Can pointing the camera at the sun damage the sensor? I took some sunset pictures last night. I usually use a 17mm (DX) lens to get a big sky feeling, but this time I tried using a...

Curve_in Loc: Virginia

I took some sunset pictures last night. I usually use a 17mm (DX) lens to get a big sky feeling, but this time I tried using a 300mm (DX) to make the sun a bigger part of the image. Near the end, I started wondering if pointing the camera at the sun might damage the sensor. Should I be worried?

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

At sunset the sun is going through more atmosphere and you should be OK. I'd avoid taking photos of it when it is at it's brightest and highest position in the sky.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Yes, but don't let it stop you shooting this type of shot.
I shoot many of these, people all around the world do the same.
Just don't leave your camera pointed at the sun like this with live view turned on. Because then your sensor will be exposed for prolonged periods of time rather than just the 1/1000th sec that this photo was probably shot at.
I haven't knowingly seen any degradation caused by this, but reliable sources do say that the direct sun will damage sensors.
It may be that the majority of those dead/hot/stuck pixels on our sensor are caused by direct sun damage ... who knows?

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

No, unless it's a point and shoot. You probably don't have to worry about damaging the sensor on a DSLR. You should be more concerned about damaging your eyes. 8-)

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Bmac wrote:

No, unless it's a point and shoot. You probably don't have to worry about damaging the sensor on a DSLR. You should be more concerned about damaging your eyes. 8-)

http://photo.stackexchange.com/questions/2089/how-to-fix-an-image-sensor-damaged-by-long-sun-exposures

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

lighthouse wrote:

Yes, but don't let it stop you shooting this type ... (show quote)

Curve, lighthouse is pretty right on here.
Yes, you can damage the sensor, but not with normal shooting. I would not worry about it, but for SURE I would never use live-view into the sun. The Only case I am aware of was using live-view, and it had been used quite a bit. The result was similar as in the link provided by Lighthouse. The sensor still worked, but there was an odd, almost unnoticeable halo in all the shots. Live-view will shut down from overheating, but obviously if you keep repeating, can cause damage.
In regular shooting, remember that the sensor is only directly exposed for a fraction of a second.
But of course to each, his own paranoia!! :lol:
SS

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

You also might consider using a ND filter or even a few of them. You can get a graduated filter so you don't darken the lower area that much.

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

Bmac wrote:

No, unless it's a point and shoot. You probably don't have to worry about damaging the sensor on a DSLR. You should be more concerned about damaging your eyes. 8-)

I have to agree. I have shot lots and lots of sunsets (literally 1000s) with my DSLRs and have never had a single problem show up. Your sensor is exposed for only a fraction of a second most of the time. But that fraction of a second can be harmful to your eyes if you stare directly at the sun while composing. You can always buy another camera but you only get one set of eyes.

mechengvic Loc: SoCalo

Curve_in wrote:

I took some sunset pictures last night. I usually use a 17mm (DX) lens to get a big sky feeling, but this time I tried using a 300mm (DX) to make the sun a bigger part of the image. Near the end, I started wondering if pointing the camera at the sun might damage the sensor. Should I be worried?

For a gorgeous shot like that??? It's worth it!

dandij Loc: Hoodsport, Washington

Come on, how dumb would it be to manufacture a camera that could not be used into the sun? Does your camera instructions state no shooting into the sun? I didn't think so. Don't believe everything you read or hear about photography, especialy on the hog. Try calling the manufacturer of your camera for a true answer.
Watch out for those sensor mites, if they get into your camera they will devour your sensor. I read that some where so it must be true.
Dan

Curve_in wrote:

I took some sunset pictures last night. I usually use a 17mm (DX) lens to get a big sky feeling, but this time I tried using a 300mm (DX) to make the sun a bigger part of the image. Near the end, I started wondering if pointing the camera at the sun might damage the sensor. Should I be worried?

shagbat Loc: London

Bmac wrote:

No, unless it's a point and shoot. You probably don't have to worry about damaging the sensor on a DSLR. You should be more concerned about damaging your eyes. 8-)

Best reply!
I have made a filter using a welders glass and have used it successfully (ish) for eclipses. Just be careful.

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

Curve_in wrote:

I took some sunset pictures last night. I usually use a 17mm (DX) lens to get a big sky feeling, but this time I tried using a 300mm (DX) to make the sun a bigger part of the image. Near the end, I started wondering if pointing the camera at the sun might damage the sensor. Should I be worried?

With the sun this low in the sky there is a lot of atmosphere between you and the sun - which acts like a big filter and is why the sun looks red. You can look at the sun when it is low in the sky - but not earlier in the day. It is similar for your sensor. You can see this by the increased exposure time and how quickly it changes at sunset and sun rise.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Curve_in wrote:

I took some sunset pictures last night. I usually use a 17mm (DX) lens to get a big sky feeling, but this time I tried using a 300mm (DX) to make the sun a bigger part of the image. Near the end, I started wondering if pointing the camera at the sun might damage the sensor. Should I be worried?

According to the owner's manual, yes. Also, you don't want to zoom in on the noonday sun and look through the viewfinder. :D

Nikon D7100 -

drivered Loc: Capital District, NY

Nice photo.

MtnMan Loc: ID

jerryc41 wrote:

According to the owner's manual, yes. Also, you don't want to zoom in on the noonday sun and look through the viewfinder. :D

Nikon D7100 -

Good work finding that! Your last highlight seems to be the direct answer to the OP's question.

I suppose the idea on P&S applies to any camera with full time live view; I.e. all mirrorless cameras, including those with EVF.

Which got me wondering about the shutter in mirrorless cameras. Am I right to assume they also eliminate the mechanical shutter and instead do it electronically?