few other recent responses. He just doesn't seem to have
anything interesting to say.

People like him don't necessarily do what they do to feel better about
themselves. I doubt he feels insecure; he just enjoys being mean and
stirring things up.

Also, I wouldn't bother challenging him with stuff like "you're probably a
lousy photographer" or "you're probably a little 98-pound wimp". He could be
the world's best photographer and/or some big tough guy. That would just
make it all the more sad that he has this asshole personality disorder.

"So close, and yet so near..."

-Scott

 

Ok, following suggestion- take a magnifier, hold it in between the right
distance between the sun and your skin.
You see the steam coming off your skin? Ohh, it hurt already too much so
you stopped beforehand?

Now do the same between the welding and the skin.
Does it hurt?

I guess your theory is answered.

Cheers
Gerhard

 

It won't be the same for all digital cameras. The DSLRs have a
mechanical shutter (at least I can't think of any that don't) whilst
many point and shoot don't (how else could you use the LCD to compose
the image).

So whilst there's possibly a chance of cooking some of the point and
shoot cameras there's less chance of damaging a DSLR. I'm sure someone
else could do the math...

 

Now try the same thing for 1/2000 of a second and see if it hurts (like
most of the DSLRs would do).

 

Rather than writing "seemingly safe" I should have been more clear, they
_are_ _safe_ to photograph.

The many glass (and plastic, depending on manufacturer) elements in
camera lenses plus a mirror plus a pentaprism attenuates any harmful
radiation before it gets to your eye by looking through the viewfinder.
It may cause eye _strain_ due to visible brightness, but not dammage due
to burning.

Unprotected exposure of skin to (electric, AKA arc) welding radiation
will give you second degree burns after about 20 ~ 30 minutes and the
skin will peal the next day.
Unprotected (no goggles, safety glasses or welding visor) eyes can be
damaged in less than a second of exposure.
The two examples above assume that you are the one welding or "standing
over their shoulder" observing at very close range

The many glass (and plastic) elements in the optical path of an SLR
provide excelent protection from harmful radiation to the eye looking
through the viewfinder.
They (optical elements) are made of similar materials to the safety
glasses you need to avoid eye damage.

I am a welder/fabricator by trade and am truly familiar with the effects
of electric arc welding or cutting radiation.

Don't forget that the sensor on a DSLR camera will only be exposed at
the most for a fraction of a second during a photographic exposure,
unless you are deliberately trying to damage the camera by using an
exposure of several seconds.

All DSLR cameras have _metal_ focal plane shutters.
So, even the old precaution of leaving the lenscap on, the lens at close
focus and setting small apeture to avoid burning the cloth of the
shutter when not actually taking pictures does not apply anymore.

If, on the other hand, you are using an SLR styled "prosumer" model
digital camera, the sensor is _constantly_ exposed to provide "live
preview" and you could concievably (maybe, perhaps) burn a sun image
into the sensor (if you're unlucky).

I write all of this from experience.

Where did you get your incredible "in depth" knowledge on this subject?

Many more cheers from me,
dj_nme

 

People like him don't necessarily do what they do to feel better about

Okay, how do you kill fill somebody?

 

In Outlook Express you can go to "message" and select "block sender"

 

Yikes, chrlz is keeping a dossier on anyone he feels is not making useful
posts. I'm scared!
Film, rules!
me

 

In Message-ID:<> posted on Tue, 28 Dec 2004

I doubt that the CCD would be able to ignore the several seconds before
and after the actual 1/2000 reading is taken, or do DSLRs have shutters?
....and I've seen cloth FP shutters ruined just that way.

 

In

You've just answered a question I posed only moments ago.
Maybe I should read all responses before replying to any? <g>

 

Mechanically, DSLRs are more or less the same as flm SLRs but with a CCD
sensor where the film would be.