Safe to shoot the sun? at DVinfo.net

Max Hertz · March 19th, 2006, 07:58 PM

Hi,
I damaged a XM2 a couple of years ago getting a close up of the sun.
It must have burned out the chips and the only way to get an image on the camera afterwards was to go down to 6fps. Fortunately the camera was still under guarantee and was repaired by canon.
I am now shooting a documentary on an A1 and will be doing a series of road shots with the setting sun in the background. Is it safe to shoot into the sun at this time or should I get some additional ND filters?
thanks in advance,
Max

Graham Hickling · March 20th, 2006, 12:27 AM

>Is it safe to shoot into the sun

NO!

Evan Dowling · March 20th, 2006, 08:33 AM

That's interesting. I just returned from a trip to Key West where I filmed several sunsets for up to 10 minutes at a time. I cannot see any damage to the picture after doing that. Is filming sunsets unsafe to do, or are we talking about filming the bright noon-day sun? I just want to make sure I'm not doing something that could potentially hurt my precious hc1.

Mike Teutsch · March 20th, 2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan Dowling

That's interesting. I just returned from a trip to Key West where I filmed several sunsets for up to 10 minutes at a time. I cannot see any damage to the picture after doing that. Is filming sunsets unsafe to do, or are we talking about filming the bright noon-day sun? I just want to make sure I'm not doing something that could potentially hurt my precious hc1.

The difference between sunsets and high noon is dramatic! Much more light at say high noon, like an eclipse. A lot more intense. The was a previous thread to two a while back, that got into more detail about doing it.

This is a good one to start with:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&highlight=sun

Mike

Max Hertz · March 20th, 2006, 01:42 PM

I'm still not sure from that thread.
I know the A1 has a few internal ND's (that are not documented).
Could i burn out the CMOS chip if I shoot the sun say after 5pm on a clear day?

Mike Teutsch · March 20th, 2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Hertz

I'm still not sure from that thread.
I know the A1 has a few internal ND's (that are not documented).
Could i burn out the CMOS chip if I shoot the sun say after 5pm on a clear day?

There was one post I remember very well, it said something like, if you can't look at the sun without a problem, you can't shoot it either! Just remember that the lens is going to focus all of what it sees on that little 1/3" chip, i.e., concentrate it there. Come on, you had to have fried some ants at some time??!?!?!?!?!!? If not, you have to get outside more.

Mike

Max Hertz · March 20th, 2006, 09:43 PM

"If you can't look at it, you can't shoot it"
That was the very line i took away from that thread that seemed like sensible advice.

March 19th, 2006, 07:58 PM	#1
Max Hertz New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Posts: 16	Safe to shoot the sun? Hi, I damaged a XM2 a couple of years ago getting a close up of the sun. It must have burned out the chips and the only way to get an image on the camera afterwards was to go down to 6fps. Fortunately the camera was still under guarantee and was repaired by canon. I am now shooting a documentary on an A1 and will be doing a series of road shots with the setting sun in the background. Is it safe to shoot into the sun at this time or should I get some additional ND filters? thanks in advance, Max

March 20th, 2006, 08:33 AM	#3
Evan Dowling Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fort Myers , Florida Posts: 64	That's interesting. I just returned from a trip to Key West where I filmed several sunsets for up to 10 minutes at a time. I cannot see any damage to the picture after doing that. Is filming sunsets unsafe to do, or are we talking about filming the bright noon-day sun? I just want to make sure I'm not doing something that could potentially hurt my precious hc1. __________________ Evan Dowling HDV 1080i Sony HDR-HC1

March 20th, 2006, 12:27 AM	#2
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	>Is it safe to shoot into the sun NO!

March 20th, 2006, 01:42 PM	#5
Max Hertz New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Posts: 16	I'm still not sure from that thread. I know the A1 has a few internal ND's (that are not documented). Could i burn out the CMOS chip if I shoot the sun say after 5pm on a clear day?

March 20th, 2006, 09:43 PM	#7
Max Hertz New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Posts: 16	"If you can't look at it, you can't shoot it" That was the very line i took away from that thread that seemed like sensible advice.