Solar Eclipse = CMOS Damage?

Annen James · May 20th, 2012, 10:19 PM

Alister Chapman · May 21st, 2012, 12:59 AM

On a video camera the shutter makes no difference whatsoever as it is not actually a shutter as such, just a shorter sensor readout speed. The chip itself is always continuously exposed to light.

You must use external ND of some sort to shoot directly into the sun for extended periods. If you don't you risk damaging not only the sensor, but also the cameras built in ND filters which as they are behind the lens can be overheated.

The best is proper solar film available from any good telescope supplier, it's not expensive. Normal ND's while reducing visible light often don't reduce infra-red sufficiently to reduce heating effects.

Jack Zhang · May 21st, 2012, 02:13 AM

Contemplated doing this when it was sunny in Vancouver. Then the rain came the day it was supposed to happen...

Did a timelapse of the changing brightness under the clouds. I know, boring right?

I went F16 with ND64 on that sunny day, and I couldn't bear zooming in. Still overexposed, so I was not going to directly point my EX1R at the sun. Ended up on that cloudy day locked in at 1/60th shutter, S&Q 1fps recording at 30fps, ND1, and F4.

My editing machine is undergoing a major modification at the moment, so I can't edit together at the moment.

Jack Zhang · May 22nd, 2012, 10:51 PM

Here's the video now that my edit machine is back up and running:

May 20th, 2012, 10:19 PM	#16
Annen James Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ogden Posts: 161	Re: Solar Eclipse = CMOS Damage? Vimeo

May 21st, 2012, 12:59 AM	#17
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: Solar Eclipse = CMOS Damage? On a video camera the shutter makes no difference whatsoever as it is not actually a shutter as such, just a shorter sensor readout speed. The chip itself is always continuously exposed to light. You must use external ND of some sort to shoot directly into the sun for extended periods. If you don't you risk damaging not only the sensor, but also the cameras built in ND filters which as they are behind the lens can be overheated. The best is proper solar film available from any good telescope supplier, it's not expensive. Normal ND's while reducing visible light often don't reduce infra-red sufficiently to reduce heating effects. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

May 21st, 2012, 02:13 AM	#18
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: Solar Eclipse = CMOS Damage? Contemplated doing this when it was sunny in Vancouver. Then the rain came the day it was supposed to happen... Did a timelapse of the changing brightness under the clouds. I know, boring right? I went F16 with ND64 on that sunny day, and I couldn't bear zooming in. Still overexposed, so I was not going to directly point my EX1R at the sun. Ended up on that cloudy day locked in at 1/60th shutter, S&Q 1fps recording at 30fps, ND1, and F4. My editing machine is undergoing a major modification at the moment, so I can't edit together at the moment.

May 22nd, 2012, 10:51 PM	#19
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: Solar Eclipse = CMOS Damage? Here's the video now that my edit machine is back up and running: Vimeo