Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

We are going to have a total solar eclipse in Aug. here in central Missouri.
I just looked up filters 16 stop ND $590 for a 105 mm, not sure this filter would be the best, I have purchased a couple of 4.5X5 welding filters #11 & #12 to test, my main concern is the filter changing the color of the sun, so I'M going to do some test shots with the filters to see if the color changes and if so will I be able to correct it in P.P. the key word here is I.
I will post some images from the test, before color correction and after.
My thought is to use two cameras one with the 150-600 and the other with a 24-120 or 14-24. The wide angle to catch the Totality and the nigh sky.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

If those don't work - you could try building your own -

I built one using solar sheet film, a UV filter and a step-up ring - cut the film to size (to fit in the step-up ring), put it in the step-up ring and screwed the UV filter on top of the film - works great. Ordered the rings off of eBay and Amazon - the film off of Amazon - Thousand Oaks Optical 8"x8" Solar Filter Sheet for Telescopes, Binoculars and Cameras...

I built my own filter using a UV filter and an adapter ring - cut the film to size and screwed the two together - piece of cake - works great. Ordered the rings off of eBay and Amazon - the film off of Amazon - Thousand Oaks Optical 8"x8" Solar Filter Sheet for Telescopes, Binoculars and Cameras...

Followed the instructions:
DIY
*Cheap and effective filters (solar) by trophygeek in photography (make your own solar filter using step up ring and uv filter)

Other DIY methods:
*How to Make Your Own Objective Solar Filters for Binoculars, Cameras or Telescopes for Visual and Photographic Use
*Video on How to Make a Solar Filter for a Camera
Supplies:Amazon Solar Filter supplies

Filters if you don't want to DIY:
B&H Solar Filters
Oceanside Photo & Telescope
Seymour Solar - Thin Film Threaded Camera Solar Filters
Seymour Solar - Glass Threaded Camera Solar Filters

Here are pics - front and back - I built this for my Tamron 150-600 - the UV filter protects the film and secures to step up ring so no leakage or slippage...
Next one I'm building is for my wife's 28-300...

The trick in making your own is to not get finger prints on it - I put the film between thin cardboard and cut with a scissors - cut it large first go around so I could fine trim for a snug fit - total time was about 15 minutes...

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Thank you very much, I may look into it if the welding filters don't work out, since this will be a one time deal I don;t want to spend much money on it.

Erdos2 Loc: Vancouver, WA

Excellent post. Definitely, try it. You can always try another solution if it does not work well enough.

In 1979 there was a total eclipse in the Pacific Northwest. Being broke college grad student, I made my own solar filter, using some solar film (looked like thin aluminum foil) that I ordered from some place I saw in a magazine. I taped it over the end of a cardboard tube and lined the inside of the tube with soft thin carpet. It was easy to put on and take off my Minolta SLR camera. It worked well and I was able to test it out plenty prior to the big day. (on the sun, light bulbs, etc.) It would be even easier to test out now in the digital age. Unless you are using 2 cameras, be sure your filter solution is easy to put on and take off quickly, because during the total phase, you will not be using it.

The other thing to do is to figure out where you want to be at the time of the eclipse, with options for weather. And then get there early. There will be a lot of people coming from both north and south to find places to see the eclipse. For my time in 1979, I drove from Corvallis, Oregon, where it is usually cloudy in February to the east side of the Cascades, north of Maryhill, Washington. Since it was a morning eclipse, I got there the night before in the dark and pulled over at a wide place on the shoulder of the road. Surprisingly, I slept well in my tiny car (in sleeping bag across the folded forward seats of a Austin Healey Sprite). What was really surprising was when I woke up in the early morning, the place I pulled over at was filled with vehicles 2 cars deep for as far as I could see up and down the road. A lot of people had arrived during the night. I almost did not see it because it was cloudy at sunrise, but the clouds disappeared not too long after that. It was a great time.

I wish I had the money for a higher focal length lens, but my home-made solar lens filter worked well. With the right lens and filter you can also get sun images showing sunspots.

I need to start figuring out my own plans for that day.

Jerry

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I just have to be at home.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

A few years ago we had one over here, about 90% if I remember correctly. I got away with some BADER solar film stretched across the lens hood and secured with an elastic band. It worked, sort of, but I'm not really into this sort of thing so I deleted the shots. It was an effort to keep the film 'flat' but more important to avoid wrinkles and folds.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Sounds good. I'm out of the main path, so I'll see pictures online and on TV. Have fun, and protect your eyes. I see Astronomy magazine is selling special eclipse glasses.

Some links -
Filters -
http://www.thousandoaksoptical.com/solar.html

Technique -
http://www.mreclipse.com/SEphoto/SEphoto.html
http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/photographing.HTM
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/article/h20zakgu/how-to-photograph-a-solar-eclipse.html
https://photographylife.com/how-to-photograph-a-solar-eclipse

wkocken Loc: McGregor, MN

I ordered a sheet of the Baader film and made filteres for 2 scopes, a camera lens and a pair of binos all for about $30. I used Baader's instructions. The only other materials are cardboard, double sided tape and hot glue. It was easy and fun. I am an amateur astronomer and we've been using this film for many years for observing sunspots and eclipses.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

#11 and #12 are not recommended by NASA or any real optometrist worth talking to. Damage to the eye is most likely to accur and to camera very possible. Only if you stacked them would they be safe.

Welder's glass should be a #14 at least to avoid damage.
This is recommended by NASA and an Optomotrist I know who deals with people going blind from being stupid.
The only exception is if you ar a Union Pipe Fitter you do not need anything better than #10 or something like that.
But for the rest of us mere mortals the above are what is recommended by professionals who deal with actual solar events and the eyes.
Any other recommendations are just speculation and you are more than welcome to risk your eyes following them.
Get your solar filter here.
http://www.thousandoaksoptical.com/solar.html
ND filters are not good enough.

You can do as you please and ignore this I don't care one bit. But it is your eyes and not mine and having had my late wife be totally blind I will not ever risk my eyes to that sort of life for a silly photo.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Thank you very much
I had the idea about N/D filters not being enough, that as well as the price was my reason for the welding filters.
By the way I have been welding for close to 60 yrs and had more arc flashes than I care to think about, according to my Eye Doctors have suffered no damage. While photographing I will not be staring at the sun for long periods of time, only as long as it take to frame the shot, as stated in my O/P I will make test before hand, the stacking of the filters is a great idea, I have done this when welding and did not have a dark enough filter. I will more than likely also be wearing welding goggles with a #12 filter for protection when glancing at the sun.
Once again thank you very much.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Central MO...Like Columbia? Branson? I'm on the World Series champions' side of the river.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I'M sorry about that won't hold it against you
I'M about 30 miles outside St,Louis. The total eclipse will be visible at Route 66 State park , barring bad weather.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

During the couple of minutes of full totality you don't need a filter, for the eye or for the camera. The moon is the filter. The surrounding corona does not provide enough intensity to damage your eye or sensor.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

If you are shooting with a mirrored camera, you must use a #14 welders filter. Anything less will risk your eyesight. Go to the NASA site for eclipse and read. There are actual solar filters available and the sources are given at that site. With totality, there is no filter needed. It is only the before and after totality that requires filters. Everyone needs to read all the material available. I nearly ended up blind because I didn't.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

We all have learned that welders have an attitude their eyes are better that all others because they are welders. They have no comprehension that the suns rays are different from welding arcs. So for us mere mortals you are absolutely right #14 is minimum NASA and optometrists recommend, but for welders, especially union ones, #11 or #12 is plenty sufficient.
BTW a mirrorless camera can be damaged by the sun as well as a DSLR. Unless your capture is exactly at the moment of the total eclipse and you do no other ones during the process.