How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse | B&H Explora Quote: Gear: Solar Filters
When photographing the sun, you will need a solar filter for your camera and lens.The ONLY time the filter is not needed is when the sun is completely obscured by the moon during the totality portion of a total solar eclipse.
Several online tutorials mention using a neutral density filter or stacking neutral density (ND) filters. I ONLY recommend using a properly designated solar filter. I am not alone in this recommendation. Experts at NASA, the National Science Foundation, the American Astronomical Society, Nikon, Space.com, Sky & Telescope magazine, and others all recommend solar filters instead of neutral density filters. Why? Because these are the only filters designed specifically for viewing the sun, and they are constructed to not only sufficiently dim the sunlight, but they also protect your eyes and equipment from non-visible IR and UV radiation. Solar photography is NOT the time to experiment with homemade filtration concoctions, like stacking polarizers and ND filters, in an effort to save a few bucks.
There are some ND filters out there marketed for solar photography. If you are looking for this type of filter, it looks like the consensus among brands is that 16-stops is the minimum strength for a filter. In comparing different brands, there was a dramatic difference between the light transmission of one brand’s 16.5-stop filter and a competing brand. This concerns me a bit. Use at your own risk!
WARNING: Do NOT use these ND filters with an optical viewfinder! Many come with fine-print on their packaging, so use due diligence and stick to using your Live View mode or an electronic viewfinder. Your safest option is a solar filter, but the optical glass ND filter may have other uses besides solar photography.
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WARNING: Regardless of the filter system you employ, take care to ensure the filter does not accidently come off your rig while photographing the sun.
Restated to emphasize: Filters are needed at all times for solar viewing, except during the height of a total solar eclipse. So, when photographing the sun during totality, you should remove your filters. More on this later.
The only time it may be safe to point a camera or look at the eclipse is during the period of totality when the moon entirely covers the solar disk. This means you need to be in an area where the eclipse will be total.
So you're thinking maybe you can point your camera at the sun only during totality (provided you drive down to SC into the areas of totality). By the time you get everything set the period will probably have passed. According to NASA the period of totality in Columbia, SC will be 2 min 30 sec. Think you can get setup in less than half that time? Odds are you will be looking and pointing your camera directly at the sun long before and after the eclipse begins and ends.
Get a proper filter for your camera and your eyes. Damage to the retina from looking directly at the sun can take years to manifest.
Yeah, ok you're thinking, the sensor has UV and IR filters so a ND filter should be enough. Maybe not, since those filters are designed for ambient light and not the concentrated light coming direct from the sun. Put some broad spectrum SPF 50 (UVA, UVB, and IRA blocking) sunscreen on the back of your hand. Now take a magnifying glass and focus the noon sun on the back of your hand. How long do you think the sunscreen is going to protect you?
A solar eclipse is coming to America. Here?s what you?ll see where you live. - Vox Path of Totality 2017 - August 21st Solar Eclipse Maps and Photo Guide How Long Will the 2017 Solar Eclipse Last? Depends Where You Are