Many photographers utilize the sun for a variety of ways, whether it’s using it to create beautiful shadows or silhouettes or to capture a vibrant sunset as their subject. But what about taking actual photos of the sun itself? How can a photographer achieve a successful, quality photo of the sun without damaging their phone?
The right way to take smartphone pictures of the sun is to turn off the flash and autofocus, reduce the amount of exposure, and consider purchasing a filter, so the phone does not become damaged by the sun. Some photographers will find that purchasing an extra lens for zooming and a tripod for ease of shooting is beneficial, too.
When it comes to taking pictures of the sun, there is certainly a right way and a wrong way to do it. This article will explain how to successfully (and safely) take quality pictures of the sun without any damage to your phone’s camera lens. There will also be a useful section explaining why excessive time in the sun can cause damage to smartphones.
How to Take Pictures of the Sun with an iPhone
When considering adding pictures of the sun to your photography collection, you must be extra careful. It’s not as easy as pointing and shooting. It’s essential to understand the right way to take pictures of the sun with your smartphone to ensure that you capture quality photos without damaging your phone.
Follow these steps to take pictures of the sun with your iPhone:
- Turn off the flash and autofocus.
- Reduce the exposure.
- Purchase a solar filter.
- Consider adding a lens.
- Use a low ISO and high shutter speed.
- Consider purchasing a tripod.
Turn Off the Flash and Autofocus
When taking a picture of the sun, the flash is virtually useless. Adding more light to the picture will only cause the image to be a total failure as there will be excessive lighting, resulting in an odd and overly bright image of the sun.
Just as the flash should be turned off, so should the autofocus. Trying to get a smartphone to focus on a massively bright image can cause the image to fail or come out blurry and possibly cause damage to the smartphone lens.
Therefore, your first move should always be to turn off the flash and autofocus. This is an essential step a photographer should take if they are not interested in purchasing extra equipment (or another iPhone) to capture a successful image of the sun.
Reduce the Exposure
The next most important thing a photographer should do is to reduce the exposure. By doing so, the photographer can control how much light reaches the lens of the smartphone. With less exposure, the overall quality of the image will be majorly improved because, without the added exposure, the lens will have a far better chance of focusing on the brightness of the sun.
Reducing the exposure on your iPhone camera is simple. Follow these steps:
- Tap on the screen to access the camera app. A small sun icon will appear next to the focus.
- Drag the sun icon down to decrease the exposure. When it comes time to add exposure, simply drag the sun icon back up.
The instructions are generally the same for Android smartphones, too. However, some Android phones come with a “Pro Mode” feature where the exposure can be manually decreased instead.
Purchase a Solar Filter
When a smartphone camera is pointed at the sun for extended periods, damage can occur to the lens. One easy way to avoid damage while also improving your image of the sun is by purchasing a filter for your smartphone.
The 8″x8″ Solar Filter Sheet by Thousand Oaks Optical comes highly recommended. With it, your smartphone lens stays protected by high-quality polymer from the sun’s rays while taking the shots. It’s an easy-to-use filter that can be adapted to use in a variety of situations.
Consider Adding a Lens
Adding a lens to a smartphone is one of the best ways to get a quality shot, no matter you’re your subject is. When it comes to the sun, though, the more help you can get, the better.
A lens such as the Xenvo Pro Lens Kit is an excellent option. It’s not only cost-effective at under $40, but it’s also compatible with a variety of smartphones, including all iPhone models, Samsung Galaxy smartphones, Note, Google Pixel, Huawei, and more.
Some of the features found on the Xenvo Pro Lens Kit includes:
- Trueview 0.45x wide-angle lens — Said to produce “45% more picture with every snap,” this handy lens will be able to take stunning photos of all types of scenes, whether it’s a model, landscape, selfie, or the sun.
- No dark corners — Many cheap lenses come with dark corners, also known as vignetting. This lens is designed to avoid those unnecessary dark corners that can ruin a photo, especially when it comes to images of the sun.
- State-of-the-art lens for highest quality — This lens is made from aircraft-grade aluminum combined with premium optical glass. Together, these create a durable lens that offers high quality and clarity. You can minimize ghosting and unwanted reflections and glares with this lens.
- Clarus 15x macro lens — With this powerful lens, capturing all of the details is a breeze thanks to the precision focus. Even pictures of the sun come out razor crisp every time.
- Trugrip lens clip — With superior gripping power, the lens easily fastens to any smartphone and stays gripped tightly for capturing the perfect shots.
New photographers stepping into the world of smartphone lenses will be happy with the Xenvo Pro Lens Kit. However, when ready to upgrade to even better quality lenses, you should consider purchasing the 11 in 1 Cell Phone Lens Kit for iPhone and Android. This gives the photographer more options to capture a variety of shots, but might not be best for beginners.
(Source: The Telegraph)
Use a Low ISO and High Shutter Speed
To make sure there is no damage to the smartphone while still capturing the best image of the sun, it is also highly recommended to switch to a lower ISO and higher shutter speed.
This is best done using an app such as Adobe Lightroom.
To use Adobe Lightroom to lower ISO and heighten shutter speed, complete the following steps:
- Download and Launch the Lightroom App.
- Select the Camera Option.
- Select Professional Mode.
- Tap On the “Sec” Option to change the shutter speed.
- Drag the slider to increase or decrease shutter speed. Sliding to the right will increase the shutter speed while sliding to the left will decrease shutter speed. The shutter speed should be high to get the best image of the sun.
- Next, tap on the “ISO” option. Here is where the ISO will be managed.
- Drag the slider to increase or decrease the ISO level. Again, sliding to the right will increase ISO while sliding to the left will decrease ISO. For images of the sun, lower ISO is recommended.
(Source: iPhone Fotograaf)
Taking small steps like this can ensure that your images of the sun come out high-quality without putting extra stress on the phone and its sensors. As a bonus, this same app can be used for editing the photo once it has been taken, which is almost always necessary when taking pictures of the sun.
Consider Purchasing a Tripod
Purchasing a tripod is another excellent tip for capturing quality pictures of the sun because the tripod will keep your phone steady while capturing the images, which avoids blurriness and other unwanted issues. The good news is that tripods for smartphones are relatively cheap.
This phone tripod by Ubeesize is recommended because it’s under $20 and comes with a variety of top-notch features including:
- Upgraded for strength and durability. This new, state-of-the-art model surpasses the competition by being more reliable and durable than ever before.
- Fully adjustable. Designed with “octopus” style legs, this phone tripod can easily be adjusted and bent in a variety of ways to ensure that the best images are being captured. The maneuverability of this tripod ensures even the most difficult shots can be captured.
- Excellent stability. Designed with durable foam and plastic with no-slip feet, positioning this device on virtually any surface is a breeze.
- Wirelessly controlled. With a handy wireless remote, it’s never been easier to capture images from up to 30 feet away.
- Universally compatible. This must-have tripod can be used with a variety of cameras, including all types of smartphones.
Tripods are not necessary for a quality image of the sun — but it is relatively clear that having one in your arsenal is going to hurt your photos, either.
Extra Tips for Taking Photos of the Sun
The instructions listed above are the most important things to do when trying to capture a picture of the sun using a smartphone.
However, here are some other tips to consider to capture the best image of the sun:
- Consider adding shade around your smartphone. If the smartphone is going to be in direct sunlight for an extended time, then it is recommended to place some type of shade around the phone without blocking its view of the sun. This is not only because sunlight can eventually harm the lens, but a smartphone that becomes too hot will shut down automatically. If that happens, no pictures will be taken.
- Block the screen for better viewing. When taking pictures of the sun, there will be a noticeable glare and background light that makes it difficult to see what is being captured. Consider making a shield around the screen so that the screen can be easily viewed for the best photos.
- Use the telephoto lens, if applicable. Some iPhones and iPads are designed with a specialty telephoto lens that causes a 2x zoom. This will produce better images of the sun, so turn it on before capturing your pictures. (Source: Nightcap Camera)
- Use apps to enhance the photos. After taking your pictures of the sun, it’s best to use a smartphone app to enhance the photo. There are a variety of quality apps that can improve images instantly, including Snapseed, Adobe Photoshop Express, and Prisma.
- Avoid using timelapse. The timelapse feature is an excellent way to create stunning photographs. Still, it shouldn’t be used when taking pictures of the sun because a timelapse leads to extended exposure in the sun, which can lead to damage. This is especially true when the sun is positioned directly on top of the smartphone.
- Be safe. It’s commonly known that you should not stare directly into sunlight. To ensure that there is no damage to your eyes while taking photographs of the sun, it is recommended to wear eye protection, like sunglasses.
Does Taking Pictures of the Sun Damage an iPhone Camera?
The primary issue remains — “Does taking pictures of the sun damage an iPhone camera?” The sun can damage an iPhone camera — any smartphone camera, for that matter. Even though iPhones are durable, they still use a similar production method as other smartphones — such as utilizing light sensors in the camera to pick up and filter the light.
Over time, the sun can damage critical sensors inside the camera lens. As a result, the camera lens will be unable to refract and filter the light when taking photographs, which leads to sub-par results. Too much exposure to the sun can break a smartphone’s camera sensor entirely. Without the sensor, the camera simply will not function at all.
So, what can a photographer do? One of the best things to do is to keep direct photographs of the sun to a minimum.
Any time a photographer directly takes a photograph of the sun, the camera lens is used as a magnifying glass. The sensor then tries to detect and filter the light. However, with such an immense amount of light, it becomes too much for the sensor. (Source: Stack Exchange)
Be sure to take superior care of a smartphone and don’t photograph the sun extensively or regularly. Here are a few easy ways to ensure that the phone and lens are being cared for properly:
- Purchase a rubber case.
Hard cases are being sleek and trendy, but they don’t offer the right amount of protection for a smartphone. A rubber case is a far better option because they are bulkier, which means the smartphone and lens won’t come into contact with harsh surfaces that can lead to scratches. Avoiding scratches is crucial because it can cause damage to the lens. When photographing the sun, the heat can reach into the divots of the cracks, heating the camera sensor more readily.
- Clean the lenses regularly.
Dirt and dust are not going to cause any type of damage to the lenses, whether pictures of the sun are being taken or not. However, a dirty lens means that scratches and cracks can’t be seen as readily, which could lead to potential damage to the sensor when photographing the sun as the knicks and scratches will be unknown.
- Keep the smartphone off of rough surfaces.
If your phone has a rubber case, there isn’t as much of a concern when it comes to where the smartphone is placed. To keep the phone and lens safe, though, it’s best to keep it off of rough surfaces. When there is no other option, consider placing something soft like a microfiber towel down on the surface before placing the phone.
- Take photos of the sun sparingly.
This can’t be stressed enough — keep photographs of the sun to a bare minimum. The biggest culprit of damage to a smartphone camera’s lens is extended exposure to direct sunlight.
Alternative Options
While taking a picture of the actual sun is fun here and there, it shouldn’t be done regularly — but that doesn’t mean you can’t still include the beauty of the big red ball in images. There are a plethora of ways to capture the sun without damaging the lens of a smartphone, and the results are exquisite.
Consider the following tips for capturing the best image of the sun:
- Utilize HDR for the best results. The HDR process will take several photos before blending them for a superior image.
- Don’t be afraid of haze. Haze gives a warming calmness to a photograph that screams summertime fun.
- Don’t mind the flares. When taking pictures of the sun, it’s not uncommon to notice flares. Use the color to the advantage of the image.
- Add rays. It’s possible to create stunning rays by merely positioning your subject in front of the sun.
- Create a stunning silhouette. This can be done by placing the subject in a larger scene, allowing the rest of the picture to fall into the darkness.
Conclusion
Taking a photograph of the sun isn’t as easy as “point and shoot.” In fact, doing so can cause damage to the phone. However, by following a few simple steps, successful images of the sun can easily be taken. Remember, though, that taking too many direct photos of the sun will harm your iPhone’s camera.