Are digital cameras affected by radiation?

There are different potential scenarios in which digital cameras could be exposed to radiation. For example, photographic equipment could be exposed to radiation during space flight. Although technology has also improved to the point where even smartphone digital cameras can deliver truly impressive images, that doesn’t mean digital cameras aren’t without vulnerabilities. Consider the fact that research indicates that radiation can negatively impact the quality of digital photos.

In a paper published in the academic journal Sensors, researchers explain how they tested an industrial digital camera while exposing it to various doses of radiation. Researchers found that exposure to radiation had a significant negative impact on the quality of photos produced by the camera. They point out that with the exception of the lens, none of the camera’s components were hardened against radiation.

This might not matter much to a hobbyist taking photos for Instagram. However, these findings highlight the importance of protecting digital photography equipment from the effects of radiation in various contexts, such as space missions. In the meantime, amateur photographers who have embraced digital photography may want to explore unique ways to use their old cameras, including those designed for film photography.

The team behind this study irradiated the digital camera with varying amounts of cobalt-60 gamma rays to test the effects. Specifically, they exposed the camera to 1.0, 10.0, 20.0, 50.0, and 100.0 grays per hour. For context, the average person will experience radiation sickness when exposed to 0.5 grays of radiation.

The researchers found that dark areas photographed by the camera became brighter when exposed to radiation, with higher doses causing a more pronounced effect. However, increasing the dose rate resulted in greater degradation of the bright and dark areas of the images.

This does not mean that the film is immune to the effects of radiation. The x-ray exposure involved in simply passing through an x-ray scanner at an airport can harm the quality of the images developed. Radiation can also negatively affect the quality of images taken with film cameras during spaceflight. In other words, film is not necessarily a superior alternative to digital photography in high radiation environments.