levinton

I wonder if any of you have a formulaic method for photographing solar eclipses. Back in the day, I photographed an annular eclipse using a 5 inch reflector telescope focused on a white screen, which I photographed with a Hasselblad. Came out well. But I am clueless about the digital age. Have a Fujifilm XT4 with a range of telephotos, including a 100-400 with 1.4x multiplier. Also a Nikon D7100. What to do? Focus directly to sun? Filters? Screens? Lens focal lengths?
Appreciate any advice!
Jeff

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

Photopills offers a free guide to photographing solar eclipses covering in detail all aspects. Including a detailed discussion of what gear is required, especially a dedicated solar filter because it will block not only harmful intense visible light, but also harmful infrared and ultraviolet, which neutral density filters may not block.
https://www.photopills.com/articles/solar-eclipse-photography-guide#step6

MJPerini

You do know that you should never point an unprotected camera at the sun , I assume
There are both visual and photographic filters that allow safe viewing.
To get an Idea of how focal lengths will image the sun, just shoot the Moon, they both have an angular diameter of about 1/2 degree.
A 400mm lens on a FF body has a diagonal angular view of 6.1 Deg
Google How to Photograph an Eclipse

RichKenn Loc: Merritt Island, FL

I photographed the 2017 eclipse in Casper, WY with a D7200 and a 300 mm lens. Longer might be better but i got some good shots. I used a home made solar filter. You can buy sheets of filter material and I made my holder from cardboard. I shot at ISO 200, f/11, 1/10, 1/25, 1/100 and 1/200 sec. The four different shutter speeds show different aspects of the eclipse. Slower emphasizes the corona and faster emphasizes the Bailey's Beads. There was one last shot at 1/200 sec and then made a +1 EV correction in post of thee Diamond Ring. Perhaps my favorite is the 1/200 sec shot. I might comment that I was so wrapped up in photography that I failed to enjoy the eclipse! Oh, yes. I almost forgot. The filter is only needed for full or partial sun. For the full eclipse, take the filter off. And, I don't remember but I think I focused on infinity and then turned the AF off.

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joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Awesome 🖤🖤🟡🖤🖤

JBRIII

I have been to many and focusing is for me the most difficult. Being more active, there should be sunspots to help focusing. For the Annular you will need a solar filter on the entire time. For the total, removal a sec or two before totality is ok, allowing the capture of the diamond ring effect. Unless you very good at following a moving sun or are using a tracking device, FLs above 300 can become difficult. With good tracking 500 on a Canon 70D is good. A good way to try is, as stated P, use the Full moon, said to be same brightness as full eclipse and same size. Filters can be purchased or made using special film, see solar filter film on Amazon. This can be used anytime on full sun to see sunspots, practice focusing, fl, etc.

Finally, every article, book, film, warns about the danger of some view finders. Unless you are sure you view finder goes thru the camera lens, do not use ever, there are rubber covers supplied for Canons which can be used to cover it, or use electrical tape. Your sensor may survive the sun with no filter, your eye will not. If using a scope, be sure a child can not remove a filter and never use a screw-in-glass eyepiece filter supplied with older dept. store scopes, they can crack under the heat.
Hope this helps;
Finally, hotels are filling or filled or $$$$$ for both. The annular is the same weekend as the gallon festival in NM, suppose to be one of the best locations weather wise. Total is crap shoot everywhere due to April weather in US. Mazalan on west coast of Mexico is best, but I can't take everything I can pack into a car.
Jim

gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

Check out the Astronomical Section. I am going to AZ to photograph with PhotoPills and very excited. I have a discussion of a special filter here. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-779089-1.html

My results are here. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-780405-1.html

PM me if you want any additional information, I Googled the subject matter and found several useful articles, that I can share. BTW, check out the article I reference from Bryan at the The Digital Picture, do not shoot the eclipse without a filter and use live view. Mr. Star Guy told me not to look longer than five minutes using the view finder as if could possible damage your eye. My camera came with a cover for the viewfinder, which I am told is recommended to use with live view.

Good luck, Gary

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

Here’s a composite I made from the 2017 eclipse in WY. I used a 5D3 with a 400mm 2.8 lens with a 2x converter and an 8 stop ND filter. The exposure for the phases was 8000 at f-22 ISO 100. At totality I removed the ND filter (rear mount) and shot 1/80 at f-7.1 ISO 100. For focus I shot a series of images the day before with manual focus and taped the focus ring for the actual event. If I do it again next year I will up the ISO for the totality shots. It was risky shooting at 1/80 with such a long lens.

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ELNikkor

We drove 800 miles to southern Illinois for the 2017 eclipse. Even booking well in advance, we could only get a bad room in a cheap motel nearby. The sky was clear, and the family really enjoyed the experience. The center-line of the April 2024 eclipse goes right over my house, just outside of Rochester, so no long drive or cheap motel needed!

Vlemasters

I live in southern Illinois. Everyone around here was trying to guess how many millions of people would be here for the weekend and they were all wrong. It seems most of the people came down for the day and then went back home.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Covering the viewfinder is important to prevent light that enters from skewing camera meter indications. I have discovered errors of up to two stops when shooting on a tripod, whether using Live View or not. I'd expect larger errors when shooting through dark filters.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Except during totally, you do remove the filter, being sure to replace it quickly just before totality ends. That’s how I shot the 2017 eclipse up near Casper, WY

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Good answer.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

More good advice.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't bother taking pictures of an eclipse anymore. I just stare it until it burns an image into my retinas. At this point in my life, I want to keep all the vision I have, so I let others take the pictures. There are thousands of online pictures after every eclipse occurs.

These are the links I have.

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

Technique -
https://www.dpreview.com/learn/3999097998/these-nikon-videos-break-down-the-gear-and-settings-you-need-to-shoot-the-eclipse
http://www.mreclipse.com/SEphoto/image/SE-Exposure1w.GIF
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

Time Lapse
http://www.diyphotography.net/how-i-made-a-timelapse-of-total-solar-eclipse-while-still-being-able-to-celebrate-with-my-family/