Does photographing the sun hurt a digital sensor? In "film days", I didn't worry about the sun harming the sensor; after all, each image had its own sensor. Will repeated exposures of...

PeterBergh

In "film days", I didn't worry about the sun harming the sensor; after all, each image had its own sensor. Will repeated exposures of the sun harm a digital sensor?

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

All depends on how long you expose the sensor to direct sunlight. Since special filters are used when photographing our planets star, the odds of damage to the sensor is slim to none. I've been taking pics of the sun for years and haven't fried a sensor yet; but it can be done.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

rmorrison1116 wrote:

All depends on how long you expose the sensor to direct sunlight. Since special filters are used when photographing our planets star, the odds of damage to the sensor is slim to none. I've been taking pics of the sun for years and haven't fried a sensor yet; but it can be done.

Also depends on how strong the sunlight is - for example, where the sun is in the sky. People take pictures of sunrises and sunsets all the time without causing harm to their sensors.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

PeterBergh wrote:

In "film days", I didn't worry about the sun harming the sensor; after all, each image had its own sensor. Will repeated exposures of the sun harm a digital sensor?

See the att from the last solar eclipse. Of course the rays of the Sun concentrated through many layers of focusing and magnifying glass can destroy things

https://petapixel.com/2017/09/01/photos-cameras-lenses-got-destroyed-solar-eclipse/

therwol Loc: USA

PeterBergh wrote:

In "film days", I didn't worry about the sun harming the sensor; after all, each image had its own sensor. Will repeated exposures of the sun harm a digital sensor?

I'm sure that if you point a camera at the noon day sun to take a picture of the sun, you're putting the sensor at risk, especially with a mirrorless camera. (It would be like using a magnifying glass to focus the sun on a small spot to ignite something.) Intense heat. In that situation, you'd want a sun filter in place. As for the sunrise and sunset scenario, I defer to the experts on that.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

PeterBergh wrote:

In "film days", I didn't worry about the sun harming the sensor; after all, each image had its own sensor. Will repeated exposures of the sun harm a digital sensor?

There are thousands of sunset pictures, but not many of the noon-day sun. Camera makers warn about exposing the camera to the sun directly.

Nikon D7100: Sunlight focused into the camera could cause a fire. ...could damage internal circuitry.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I go by "If you can't look at the sun, neither can your sensor.".

Goober Loc: Southeastern PA

PeterBergh wrote:

In "film days", I didn't worry about the sun harming the sensor; after all, each image had its own sensor. Will repeated exposures of the sun harm a digital sensor?

Actually back in the"film days" most 35mm cameras except for the high end models had cloth focal plane shutters. I burned out a shutter in my Canon FTB using a 300mm lens on a scene including the sun. End of that camera!

Eddy Vortex

I've got hundreds of shot of the sun, mostly around sundown but have many mid-afternoon etc and I've never damaged my sensor (on numerous cameras). Usually use a pretty quick shutter speed.
Doubters....you can see pictures of, or including, the sun everywhere. How do you think that they're made?

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

It can cause serious damage if exposure is for some duration. It is not good for short term and should be limited.

Dik

bcrawf

rmorrison1116 wrote:

All depends on how long you expose the sensor to direct sunlight. Since special filters are used when photographing our planets star, the odds of damage to the sensor is slim to none. I've been taking pics of the sun for years and haven't fried a sensor yet; but it can be done.

That will be a big issue with mirrorless digital cameras, I predict.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

to long exp can burn a hole right through it I've seen it happen.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

rook2c4 wrote:

Also depends on how strong the sunlight is - for example, where the sun is in the sky. People take pictures of sunrises and sunsets all the time without causing harm to their sensors.

Yes indeed it does matter how high in the sky the sun is and what lens one is using also. Sunrise and sunset shots are usually more wide angle making the sun only a small part of the image and they are usually shot at relatively high shutter speed. The amount of concentrated sunlight making it to the sensor is nill and a solar filter is not needed; the atmosphere is acting as a filter.
When photographing the sun with a telephoto lens you will be using a solar filter, not only to protect the camera but also your eyes.

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

just a good practice to avoid... also at risk are SLR cameras sitting on the back window ledge of automobiles without a lens cap... even when walking I cover the lens area with my hand to keep any unwanted sunlight out...

Dik

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

bcrawf wrote:

That will be a big issue with mirrorless digital cameras, I predict.

Not if they use a solar filter. I've pointed a DSLR at the sun, with the equivalent of a 1200 mm lens, in live view so others could see the surface of the sun.