Will including a full sun in the photo at sunrise or sunset damage the CCD? Also, how about a midday sun off water, or from behind clouds or behind a tree? I just got a new D360L with a defective CCD, and have had to send it in under warranty, and this has made me suspicious of the durability. This subject is not mentioned in any of the instructions.

-- Paul Candage (photo-all@webtv.net), May 11, 2000

Answers

I've never seen anything definitive on this, but I'd give as an answer "I don't *think* so." The lenses themselves are pretty small aperture, and silicon can handle pretty high temperatures, so I doubt the image of the sun on the CCD's surface would cause problems. I've pointed my own digicams at the sun numerous times without problems. That said, there's no point tempting fate: Certainly don't stick the digicam on a tripod pointed at the sun for an hour. - I'd say snap your shot, then point it away again. Whatever the case, I doubt that's the cause of the problem with your 360L. (Just an educated guess though, I'd still advise reasonable caution.)

-- Dave Etchells (web@imaging-resource.com), May 15, 2000.

kodak issues a warning about continued direct sunlight. Just don't over do i

-- Mike Sutton (msgraphik@aol.com), May 21, 2000.