Photographing the Solar eclipse: I'm thinking that I will photograph the August 21st eclipse. I'd be using my Tamron 150-600 lens and need to know what I need for an ND filter since we...

kenabr Loc: S.E.Wisconsin

I'm thinking that I will photograph the August 21st eclipse. I'd be using my Tamron 150-600 lens and need to know what I need for an ND filter since we are not in the area of totality, probably something like 85%. The lens uses 95mm filters. Various web sites seem to feel that a ND 15 isn't enough suggesting upwards of 10,000 to 100,000. Is there something I can hold in front of the lens that would be more cost effective than a screw in filter.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Use a solar filter intended for a telescope. They come in varying sizes so you don't need to pay the cost of an exact fit. I'm not going to do the research for you as you are probably just as capable of using Google or bing as I am. The big camera and optics stores sell a wide assortment of these filters as does amazon.com and ebay.

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

rmorrison1116 wrote:

Use a solar filter intended for a telescope. They come in varying sizes so you don't need to pay the cost of an exact fit. I'm not going to do the research for you as you are probably just as capable of using Google or bing as I am. The big camera and optics stores sell a wide assortment of these filters as does amazon.com and ebay.

You Must us a Solar Filter!!!!
No ND filter will work.
Craig

Mary Kate Loc: NYC

CraigFair wrote:

You Must us a Solar Filter!!!!
No ND filter will work.
Craig

We will be in NH. Not in the path of the total eclipse. Would you need a solar filter in those areas that have fringe views of the eclipse?

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Mary Kate wrote:

We will be in NH. Not in the path of the total eclipse. Would you need a solar filter in those areas that have fringe views of the eclipse?

The *only* place where it will be safe to shoot or even look hard at the sun, is right in totality, during totality. Even a sliver of the sun peeking around the edge of the moon is enough to do serious damage...

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

DayStar filters work well and are very inexpensive. You can see them on the B&H website. They are cardboard that is folded into a cup shape that slips over the lens, and the filter part is certified for solar photography or viewing which is important. I shot some photos of the sun as practice and they work well. You may also want to get some solar eye glasses so you can look directly at the sun without eye damage as the moon's shadow moves across it. B&H included some for free with my DayStar filter order.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I bought an inexpensive Baader film filter mounted in a plastic ring. I bought mine in 2015 to use with my telescope.
Here are pictures of how I use it with my Tamron 150-600 mm lens.

I have the plastic ring mounted film set down into a piece of 4" plastic drain pipe, which has Velcro loop side sticky back placed on the holder to center the lower section in my lens hood.
It is very secure and stays put deep in the lens hood.

My plan is at Totality, the lens hood removes allowing the camera to continue taking images. Then replace it as totality ends.
My camera will be mounted to my Astronomy mount I use for my telescope. It will track the Sun keeping the sun centered in the camera.

It may be too late to acquire a filter for your camera. Possibly a call to B&H can procure something.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/solar-observing/ci/33818/N/3583558376/sba?gclid=Cj0KEQjw_JrMBRDPx_PF9fjmgrcBEiQAKKzUfOBUerxMa72btA0vKMl99aypVZLfOTICaK3qxRdUXBgaAr_f8P8HAQ#beginner-tips

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOfYtPFbsXi4qdXh56nq6nPm6RdixmgzL-QgR8d

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPxXKkHsVroTlZ-qOMXfT-fr6JHb3hNdiw_t5GS

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipM984JXvOECvkOuslfn2lfvuKtc5PTGcqVLuscs

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

Mary Kate wrote:

We will be in NH. Not in the path of the total eclipse. Would you need a solar filter in those areas that have fringe views of the eclipse?

During totality is the ONLY time it is safe to directly view the sun, you will not be in that portion of the eclipse.
All other phases require that you use a solar filter of some sort including where you are.
Like others, I have been using Baader film solar filters that I made with directions included with the solar film.
Do no I repeat DO NOT look at the sun with a telescope or binoculars or even naked eye without a solar filter.
You eyes are much to easily damaged by the sun.
We cannot stress that enough.
This is so important that I will have timer running that will let me know 10 seconds before we expect to see the edge of the sun so I can put my filter back on and no longer look at the sun directly.

Jim

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Mary Kate Loc: NYC

Albuqshutterbug wrote:

During totality is the ONLY time it is safe to dir... (show quote)

Thank you for your good advice. I did buy glasses made for this eclipse. I will try your suggested Baader film.....Thank You

Mary Kate Loc: NYC

Albuqshutterbug wrote:

During totality is the ONLY time it is safe to dir... (show quote)

Whoa...they are out of stock on the 6 sizes I tried.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

kenabr wrote:

I'm thinking that I will photograph the August 21st eclipse. I'd be using my Tamron 150-600 lens and need to know what I need for an ND filter since we are not in the area of totality, probably something like 85%. The lens uses 95mm filters. Various web sites seem to feel that a ND 15 isn't enough suggesting upwards of 10,000 to 100,000. Is there something I can hold in front of the lens that would be more cost effective than a screw in filter.

Please DON'T use ND filters. Get an approved (White Light) Solar filter; save your eyes and camera!!

If it is too late for you to order a solar filter, try your local welding shop and acquire a #14 welding glass in the size required. Mount it on something that nicely fits over the front end of the lens. I've use a plastic bottle and gorilla tape for the few I've made. The image shown below shows a #11 welding glass mounted in this fashion. It gave too bright an image for direct viewing, i.e.: through an optical viewfinder, but worked ok for imaging using an electronic viewfinder and/or liveview.

!!! Please be VERY careful viewing the Sun! It can very easily destroy your eyesight !!!

bwa

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

Mary Kate wrote:

Whoa...they are out of stock on the 6 sizes I tried.

http://www.highpointscientific.com/baader-planetarium-visual-astrosolar-safety-film-7-9-quot-x-11-4-quot-sheet-asolv-s?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=BAD-ASOLV-S&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3Kz-y8PD1QIV05d-Ch3l_w_xEAQYASABEgKTPPD_BwE

They show that they have this in stock.
Jim

Mary Kate Loc: NYC

Albuqshutterbug wrote:

http://www.highpointscientific.com/baader-planetarium-visual-astrosolar-safety-film-7-9-quot-x-11-4-quot-sheet-asolv-s?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=BAD-ASOLV-S&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3Kz-y8PD1QIV05d-Ch3l_w_xEAQYASABEgKTPPD_BwE

They show that they have this in stock.
Jim

Thanks. I will order today.