Q&A: Photographing the Sun
Can I damage my digital camera by including bright sun in the picture, so that it's shining directly into the lens?
--Tom Barker, Little Rock, Arkansas
No, you don't have to worry about damaging the camera. You should be able to focus on the mid-day sun without "burning out" any of the cameras components. On the other hand, let me give you the same caution you heard from your mom as a kid: Don't stare at the sun. Even through the camera's optical viewfinder, it can damage your eyesight. If you want to compose a picture that includes the sun, use the digital viewfinder instead. Also, keep in mind that the sun is so bright it's bound to cause your picture to be dramatically underexposed. Including the sun in a picture is a great way to take silhouettes.
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