Keep in mine that ND filters are designed to block visible light. They may or may not block invisible UV and Infrared light. If they don't block this invisible light, you could still blind yourself and damage your camera if you look through the viewfinder. If you use live view, you could still damage the sensor. Do a google search for "ND filter for solar eclipse photography"
I understand what you're saying, but my biggest concern is wondering whether or not the eclipse poses any
additional problems that aren't normally there when taking photos that include the sun. And what I mean by that is this...during the eclipse, are the visible sun rays that extend on the sides of the moon in a
landscape photo
more powerful than normal
landscape photos that include the sun? And I'm guessing the answer to that is no.
If anyone is going to take prolonged sun photos (either photos with longer exposure times and/or a high number of sun photos), then my guess is those have the ability to damage the camera as well as our eyes. But if the settings are dialed in
(while the lens cap remains in place) and the focus set manually, it shouldn't pose a problem if the shutter speed is really fast...and if only a few photos are taken NOT in quick succession.
Putting the lens cap back on immediately after every photo would be important so as not to fry the closed shutter inside. Either here or in a Facebook group, I saw an image of someone's shutter (DSLR with the lens removed). There was a greenish pinhole through the shutter. He loaned his DSLR to his brother to take sun photos. I certainly wouldn't want to get to that point! :nightmare: And no one should look through the viewfinder at the sun.
@
FredKingston 's configurations sound plausible and safe if using a very high number of ND stops. 1/1600" shutter speed for a few photos not taken in quick succession *should* be okay for anything I might try. Haven't totally decided whether I will take the sun photos as I'm hoping to get the church building with stars in the sky. I'm not sure the stars will be visible, but if I use an ND filter and slightly underexpose if the sky is somewhat light, hopefully some stars will be visible (not supposed to be cloudy here either). :cheerful:
Thanks for your concern, Brent. Overall, eye and camera damage is a concern, and it's something each person has to carefully consider beforehand.
I'm just wondering how my 300mm lens on my D7100 might work with two 10-stop ND filters....
