rpavich Posted March 12, 2016 Share #1 Posted March 12, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I was wondering something today. I have been using a lens cap 100% of the time because I had heard that sunlight going into my lens could burn pinholes in my shutter curtains. I was just wondering how real that chance was. Does it have to be really sunny and do I have to make sure I have the camera turned right into the sun? What kind of duration are we talking about? I ask because I wanted to walk around with just my hood and yellow filter on but don't want to do something that will damage my camera. I have an M6 and Summarit-M35mm/f2.5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 12, 2016 Posted March 12, 2016 Hi rpavich, Take a look here So how real is the chance of burning pinholes in my shutter curtains if I don't use a lens cap?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
AgCl Posted March 12, 2016 Share #2 Posted March 12, 2016 I never use a cap on my lenses. I guess you have to lay your camera in the sun for quite some time - but walking around with it shouldn't destroy anything. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpavich Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted March 12, 2016 I never use a cap on my lenses. I guess you have to lay your camera in the sun for quite some time - but walking around with it shouldn't destroy anything. Ok...that's good to hear. I don't plan on putting it on the dash of my car face up or anything; just walking around with it on my shoulder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
animalhairs Posted March 12, 2016 Share #4 Posted March 12, 2016 Never been an issue for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgCl Posted March 12, 2016 Share #5 Posted March 12, 2016 Walking around with it is totally fine. Imagine - thousand dollar cameras that you can't take out, because they break when they're exposed to sunlight! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted March 12, 2016 Share #6 Posted March 12, 2016 If the lens is wide open (f1.4 or 2.0) and focused at infinity it can happen quickly if pointed st the sun. One of the forum members from Houston found that out a couple years ago. I keep a lens at medium stops, hood in place, and hung over my shoulder, so my arm falls over the lens. That's been a habit for 50 years, and now I don't think about it - it just feels natural. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted March 13, 2016 Share #7 Posted March 13, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I was likewise concerned years ago when I got my first Leica, as I was living in the bright sun of the Mediterranean. My friend, who had been a Leica rep in an earlier life warned me. So I generally kept a lens cap on when not shooting. It certainly protected it from salt water and blowing sand from the desert. I kept hearing stories, so for many years it became a habit, and I made sure if I didn't have the cap on, that it didn't rest with the lens facing the sun, and I didn't set it down facing the sun. So, either I've been overly cautions, or just prudent. When I was a youngster growing up we often used magnifying glasses to burn paper, ants, unsuspecting friends' fingers and the like, and I had dabbled in solar energy for outback cooking...so I never wanted to take a chance with my camera. A lens shade in lieu of a cap offers quite a bit of protection as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted March 13, 2016 Share #8 Posted March 13, 2016 Forgot to add, I also typically made sure to switch carrying my camera, when not using a cap to the shady side of my body...just in case. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelwj Posted March 13, 2016 Share #9 Posted March 13, 2016 I'm not really into lens caps, I don't even have caps for all my lenses (damn expensive impractical 21 super angulon lens cap). I try not to be stupid and point my camera at the sun, and I carry it on the shaded side when I remember. I've never had a problem with burns, but once did have some weird flare that I could not account for. When I put the lens cap on, I tend to take lots of shots with the lens cap on! Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpsawin Posted March 13, 2016 Share #10 Posted March 13, 2016 [emoji947]I suppose any rf with a cloth shutter runs that risk but frankly I have only heard this happen to older Barnack's. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 13, 2016 Share #11 Posted March 13, 2016 [emoji947]I suppose any rf with a cloth shutter runs that risk but frankly I have only heard this happen to older Barnack's. Pinholes can be the result of age and wear too which is why you probably saw this on a Barnack camera. I've certainly seen M's with pinholes due to burns. That said I use my M and Barnack as any other camera and have never had a problem. Just be aware of the issue and don't leave the camera pointing directly at the sun for a prolonged time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 13, 2016 Share #12 Posted March 13, 2016 [emoji947]I suppose any rf with a cloth shutter runs that risk but frankly I have only heard this happen to older Barnack's. Not just a cloth shutter - modern metal shutters are thin Titanium, which burns quite easily. In theory you could set fire to your whole camera this way, as the magnesium metal of the bodyshell can burn as well -beautiful silver flames . Just joking with the last bit, that has never happened. But it is a fact a metal shutter can develop a sun-burn hole just like a cloth shutter, but only when the camera is not moving and at an unfortunate angle to the sun with the lens at infinity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckrider Posted March 13, 2016 Share #13 Posted March 13, 2016 Not just a cloth shutter - modern metal shutters are thin Titanium, which burns quite easily.... Can't believe this: Nikon did advertisment for many years with the non-burnability oft their Titanium shutter. Melting point is approx 1670°C, so if shutter gets holed, glass oft the lens must have been broken earlier... In younger days I sometimes lighted my cigarette with my Safari summicron, but only in highsummertime. Thomas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock Posted March 13, 2016 Share #14 Posted March 13, 2016 But it is a fact a metal shutter can develop a sun-burn hole just like a cloth shutter, but only when the camera is not moving and at an unfortunate angle to the sun with the lens at infinity. But surely you would have to keep moving the camera to keep it in line with the sun. No camera movement, no problem . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 13, 2016 Share #15 Posted March 13, 2016 Can't believe this: Nikon did advertisment for many years with the non-burnability oft their Titanium shutter. Melting point is approx 1670°C, so if shutter gets holed, glass oft the lens must have been broken earlier... In younger days I sometimes lighted my cigarette with my Safari summicron, but only in highsummertime. Thomas the shutter curtains are a lot more thin nowadays. Cotton burns @ 360 F, Ti powder @ 480. (Massive Ti a lot higher, in the thousands.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 13, 2016 Share #16 Posted March 13, 2016 But surely you would have to keep moving the camera to keep it in line with the sun. No camera movement, no problem . Depends on the speed of the sun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted March 13, 2016 Share #17 Posted March 13, 2016 Imagine taking a magnifying glass on an expedition to the bush. You can carry it without worry, exposing the glass to the sun all you want. But you will only start a fire if you hold it still, glass pointed to the sun, and focus the sun on one spot for some time. Same thing with your camera lens and shutter curtains. Nothing to worry about. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpavich Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share #18 Posted March 13, 2016 Thanks for all of the input, everyone. I won't worry about it and bonus...those pesky shots of the inside of my lens cap won't happen either! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dao De Leitz Posted March 13, 2016 Share #19 Posted March 13, 2016 quote #11: ... Just be aware of the issue and don't leave the camera pointing directly at the sun for a prolonged time. Hello, the issue exists , therefore the following note: One should carry and store the camera with optics always focused at infinity and set aperture closed completely. When the optical system is focused at infinity (or close to it), the shutter is clear background blur.Only at a hub of estimated 2 to 3 mm the shutter curtain is in focus. (With a classic 5 cm lens i.e. at close range less than about 2m range.) As a conclusion : Landscape photographer therefore have a advantage over street photographers. With best wishes for a sunny day, Thorsten - Dào Dé Leitz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosophos Posted March 13, 2016 Share #20 Posted March 13, 2016 I thought that burning a hole through the shutter curtain was very unlikely, or perhaps even a myth, but then it happened to me: http://prosophos.com/2015/10/06/burning-a-hole/ Admittedly, it was under a particular set of circumstances (attending a baseball game on a hot, hot day - the camera was exposed to the sun for several hours) but I learned my lesson: I now use the lens cap. —Peter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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