On Wed, 23 Oct 2002 20:14:44 -0700, Richard Crowley wrote:

>On Wed, 23 Oct 2002 23:09:05 -0230, "Chris Fewer"
>> No. Unlike old tube imaging devices, the CCDs will not
>> burn if you leave the lens cap off, or if you over expose.
>
>If you are answering Mr. Tauger's narrow question about "cumulative
>effect" I could concur. And simple over-exposure is not a concern.
>
>HOWEVER, none of that repeals the hard fact that the pickup device
>(whether tube of whatever variety, or solid state of whatever flavor)
>is QUITE susceptable to burning, even when powered down.
>
>There are countless number of pickup devices ruined by a quick pan
>across the sun (whether intentional or not). I was present when a
>friends Sony camcorder pickup was permanently ruined at a laser light
>show in the dead of night.
>
>I have also seen reports of even LCD viewfinders being burned when the
>sun's rays were allowed to enter the lens and focus on the surface.
>Same process as for pickup tubes, not particularly surprising.
>
>ALWAYS keep a lens cap on any video camera except when it is in use.
>
>NEVER aim a camera directly at STRONG light source, and certainly
>NEVER at the sun!

While I would not aim the camera at the sun when fixed on
a tripod, I have for years shot the sun without problems
hand-held, with proper exposure (ND no.2 + small stop
with the VX2000...). As for using a lens cap, ALWAYS USE IT
when not in immediate use - ANY spec of dust on the front
of a WA converter on small-chip camcorders WILL show in the
image at WA as a "blob"... I also give the WA front a quick
blow with a large hand air syringe OFTEN - I dislike
blobs floating around my landscapes...;-)