I'm satisfied with the SOOC version. If I make a poster, then I will post process.

What won't you know?

There were intermittant clouds where I was located but in all truthfullness I did not practice finding the sun enough. I
have a few more that look similar to the first shot and so does everybody else. The second shot was last of the day. If I had been able to locate the sun more quickly, I might have been able to get a complete sequence of shots ... my bad, sorry.
PS
There has been no postprocessing on either shot.
H

Thank you; per Occam's razor, I'll go with the simpler answer ... the difference is in the filters. I will be using the Seymour Solar filter. However, I will be taking photos of the moon to practice my focus. If there is an equipment problem, I'll notice it.

I have been posting in the Gallery and just noticed this section:
Just an FYI: I am not a novice photographer, I am a novice at photographing anything astronomical. I have been reading online articles about photographing eclipses and have gotten some advice from the folks in the Photo Gallery section. Any tips on how to get the best shot I can will be gratefully accepted.
I will be using a Nikon Z9 mounted on a secure tripod with a 600mm PF lens + a 1.4TC. I will have a Sun Finder mounted on the camera and I will be using a remote shutter release.

I had been using 1000 OAKS Solar filter and could not get rid of the "Halo" Photo 1 (3366) / ISO 400 f9 1/80th. In photo 2 (3370) the halo is finally gone/ ISO 400 f9 1/200th. The 3 photos in between the first and second also had the halo, but it was dimmer and you might not have understood what I was trying to show.
The third photo (3483) is through a Seymour Solar filter. The settings were ISO 800 f11 1/250th
When the math is done to compare the exposures, they are ROUGHLY the same amount of light to the sensor.
The 4th photo is a screenshot showing the histogram of #3483; there is nothing to the right of what you see. Based on that, I think those would be the settings to use ..... ISO 800 f11 1/250th
I will do more photographing of the sun over the next few weeks, any suggestions as to settings, technique, whatever, will be appreciated. I am already getting nervous.

Perhaps I was not clear; I am asking for suggestions for a solar filter to place onto the lens of my camera.

It makes no difference, it would not be a good idea to point a lens at the sun without a solar filter on it. I am looking for suggestions for a filter for the front of my lens.

I'll be travelling to Plano Tx to stay at a friends house. I am very new to photographing an eclipse. I currently am using a solar filter made by 1000 Oaks. Based upon my test shots (posted in the photo gallery) I don't think the filter is dark enough. I'm still looking for a solar filter.
BTW I looked at the filter you mentioned and came across this.
"This filter is designed specifically for photography applications. This filter is not suitable for direct solar viewing with the naked eye, including with optical viewfinders." I need something I can look at the sun thru the camera viewfinder with. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

see below.

The answer is that it's more a question of manners than law. Every photo you take is copyrighted, it's yours, that is uinderstood. Defending the copyright is another matter entirely ..... it can become EXTREMELY expensive. You are responsible for your actions; so it's really up to you as to how you treat someone elses work. I would suggest that you ask permission to use another persons photo, it's a matter of manners. As I just wrote, there's very little you can do about it if someone uses your photo unless your willing to spend a lot of money.

With the understanding that there is no right or wrong ... I can use my tripod as easily as if I was handholding the camera. I shoot BIF using a tripod all the time and the sun isn't moving (relatively) as fast. I don't anticipate any problems using the tripod. As for the f-stop, I will stop down, not to increase DOF but rather for optics of the lens.

I have never shot video, I'll have to think about it. In the meantime I sent a note to Stakkert asking if their program will handle NEF files.

Alternative to what? Are you suggesting not to use a tripod?
I will be doing some testing and getting practice - this is a completely new niche for me.

Thank you! The check is in the mail.