Solar Eclipse - March 20th

[WelshChris]

I'd love to try photographing the solar eclipse in a few weeks time, but I'm unsure as to the best way to get good results.

Clearly nice weather is needed, but given that what's the best approach. Thought of using the trusty Nikon with a Sigma 150-500.

I'm also unsure as to which type of solar filter is needed - any experts on this subject?

[RobbieKB]

This is definitely something I will be trying to photograph too. I've never done it before but I would guess you need a telephoto lens and ND filters for it.

[ExPat2B]

I was going to try this too, was planning to use a 500mm f4 and putting a 10stop ND filter in the drop in filter section. Something like this....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heliopan-39mm-ND-Stop-Filt...

It is only a partial eclipse where I am, which makes me very worried about overheating the filter/lens..anyone done this before ?

Also it is early in the morning so the chances are it will be affected by clouds/fog.

[Ed_P]

On a previous eclipse, I seem to recollect projecting the image onto a piece of card through binoculars and then photographing the projected image. Worked quite well and posed no risk to the camera.

[ExPat2B]

Well this is interesting.

https://www.reddit.com/r/photography/comments/2x6m...

Gives the maths to calculate the heat generated by different f/stops and focal lengths.

Turns out about 12 watts for a 500mm F4......I am guessing this is going to quite a lot of heat, too much for a raw sensor and needing to be filtered.

[daveake]

Wind may scupper my plans, but cloud cover won't :-)

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/s...

Pi in the Sky: During the eclipse, live pictures will be beamed back from a weather balloon nearly 30Km above the Earth courtesy of a Raspberry Pi computer.

[Mroad]

You just need to make a filter out of Baader AstroSolar Safety film (or similar). It is designed for solar observation with good optical qualities and blocks 99.999% of UV and IR radiation. You can pick up an A4 sized sheet of the film for about £15-£20 from good telescope suppliers and comes with details on how to make a filter.

[ExPat2B]

Mroad said:

You just need to make a filter out of Baader AstroSolar Safety film (or similar). It is designed for solar observation with good optical qualities and blocks 99.999% of UV and IR radiation. You can pick up an A4 sized sheet of the film for about £15-£20 from good telescope suppliers and comes with details on how to make a filter.

This is good information, I have been googling this morning, and Baader film is definitely the most recommended, and it seems ND filters don't block all IR light which means they can be dangerous.

And it seems it would be better ( for me ) to block off the entire objective of the lens rather than drop in filter.

[DibblyDobbler]

What about using live view to do the focusing etc - no danger to the eyes but can you burn out your sensor?

[Mroad]

DibblyDobbler said:

What about using live view to do the focusing etc - no danger to the eyes but can you burn out your sensor?

Not only can it burn out the sensor but possibly lens internals (iris) too (could also buckle the shutter if you come out of live view).
I think I used welding glass for the last eclipse (gives a green colour cast though) but I've invested in the Badder film this time around. For totality you don't need any filter but we won't be getting totality in the UK this time.

To be honest the most interesting photos of the eclipse are the shadows cast by the partial eclipse. As the light source (sun) becomes cresent shaped the tiny gaps between leaves in trees etc. all act as pinhole cameras casting cresent shapes on the ground e.g.:
https://ecmreviews.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/cre...
Unfortunately everyone seems to look at the sun and forgets to look at their feet for this interesting effect.

[rich83]

DibblyDobbler said:

What about using live view to do the focusing etc - no danger to the eyes but can you burn out your sensor?

Just set focus to infinity.

[DibblyDobbler]

Thanks for the replies chaps

[Rich K]

just realised I'm staying in the Shard Thursday night in a city facing room, so will be there for the eclipse.

How do I best capture this from a scenic perspective, over the city, rather than taking a picture of the actual eclipse.

how do I set the exposure?

Do I either set it according to the light at 8:00am and use a manual metering or should I place it on auto metering that will alter as the light changes?

I hope to set my D7000 up for a time lapse for say 3 hours 8:00 to 11:00 (taking a pic every 10 seconds and playing back @ 5 fps giving a 3 1/2 minute clip, if my maths is right)

thanks in advance for your advice

[FunkyNige]

rich83 said:

DibblyDobbler said:

What about using live view to do the focusing etc - no danger to the eyes but can you burn out your sensor?

Just set focus to infinity.

Watch out, when focusing on stars worth my camera (canon 400d) I have to focus a bit before infinity otherwise it's a bit blurry, not sure how common that is mind.

[DibblyDobbler]

FunkyNige said:

rich83 said:

DibblyDobbler said:

What about using live view to do the focusing etc - no danger to the eyes but can you burn out your sensor?

Just set focus to infinity.

Watch out, when focusing on stars worth my camera (canon 400d) I have to focus a bit before infinity otherwise it's a bit blurry, not sure how common that is mind.

How to Focus on a Distant Object by Dibbly Dobbler, on Flickr

[DavidY]

Ready for the cloudy morning.....

[Elderly]

Mroad said:

the tiny gaps between leaves in trees etc. all act as pinhole cameras casting cresent shapes on the ground

Not too many leaves on the trees around here at the moment

[madbadger]

What ISO, White balance etc. should work best? I think I have a spare welding filter around.

[madbadger]

That's odd. Is PH broken again?

[RobbieKB]

madbadger said:

That's odd. Is PH broken again?

One of you is broken, I'm not sure which.