Shooting the Sun?

[seanmcleod]

Hey,

I thought I remembered someone saying something about not pointing your camera directly at the sun for some reason. Is there anything to that? I mean I've seen shots of the sun before so I know it can be done but can it do harm to your cam?

[LilGryphMaster]

I'd reccomend not shooting the sun as the world needs it to survive...

Oh, you mean pointing your camera at it. It can be done, but I know on some cameras if you point them at the sun the little tubes in the break and stuff. I think the DVX can handle some sun in its eyes, though, but just do it sparingly.

[filmismymedium]

I shot a sunset timelapse once but during sunrise/sunset there is far more atmosphere/dust to block dangerous rays. I would avoid shooting the sun when it is high in the sky.


i.e. if you can't look at it dont point your cam towards it.

[nocoast]

why (exactly) do you guys advise edit:against (im a retard) shooting directly at a "high" sun...

[filmismymedium]

why (exactly) do you guys advise shooting directly at a "high" sun...


I would avoid shooting the sun when it is high in the sky.

[ryan brown]

Shooting directly at the sun without a strong ND filter could fry your CCD chips.

Sure it can be done, just get a stronger ND filter to do it. Like "filmismymedium" said, and straight from Barry Green's mouth, "if you can't look at it, don't point your camera at it."

-brown

[seanmcleod]

so your saying a solar eclipse is out of the question? jk

[LilGryphMaster]

You could get away with a solar eclipse, just be sure to use a ND filter because yes, the light could be powerful enough to kill your CCD chips.

[saturnin]

hahaah does that rule go towards ugly looking actors? ahahahah if u cant look at em dont shoot em :P

[paul0100]

There are some great filters at this site. http://www.thousandoaksoptical.com/solar.html

The problem with pointing at the sun is your lense focuses the sun onto the image sensor, much like a magnifying glass onto a bit of wood. These filters remove the heat from the sun, so it cant damage your camera.

[betasx]

Back in the day of the tube cameras "sun spots" were an issue, if you stuck your lens where the sun did shine you would most likely introduce a greenish dot to your tape that would never go away EVER. This is no longer the case with modern technology. CCD cams are not your dads old ikegami. I've personally shot a time lapse two or three times around noonish with a betacam sx and never had a problem.