Shooting into the sun...

ChrisBlaze · 22nd of October 2006 (Sun)

I read that if you shoot into the sun, that you can damage your eyes but most imporantly your sensor. I like to shoot sunsets, so how do you something like this:

without shooting directly into the sun?

emtp563 · 22nd of October 2006 (Sun)

That is a good question. My guess would be the sun is so low when this pic was taken that it is not bright enough to damage anything. A 12 o'clock noon sun is a different story.

ChrisBlaze · 22nd of October 2006 (Sun)

so is it safe to say that sunset are safe? (wow tounge twister)

Hermeto · 22nd of October 2006 (Sun)

Yes, it is safe.
Just do not aim your camera at bright, full, mid day sun for too long, that's all.

braduardo · 22nd of October 2006 (Sun)

Your camera has built in metering which isn't going to allow you to let in so much light that the sensor gets damaged. Now, if you were using manual settings, I suppose you COULD damage it, but I wouldn't worry too much. When you look through the viewfinder, if the scene doesn't hurt your eyes, then it's probably ok.

ChrisBlaze · 22nd of October 2006 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by braduardo

Your camera has built in metering which isn't going to allow you to let in so much light that the sensor gets damaged. Now, if you were using manual settings, I suppose you COULD damage it, but I wouldn't worry too much. When you look through the viewfinder, if the scene doesn't hurt your eyes, then it's probably ok.

I wont say "hurt" my eyes, but when I do look through view finder for a while trying to eye up a shot, I do get a little blind eyed when I'm done looking into the view finder.

braduardo · 22nd of October 2006 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisBlaze

I wont say "hurt" my eyes, but when I do look through view finder for a while trying to eye up a shot, I do get a little blind eyed when I'm done looking into the view finder.

Eh, you will get that looking at a bare 60w light bulb... If it HURTS, then look out. Even then, it shouldn't be a huge issue, because you can't snap your eyes open, then closed in 1/4000 second, and your camera can. Just don't worry... You aren't going to hurt it. Get out and shoot.

jra · 22nd of October 2006 (Sun)

Shoot all the sunsets you want, the camera will be fine

surfologist · 22nd of October 2006 (Sun)

If you break it, it is a good excuse to upgrade to like a 5D or something...

Littlefield · 22nd of October 2006 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hermeto

Yes, it is safe.
Just do not aim your camera at bright, full, mid day sun for too long, that's all.

It is not safe looking through a magnified lens . Not good in my opinion.

John_B · 23rd of October 2006 (Mon)

ChrisBlaze,
Yes it is safe to shoot directly into the sun. I have numerous times on two different DSLR's and never had a problem (except for my eyes).

scottbergerphoto · 23rd of October 2006 (Mon)

It's perfectly safe for the camera to shoot sunsets. The difficulty lies in metering the shot properly. I usually meter the sky, with the sun just outside the viewfinder and adjust based on the histogram.

Reptile Bob · 23rd of October 2006 (Mon)

I was tracking some birds with my 200mm with a 2x t-con with the shutter button pressed down. The bird flew right into the sun and before I could stop myself I snapped a pic of the noon sun right in the frame (I was in manual too). Blinded me for a few mins and the pic didn't look like much but the sensor seemed to have survived. I just wouldn’t want to try that too many more times.

surfologist · 23rd of October 2006 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottbergerphoto

It's perfectly safe for the camera to shoot sunsets. The difficulty lies in metering the shot properly. I usually meter the sky, with the sun just outside the viewfinder and adjust based on the histogram.

I really like this one. Looks good!

bufferbure1 · 23rd of October 2006 (Mon)

22nd of October 2006 (Sun)	#1
ChrisBlaze Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 1,801 IMAGE EDITING OK	Shooting into the sun... I read that if you shoot into the sun, that you can damage your eyes but most imporantly your sensor. I like to shoot sunsets, so how do you something like this: without shooting directly into the sun? __________________ Canon 1D Mark II N/5D Mark III/ 6D/ 7D /85mm f1.2L Mk1/ 24-70 f2.8L/ 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM/ 100mm Macro f/2.8 Honolulu POTN

22nd of October 2006 (Sun)	#2
emtp563 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 1,490 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Shooting into the sun... That is a good question. My guess would be the sun is so low when this pic was taken that it is not bright enough to damage anything. A 12 o'clock noon sun is a different story. __________________ cameras: Canon 1D Mark III \| Canon 1D Mark II \| Canon 1D "Classic" \| Canon S95 lenses: Canon 16-35L f/2.8 \| Canon 24-70L f/2.8 \| Canon 70-200L f/2.8 IS \| Canon 1.4x TC II *accessories: Canon 580EX II/430EX \| Quantum Turbo SC \| CP-E4 http://www.cyclingcaptured.com

22nd of October 2006 (Sun)	#3
ChrisBlaze Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 1,801 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Shooting into the sun... so is it safe to say that sunset are safe? (wow tounge twister) __________________ Canon 1D Mark II N/5D Mark III/ 6D/ 7D /85mm f1.2L Mk1/ 24-70 f2.8L/ 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM/ 100mm Macro f/2.8 Honolulu POTN

22nd of October 2006 (Sun)	#4
Hermeto Cream of the Crop Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 6,657 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Shooting into the sun... Yes, it is safe. Just do not aim your camera at bright, full, mid day sun for too long, that's all. __________________ What we see depends mainly on what we look for.

22nd of October 2006 (Sun)	#5
braduardo Goldmember Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,626 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Shooting into the sun... Your camera has built in metering which isn't going to allow you to let in so much light that the sensor gets damaged. Now, if you were using manual settings, I suppose you COULD damage it, but I wouldn't worry too much. When you look through the viewfinder, if the scene doesn't hurt your eyes, then it's probably ok. __________________ ----Brad---- www.nybergstudio.com 40D: EF 17-40 f4 L ---- EF 70-200mm f4 L ---- EF 50mm f1.4 ---- EF 85mm f1.8

22nd of October 2006 (Sun)	#8
jra Cream of the Crop Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,214	Re: Shooting into the sun... Shoot all the sunsets you want, the camera will be fine

22nd of October 2006 (Sun)	#9
surfologist Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 999 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Shooting into the sun... If you break it, it is a good excuse to upgrade to like a 5D or something... __________________ My! Gear! Bag! All of my money has gone to L!!

23rd of October 2006 (Mon)	#11
John_B Cream of the Crop Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,579	Re: Shooting into the sun... ChrisBlaze, Yes it is safe to shoot directly into the sun. I have numerous times on two different DSLR's and never had a problem (except for my eyes). __________________ 60D, 40D, Lenses and Accessories... <-- click to see JohnBdigital.com

23rd of October 2006 (Mon)	#12
scottbergerphoto Cream of the Crop Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 5,430	Re: Shooting into the sun... It's perfectly safe for the camera to shoot sunsets. The difficulty lies in metering the shot properly. I usually meter the sky, with the sun just outside the viewfinder and adjust based on the histogram. __________________ One World, One Voice Against Terror, Best Regards, Scott ScottBergerPhotography Last edited by scottbergerphoto : 23rd of October 2006 (Mon) at 08:10.

23rd of October 2006 (Mon)	#13
Reptile Bob Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 306 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Shooting into the sun... I was tracking some birds with my 200mm with a 2x t-con with the shutter button pressed down. The bird flew right into the sun and before I could stop myself I snapped a pic of the noon sun right in the frame (I was in manual too). Blinded me for a few mins and the pic didn't look like much but the sensor seemed to have survived. I just wouldn’t want to try that too many more times. __________________ All Canon: 350D / 5D / 50mm 1.8 / 10-22mm / 100mm 2.8 Macro / MP-E 65mm Macro / 24-105 4L IS / 70-200 2.8L IS / 2x T-con / 580 Ex Flash (2) Other Stuff: Slingshot 300 / Stealth Reporter 650 / Extension tube set / a few sigmas http://community.webshots.com/user/wwwplants http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...cro/?start=all

23rd of October 2006 (Mon)	#15
bufferbure1 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 457	I would worry about my eyes first before my camera... __________________ "I collect pictures, not gears..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lenscode:1635.1785.50f18.100Macro.70200F4IS.580EX. 30D.5D2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Shooting into the SUN	highway0691	Weddings and Other Family Events	8	28th of January 2007 (Sun) 15:26
shooting into the sun	gordoon	General Photography Talk	6	18th of January 2007 (Thu) 15:57
Shooting into the sun?	RandyMN	General Photography Talk	5	10th of October 2006 (Tue) 18:43
Shooting in the sun?	ggray-1	Small Compact Digitals by Canon	0	6th of September 2006 (Wed) 16:42
Shooting into the sun	Boggy	Sports	7	5th of March 2006 (Sun) 15:49