Dont laugh but...
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UKBob

Original Poster:

16,277 posts

295 months

Saturday 11th February 2006
quotequote all
Many years ago in a beer garden in France, I thought I would try zooming into the sun using a camcorder. This seemed to have the effect of killing the camcorder

I assumed that there had been an element inside the camera which was damaged by the suns rays. Eventually (several days/a week or two-ish later) it started working again, much to my surprise

I assume 'the rules' with digital SLR's the same, ie never zoom directly into the sun? On that note, how do documentary photographers get away with simmering sun shots? And are shots like these to be avoided with SLR cameras?

greenv8s

31,024 posts

314 months

Saturday 11th February 2006
quotequote all
I suppose zooming in is just like using a magnifying glass to burn a hole in the CCD light sensor thingy. Presumably you could use some form of filter to reduce the light to tolerable levels?

UKBob

Original Poster:

16,277 posts

295 months

Saturday 11th February 2006
quotequote all
greenv8s said:
I suppose zooming in is just like using a magnifying glass to burn a hole in the CCD light sensor thingy. Presumably you could use some form of filter to reduce the light to tolerable levels?
Sounds like a likely solution, but unless I was sure, I probably wouldnt want to risk it again with any camera. The camcorder focused light down the lens and I watched it die through an LCD display.

Id imagine an SLR would focus the light onto your pupil, and frazzle your eye - I dont know, and probably wont try it to find out either.

simpo two

92,891 posts

295 months

Saturday 11th February 2006
quotequote all
I just noticed the owl...

UKBob

Original Poster:

16,277 posts

295 months

Saturday 11th February 2006
quotequote all
los angeles said:
Bleaching the lens or not, you got a great pic! Get that framed!
I got it from google.

vipers

33,514 posts

258 months

Saturday 11th February 2006
quotequote all
UKBob said:
los angeles said:
Bleaching the lens or not, you got a great pic! Get that framed!
I got it from google.


If you got it from Google, how do you know its was taken with a digi cam, and not 35 mm? did it say so? just courious.

UKBob

Original Poster:

16,277 posts

295 months

Saturday 11th February 2006
quotequote all
vipers said:
UKBob said:
los angeles said:
Bleaching the lens or not, you got a great pic! Get that framed!
I got it from google.


If you got it from Google, how do you know its was taken with a digi cam, and not 35 mm? did it say so? just courious.
I dont really know, I just googled for sun.