Topic: view eclipse with 10 stopper? (Read 1136 times)

jnmoore · « **on:** August 18, 2017, 11:25:43 am »

Can I use my 10 stop ND filter to view Monday's eclipse or is this a bad idea?

jnmoore · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2017, 11:47:37 am »

After more research I found an article saying that I should use a "solar filter" not an ND plus get glasses as well. I don't want to spend a lot of money. FYI:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/how-photograph-solar-eclipse

NancyP · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2017, 12:34:09 pm »

USE THE SPECIAL ECLIPSE GLASSES FOR DIRECT VIEWING AND FOR VIEWING THROUGH CAMERA VIEWFINDER

Why? The filters made for photography do not have ultraviolet or infrared wavelength filtration, because your camera does this well enough. The filters made for eclipse glasses DO have UV/IR filtration and are specially inspected for efficacy. Glasses should have label with ISO(some number) on them.

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

For photography, a 10-stopper (1/1,000 of light gets through) isn't enough during most of the day, the solar photo filters are ~18 to 20 stops (as little as 1/1,000,000 of light gets through). 10 stop filters can be used near or at sunset, when the atmosphere has filtered/scattered more light.

NancyP · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2017, 12:42:52 pm »

P.S. SLR users, use LIVE VIEW with your solar filter when photographing

NancyP · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2017, 12:51:24 pm »

Unfortunately, at this late date, your best bet for finding a filter is to call any local amateur astronomers you know and see if they have left-over solar film with which to make a filter. (Baader Observatory's Solar Film is one example - I bought a large sheet just in case I screwed up the first attempt at making the filter holder, and to have extra for friends who didn't plan ahead).