big sky montana Loc: Great Falls Montana

So here's the deal. I plan to shoot the total solar eclipse at Casper Wyoming. I will be using a Canon 5d Mark 3 with a Canon 500mm lens taking one shot every 3 or 4 seconds for the duration of the eclipse. total shooting time of around three hours or so from before start to just after finish. My questing is the lens uses a drop in filter. This filter is a "solar" filter, behind all the glass that makes up the lens. Not worried about the camera but will pointing the lens at the sun for three or so hours do any damage to the lens? I will have the camera - lens mounted on an equatorial mount tripod so it will be centered on and track the sun for the duration of the eclipse.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

This eclipse deal was brought about by Nd filter manufacturers and the price for solar filters have doubled.
Just kidding, looking forwards to all the eclipse posts that will follow.
I live about 4-5 hours from the total path but I hear that accommodations have tripled in price and booked up so, I don't think I'm going to get mixed up with all that but, be safe and have a good time.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

See this tutorial re solar film. Just placed it on order, shipping 8/3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_nnEDwv19k in all of Tony Northrup's geeky glory.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Not bad.

cthahn

When you get done you probably wont have to worry about using that lens again. Think what you are doing. Shooting straight into the sun. The solar filter belongs at the very front of the lens.

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

I will agree, the filter belongs on the FRONT of the lens, not behind it.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Do you have reason to believe lens cannot handle that much light??

When I received a particular Super Takumar lens, it was badly yellowed. Even though we were in summer, I left it on our deck for a few days at let the sun shine directly through it. At the end of that time, the lens had been cleared ... and not damaged.

spaceylb Loc: Long Beach, N.Y.

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

It isn't so much the amount of light, but the heat build up inside the lens, and also on the filter. Depending on the filter, enough heat can build up on it to crack it... When I was a kid, I would start fires with a magnifying glass. All that heat would build up inside your camera lens. You might get away with it, but most solar photographers use an external filter...

ggttc Loc: TN

Just took out my solar film from Thousand Oaks Optical...and it specifically says that the filter should be placed at the end of the lens or telescope...not anyplace else.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Solar filters are normally front mounted but not always. Baader's Herschel Wedge white light filter is mounted in the place of the eyepiece on refractor telescopes; not recommended from reflex scopes.

It all depends... But I'd stick with front mounted unless you're sure your lens won't overhead.

bwa

budcmor Loc: Watervliet, Michigan

I'm planning to attach my Nikon D3200 to my 900mm/ 4 1/2 inch telescope. I just purchased a solar filter for the FRONT of the telescope from Explore Scientific. I believe you can get one smaller to fit the front of your camera lens. According to their video, if you are in the path of totality, the filter can be taken off during the 2 minute duration of totality, but must be on before and after. I would not only be concerned of the heat build up on your lenses, but also the heat on your camera sensor. It could be fried in the process. www.explorescientificusa.com/collections/sun-catcher/products/sun-catcher-full-aperture-solar-filter The price for a small filter is about $15.00.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

I am fairly certain you will be OK. The filter will block the light to the sensor which is extremely important. The only question in my mind is how hot the filter may get which will be dependant on how concentrated the light is at the filter. The question would be best answered by Canon at their Customer Support Center on-line. If for some reason the filter should crack, you will be limited to just Baily's Beads, Diamond Ring, and the corona shots. And if it cracks, do not look through the viewfinder because any direct sunlight will pretty much burn your eye instantly. You do not want to be a blind photographer. Remember that if any part of the sun is visible, and the filter is out, any of the sunlight will burn your retina. It will be best and safest if you do everything using live view on the back screen.

Also, remember to remove the filter if you intend to shoot Baily's Beads, Diamond Ring, and the corona. Having the filter in will prevent you from getting those shots.

Shooting every 3 or 4 seconds is a fairly massive project. I was wondering what the reason is for doing so. You don't have to explain yourself, but I am curious.

Lorendn Loc: Jackson, WY

Fellow Wyomingite - here is all you need to know:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1944986057/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1944986057&linkCode=as2&tag=sastrpre-20&linkId=2699210e33cbdfe4beccbd21e622cfc9

raferrelljr Loc: CHARLOTTE, NC

I think that it would be devastating to your lens and camera for being pointed at the sun for several hours, high temperatures will/could destroy your expensive lens.