Will Photographing Eclipse Actually Damage Your Smartphone or Camera?

Solar eclipse. Solar eclipse. Solar eclipse.

For people who care little for the moon's passage in front of the sun on Tuesday, August 21 as it makes its path from coast to coast across America, the phenomenon might only warrant a glance out their window as the sky begins to darken in the middle of the day. For others who live in the path the eclipse and don't care, they're dreading the massive influx in traffic as hoards descend upon their quiet hamlets.

But then there are those traveling hundreds of miles or who already live near the prime areas and want to see what the hype surrounding the Great American Eclipse is all about. And in today's day and age, if you don't capture photo of the eclipse yourself — especially a selfie — how can you expect anyone to believe you were actually there?

There have been numerous warnings against photographing the eclipse, though. Will it actually damage your camera if you point it at the darkening sun?

According to Nikon, yes. If you have one of those old fashioned digital cameras — the ones that don't make phone calls — then the harsh light of the sun can burn out the imaging sensor. Plus, if you have an SLR — one of those fancy cameras that makes you look like a pro — you might be seeing spots, too, since you'll be looking directly at the sun through your lens as you take the photo.

To prevent this, you can purchase a solar filter for your camera, which will also darken the sun down enough to correctly expose it in your picture. If you don't have an SLR, though, you may not be able to find a filter that attaches to the lens.

But what about the majority of Americans who reach for their smartphones when a phenomenon occurs? There's something to worry about, too.

The good news is that iPhone and Android camera lens are too small to pull in enough direct sunlight to damage them, according to NBC-affiliate WFLA. That claim comes from NASA.

The bad news is that sun photography is far too complex for your average smartphone to handle, and your much-awaited shot of the upcoming celestial event will probably show your smiling face with a washed-out sky and possibly a tiny blip that looks like the sun.

But there is a tricky way around that, according to the Helena Independent Record. Professional photographer Joe Lopinot says you can get solar filters for your smartphone or make one for yourself by cutting a circle out of a pair of solar eclipse glasses and sticking it over your lens. You can even remove that the moment the moon is entirely blocking the sun, which you might want to do if your camera is having a hard time focusing in the darkness.

Plus you can zoom in on the sun with an aftermarket telephoto lens for your smartphone or by sticking a properly focused telescope or pair of binoculars in front of your lens. A tripod with a special attachment for your phone is highly recommended.

It still sounds like a pretty clunky setup. But even if you do get everything working for your once-in-a-lifetime shot, there's one more danger to consider. Protect your own eyes with solar eclipse glasses and make sure they're not one of the fake ones being sold as part of a scam. Even when 99 percent of the sun is being blocked, the remaining 1% of light can damage your unprotected eyes.

Are you planning to photograph the eclipse? Pope Francis, Billy Graham's daughter, and other religious leaders are issuing warnings about this event.

Source: Will Photographing Eclipse Actually Damage Your Smartphone or Camera?