Be careful when pointing your DSLR and lens at the sun......

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1019&thread=27846965

Not the first time I read that kind of story.
Never point your camera direct to the sun or let your camera directly under a source of heat or light. And if  your are using zoom lens, it's worst.

Of course that kind of bad manipulation is not covered by your warranty.

...

OUCH!! That looks real bad. i hope everyone learns from this. thanks for the heads up

Yeah it is hard to say what this guy did seems he left the lens cap off and left the camera in direct sunlight and it burnt the guts of the camera, rather than shooting into the sun also a possible risk to damage the sensor if done for more than  a brief sec or two..

Kind of dumb really, and a good reason to have ones gear properly insured.. How often do we see camera shops have a Camera in the window with lens cap off.. And always buy your camera boxed and sealed..

Good tips Danny!

@danob...yes, it's pretty hard to tell exactly what this guy did...he claims he was just "walking" with his camera. 
I suspect that it would have taken a fair bit of time in one position for it to cause the type of damage shown.
Regardless, the damage is done...and a lesson for the rest of us.

Thanks, again, for bringing this to my attention. Will be more careful of my cameras (re: sun) and buying future equipment.  That ex-display model may not be so much of a bargain!!!  It would be interesting if it turns out there's a manufacturing fault and this was an excuse to cover up and save costs. Although they would probably be passed on to future buyers.