Can Direct Sunlight into Lens Cause Damage?

R

Ryanwar7

Well-known member
Hello Everyone,

I just had a quick question that I thought people would fairly easily know the answer to, but I cannot seem to get a consistent answer about...

If I were to point my camera toward the sun while shooting (just a bare HVX, no filters besides ND) can my lens, CCD, or any other part of my camera be harmed?

It is not that I am going to be doing this too often anyway, but I figured it is probably something I should know when operating a camera that isn't exactly pocket change...

Cheers,
Ryan
 
Ryanwar7 said:
Hello Everyone,

I just had a quick question that I thought people would fairly easily know the answer to, but I cannot seem to get a consistent answer about...

If I were to point my camera toward the sun while shooting (just a bare HVX, no filters besides ND) can my lens, CCD, or any other part of my camera be harmed?

It is not that I am going to be doing this too often anyway, but I figured it is probably something I should know when operating a camera that isn't exactly pocket change...

Cheers,
Ryan
Click to expand...


I couldn't say for definate, but I'd have to guess yes. I'd maybe use a UV filter too.
 
No. The sun isn't focused into a pinprick on the CCD, but is spread across it. The CCD can handle much higher temperates than the sun can dish out. Now I wouldn't keep it there for a very long time because the heat would build-up inside the unit (or maybe not).

However, you definitely DO NOT want to have the eyepiece pointed at the sun, even for a few seconds. The lens DOES focus the light to a pinprick, and you'll end up with burn-holes in the LCD.

I've shot tonnes of sun and welding over the years with no problems at all.
 
pmark23 said:
No. The sun isn't focused into a pinprick on the CCD, but is spread across it. The CCD can handle much higher temperates than the sun can dish out. Now I wouldn't keep it there for a very long time because the heat would build-up inside the unit (or maybe not).

However, you definitely DO NOT want to have the eyepiece pointed at the sun, even for a few seconds. The lens DOES focus the light to a pinprick, and you'll end up with burn-holes in the LCD.

I've shot tonnes of sun and welding over the years with no problems at all.
Click to expand...

Awesome, thank you for the in depth response. I figured it would be okay, but I had heard some to the contrary and thought it a good idea to ask.

Cheers
 
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