Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

Thanks!

Rogers

I bought a Marumi Japanese made filter with 100,000 atenuation, for $56 on Amazon a couple months ago. I just now checked and it's not available anymore. I've been practicing with it. I use the live view LCD screen for aiming as I read that using the viewfinder may zap your eyes with uv light.

Through my experimenting and reading I've gathered that the exposure is not critical for the partial phase, as mainly just getting the shape. I've not noticed any sunspots or any other dramatic features in the tests. I think you'd better leave the filter on to get the beads right before totality.

I plan to use my old backup camera for the partial phase, and my newer camera and telephoto zoom without any filter during totality, and then that's when bracketing becomes critical, at 800 ISO, f8, and speeds from 1/4000 down to a second.

Canon and Nikon both have nice eclipse tutorials.

skipwv Loc: West Virginia

I agree with ejones0310: the real story might be the reactions/expressions of people and animals experiencing the eclipse.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'd rely on what jon S said.

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

Regarding filters, some thoughts on filters based on doing a lot of reading on this subject. A usable filter doesn't have to cost large amounts of money. Ones based on solar film rather than glass can be much cheaper. For example, DayStar filters sold by B&H and others sell for about $20 and up depending on size. These are cardboard with certified solar film and slip over the lens. Certainly wouldn't be durable but, as has been pointed out, this is a one time use, at least for many of us. How is the image quality of film versus glass? I don't know first hand but a lot of film based filters have been used for photographing the sun over the years without complaints. At the moment at B&H two of the three sizes are out of stock (due in soon) but the DayStar filters are sold by other vendors also.

As has been pointed out above the filter has to be removed at the beginning of Totality and replaced BEFORE totalilty ends. Since Totality only last about 2 1/2 minutes or less, depending on location within the zone (only about 1 1/2 minutes where I live), quickness and ease of removal and reinstallation of the filter may be important since seconds will count. Since my manual dexterity is very poor (I've been known to drop filters trying to thread them on) I'm avoiding a screw on filter and going with the DayStar slip on/offs unless my practices show the DayStars are poor optically (as others have said, doing practices ahead of time is very important).

It's very important that any filter for cameras, telescopes, binoculars, or eyeglasses be 12312-2 ISO-Certified. Widely given advice on multiple websites is don't trust your eyes or equipment to anything less. Also, there is a some equipment being sold that states it's certified but actually isn't.

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

You do not use a filter during the "total eclipse". For 3 minutes it will be dark. Also changing the exposure level will give you several different but good view. David

jblazar Loc: Sunnyvale, CA

I thought you weren't supposed to use the viewfinder, even with a filter. Is this correct?

Rogers

Some filters pass UV, which doesn't hurt the camera, but can seriously damage your eyes.

jon S

Are you going there, 800 just for totality, or from the get go?

jon S

I have been using my view finder, w/filter, is this incorrect UHH? Eclipse wise.

Mathman Loc: Bellingham, Washington

This is very good advice in general for anyone who is feeling nervous about pointing their camera and/or eyes at the sun during the eclipse. I have purchased a filter from Thousand Oaks and practiced with it, but if clouds get in my way, photographing or videoing the reactions of the people witnessing the event is an excellent Plan B.

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

My impression is that it is ok to use a viewfinder if there is a proper (to me meaning certified) filter on the camera lens. However, this is just from reading on online sites and I would suggest doing your own research, just to be certain. If anyone does this please post the information, including the sources. It's obviously a very important question and one where there may be differing opinions. One problem might be not being able to use the viewfinder with solar eyeglasses on and some sunlight getting into the eye but not through the camera - " sneaking" in through any small space between the camera and the eye (can't think of a way to describe this more clearly) while looking through the viewfinder.

Bill_de Loc: US

Thousand Oaks is pretty much out of stock.

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jon S

I cut my viewfinder eye out of my glasses, and left the other Off eye to peak with lens. One needs practice, IMO, very dark one way, looking at mid day sun the other.

Larz

I'm doing something similar Eric. Im going to try to find something iconic in my area and shoot THAT during the eclipse to see what things look like.