39
votes
Can it be dangerous to look at the sun through the viewfinder?
(Normally I would not post an answer to a question I've already voted as a duplicate. But the danger of irreversible damage to a user's eyes compels me to write this.)
We've all seen or heard this ...
- 176k
32
votes
Can the sun damage the camera sensor? Under what conditions?
At very wide angles the danger is much less and taking photos with the sun in the field of view doesn't normally harm the camera or lens. When the sun is very low on the horizon the energy is also ...
- 176k
8
votes
Accepted
Hydrogen Alpha Filters (Buying The Right One and How It's Used)
Ha Solar Telescopes
While Hydrogen alpha (Ha) solar telescopes such as those from Lunt Solar Systems or the Meade Coronado line do filter out all wavelengths except Ha, they also have a substantial ...
- 3,987
7
votes
How can I get prevent ghost sun images when shooting with a solar filter?
Don't use the UV filter.
Not only is it completely useless while using an actual solar filter, it is actively hurting your image by creating reflections. Even if it is the highest-quality UV filter ...
- 33.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Can the sun damage the sensor on a mirrorless camera?
My Sony Alpha 6000 experienced extensive burn in from photographing the sun. The burn in happened either during experimentation prior to the eclipse, or during the August 21 eclipse. The burn in areas ...
6
votes
Accepted
Is a Solar Filter Different from an ND-Filter?
Main Differences
The main differences between most neutral density(ND) filters and a solar filter(white light) come down to the filtering strength and the filtering properties. The strength of the ...
- 46.6k
5
votes
Accepted
At which focal lengths is it ‘safe’ to have the sun in frame?
The variables:
Height of the sun above the horizon. The closer the sun is to the horizon, the more atmosphere it has passed through before you see it. The atmosphere reflects, absorbs, and dissipates ...
- 176k
5
votes
Is there an app that shows location-specific times of sunrise, while considering line-of-sight obstructions, such as terrain?
I found this partial solution here at StackExchange. While I am not sure of the precision to which this calculation is made, it is a first step. Now, if only the results could be calculated for a ...
- 263
5
votes
Is there an app that shows location-specific times of sunrise, while considering line-of-sight obstructions, such as terrain?
The Photographer's Ephemeris is a very popular app used by landscape photographers who need to know when the Moon/Sun is going to be at specific spots. It may be of great help to you.
- 674
5
votes
Why did I see sunlight reflection in viewfinder but not in final image?
Without having more information on how exactly you took your image, and without the possibility to reproduce this effect, one can only guess. I see three possible causes for a sun reflection that is ...
- 739
5
votes
Do you need a solar filter for a wide-angle camera?
Would I get a washed out photo on a wide angle lens without the solar filter?
Without a filter the sun is roughly 14 stops brighter than the highlights of the landscape under it on a sunny day. You ...
- 176k
5
votes
Accepted
Is it safe to video record the sun with a DSLR with a solar filter?
Yes. But before I get into it, let's cover some safety stuff. As an astronomer and NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador ... I never talk about looking at the Sun without talking about safety (cause you ...
- 3,987
4
votes
What are the best manual settings for shooting a full solar eclipse?
There are plenty of very well written online resources that discuss how to capture a solar eclipse.
Pretty much none of them say, "Here are the settings you need to use." There are just way too many ...
- 176k
4
votes
Telescope Solar Filters to fit Canon Lenses
This response is too late for your time frame, but it may be of use to a future searcher. I've found that #14 welder's glass works well in a pinch, and it's more likely to be available locally. I ...
- 41
4
votes
Is there an app that shows location-specific times of sunrise, while considering line-of-sight obstructions, such as terrain?
Interestingly, Google Earth Pro allows you to change the time of day in 3D mode to see a representation of how the shadows will fall due to topographical features. I can't say that it's the best, but ...
- 6,819
4
votes
Does focal length correlate to the required ND filter in sun photography?
That filter should be safe with any lens that has the correct filter thread or to which it can be securely mounted and fully cover the entrance pupil.
One common misconception is that a longer lens ...
- 7,229
4
votes
Does focal length correlate to the required ND filter in sun photography?
The accepted wisdom is that ND 3.8¹ is the minimum needed for CCD exposure to the sun through telephoto lenses without risk of electronic damage. One can probably safely assume that ND 3.8 is also ...
- 176k
3
votes
Accepted
Is knowing the Sun color temperature enough to get the right white balance?
First off, color temperature is but one axis of what we call white balance or color balance. Color temperature is based on the light emitted by black body radiators at different temperatures expressed ...
- 176k
3
votes
Can the sun damage the sensor on a mirrorless camera?
In terms of whether the sun can damage a sensor with shutter open for an extended time (eg in Live View), the general wisdom is that yes, it can damage the sensor. It's equivalent to frying an ant ...
- 13.7k
3
votes
Why don't usual pictures of Sun show any protuberance or explosions?
This is a simple exposure problem and there are a few facets to it.
The dramatic images showing solar prominences and filaments are shot using special narrowband telescopes (or filters) which only ...
- 3,987
3
votes
Is there anything I can do to capture good landscape shots in bright sunlight?
Go black and white:
check out the work of Ansel Adams etc. Black and white film with a red filter can be very dramatic and can be reproduce in an image-editing program via desaturation and playing ...
- 446
3
votes
Can it be dangerous to look at the sun through the viewfinder?
Can it be dangerous to look at the sun through the viewfinder?
Yes. The viewfinder of DSLRs use a technology that allows image updates to occur at the speed of light. Light rays from the scene pass ...
- 27.1k
3
votes
Can it damage eyes and camera when taking photo from Nikon Coolpix B500 during 90-95% solar eclipse?
Yes, it can damage your camera.
Particularly, it can damage the sensor of a camera that does not have an optical viewfinder and that keeps the sensor exposed to provide an image on the LCD screen for ...
- 176k
3
votes
How do I lock the aperture to a small setting so I can focus on the sun with my DSLR's viewfinder?
You can't close the aperture to see the actual set value through the viewfinder. However, since you'll be shooting a nearly-static (slowly moving) sun, you can use Live View or Video mode to focus.
...
- 33.3k
2
votes
Would recording the solar eclipse from diamond ring to diamond ring damage the T3i?
To photograph the diamond ring without risking damage to your camera (and your eyes as well if you look through the viewfinder) you need a proper solar filter. (A number 14 or darker welder's glass is ...
- 176k
2
votes
Do you need a solar filter for a wide-angle camera?
There are two concerns, one is your eyes, and one is your camera.
The only safe answer for your eyes is you need a filter to look through the (optical) viewfinder of a camera at the sun. Now most ...
- 2,363
2
votes
Is there any way to bracket shutter speed rather than exposure on a Nikon D200?
Yes you can perform shutter speed bracketing, no fix needed. Your camera supports this.
But first, a clarification: exposure bracketing can be accomplished by varying any of the exposure variables (...
- 33.3k
2
votes
Can I safely photograph the sun through haze
There is no objective answer to your question. The reality is that with enough haze it is safe, and with too little it is not; there is no good dividing line or indicator one can give. Your photo ...
- 2,363
2
votes
My sensors are not working after shooting at sunset sun
Thank you everyone. I found out what the problem was. One of the
blades on the shutter came off track and was blocking the sensor from
functioning. So the guy fixed it and also hand cleaned the ...
- 5,422
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible