Will pointing my consumer camcorder at the sun damage it?

I

iFilm7

Active member
or for any camera?
cuz i have this OCD and like i HAVE to for some reason sometimes ):
also, i point it at my ceiling florescent light and its on auto exposure and it goes all the way down... blah ): i HATE OCD...
 
Yes, it can. I've asked this before and been told, as a guideline, not to point a camera into anything you wouldn't look at with the naked eye. This means use some ND filters until it's dark enough to shoot.
Lasers are worse, though.
 
I have shot a lot of welding operations of all sorts with a GS400, did not harm it.

More important than the cam, and whether or not it is damaged, you need to excercise extreme caution in protecting your eyes first and foremost when shooting anything so bright as the sun, or welding.
 
how long is long enough?
and welding does not seem to be as bright as the sun, tell me, sewolla, how long of a take did you keep welding lights in the frame?
 
It can be damaged for the same reason that you can cause damage with a magnifying glass and the sun. The sensor can be damaged if too much heat is focussed on the surface.
 
iFilm7 said:
how much is too much though?
Click to expand...

The datasheet for the sensor would have the working temperature stated on it. The amount of energy imparted on to the sensor by the sun depends on a variety of variables, time of day and atmospheric conditions, losses in the glass elements of the lens, focus position, any filters used, the iris (and the shutter speed for still cameras, video cameras use electronic shutters) to name a few.
 
AndrewGentle said:
The datasheet for the sensor would have the working temperature stated on it. The amount of energy imparted on to the sensor by the sun depends on a variety of variables, time of day and atmospheric conditions, losses in the glass elements of the lens, focus position, any filters used, the iris (and the shutter speed for still cameras, video cameras use electronic shutters) to name a few.
Click to expand...

so with what you said, film makers have do the math in order to shoot a shot of the sun?
 
Any other OCD's ? You could be doing scripts for the "and they breed" reality idiots shows.

No it is NOT a good idea. "How long" is subject to many variables. Requires experimentation to answer. Your mileage WILL vary.

Helioscope - google it.

P.S. LCD's (viewfinders) do not appreciate prolonged exposure either . . .
 
wellll in the taking of pelham 123 they had a pretttttty long shot of the sun goign over buildings and stuff
 
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