Since you are talking about output, you maybe mean heat loss from thermal water panels? If so then your answer is yes, unless there is a dramatic drop in temperature the solar panels will lose energy slower than they collect it.
The output of a solar panel, whether water heating or electric, is essentially instantaneous.
In the case of the heating panel, as soon as it is shaded, it will start to lose energy. That doesn't mean that the water passing though will suddenly turn cold, but it does mean that the temperature will stop going up almost immediately, as the panel itself does not have much thermal mass.
For the electric panel, the response to light is so quick, you could use the panel to measure the intensity of the light falling on it at any given time. With a silicon panel, there is also a secondary effect as the panel gets warm from being in the sun, and the output drops slightly.
Solar energy solutions: The sun’s energy is the most abundant energy available to this earth. We should take advantage of this vast energy source. You can also employ DIY solar power solutions at home. This will not only cut down your household power bills but also help you contribute to a greener world. Solar power may be employed in solar cookers, solar heating systems, solar lighting systems; solar dryer’s etc.
http://earth4energysolar.org
Many factors would need to be considers: such as size or 'wattage' of solar collector, battery storage, if any; usage (time of day, amount)
If a panel was exposed to full sunlight, would it take more time for the panel to begin producing its full output then it would for the panel to stop producing once light was taken away?
