How to shoot a solar eclipse??

[pedro.m.reis]

Hi ppl.
In Portugal next monday morning is going to happen a solar eclipse. I want to shoot it but i have no clue how 😀
Any tips like what film, filter, speed, apertures, etc etc will be very welcome 🙂

 

[pedro.m.reis]

You need a solar filter!!!!!!! If you are using an RF, it has to have a solar filter for the RF/VF too.

I use Baader solar filter material for my SLR's and big lenses.

Don't use exposed B&W film. Your eyes are not worth the risk.

Maybe you can show a link to a product that i could find in Portugal with 48h notice ??? Or an workaround?

Tks

 

[pedro.m.reis]

A ND filter is not the type of filter i'm looking for right?

 

[pedro.m.reis]

I'm not trying to discourage you. But, please don't take any risk with your eyes.
Damage can occur faster than you can blink. And it will be permanent damage to the retina.

And I know what damaged eyes are like.😉

Dont worry 😀 i got the message.
I'm just not shure if i go tomorrow to my photo shop that they will know what kind of filter i need if i just ask for a "solar filter".

 

[Tin]

Here is the link to an essay on eclipse safety precutions:

http://www.mreclipse.com/Totality/TotalityCh11.html

I'll search further on information on solar filters later. You can also do a search with the words "solar filter".

NO, you are very unlikely to get such as filter in a camera store. You have to go to a specia;lty telescope shop or sciencetific equipment shop. Definitely not in department stores or even camera stores that happen to also sell cheap telescopes.

Tin

 

[Hektor]

You can use binoculars or a telescope without filters, mounted on a tripod, to project an image from the eye-piece onto a white card on another tripod (or chair back) and then photograph the image on the card.

BUT YOU MUST NOT LOOK THOUGH THE TELESCOPE NOR THE BINOCULARS.

Use the shape of the shadow to align the telescope to point at the sun and then find the image on the card.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

greyhoundman, you use a baader filter right?
Is anything like this

http://www.fnac.pt/produto.aspx?catalogo=foto&categoria=consumiveisFilmes&produto=2200008990732

I thing this is a sheet of that matherial... i could use some with an UV filter or something....

 

[VinceC]

Mylar is used for astronomic telescope filters.

Essentially, shooting a partial solar eclipse is the same as shooting a picture of the sun. Your fastest shutter speed, longest lens at smallest aperature is likely going to show you an image of of the solar disc with a "bite" taken out of it. But absolutely got to use Mylar or welder's glass while framing.

Do you know the time of day of your eclipse? If your lucky enough for it to take place at dawn or sunset, then you just go ahead an take sunrise/sunset pictures as you normally would.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

That is exactly what I use. You can make your own cardboard ring to slip over the lens. It comes with instructions on how to do it.

Here is a couple of shots of the transit of venus, taken using the Baader material.

What kind of lens did you use? 1000mm??
Film?

 

[Tin]

Here is the official link from NASA on photographing solar eclipse:

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/eclipsePhoto.html

And her is a link to a solar filter supplier:

http://www.thousandoaksoptical.com/

BTW, besides using a long lens, there is another interesting way of shooting solar eclipse. I have not tried this myself, but I've seen the picture taken by an amateur astronomer this way:

Place a clean polished metal hub cap on the ground. Straddle a tripod over it and mount the camera on the underside of the tripod. The hub cap serves as a convex mirror and produces a fish-eye image of the sky. It will show the sun, as well as other people observing and photographing the eclipse with their telescopes and cameras. It produces a neat locational picture of the solar eclipse event.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Nice!
Tks all.
Now i'm going to try get some of that matherial to make me some lens solar filter....

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Pedro,
What camera and lens combo are you wanting to use?

Well, for that focal range my only option is my Canon A-1 + Canon 70-210mm + 2x ... and i'm going only up to 420mm.

 

[John Robertson]

Also remember that this not a total solar eclipse, it is an Annular* Eclipse, that is there will be a ring of sun visible at maximum coverage, so it will be brighter than usual. So take extra care. The corona and prominences will in all probability not be visible. Saldly they are less spectacular than a total eclipse. there was a similar eclipse visible in the north of Scotland on 31st May2003.
* from Anulus meaning a ring. (not sure if I spelt this right! )

 

[Tin]

There is another interesting way of photographing a eclipse. When the eclipse is still is in the partial phase, you can use the foliage from a tree a multiple pinhole cameras. This is describe below from a direct quote from the mreclipse.com website:

"Eclipses provide other phenomena that make interesting pictures, such as the crescent images of the partially eclipsed Sun produced by tree foliage. The narrow gaps between leaves act as "pinhole cameras" and each projects its own tiny (and inverted) image of the crescent Sun on the ground. This pinhole camera effect becomes more pronounced as the eclipse progresses.

You can make your own pinhole camera to project the crescent Sun with pinholes punched in cardboard, or by using your hands, or with a wide-brimmed straw hat. The profusion of crescents on the ground, on a building, or on a person's face makes a nice photographic memento. Almost any kind of camera will work. Just be sure to disengage the automatic flash. "

Tin

 

[VinceC]

An annular eclipse should give your part of the world a wonderful "donut" ring bokeh for a short time, like in those old mirror telephoto lenses. Enjoy.

 

[RObert Budding]

Just don't use a Leica.

Robert

 

[titrisol]

I used old X-Ray films (The darkest portions) as filters in a Cokin holder to shoot a couple of eclipses using a 200mm lens in a Pentax Spottie long time ago, when I was young and stupid....
Couldn't see much through the lens but the pcitures came out great!
APX100 1/500 f/5.6


PS> look in SkyAndTelescope magaine, they usually bring their HOW-TO take picutres of eclipeses evry time ones comes close

 

[titrisol]

Actually the X-Ray film (old style) is pretty good as a solar filter for a few seconds.
If you just take the darkest portions. I also learned to do a "projection" from the camera to a piece of cardboard to make sure it was on focus. Havne;t used those tricks in a loooong time though.

Glad to hear your eyes survived the session.🙂

 

[titrisol]

FOUND IT!
http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/eclipses/article_106_1.asp

Acceptable solar filters for unaided visual observations include aluminized polyester specifically designed for viewing the Sun, shade 12, 13, and 14 welding filters, black polymer filters, and two layers of fully exposed and developed silver-bearing black-and-white negative film.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Well ... i'm sad. I've got proper glaces from the local pharmacy so i can see the eclipse, but the solar filter "baader" is out of stock everywhere i looked. There will be no pictures 🙁((