sensor damage due to sunlight?

[CoffeePixels]

A quick search didn't yield much on this topic. Anyone have any experience with possible damage to their CMOS sensor when viewing the sun in Live View mode? I inadvertently turned on live view on my Canon Xsi with my lens pointed at the sun. I turned it off pretty quickly but wonder if damage may have been done. So far it seems to be operating OK but perhaps the damage could be such that I won't notice except on certain exposures.

The camera manual warns against pointing at the sun in Live View but I can't seem to find much else about how to detect if damage was actually done. Would it render the sensor less sensitive to light?

Thoughts?

[Not4wood]

Ouch!! If it was just a second and you can't seem to find anything wrong with the images then it hasn't happened. If I were you, I would make test shots of indoor low light levels and crank up the ISO to see how the sensor is dealing with noise at the moment. Go outside on a day that is heavy overcast. Shoot something with bright colors but leave room in the background behind and around your subject to see how the camera and sensor is dealing with the details and if there are any strange pixel marks in the sky/cloud areas. Also, tape up a blank white copy or print paper on the wall and shoot that as well. Look all around the image after you take the shot. Do you have any strange circles or pixel burns on this image?

If you still feel uneasy about the results from my comments above then just take this camera to the repair shop and let them check it out. Easier if you do it and if there is nothing wrong, you just got a good scare and will know for next time. Bringing your camera in for a checkup so early might cost you something, so thats why I'm not recommending you do this yet. Hold off and shoot some tests and see.

Happy New Year Everybody.

[lowbone]

Unless you pointed your camera at the sun for quite a while it is highly unlikely that you damaged your sensor.

[CoffeePixels]

I'll try those suggestions, thanks.