Direct sunlight?

[stephano]

Does capturing pictures with the sun shining directly in the lens harm the camera? I know that a few years ago, that was all the the concern with the 8 mm camcorders. Something about the intense light burning pixels.

Just a question, I figured someone in this forum would have an answer.

Thanks

Stephano

[PacAce]

stephano wrote:
Does capturing pictures with the sun shining directly in the lens harm the camera? I know that a few years ago, that was all the the concern with the 8 mm camcorders. Something about the intense light burning pixels.

Just a question, I figured someone in this forum would have an answer.

Thanks

Stephano

YES!!!! Bad for your eye(s), too, as in blindness if you're looking directly through the eye viewfinder!

In a magazine I was reading the other day (Total Digital Photography), it said that you can use a solar filter in front of the lens to "tame" the sun and prevent CCD and eye damage. From what I read, it comes in sheets that can be cut to size for your camera. Hmmm. I wonder if a neutral density filter (a stronger one than the one in the G3) will serve the same purpose?

[stephano]

Thanks for the response. I was not referring to sun at full strength, but rather a setting sun. I have seen some sunset pictures in this forum, but was just wondering if a setting sun would cause problems.

[PacAce]

stephano wrote:
Thanks for the response. I was not referring to sun at full strength, but rather a setting sun. I have seen some sunset pictures in this forum, but was just wondering if a setting sun would cause problems.

In that case, you should be ok, as long as the sun is near the horizon. But I still wouldn't look at the sun directly. Even when it's at the horizon, it can be bright enough to cause some discomfort, just like when you look at a camera flash but it takes a little longer to "wear off"!

I've taken several sunset pictures myself and my camera is still working fine.