Sun damage to sensor

[kevinbythebeach]

Someone told me that directly shooting the sun can damage the sensor ... perhaps burning photo sites ... anyone know if this is true?

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Kevin,

I have no direct experience, but having played with a magnifying glass as a kid setting light to paper; I can well believe that if you shot into noon day sun (as opposed to the setting sun which is much attenuation by its extended atmospheric path) and focused it, AND didn't use an ND filter, you'd have a sensor scarred for life.

Anyone proved this?

[Colin Southern]

Someone told me that directly shooting the sun can damage the sensor..perhaps burning photo sites...anyone know if this is true?

I've not heard of this happening during a normal exposure (which by definition would be very short) - I HAVE however heard of people melting shutter curtains and even doing more serious damage by leaving a camera without a lens cap on the lens in full sunlight.

[Raycer]

I can see sun damaging a point and shoot camera sensor. If an SLR is pointing towards the sun directly for a long prior of time, I would think the AF modual and/or the light meter modual will be the main target as the mirror refects most of the energy towards them. However, the entire camera will get hot eventually. In which case, whatever the weakest, most temp sensitive component will get damaged.

[Antonio Correia]

It is normal that shooting directly to the Sun burns the sensor.
Sensors also have life expectancy ...
Some time ago I shot a few pictures directly to the Sun but not any more.
Sometimes the effect is nice.