How does the sun ruin a camera lens?

November 28th, 2009 | by admin |

I am curious as to why you are not suppose to point a camera (slr) at the sun. It is supposed to ruin your lens, buy why? If you have a UV filter, does it still ruin it? Are there any ways to take pictures of the sun without ruining the lens? Thanks

As suggested it’s the shutter that’s vunerable not so much the lens, even if the concentrated sun light does not actually burn a hole in the shutter the excessive heat can warp the mechanics of the shutter causing it not to operate properly.
Can the heat build up affect IS mechanisms too…I imagine so….regardless, it’s best to take care of your equipment. It’s why I have a lens cap tether on each of my lenses.

  1. 4 Responses to “How does the sun ruin a camera lens?”

  2. By vienna2001 on Nov 28, 2009 | Reply

    It’s been reported that in some cameras, leaving the lens pointed into the sun can burn a hole in the shutter, though I have no way to confirm this.

    And of course, the sun can ruin your eyeball if it’s behind the viewfinder.

    But as to the sun destroying a lens, I’ve never heard of this happening, filter or no filter.

    HTH.
    References :

  3. By screwdriver on Nov 28, 2009 | Reply

    Other than the heat building up inside the lens, and the possible damage to the lens coating (unlikely) it doesn’t ruin the lens, but it can ruin the camera.

    Older Slr’s have a rubberised fabric shutter curtain and your lens will focus the light (just like a magnifying glass can get paper to scorch) onto this fabric and burn holes into it. Modern shutters are very thin metal so it’s not a good idea there either.

    The UV filter makes no difference.

    Chris
    References :

  4. By fhotoace on Nov 28, 2009 | Reply

    The UV or skylight filter are there mostly to protect the front element of the lens.

    And yes, IF you have a range finder camera and a lens focused at infinity with the lens cap off, the sun can and will burn a hole in your shutter. I have seen this happen to Leica M2’s and M3’s.
    References :
    proFotog

  5. By Dawg on Nov 28, 2009 | Reply

    As suggested it’s the shutter that’s vunerable not so much the lens, even if the concentrated sun light does not actually burn a hole in the shutter the excessive heat can warp the mechanics of the shutter causing it not to operate properly.
    Can the heat build up affect IS mechanisms too…I imagine so….regardless, it’s best to take care of your equipment. It’s why I have a lens cap tether on each of my lenses.
    References :

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