What kind of result are you seeking by taking pics of old sol? If you are interested in exposing for the surface of the sun, I would recommend a solar filter. The best brand that I have used (and own) are by Thousand Oaks Optics. (See link in a previous post).



I will be using my solar filter in May to shoot the annular eclipse that will be passing through northern Calif.

These filters are designed for viewing the surface of the sun with a telescope. The solar filter only allows 1/100,000th of the light to get through, which allows you to see (and photograph) sun spots. I use one on an 80mm refractor telescope. It would serve the same purpose on a lens. The trickiest part would be attaching it to a lens.

What you can't pick up with a standard solar filter is the sun's prominances (often mistakenly called solar flares). Prominances are the ejected material that looks like flames leaping off the edge of the sun. To see the prominances you need a special filter that only transmits the "hydrogen alpha" light wave.

What kind of result are you seeking by taking pics of old sol? If you are interested in exposing for the surface of the sun, I would recommend a solar filter. The best brand that I have used (and own) are by Thousand Oaks Optics. (See link in a previous post).


I will be using my solar filter in May to shoot the annular eclipse that will be passing through northern Calif.

These filters are designed for viewing the surface of the sun with a telescope. The solar filter only allows 1/100,000th of the light to get through, which allows you to see (and photograph) sun spots. I use one on an 80mm refractor telescope. It would serve the same purpose on a lens. The trickiest part would be attaching it to a lens.

What you can't pick up with a standard solar filter is the sun's prominances (often mistakenly called solar flares). Prominances are the ejected material that looks like flames leaping off the edge of the sun. To see the prominances you need a special filter that only transmits the "hydrogen alpha" light wave.

The difference is between pictures with the sun in them, versus pictures of the sun, where the object is to get detailed images of sun spots or other solar activity.

The original poster didn't elaborate on exactly what kind of sun/solar pictures he was interested in. Perhaps he will not actually need any special filters, if they are just casual, quick pictures that include the sun.