Chainlink Loc: Central Texas

Hello,

I have a Nikon N2000 35mm camera and I was going to pair it with one of my telephoto lenses (Sigma 200-600mm) or (Nikon 70-200mm) lens for the Solar Eclipse that is coming in April.
My question: I'm not sure which type of film to use for this setup, and what kind of polarizer should I use. Honestly, I don't even know if this would even work. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Nick.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Nick - this morning, I've been editing some color film scans from a few years ago. Expired rolls of film shot between digital shots. As usual to my prior experiences in these situations, the better I filled the film frame, the better the film results. That is, I can adjust the exposure and WB of the film scans, but 'cropping' into the details doesn't reveal (or harvest) a better composed image, unlike how I can crop into my 20+ MP digital frames.

That preamble said, just pick a color film that mimics the ISO you plan to use with your digital camera. Or, an ISO you can 'test' with your digital equipment for the throw-away digital frames, before transferring those same settings to the film camera. This applies up until you get involved in reciprocal issues of very long exposures.

Color films you might consider would include, Kodak Ektar 100 (shot as ISO-080), Kodak Gold 200 (shot as ISO-100), or Kodak Pro Image 100 (shot as ISO-080), or Kodak Portra 400 (shot as ISO-200). I give the ISO overrides that will overexpose the films by 1/3 to 1-stop, before you start making adjustments for the filters, etc. If you override the ISO in the film camera, you set the digital to the same ISO and develop the other exposure parameters based on that common ISO setting.

I use this approach when I want to test flash settings, first working how the light output, everything on a tripod, then keeping the same lens and flash, just swapping the body to the film body and setting the same M settings. I can do this as my EOS film body can be used with the same EF lenses and flash as my DSLR. I can even do the same swapping between a Sony MILC and just transferring the settings to the film EOS, with nothing of the equipment in common except the tripod and distance to the subject and the written down M exposure settings on both the camera and flash.

Finally, the filter needed for the eclipse will need to be much stronger (darker) than just a polarizer. There's been multiple eclipse questions already. A google like below will return a list of many of the recent posts:

google eclipse site=uglyheadgehog.com

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I made an attempt to photograph a partial eclipse with a film camera many years ago. I did not hve the proper filter and that is the reason, I truly believe, that created a problem with my camera. I plan to try again in April but with an appropriate filter. I ordered and received glasses and filters from Amazon. They have a variety of the glasses and a few fold up filters to attach to a telescope or telephoto lens. Check the diameter of your objective lens so you get a filter that will fit properly. The delivery was quick and the prices were very reasonable. I suggest you invest a few dollars and get them to protect your eyes and your camera.

Chainlink Loc: Central Texas

Thank you for the quick reply and detailed information.

Chainlink Loc: Central Texas

Thank you for the quick reply and information I'll check amazon.