Eclipse Lens Recommendations: I just found out today that I will be going to the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse. In case it isn't snowing or raining that day, I was thinking...

stu352 Loc: MA/RI Border

I just found out today that I will be going to the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse. In case it isn't snowing or raining that day, I was thinking of getting a longer prime for my Canon EF-S APS-C body anyway, so this will be a good excuse. The longest I have now is the 55 - 255 kit lens. I think I've got the filter business figured out, but what focal lengths have worked well with APS-C machines for sun photography?

jim quist Loc: Missouri

It seems that what you have should work fine unless you just want to buy another lens. On our full frame cameras my wife and I use a 500 f4 with a 2x, and a 300 2.8 with a 2x, and a 400 DO with a 2x for moon shots. All three work just fine on a tripod.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-788074-1.html

gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

stu352 wrote:

I just found out today that I will be going to the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse. In case it isn't snowing or raining that day, I was thinking of getting a longer prime for my Canon EF-S APS-C body anyway, so this will be a good excuse. The longest I have now is the 55 - 255 kit lens. I think I've got the filter business figured out, but what focal lengths have worked well with APS-C machines for sun photography?

Here is what I used for the Annular Eclipse last year. Gary https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-780405-1.html

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

This is the third time for the same question... go to search in the UHH header and ask and read the answers

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

dpullum wrote:

This is the third time for the same question... go to search in the UHH header and ask and read the answers

Sorry repeat questions bother you.....

Not everyone has a memory as good as yours,
they may not read every single post either,
and the search function here is lacking.

JBRIII

On my 60D and 70D Canons 500mm gives a nice size sun with room for the Corona. 300 will be a pretty small disk. For the full frame R, I believe I used a 400mm and the 2x extender, so 800 was good. You can see by shooting the moon to get an idea, both same size AR eclipse time so reasonable way to experiment.
The weather is going to be the issue everywhere, no great areas like eastern Oregon in 17. April not excellent anywhere.
Texas rated best, but still not 95% or better chance of seeing it, maybe 60-70%. It will track a few hours west of me, but there probably 25% at best.
Good luck;

P.S., good glass is great, but you don't need a huge aperture, massive lens, plenty of light available.

MJPerini

The angular diameter of both the sun and the moon are approximately 1/2 degree.
So you can practice safely on the moon. Remember that the angular view of lenses on a given format is measured by the diagonal of the format, and usually given for FF. for a 500mm lens the angular view is about 5 degrees on FF
500 on a Canon crop = 500 x 1.6 = 800mm equivalent.
Or you could divide the 5 degree angle bay 1.6 = 3.125 diagonal field of view.
Realistically even a 400mm lens on a crop sensor will get you in the ballpark because you need to remember that all these numbers are for diagonal view , and frame height and width will be smaller (C2 =A2 + b2)
Canon makes a 400mm f/5.6L and a 300 f/4 that are both dead sharp and highly regarded.
You can probably rent one for a week and save lots of money.

User ID

stu352 wrote:

I just found out today that I will be going to the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse. In case it isn't snowing or raining that day, I was thinking of getting a longer prime for my Canon EF-S APS-C body anyway, so this will be a good excuse. The longest I have now is the 55 - 255 kit lens. I think I've got the filter business figured out, but what focal lengths have worked well with APS-C machines for sun photography?

The sun and moon are the same size in the sky (duh ? eclipse ?) so you can 100% safely experiment using the moon. Use your current lens, crop to the framing you desire, do the math and buy a lens. EZ PZ.

Basil_O Loc: Minneapolis, MN

This may be the only legitimate use for one of the myriad of cheap 500mm mirror lenses on ebay. You aren't worried about razor sharp detail; it is easy to manually pre-focus; they have no chromatic aberration; did I mention they are cheap?

I shot the 2017 eclipse with a Minolta 500 reflex. It is a decent lens...many notches above the ones on ebay. But a friend shot the same event with a cheap mirror lens. The difference is only noticeable if you are really looking for it.

Mojaveflyer Loc: Denver, CO

Last October I used my 100 - 400 mm "L" lens on my Canon R7 body hand held. You don't have to worry about exposure, you'll have plenty of light shooting at the sun.

In the shot you can see the moon progressing across the face of the sun. The two dark spots on the sun are sunspots visible. The photos were shot with a Thousand Oaks Optical Solar filter and processed in Photoshop Elements.

(Download)

User ID

Basil_O wrote:

This may be the only legitimate use for one of the myriad of cheap 500mm mirror lenses on ebay. You aren't worried about razor sharp detail; it is easy to manually pre-focus; they have no chromatic aberration; did I mention they are cheap?

I shot the 2017 eclipse with a Minolta 500 reflex. It is a decent lens...many notches above the ones on ebay. But a friend shot the same event with a cheap mirror lens. The difference is only noticeable if you are really looking for it.

You would also reduce IR due to the mirrors.

Altho I too have a Minolta reflex lens, I wont be racing into the eclipse path to make pix of spot color circles which look like something a child created from scratch in Corel Draw. The experience is worth going to some trouble for. Eclipse pix are universally not worth a glance. Focus your entire whole self on the very brief experience and dont be distracted by playing with elaborate toys. An eclipse experience is priceless but the pix are worthless. Focus on actual real value.

(Download)

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

stu352 wrote:

I just found out today that I will be going to the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse. In case it isn't snowing or raining that day, I was thinking of getting a longer prime for my Canon EF-S APS-C body anyway, so this will be a good excuse. The longest I have now is the 55 - 255 kit lens. I think I've got the filter business figured out, but what focal lengths have worked well with APS-C machines for sun photography?

Search B&H Photo. They have everything you will need plus an explanation how to photograph eclipse.

Basil_O Loc: Minneapolis, MN

User ID wrote:

You would also reduce IR due to the mirrors. br b... (show quote)

That is why this time around, the big camera stays in the case. I just want to savor the moment. Last time was about pictures, which I got some pretty cool ones. The diamond ring is pretty awesome to see. I also got a really great shot as the clouds rolled through. But this go round, it is not about images, but the experience

User ID

Basil_O wrote:

That is why this time around, the big camera stays in the case. I just want to savor the moment. Last time was about pictures, which I got some pretty cool ones. The diamond ring is pretty awesome to see. I also got a really great shot as the clouds rolled through. But this go round, it is not about images, but the experience

Good on you !!!

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

Basil_O wrote:

That is why this time around, the big camera stays in the case. I just want to savor the moment. Last time was about pictures, which I got some pretty cool ones. The diamond ring is pretty awesome to see. I also got a really great shot as the clouds rolled through. But this go round, it is not about images, but the experience

👍👍👍