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Cosmic Radiation


sm23221

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Digital cameras started to be used on Space Shuttle missions in about 1991 and it appears that after the restart of the shuttle flights in 2005 (the Columbia accident happened in 2003) digital cameras are beeing used exclusively in the space program. Digital capture allows to transmit the pictures back to earth during flight which is the essential advantage here.

 

I guess NASA would not have abandoned their Hasselblad film cameras if sensor damage from cosmic radiation would be a real issue.

 

Ulrik

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It is not a non- issue. Hot pixels are probably caused by cosmic radiation, and in the stratosphere it is bad enough to give rise to a higher rate of brain cancer with airline crew on the transpolar route. There is, however very little to nothing to combat cosmic radiation. Lead does not work, at least not in practicable thicknesses. Tin foil anybody?:D

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I wonder why the Leica manual would bother to state this if it's not an issue?

 

Here is the quote from the manual:

 

"Sensor

• Cosmic radiation (e.g. on flights) can cause pixel

defects."

 

I think the emphasis is on "can".

 

BTW, the same can happen to the electronic parts of your computer, memory, CPUs, etc, even at sea level, unless special care is taken in the design of the memory chips for example. Protecting CPUs would require some form of redundant computation. If you operate very large computer systems (say, acres of silicon) at fairly high altitude it can become a quite frequent event indeed.

 

Best Regards, K-H.

Edited by k-hawinkler
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Does anyone know the best way to protect the M9's sensor against cosmic radiation at high altitudes? Lead bag? Thanks in advance.

 

 

There is nothing you can do.

Cosmic radiation can be higher in energy than the world's most powerful accelerators and only deep within the earth in abandoned mines can one reduce the radiation.-Dick

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Doesn't the Hubble Space Telescope have a digital sensor? It continues to work.

 

No in fact it uses film, develops negatives, then scans to a database that e-mails

it to NASA all on it own. :D

 

Shoot film to avoid Cosmic Radiation on your sensor at high altitude.:p

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Does anyone know the best way to protect the M9's sensor against cosmic radiation at high altitudes? Lead bag? Thanks in advance.

 

Is this a joke? A lead bag.....:D:D:D

 

I recommend to use a compact camera like the D-Lux 4 instead a M9, because due to the smaller sensor of the D-Lux 4, the statistical probability that the sensor is penetrated by cosmic radiaton is smaller.

Edited by Digitom
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I recommend to use a compact camera like the D-Lux 4 instead a M9, because due to the smaller sensor of the D-Lux 4, the statistical probability that the sensor is penetrated by cosmic radiaton is smaller.

 

Fewer particles, yes - but isn't each one likely to do more damage to the more-closely-packed components on the smaller sensor?

 

Does most of the cosmic radiation received on earth come from the sun? If so, you could reduce the possibility of damage by holding the camera so as to keep the sensor edge-on to the sun at all times!

Edited by giordano
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<snip> Does most of the cosmic radiation received on earth come from the sun? If so, you could reduce the possibility of damage by holding the camera so as to keep the sensor edge-on to the sun at all times!
That would enhance the chance of capturing the cosmic particle - face on gives the highest probablilty for the cosmic ray to go straight through the sensor without hitting anything (atoms are 99-something percent "empty" as shown by Rutherford).

 

Transatlantic submarine service is the only feasible solution - if non-nuclear powered. Or buy a camera on the spot and discard after use (my bin is available).

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  • 7 years later...

Why there is much negativity and smart arse comments? The men ask a question that is in response to note in Leica’s user manual. If you have nothing decent to contribute go fondling your special edition camera that you love sooo much.

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