This is how you take a photo of the sun without breaking your camera or your eyes

When taking photos, the sun is often more of an enemy than a friend. It dazzles and overexposes photos and videos. Especially during exciting events like the ones that happened recently total solar eclipse, But many people want to photograph the sun.

➤ Read more: Solar eclipse 2024: best photos and videos

This is not without risks, so you should be well informed on how to protect yourself and your equipment. With the right tools, you can take dramatic photos of the sun. This is not with just one DSLR maybe. Even so smart phone You can take pictures of the sun – but you shouldn't hope too much here.

In this article:

• warning: This keeps your eyes and technology safe
• Filters for backlight and sunset
• Filter for direct solar photography
• Settings
• Best Time
• Other equipment
• Conclusion

Be careful when photographing the sun

You should not look directly at the sun, especially at the sun magnifying glass Hold on to it. If you look at the sun using a DSLR camera with a mirror, you are essentially looking through a magnifying glass that focuses the sunlight and sends it directly into your eyes. Consequences can And it's bad Be so blind eyed that you are blind. That's why you should always use digital preview.

But this technique is also exposure to sunlight without protection and it is possible hot Will they do that? Destroyed Become. Rental site Lensrentals collects photos of melted cameras on its website.

➤ Read more: Stunning images show a rare hybrid solar eclipse

What to consider when purchasing a filter

As with purchasing glasses, you should also make sure you have solar filters for your camera Really sure We are. This is what you are looking for “international identifier”ISO 12312-2“This ensures safe viewing of the sun. Here it is better to spend a few euros more and use products from well-known manufacturers than to provide security.

If you want to photograph just the sun itself or against it, you can use tools like filters. There are a variety of filters suitable for special applications:

• Gray filter (ND filter): For backlight and sunset
• Solar filter (White Light Filter): A direct image of the sun

The image is against the sun

If you shoot facing the sun, your most important friend is the sun Neutral Density Filter (ND Filter). He will do that too Gray filter It is called because it looks as if there is a gray veil over the image. For one sunset is welcome Gradient filter Used, which only darkens the top of the image, making the foreground brighter. These filters are especially popular for long exposures in landscape photography. Without the filter it would be too bright.

The ND filter is marked with a number. Gee Top numbernever Less light allowed through. ND5which many solar filters contain 10 to the power of 5: It will 1/100,000 Allows sunlight through. This corresponds to a decrease 16 stop It is the minimum for direct solar photography.

to caution: ND filters are often offered that have an unusually high number, such as ND 8. If you look closely, you'll find that this is just 3 levels of aperture It's downgraded – so it's actually ND 0.9. The number 8 here symbolizes… Filterthat is, how long the image should be exposed through the filter.

• Force smart phone: NEEWER Sectional Filter for Landscapes and Sunsets (seen on Amazon for €27)

• to DSLR (Sun photography): K&F Concept Nano X-Series with 16.6 stops (seen on Amazon for €23)

• Gradient filter (Only for landscapes and sunsets) by Rollei (see on Amazon for €30)

Sun filter made of foil

The same film used in solar eclipse glasses can also protect your smartphone and camera. You can find it online at “Sun filter“,”Solar filter“or”White light filter“.must have at least ND value 5 to have.

Films are usually cheaper than glass filters. You can also use it to get sun Clearer To register. One drawback is that the sun appears white through the film and not as red as you might hope. The image can be colored later using White balance Changed accordingly. That's why pictures must be there RAW format Shoot them.

➤ Read more: This is how amazing space pictures are created in the garden

It can be very difficult for beginners to get to grips with the many types of lenses. If you just want to try things out a little, you can Solar eclipse glasses Or bow Sun filter film He buys. You can hold it or hold it in front of your smartphone or camera – that's enough for testing. If you are using a lens or binoculars, the film must be fixed there.

Test settings

Many good smartphones now have advanced setting options in their camera apps. cover, Camera shutter speed And Exposure It can be affected as with a DSLR.

With a DSLR camera NASA recommends, for examplewith f/8- or f/16 aperture To photograph. the Camera shutter speed Maybe between 1/1000 And ¼ Fool – Here you should try the setting that achieves the desired result. In general, solar photography requires a lot of practice. Therefore, if you want to photograph a special event, you should “practice” early enough.

Ideally, you can take photos on both your smartphone and camera RAW formatSo you can better edit the image later. If this is not possible, you must set an ISO value of 100 to 200 hiring.

Best Time

Unless there is a special event such as a solar eclipse, you should use the sun if possible Early in the morning Take pictures. The reason for this is that the air has not warmed much yet. This can cause blurry images.

Other equipment

We recommend using an SLR camera in addition to a smartphone when photographing the sun Good tripod. The task is complicated anyway because you have to play around with the settings a lot and try things out. You don't want to make sure the image isn't blurry.

Conclusion

The sun is wonderful and dangerous at the same time. Photographing them can be fun if you are patient and like to experiment. But safety always comes first, which is why you rely on good products Never through an optical viewfinder Must see.

Have you noticed that camera or smartphone too hot It should be allowed to cool to avoid damage. If you want to observe the Sun with a telescope, it's more complicated. Here you need many filters to protect yourself and to get a clear picture – so you should get good information and advice.

You shouldn't forget about your eyes because of all the filters and chips. Sunglasses And Sunglasses Must be on hand. And also: always Sun cream guidance.