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Thread: Sun damage to sensor

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    Sun damage to sensor

    Someone told me that directly shooting the sun can damage the sensor ... perhaps burning photo sites ... anyone know if this is true?
    Last edited by Colin Southern; 2nd June 2009 at 07:40 PM.

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    Moderator Dave Humphries's Avatar
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    Re: Sun damage to sensor

    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?

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    Re: Sun damage to sensor

    Quote Originally Posted by kevinbythebeach View Post
    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.

  4. #4
    Raycer's Avatar
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    Re: Sun damage to sensor

    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.

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    Antonio Correia's Avatar
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    Damaging the sensor

    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.

    Sun damage to sensor
    Last edited by Antonio Correia; 3rd June 2009 at 11:52 AM.

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