How bad is it to point the camera at the sun?

[Pete]

Just curious, I know in the manual it says not to do it (I have a T3i, btw). However, sometimes it just looks so dang awesome with the flare and silhouetting effects it can have on the foreground. Does anyone know if it's just a precaution or a really serious issue to point the camera at the sun?

Thanks!

 

[NickClapper]

JJ Abrams informs me it's fine.

 

[Phil_UK]

F*ck it, it's only a T3i!

I think as long as you have a lens on it and dont do it for too long it should be fine!

 

[Pete]

JJ Abrams informs me it's fine.

Haha, in fact he makes his own sun at night, just so he can point it at the camera! Although I doubt he uses a DSLR...

 

[Pete]

Alrighty, that eases my worries a little bit. I'd like to keep my camera up and running until I can haz a GH3, so not breaking it before then would be great!

 

[2001 Productions]

Much less perilous now than in the Vidicon days (and if you don't know what that means, thank your lucky stars).

 

[Morris]

Even had to worry about reflection from shiny metal mike stands.

 

[wheatgrinder]

I dont know.. the idea of a magnifying glass, pointing at the sun, in front of my sensor does worry me... I dont think its unreasonable to avoid this.

 

[wheatgrinder]

and for those of you who have to know what a vidicon is..
http://www.nimaging.com/products/no_register_pdf/Camera Tubes - Principles of Operation.pdf

 

[harmonica44]

You can add lens flare in post, and it probably looks better that way I'm guessing.

 

[Pete]

Well, I could add flares in post, but my last film was full of shots like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebNPRrOtKI8

Not exactly easy or time-effective to do artificially (at least for me).