How to Make a Photography Sun Visor for a Digital Camera

Modern digital cameras often present challenges shooting in bright daylight conditions. Unlike the traditional hooded viewfinders of twin-lens reflex cameras, or even the through-the-lens viewfinders of more recent single-lens reflex cameras, modern digitals have an LCD view screen. While the increased size of these view screens easily show what the finished photo will look like, they are virtually useless in bright daylight. The power of the sun overpowers the LCD screen, resulting in an invisible image. The sun can also have an adverse impact on the lens and photo quality

Things You'll Need

• Black Cloth, 1 yard square
• Corrugated Cardboard Box
• Black Spray Paint

Instructions

Informal Digital Camera Sunshade

1. Cut a piece of black cloth large enough to cover your head and shoulders.

2. Place the cloth over your head, allowing it to drape over your face and to your shoulders.

3. 

   This photographer is using a large-format camera, but the principle is the same.

   Arrange the cloth so it does not cover your camera's lens. (You will see the cloth in the view screen if it has fallen over the lens.) Snap the photo using the now-easily-seen view screen on your camera.

Steps For Cardboard Box Lens Sunshade

1. Obtain a sturdy cardboard box, and paint the interior solid black.

2. Remove one side of the box on the lengthwise dimension. Do not cut out the bottom, as this will weaken the box. Remove the top flaps. Turn the box upside-down. The bottom of the box becomes the top part of the shade.

3. Wait for paint to dry fully, then cut a hole the same size as your camera's lens opposite the removed side of the box. Either measure the outside diameter of the lens and use a drawing compass to mark the correct sized hole, or, with your camera turned on so the lens is protruding, trace around the outside of the lens.

   Remember: if using a drawing compass, the spread of the compass must be only 1/2 the final diameter needed.

4. Mount your camera on a tripod and insert the camera's lens through the hole in the box..

5. Ask an assistant to steady the box to avoid camera shake, and snap the photo. (An assistant is nice, but optional. With the camera on a tripod, it is possible to steady the box with one hand while pressing the shutter button with the other.)

Tips & Warnings

• If you are attempting to shoot through a window, first make sure the window is clean.

• In the case of 'through the window' shots, the cloth or box can be taped to the window with heavy-duty tape.

• In case you need to shade both the lens and view screen, both methods may be combined by taping the cloth to the side of the box where the camera's lens is inserted.

• A purchased rubber lens hood is a better and less bulky choice than the box method, in most cases, although there are times and sun angles when the box may be a better idea.

References

• Popular Phototography:The Safari Next Door:Page 3