Eclipse Photography

Below are given typical combinations of f/stop & shutter speeds for photographing various phenomena during solar eclipse. You should use it as a rough guide only, as your camera ISO maybe somewhat off, or f/number on the lens used too. Use caution, test during partial phase, and keep in mind that during totality, you will have only so many seconds…

ISO f/stop
100 2,8 4 5,6 8 11 16 22 32
200 4 5,6 8 11 16 22 32 44
400 5,6 8 11 16 22 32 44 64
800 8 11 16 22 32 44 64 88
1600 11 16 22 32 44 64 88 128
phenomena Q shutter speed
partial pahse ND 5,0 8 1/4000 1/2000 1/1000 1/500 1/250 1/125 1/60 1/30
Baily’s beads 11 1/4000 1/2000 1/1000 1/500 1/250
Diamond ring 5 1/500 1/250 1/125 1/60 1/30 1/15 1/8 1/4
Chromosphere 10 1/4000 1/2000 1/1000 1/500 1/250 1/125
Prominences 9 1/4000 1/2000 1/1000 1/500 1/250 1/125 1/60
Corona 0,1R 7 1/2000 1/1000 1/500 1/250 1/125 1/60 1/30 1/15
Corona 0,2R 5 1/500 1/250 1/125 1/60 1/30 1/15 1/8 1/4
Corona 0,5R 3 1/125 1/60 1/30 1/15 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 sek
Corona 1,0R 1 1/30 1/15 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 sek. 2 sek. 4 sek.
Corona 2,0R 0 1/15 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 sek. 2 sek. 4 sek. 8 sek.
Corona 4,0R -1 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 sek. 2 sek. 4 sek. 8 sek. 15 sek.
Corona 8,0R -3 1/2 1 sek. 2 sek. 4 sek. 8 sek. 15 sek. 30 sek. 60 sek.

It’s best to shoot all in RAW, as the file dynamic range is much greater and if your exposure is off you can recover some data later. During total phase if possible try to shoot sequences to capture coronal streams.

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