Solar Filter - Solar Eclipse Photography

by Brian Morrison
(Fayetteville)

Solar Filter

What solar filter should I use and would fit my Canon 70-200 IS 2.8 lens? - brianm910@nc.rr.com

Thanks for your question, Brian.
The Canon 70-200 f-2.8 lens takes 77mm filters.

I have not personally done any photography of the Sun directly except at sunrise and sunset when the brightness of the sun is greatly reduced. You must take some caution that you do not damage your camera's sensor from direct photography of a bright sun. High end DSLRs do have extremely fast shutter speeds that will diminish the likelihood of any sensor damage.

I do have several ND (neutral density)filters that I used for depth of field reasons. They come in a variety of densities. Here is an article that may be of some help to you: solar filters.

I've heard that you should have at least 5 f-stops of reduction in light for looking directly at solar eclipses with the naked eye.

UNIVERSAL SOLAR FILTER