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Solar Filters vs ND filters

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  • 06-01-2020 1:37pm
    #1
    PoulMM
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭


    Can anyone explain to me what filter to use for solar photography? I am aiming at sunset images.

    I have studied lots of websites and it seems there is a difference between solar filters and ND filters. No sites show a photo of a solar filter and a photo of a ND filter so one can compare directly and see for oneself what exactly they're talking about. Is an ND filter a round glass filter and solar filter thin polymer film?

    I have my eyes on either
    - Formatt Hitech 67mm Firecrest Neutral Density 5.4 Solar Eclipse Filter (18-Stops) or
    - Breakthrough 67mm X4 Neutral Density 10-Stop (photospecialist.ie)

    Some websites claim you need at least 16.5 stops for eclipse photography, however, they differ on opinion and some contradict each other. I am not aiming at eclipse images.

    Thanks


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    #2
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,309 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    an ND filter is uniform in what wavelengths of lights are allowed/blocked. they just darken the image overall.
    by a solar filter, i assume you mean the likes of a hydrogen alpha filter, which blocks or allows specific wavelengths of light.

    they will give a different appearance to the sun that ND filters would - i.e. it won't just be a darkened 'natural light' image of the sun.


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    #3
    PoulMM
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭PoulMM


    Thanks.

    Never heard of a alpha hydrogen filter. Maybe that's what I'm looking for if I zoom in on the sun even at sunset.


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    #4
    drunkmonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 28,100 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    What lens are you using for solar?


  • Options
    #5
    PoulMM
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭PoulMM


    drunkmonkey wrote: »
    What lens are you using for solar?

    Hi, sorry for the delay in answering.

    I have a 67 mm 70-300mm Nikkor AF-P for full frame.

    I bought a Thousand Oaks Optical 67 mm. It takes images of the sun and the sun appears orange, so that part seems okay. Whether it's the right filter for images of the sun around sunset I don't know. I'll have to take more images to be sure...


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    #6
    drunkmonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 28,100 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Yea I need to buy a filter at the weekend I must as the guys in the camera shop what's best..going to try a few different lenses, hopefully a decent sunset on Saturday.
    I'll check out that lens.


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