Our Sun

[Frank73]

This is my first attempt at taking photographs of our Sun. Please advise me on how or what I need to do to make this shot better the next time.

Thanks,

Frank




Exif data:

Camera :Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200) Av
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Extras:

Circular Polarizer and Lens Hood

[flytyer57]

Did you know that direct shots of the sun could damage the sensor of your camera?

As for what could be done for this photo, I would strongly suggest an ND filter of at least 6 stops. For composition, I would have tried to get something more in the foreground than a tree branch and wires.

Not trying to steal your thread here, but here's a sun pic I took with my phone camera. As you can see, there's more here to look at, but the sun is still dominant in this pic.

[Frank73]

Originally Posted by flytyer57

Did you know that direct shots of the sun could damage the sensor of your camera?

As for what could be done for this photo, I would strongly suggest an ND filter of at least 6 stops. For composition, I would have tried to get something more in the foreground than a tree branch and wires.

Not trying to steal your thread here, but here's a sun pic I took with my phone camera. As you can see, there's more here to look at, but the sun is still dominant in this pic.

No, I did not know that, but will now take that into consideration next time.

I will post another image back here when I get an ND filter.

That photo is magnificent! I like how the light reflects off the water.

Thanks for the advice,

Frank

[praline3001]

What fly said. Shooting the sun directly can really mess up your camera ~ and your eyes.

[Frank73]

Originally Posted by praline3001

What fly said. Shooting the sun directly can really mess up your camera ~ and your eyes.

Thanks, I will remember that.

[Frank73]

Originally Posted by flytyer57

Did you know that direct shots of the sun could damage the sensor of your camera?

As for what could be done for this photo, I would strongly suggest an ND filter of at least 6 stops. For composition, I would have tried to get something more in the foreground than a tree branch and wires.

Not trying to steal your thread here, but here's a sun pic I took with my phone camera. As you can see, there's more here to look at, but the sun is still dominant in this pic.

I forgot to ask what brand or type of glass you recommend? I've read alot posts on here about L-glass. What is the difference between glass type?

[Doug Sundseth]

I've not seen anything credible to indicate that sensor damage is a significant problem when shooting the sun. (Eye damage is a different matter.)

The biggest thing I'd recommend for this photo is to find a compelling subject, which the sun, by itself, isn't (for me, anyway). This could be silhouetted people, leafless trees, anything to give some interest to the foreground.

[praline3001]

Originally Posted by Doug Sundseth

I've not seen anything credible to indicate that sensor damage is a significant problem when shooting the sun. (Eye damage is a different matter.)

The biggest thing I'd recommend for this photo is to find a compelling subject, which the sun, by itself, isn't (for me, anyway). This could be silhouetted people, leafless trees, anything to give some interest to the foreground.

Really Doug? My camera manual says not to do it so I figured it was fact?

[flytyer57]

Originally Posted by Frank73

I forgot to ask what brand or type of glass you recommend? I've read alot posts on here about L-glass. What is the difference between glass type?

L-glass is Canon''s top of the line lenses. If you can afford them, buy them. I sure can't so I still use my kit lenses and the cheap 50mm f1.8.

You can read about L-glass here.

[Doug Sundseth]

Originally Posted by praline3001

Really Doug? My camera manual says not to do it so I figured it was fact?

Sorry, should have qualified that a bit:

1) If you are using an SLR or DSLR, the sun will bounce off the mirrors through the eyepiece until you click the shutter, so no energy on the sensor except during the actual shot. (Plenty of focused energy on your eye if you're looking through the eyepiece, though. Again, permanent eye damage is possible.) Since that is likely to be quite a short time if the sun is in frame, you won't get enough energy on the sensor to damage it. There is one exception: Don't use Live View when shooting the sun. That locks the mirror up and the sun will be focused on the sensor the whole time it's pointed in the right (wrong) direction. Cameras with electronic shutters have the same problem, but always, not just in live view.

2) If, for some reason, you want to take a long exposure of the sun without an ND filter (why?), it's just possible that you could burn the sensor. Don't do that. If you want a white screen, Photoshop can do that without a camera.

Consider two cases: First, let's say you're walking around outside in summer with your camera on and a wide-angle lens attached. In that case, the sun will be shining into the camera any time the camera is pointed in the general direction of the sun. I've neither seen nor heard of a problem in that circumstance.

Second, any time you have the sun in frame (which happens really often, you're taking a picture of the sun, even if it's not the primary subject. Again, I've not seen or heard of a problem, and I've seen thousands of such pictures.

All that said, any risks you take with your equipment, especially risks that directly contravene your warranty disclaimers, are your responsibility. I'd do it (have done it), but if it breaks your camera, it's not my fault that you chose to ignore the manual.