saving your eyes when the sun is in the composition

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Hi i was once told by a doctor that you should never take a photo with the sun in the composition because viewing the sun through the lens can burn the cones and rods in your retina and permenantly damage your eye. when we were viewing an eclipse he had a special filter for photographing the eclipse. i am wondering is there anything that can be put over the eye piece so that a regular photo can be taken without damaging your eye? also if the sun can damage your eye how easily can it damage your sensor?

thanks
 
What kind of photos do you have in mind, BW?
 
do not point your camera directly at the sun, and look through the view finder you have a high chance of damaging you eyes. looking at the sun hurts, looking at it through a lens (basically a large magnifier) is going to hurt allot more. try to see the shot with out looking through the lens, if your trying to get the sun in focus you are going to have you focus wide open, so that should not be a problem, if shooting digital, fire a couple at differnt exposures, and adjust accordingly, if film your going to have to guess.
 
Chris Reed said:
do not point your camera directly at the sun, and look through the view finder you have a high chance of damaging you eyes. looking at the sun hurts, looking at it through a lens (basically a large magnifier) is going to hurt allot more. try to see the shot with out looking through the lens, if your trying to get the sun in focus you are going to have you focus wide open, so that should not be a problem, if shooting digital, fire a couple at differnt exposures, and adjust accordingly, if film your going to have to guess.
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So it won't damage the sensor at all then?
 
BrownWarrior said:
i'm not too sure about that. that means using the sensor for longer to set up your shot which is going to mean more chance of burning your sensor and that could be costly!
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Don't know bout you mate, but I'd rather burn a hundred sensors than my retina ;)

And besides, have you ever heard of a sensor getting burned?

(That's a genuine question, by the way.) :)
 
BrownWarrior said:
thanks for your reply chris, this is what i was expecting the answer to this question. its a shame there isn't a filter that can be put over the eye piece so you can just see black and the sun to aid composition. i guess most shots with the sun in them are for landscape photography.

and Edinburough Gary i might just try getting some really heavy shades and just try it and see if i start seeting sun spots afterwards. have you tried it? i guess if you are super quick it might just be okay!
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Actually there is :) You can use this quite easily :D

Steve
 
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