RLSprouse Loc: Encinitas CA (near Sandy Eggo)

Beautiful shot...

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I have been shooting mirrorless M43 since circa 2008. I shoot many sunsets, and a few sunrises. ;)

With the sun low on the horizon there is no problem as in sunset, sunrise, there is no worry about damage to the camera sensor.

Camera sensors can be damaged, both DSLR and mirrorless, with exposure to BRIGHT sunlight.

CO

That's a fantastic shot!

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

if the shutter covered the sensor until the "shot" you couldn't see any thing sensor is what your looking at

sbschippers Loc: Baltimore MD

The sensor is not continually exposed (activated) that would make no sense at all. The result would be a single exposure with a duration of infinite length and no individual images would be possible. The sensor is activated only for the time the shutter is actually open.

RLSprouse Loc: Encinitas CA (near Sandy Eggo)

I can't believe how difficult it is for some people to understand how a mirrorless camera works.

When you turn the camera on, the sensor is active, and exposed to the light coming in through the lens. The camera feeds the live image through to the EVF. What happens when you press the shutter release button depends on the shooting mode you have set, either the normal mode which uses the mechanical shutter, or "silent" mode, which uses the electronic shutter.

In the normal mode, when you press the shutter button, the mechanical shutter closes briefly, then the shutter opens and closes to make the capture, according to the shutter speed currently set. When the image capture is complete, and the image data is written into the camera's buffer, the shutter opens and the sensor is again exposed to the light coming in through the lens. So the sensor is only "hidden" for two brief periods of time: when the shutter is closed before the image capture event, and again when the exposure is complete and the data is being recorded in the buffer. At all other times, the sensor is "active" and exposed to the light.

In silent shooting mode. the mechanical shutter is not involved at all, and the sensor is continually exposed to the light. The camera electronics turn the sensor off, then turn it on again for the period of time set for the shutter speed, and at that point the data is written into the camera's buffer. The exposure is made electronically, and the sensor is never hidden from the incoming light.

I hope this clarifies things.

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Very nice shot, I really like the contrast in your image. I was in Victor Idaho for the eclipse.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-615123-1.html

RLSprouse Loc: Encinitas CA (near Sandy Eggo)

Spectacular series, Ballard. Great work!

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Hi RLSprouse
Thanks for the comment

Millismote Loc: Massachusetts

The mirror is fixed in place and about 18% if the image passes through the mirror to the sensor and the rest goes up to the eye piece. I have taken many shots of both sunrise and sunset with no sensor damage.

RLSprouse Loc: Encinitas CA (near Sandy Eggo)

In a mirrorless camera?

CO

Very good explanation about how mirrorless works. So then with a DSLR, the sensor is turned off and is only on for the duration of the exposure? Would the exception be if a DSLR camera is in live view mode?

RLSprouse Loc: Encinitas CA (near Sandy Eggo)

Thanks for the comment. I really appreciate it.

TBH I don't know if the sensor of a DSLR is "turned off" other than during exposure, but as you point out, it has to be turned on for Live View to work.

rjriggins11 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

Your lens works like a magnifying glass and it focuses directly on the sensor. Remember the ants as a child? That's what happens to the pixels in your image sensor. You would't believe all the shutter curtains I've seen over the years with pinholes from sun damage. Don't get me wrong, I've shot lots of sunrises and sunsets and even an eclipse or two. I just use a back-up camera instead. The lens won't get damaged so you can use any one you choose. Just be weary about that brand new $2,000 camera.

CO

Thanks for the info. I don't know if I will ever switch over to mirrorless. I don't like that the sensor is always on. The sensor becomes a dust magnet and the sensor plus EVF drain battery power much faster than a DSLR. The autofocus performance is not there yet. It will probably be 5 to 10 years until mirrorless has developed enough for me to consider it.