Photographers have always been fascinated with the idea of getting a great photograph of the sun. It is very difficult to do because it is not easy to focus on it, and there are dangers that come with pointing a camera at the sun or looking at the image in the viewfinder. The key is to know how the sun can damage your camera and your eyes so that you can protect them while you take these photos.
Can the Sun Damage Your Camera?
To understand how the sun can damage your camera, it is important to look at different elements of this exposure.
1. Exposure
First, look at the length of the exposure. Your eyes are sensitive to too much exposure to bright light, and the sensor on your camera is as well. The sensor is one of the most important parts of your camera, so you want to be careful with it. If you take a quick picture of the sun, you won’t damage your sensor. As long as you limit the exposure to a fraction of a second, it will be fine.
However, if you expose your camera sensor to the sun for too long, it can harm your sensor. As the sensor is directed at the sun, the heat hitting it will intensify, which allows it to penetrate the materials in your camera. This can cause deterioration that is irreversible.
2. Intensity
The next factor to consider is the intensity of the sun exposure. There are times during the day when the sun is at its most intense, such as midday. You can compare the camera sensor to your eyes. Consider how your eyes would feel if you stared at the sun, and that is how it will impact the sensor in your camera.
During the middle of the day, the sun can burn your skin or your eyes most easily. When the sun hits your camera, the lens in the camera magnifies this heat because the glass inside the camera reflects the sun toward the sensor. It is such a small area of the camera, so it is more intense, which is why it can damage your camera sensor.
During the early morning or early evening, the sun isn’t as intense. As it lowers into the horizon, the energy from the sun targets the objects that are close to it. There is more space where the energy from the sun can be distributed because it isn’t aimed directly at your sensor. This time of day is the safest time to take a picture of the sun. You can also use filters to protect your sensor.
3. Settings
Your settings are another factor that plays a role in whether or not the sensor of your camera will be damaged by the sun. You will not want to keep your shutters open for long exposure shots. When your shutters are open, the sunlight has a direct line to your camera sensor, and it can heat it up and cause damage. Make sure that you take a quick shot when you photograph the sun.
4. Shot Orientation or Angle
The way you compose the shot also has an impact. The issue comes when you point your camera lens directly at the sun. Think of it as if you use a magnifying glass in the direct sunlight, and you know that it intensifies the sunlight. The same thing happens when you point your camera directly at the sun.
How to Tell If Your Camera Sensor Is Damaged
If your camera is damaged by the sun, you will see some signs. Look for any of the following:
1. Lines on the Screen
When you look at the screen on your camera, you might see lines that are in multiple colors. You may think that your LCD screen is damaged, but it could be that your sensor is damaged. If you know that you exposed your camera to the sun directly, you can be fairly confident that this is what is causing the problem.
2. You See Red Spots
Another sign that your camera sensor might be damaged is when red spots appear on your screen. Normally, black spots let you know that you need to clean your sensor, but red spots are a sign that the internal features of your sensor are deteriorating.
3. You Notice That Your Video or Photo Quality Is Not What It Was
The sensor’s function is to detect information about what your lens is seeing and send it to the imaging processor. When it suffers damage, it doesn’t pick up all of the details, which results in a lower quality image. This is a sign that your sensor might be damaged.
4. The Contrast Is Too Strong
If you notice that the contrast is too strong after you have set it properly, your sensor might be damaged.
Final Words
If you expose your camera’s sensor to the sun for too long, it can be damaged. The best way to avoid this is to make sure that when you photograph the sun, you only expose the sensor for a few seconds at a time. You need to make sure that the sun doesn’t penetrate the inner parts of your camera for any length of time. Make sure that you use an appropriate filter to protect your sensor, and plan ahead so that you can keep your camera sensor protected.
