Blinded by the light
Apr 21, 2020 17:56:20 #
Can eye damage occur by viewing the sun through the electronic viewfinder on a mirrorless (Sony a6400) camera? Or would it be the same as viewing the sun on a TV? DO NOT view the sun through an optical viewfinder!!!!
Apr 21, 2020 18:06:41 #
5dogsken wrote:
Can eye damage occur by viewing the sun through the electronic viewfinder on a mirrorless (Sony a6400) camera? Or would it be the same as viewing the sun on a TV? DO NOT view the sun through an optical viewfinder!!!!
Not likely but camera damage can certainly occur.
My DMC-G1 would place a black circle over the sun in the EVF when the sun was in the frame.
Apr 21, 2020 18:20:12 #
5dogsken wrote:
Can eye damage occur by viewing the sun through the electronic viewfinder on a mirrorless (Sony a6400) camera? Or would it be the same as viewing the sun on a TV? DO NOT view the sun through an optical viewfinder!!!!
Same as viewing the sun on TV, after all your monitor is, in essence, a very small TV screen.
Apr 21, 2020 18:20:34 #
...stay away from the light...there is nothing to protect the sensor in a mirrorless camera and your lens acts like a magnifying glass...
Apr 21, 2020 18:51:00 #
SkyKing wrote:
...stay away from the light...there is nothing to protect the sensor in a mirrorless camera and your lens acts like a magnifying glass...
Apr 21, 2020 19:11:53 #
I am not an ophthalmologist or an optometrist- I AM a photographer and I value my eyesight. Of course, everyone should take care of their eyes and make certain NEVER do anything to impair their vision. So...common sense and self-preservation dictate that looking into the bright sun directly or through any kind of optical device is a terrible idea. Best case scenario- you'll screw up your camera but get away without eye damage
Scientists, astronomers, and astrophysicists who study the sun have special instrumentation, incredible dense filters and a whole lot of stuff that is way above my pay grade.
Every time this an eclipse and folks decided to mess with the SUN - view or photograph it through several layers of exposed and process film, 6 pares of sunglasses, whatever- some people end up with severe eye damage or GOD FORBID, BECOME BLIND!
If you don't believe me- ask your doctor, Meanwahle- DON'T DO DAT!
Scientists, astronomers, and astrophysicists who study the sun have special instrumentation, incredible dense filters and a whole lot of stuff that is way above my pay grade.
Every time this an eclipse and folks decided to mess with the SUN - view or photograph it through several layers of exposed and process film, 6 pares of sunglasses, whatever- some people end up with severe eye damage or GOD FORBID, BECOME BLIND!
If you don't believe me- ask your doctor, Meanwahle- DON'T DO DAT!
Apr 21, 2020 19:16:42 #
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
I am not an ophthalmologist or an optometrist- I A... (show quote)
With all due respect the OP asked about viewing the sun thru the EVF of a mirrorless camera. Regardless how bright the sun is the EVF can only be as bright as when it display an image with value of 255,255,255 which is not very bright.
The advantage of the EVF is that it can show you an image close to the final image but far from a real image. On the other hand a reflex viewfinder of an SLR would show you an image close to real but far from what got captured.
Apr 21, 2020 20:04:47 #
BebuLamar wrote:
With all due respect the OP asked about viewing the sun thru the EVF of a mirrorless camera. Regardless how bright the sun is the EVF can only be as bright as when it display an image with value of 255,255,255 which is not very bright.
The advantage of the EVF is that it can show you an image close to the final image but far from a real image. On the other hand a reflex viewfinder of an SLR would show you an image close to real but far from what got captured.
The advantage of the EVF is that it can show you an image close to the final image but far from a real image. On the other hand a reflex viewfinder of an SLR would show you an image close to real but far from what got captured.
And the viewing will only last as long as the sensor does...
Apr 21, 2020 20:09:07 #
BebuLamar wrote:
With all due respect the OP asked about viewing the sun through the EVF of a mirrorless camera. Regardless of how bright the sun is the EVF can only be as bright as when it displays an image with a value of 255,255,255 which is not very bright.
The advantage of the EVF is that it can show you an image close to the final image but far from a real image. On the other hand, a reflex viewfinder of an SLR would show you an image close to real but far from what got captured.
The advantage of the EVF is that it can show you an image close to the final image but far from a real image. On the other hand, a reflex viewfinder of an SLR would show you an image close to real but far from what got captured.
Yup! You are 100% Correct! I am fully acquainted with the concept of live view and reflex view and all that good stuff. I still would not advise anyone to point a camera directly into the sun much less look at it. Just call me an old fuddy-duddy! I ain't talking about sunsets!
Just like I know that one can't propagate a violent explosion by simply mixing nitric acid and glycerin in a test tube- it's a complex process, but look what happened to Dr. Nobel- there's always a chance!
Apr 22, 2020 04:42:17 #
Thanks for all the responses. Didn't consider sensor damage. But it's only used for early morning sun. Thanks again.
Apr 22, 2020 08:18:09 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
5dogsken wrote:
Can eye damage occur by viewing the sun through the electronic viewfinder on a mirrorless (Sony a6400) camera? Or would it be the same as viewing the sun on a TV? DO NOT view the sun through an optical viewfinder!!!!
WHY? Do you even want to do that.
Apr 22, 2020 08:45:44 #
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
I am not an ophthalmologist or an optometrist- I A... (show quote)
True! When I was a kid, maybe 11 or so, we had an eclipse and I thought I knew what I was doing. Of course, I only glanced through a piece of candy wrapper for a second. You know what? I have a spot burned into the retina of my right eye... I'm right eye dominant, which is a bummer, but it's only a handicap if shooting a rifle without a scope. I don't shoot guns, so it's really not an issue - but still.
Apr 22, 2020 10:20:06 #
Apr 22, 2020 11:11:18 #
Much like a magnifying glass, the camera's lens focuses the sun's light and heat on a specific spot. I have the same respect for my camera equipment as I do my eyesight. I wouldn't point either my eyes or my camera lens directly at the sun.
--Bob
--Bob
5dogsken wrote:
Can eye damage occur by viewing the sun through the electronic viewfinder on a mirrorless (Sony a6400) camera? Or would it be the same as viewing the sun on a TV? DO NOT view the sun through an optical viewfinder!!!!
Apr 22, 2020 11:32:30 #
5dogsken wrote:
Can eye damage occur by viewing the sun through the electronic viewfinder on a mirrorless (Sony a6400) camera? Or would it be the same as viewing the sun on a TV? DO NOT view the sun through an optical viewfinder!!!!
No. The viewfinder cannot produce the amount of light that is emitted by the sun, so the brightest light from the viewfinder is the same as a blown out highlight.
Although I have heard that you can damage the sensor from the sun, so far I have been lucky. I have several times shot toward the sun without thinking about it and have purposely shot a welder at work, up close and personal. No damage that I can detect. I won't make a habit of it, since it might be a cumulative type of damage, but so far, no problem.
This advice does not apply to a DSLR since that is an optical system and it would be similar to looking at the sun through a telescope!
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