July 17, 2017 (2)

This post is about how I took the pictures of the sun yesterday and my disclaimer is that 'this is how I did it and is not meant to be the only way to do it.'

Basic equipment was a tripod, a camera (duh!!!), a remote control, a solar lens cap, which I made, and, most importantly, solar glasses purchase on Amazon.  Other considerations are the ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture settings.  There is much to consider and that is why practice is a must.

First and again, most important, are the solar glasses.  If you look at the next to the last picture posted previously, it is a good representation of how the sun will look as you look directly at the sun.  During the total eclipse of the sun, the glasses need to be removed because it will be black.  Be sure to read the directions for using the glasses.

The lens on the glasses is a solar filter sheet, of which there are many different ones.  From the directions that I have, it is best not to touch the lens paper and definitely do not use them if they get scratched.

The following two pictures are of a lens cover that I made from a cardboard core.  I cut the Black Polymer Filter Sheet, which I purchase on Amazon, to fit the cardboard core, glued and taped it with Duct Tape... add that to the many uses of Duct Tape.

There are many Solar Filter available for purchase at varying prices on the Internet.  I choose to do this so I can slip it on and off the lens without difficulty.  It has to come off as the moon totally eclipses the sun because there will be no light.

I does not matter that the filter sheet has a wrinkle in it.  That will not affect the picture.

The settings for the picture (the last two pictures from previous post) that I think would be correct are a starting point for me for the lens that I used yesterday, which was at 200mm.

SETTINGS:

ISO                    100 (The lower, the better)
Shutter Speed:   1 second
Aperture:           36f

I have a lens coming that is 500mm and will need to practice with it when it arrives to get a starting point for that lens.