NeuralStackAs eclipse season approaches, Euronews is warning phone users not to treat their smartphones as harmless point-and-shoot devices when aimed at the Sun. The outlet says prolonged exposure can overheat the camera module and permanently burn the photodiodes in the sensor, leaving dead pixels or blotches that cannot be fixed. It can also trigger thermal protection and shut the device down abruptly.
The core advice is simple: as long as the Sun is even partially visible, the camera needs a solar filter. Euronews says the only standard endorsed by NASA and astronomical societies is ISO 12312-2:2015, the same standard used for eclipse glasses. In practical terms, that means no filming or photographing the Sun without protection during the partial phases.
For users who want to capture the event, the article points to a low-cost workaround: cut a lens from certified eclipse glasses and tape it over the phone’s camera. The filter has to cover the whole lens with no gaps where light can leak in. Euronews also advises locking exposure and focus on the Sun before recording, using manual or professional mode with a low ISO and a fast shutter speed.
Stability matters too. The article recommends a tripod and self-timer to avoid shaky footage, especially if a phone will be held steady for more than a few moments. It also warns against leaving the device exposed between shots, against attaching binoculars, telescopes or telephoto lenses without a certified solar filter, and against looking through a viewfinder or lens at the Sun even if eclipse glasses are worn.
Why this matters
Phone cameras are now the default way many people document rare sky events, which makes safety guidance more than a niche astronomy concern. The same impulse to capture a vivid image can put both the sensor and the user at risk if protection is missing or poorly fitted. As a result, eclipse photography is less about smartphone convenience than about disciplined use of proper solar filters.
The warning also reflects a broader reality about modern phones: their cameras are sensitive enough that intense sunlight can cause real damage, not just a washed-out photo. That means casual eclipse shooting can lead to permanent hardware harm, while also producing unusable images if exposure is not controlled. For most users, the safest choice remains simple viewing with certified protection, and only brief, carefully filtered shots when conditions allow.
For anyone planning to photograph the event, the article’s message is that the filter is not optional and the timing matters. The phone can be useful, but only if it is treated like optical equipment rather than a casual camera. When the Sun is fully covered is the only time the rules relax, and even then only for those in the path of totality.