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01/22/2008 12:42:51 PM · #1 |
This may be a stupid newbie question but I'm gonna ask it anyway.
How do you take a picture with the sun directly in it, can it damage your eyes by focusing the light through the viewfinder?
Obviously with a compact you can just use the LCD screen to compose the shot, so how do you do it with an SLR? |
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01/22/2008 12:53:14 PM · #2 |
Part of this depends on the focal length of the lens you're using, and part on the f-stop (how much light is the aperture gathering?). With wide lenses (which are the most likely since you're probably shooting a landscape or something), the amount of sunlight entering your viewfinder and reaching your eye is almost certainly not enough to be damaging. I've shot tons of scenes with the sun an element of the composition, and have never experienced any discomfort.
That said, don't mess around or take any chances. If you're not sure, don't do it, and certainly don't attempt to frame the sun with a telephoto lens unless you're attempting astrophotography and really know what you're doing (e.g., solar filters). |
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01/22/2008 01:02:21 PM · #3 |
It can probably damage your eye using an optical viewfinder, not with an electronic (LCD) one ... it can probably damage your sensor as well.
I think you use a 10 Neutral Density filter to shoot pictures featuring the sun close-up, though sometimes you can let the clouds do the filtering for you. |
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01/22/2008 01:39:39 PM · #4 |
It also depends on how far the sun is above the horizon. The lower, the less risky it is.
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01/22/2008 02:48:44 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by strangeghost:
Part of this depends on the focal length of the lens you're using, and part on the f-stop (how much light is the aperture gathering?). With wide lenses (which are the most likely since you're probably shooting a landscape or something), the amount of sunlight entering your viewfinder and reaching your eye is almost certainly not enough to be damaging. I've shot tons of scenes with the sun an element of the composition, and have never experienced any discomfort. |
You're forgetting that looking through the view-finder is ALWAYS at the lens's widest f-stop unless you are using DOF Preview.
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01/22/2008 03:01:04 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by _eug:
You're forgetting that looking through the view-finder is ALWAYS at the lens's widest f-stop unless you are using DOF Preview. |
Great point, I had forgotten that. Even so, I still don't think you'll do any damage to your eye with sufficiently wide lenses, provided you don't compose and then stare through the viewfinder for an extended period of time.
This brings up the related question though: do digital SLRs use a mechanical shutter or is it all electronic? IOW, if you compose a shot with the sun in it, is the focused sunlight falling on the sensor continuously even when the shutter is not open? |
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01/22/2008 03:03:23 PM · #7 |
| Well, that took .5 second after I hit post. Obviously in an SLR, the mirror intercepts all the light until you press the shutter release. Duh. |
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01/22/2008 03:05:24 PM · #8 |
The amount of light being passed through an optical viewfinder on a dSLR isn't gonna hurt you no matter what. Don't worry about it.
R.
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01/22/2008 03:05:58 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by strangeghost:
This brings up the related question though: do digital SLRs use a mechanical shutter or is it all electronic? IOW, if you compose a shot with the sun in it, is the focused sunlight falling on the sensor continuously even when the shutter is not open? |
Most have a mechanical shutter. There are some newer SLRs out or coming out that have a Live LCD feature where the sensor is exposed to light.
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01/22/2008 03:12:25 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
The amount of light being passed through an optical viewfinder on a dSLR isn't gonna hurt you no matter what. Don't worry about it.
R. |
Careful there Bear. I'm not sure I'd wanna point my 400mm f5.6 at the sun without a solar filter. Magnification scares me, any magnification. I agree with you with a wide lens, but I'm not sure what the safety cutoff is for longer focal lengths. |
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01/22/2008 03:13:06 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
The amount of light being passed through an optical viewfinder on a dSLR isn't gonna hurt you no matter what. Don't worry about it. |
So what's limiting it ? |
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01/22/2008 03:15:36 PM · #12 |
just do what i do whenever i take a picture
close your eyes! |
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01/22/2008 03:15:38 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by strangeghost:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
The amount of light being passed through an optical viewfinder on a dSLR isn't gonna hurt you no matter what. Don't worry about it.
R. |
Careful there Bear. I'm not sure I'd wanna point my 400mm f5.6 at the sun without a solar filter. Magnification scares me, any magnification. I agree with you with a wide lens, but I'm not sure what the safety cutoff is for longer focal lengths. |
That's true, i was just thinking "normal" shots with the sun in them. I've only ever pointed really long lenses at the sun for sunset shots, and it's not an issue there. I can't imagine pointing a 400mm lens directly at the noonday sun, for sure :-)
R.
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01/22/2008 03:16:58 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
The amount of light being passed through an optical viewfinder on a dSLR isn't gonna hurt you no matter what. Don't worry about it. |
So what's limiting it ? |
It's just a small piece of projected/refracted light. Nowhere near as bright as the scene itself by the time it reaches your eyes.
R.
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01/22/2008 03:28:54 PM · #15 |
Here are two shots in my portfolio:
 
The first was a fisheye and the second was probably an old 28-105 zoom that I no longer have. In each case the sun occupies such a small area of the total field of view, coupled with the fact that the mirror does not transmit all the light probably combine to make it a safe option - so long as you don't center the sun and stare.
My conclusion to the OP, again: Wide angle, OK
Narrow angle: Be careful, be very careful, and if you're not sure, don't do it. |
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01/22/2008 03:33:07 PM · #16 |
Don't try without filter :P |
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01/22/2008 05:53:47 PM · #17 |
It might not "hurt" your eye too much, but man, I'll tell you, you're going to be seeing all sorts of funny colours (purple especially for me) for a while after you take the shots - and maybe a headache or two (maybe I took it too far)...
Some of my faves from the last year:
Message edited by author 2008-01-22 18:00:40. |
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01/23/2008 07:30:52 AM · #18 |
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01/23/2008 10:10:51 AM · #19 |
My favourite shot into the sun:
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01/23/2008 08:35:57 PM · #20 |
One from a while ago
I focused on a different building after almost going blind trying to focus for about 1/2 a second... (480mm looking into the sun is PAINFULL!). I was watching the plane approaching and I started to count how long it took for the aircraft to move a certain distance...decreased the number by 1/4 because the plane will appear to move faster as it gets closer... Picked up the camera and got my position just under the Empire state building and raised the lens into the sun until I was completly blind and bang. My eye teared for about 5 min and I swore never to do that to my eyes again......and I feel as strong about that to day as I did then. I love that picture, I do not regret doing it....I WILL NEVER TRY THAT AGAIN! If I was smart, I would have closed my eyes and chanced it......
This proves I am 75 watts short of a 100 watt lightbulb.... do not risk your eyes for a picture. After that, I do not give a ratts a$$ about a CMOS sensor! ;) my .02c |
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01/23/2008 08:38:34 PM · #21 |
Another one from a while ago.
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01/23/2008 08:44:57 PM · #22 |
When I hear shooting into the sun, this image always comes to mind by  Joey Lawrence
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