Damaging CMOS from sunset timelapse?
- Thread starter Renren42
- Start date
AndrewGentle
Well-known member
Yes, any image sensor can be damaged by prolonged exposure to the sun. I asked about this on Scarletuser a while back. They told me that you shouldn't point your camera into anything which is too bright to look at. The solution is to get enough ND filters until you can look at it comfortably and then shoot it. Graduated filters might be good too if you've got a lot of the horizon in frame.
commanderspike
Carbonite Member
I really don't think a sunset would damage the sensor.
If you get a lens, even a bright lens, point it at the sun and put your hand behind the lens, the light it directs on your hand isn't even that bright. We're not talking ant under a magnifying glass proportions of heat and energy here.
If you get a lens, even a bright lens, point it at the sun and put your hand behind the lens, the light it directs on your hand isn't even that bright. We're not talking ant under a magnifying glass proportions of heat and energy here.
John Caballero
Veteran
Scarletuser? Lol!
As long as the sun is quite low on the horizon you should be okay. You want to be careful when you have mostly clear skies and its above say 30 degrees from the horizon. In this case you'll want to work with a good ND filter.
This is also a case where using an intervalometer has it's advantages. While the sensor is in 'preview mode' you'll notice it clips the sun to protect the photosites.... They are only exposed during the photo exposure. No guarantees here though... just a better failsafe then the video mode.
This is also a case where using an intervalometer has it's advantages. While the sensor is in 'preview mode' you'll notice it clips the sun to protect the photosites.... They are only exposed during the photo exposure. No guarantees here though... just a better failsafe then the video mode.