mirror lockup & solar eclipse: If I use mirror lockup shooting the solar eclipse, will I ruin my camera's sensor?

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

If I use mirror lockup shooting the solar eclipse, will I ruin my camera's sensor?

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

No, who told you that.

If you capture the actual eclipse (full) then no, yes it will/could if you shoot before and after

Get some baader film for our lens if you want to be safe

http://www.baader-planetarium.com/sofifolie/sofi_start_e.htm

Just place it over the lens with a rubber band do NOT pull it tight

Here is one I made for one of my scopes

http://www.spacegazer.com/index.asp?pageid=97486

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

JR1 wrote:

No, who told you that.

If you capture the actual eclipse (full) then no, yes it will/could if you shoot before and after

Get some baader film for our lens if you want to be safe

http://www.baader-planetarium.com/sofifolie/sofi_start_e.htm

Just place it over the lens with a rubber band do NOT pull it tight

Here is one I made for one of my scopes

http://www.spacegazer.com/index.asp?pageid=97486

I read that you shouldn't aim your lens directly at the sun.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

nat wrote:

I read that you shouldn't aim your lens directly at the sun.

Totally incorrect only at direct sun, that is what baader film is made for, you won't get the promenences but you will see the spots and with editing the mottled effect

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/JPEGImage27328577.jpg

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

JR1 wrote:

Totally incorrect only at direct sun, that is what baader film is made for, you won't get the promenences but you will see the spots and with editing the mottled effect

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/JPEGImage27328577.jpg

It seems to me that we agree: I said I had read that you should not aim your lens 'directly at the sun.' You said that was totally incorrect, but then added, 'only at direct sun.' Sounds like an agreement to me. I'm trying not to be picky, but this is important to me. I don't want my beloved 7D to melt like the wicked witch of the north if I aim it toward the sun.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

nat wrote:

It seems to me that we agree: I said I had read that you should not aim your lens 'directly at the sun.' You said that was totally incorrect, but then added, 'only at direct sun.' Sounds like an agreement to me. I'm trying not to be picky, but this is important to me. I don't want my beloved 7D to melt like the wicked witch of the north if I aim it toward the sun.

+1, though as I said you can point any camera directly at the full sun with baader film

wetnwld

The warning of not aiming the lens at the sun applies to an UNPREPARED lens. If you jyst swing the camera at the sun, you will be focusing the light and heat produced at the senso, curtain,mirror, and whatever else, allowing potential severe damage to occur to most of these items.
When photographing the sun or some other intense light source, you would take precautions, such as the appropriate N.D. filter or other filter as mentioned above. This filtration removes the potential of damage when aimed at the sun.
So the real answer is DO NOT AIM THE LENS AT THE SUN, UNLESS YOU TAKE PRECAUTIONS / PREPARATIONS.
Lets se the results.

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

Thanks, all, for your comments. It was cloudy this morning, so I didn't see the eclipse. Went back to bed and will tell all my friends how disappointed I was. :)

upnorthbob Loc: Wisconsin

Thanks for the advice. :thumbup:

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

nat wrote:

If I use mirror lockup shooting the solar eclipse, will I ruin my camera's sensor?

It is more the shutter you have to worry about, just a little direct sun (with mirror locked up, like in live view etc.), can damage the shutter curtains beyond repair.

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

speters wrote:

It is more the shutter you have to worry about, just a little direct sun (with mirror locked up, like in live view etc.), can damage the shutter curtains beyond repair.

wow! Another thing to be aware of. Thanks.

wmvcooper Loc: baltimore, MD

OMG!! I've shooting sunrise/sunset pictures all summer, and nerver heard of baader film until now. What is it and how does it help my photos?
Now I'm wondering, I had to send my Nikon 5100 to Nikon for repairs. As I turned the commans dial that changes the shutter and apature settings would turn but nothing happened. The camera is less than two years old and has then 10,000 shots. Do you thing that I messed up my camera by not using a baader film.

mrtobin Loc: North East Ohio

nat wrote:

If I use mirror lockup shooting the solar eclipse, will I ruin my camera's sensor?

Not at all. Locking your mirror up and focusing the sun on to your sensor does no harm at all. Staring at the sun with your naked eye for hours at a time, no harm at all. Drinking sea water, not so bad after all. come on!
regards mrtobin

gessman Loc: Colorado

mrtobin wrote:

Not at all. Locking your mirror up and focusing the sun on to your sensor does no harm at all. Staring at the sun with your naked eye for hours at a time, no harm at all. Drinking sea water, not so bad after all. come on!
regards mrtobin

Somehow this fails to impress me as being a very useful comment.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Can I ask .... how are you going to get photos of the eclipse if you don't point your camera at the sun?