Can the sun damage a sensor?

I've heard that it can damage it from some people and others have said
there's no way... ??

ref: http://www.pbase.com/slack/image/54881798
_____
Slack

"Slack™" " wrote in message
...
I've heard that it can damage it from some people and others have said
there's no way... ??

ref: http://www.pbase.com/slack/image/54881798
_____
Slack


A slightly academic question for those of us in the UK.........

Slack™ wrote:

I've heard that it can damage it from some people and others have said
there's no way... ??

In a fast shutter shot, no. But point at the sun and hold the shutter
open in "B" (or set a long shutter period) and it will for sure. Don't
ask me where the threshold is, I don't know, but please do experiment
from 1/2 sec and slower and we look forward to the result.

--
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-- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch.

I think the answer would be "yes" - but not doing any "normal" kind of shot.

In message ,
Slack™ " wrote:

I've heard that it can damage it from some people and others have said
there's no way... ??

The intensity of the sun on the sensor at any given point depends upon
focus (especially for wide angles) and f-stop. The lower the f-stop,
the more intense the light. Total heat depends on those plus exposure
time. There may be a small difference between lenses of different focal
lengths, as a small, focused sun from a wide-angle might have some of
the heat escape to an area where the sun isn't focused, but a telephoto
at the same f-stop would make it impossible for heat from the center to
escape anywhere.
--


John P Sheehy

Slack? " wrote:
I've heard that it can damage it from some people and others have said
there's no way... ??

ref: http://www.pbase.com/slack/image/54881798

If the shutter is closed, no way...

If you mean taking a direct shot at the overhead sun, well,
I don't know but I'd not do it.

---- Paul J. Gans

Alan Browne wrote:
Slack™ wrote:

I've heard that it can damage it from some people and others have said
there's no way... ??

In a fast shutter shot, no. But point at the sun and hold the shutter
open in "B" (or set a long shutter period) and it will for sure. Don't
ask me where the threshold is, I don't know, but please do experiment
from 1/2 sec and slower and we look forward to the result.


Ah, I think I'll wait for Rich to snag the first ever magnesium sensor
and try a 30 min exposure... straight at the sun... at high noon.
_____
Slack

I've heard that it can damage it from some people and others have said
there's no way... ??


In a previous millennium when I shot with a medium format camera, I'd use
the mirror up button a lot, (so the flap of the mirror didn't shake the
camera on the tripod.) I packed it with the lens up and the next day I
opened my case outside and waited around awhile. The wide angle lens on it
focused the sun on the shutter curtain and burned a hole in it. That was
an expensive mistake cause I didn't know for a week and wondered why I had
those spots on all those images.

I don't think I'd want to see if that would damage the sensor.

I really don't think it would harm it during a normal exposure, but not for
any long term exposure, besides the heat that could cause damage, image the
damage caused by looking at the sun with your eye.

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