Odd Question about filters...

[downtrodden]

Ok, so i'm into watching the science channel and a special about the sun makes me wonder... is there anyway to photograph details or the sun, much like we do with the moon? I know that you'd have to block out the visible light bandwith- but are there any filters that block out visible light rays? Just curious.

~Cory

[ImageVerification]

"...but are there any filters that block out visible light rays?"

The lens cap does a pretty good job :D Real answer - don't know but would guess so?

[oj88]

... are there any filters that block out visible light rays? Just curious.

Yepp, I believe that's where IR filters come in. Not sure if you can use it to shoot the sun head on at noon time though.

[lathe]

... but are there any filters that block out visible light rays? Just curious.


What you are looking for is an EXTREME Neutral Density filter <insert guitar riff here>. :cool:

Seriously, what you are looking for is a neutral density filter that is in the 13-20 f-stop reduction range. B+W makes such filters. I recommend starting your reading with http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/handbook/pdf/B+WHandbook10_11.pdf

I have never tried taking a direct image of the sun (i.e. I've never used such filters), but I have taken indirect images. A few years ago, Venus eclipsed the sun and even with my polarizer and 2 0.9 neutral density filters, I could not take a direct shot. However, someone had a small handheld telescope. We pointed it at the sun, aimed the eyepiece at a piece of white paper, and I took a photo of that (still needed the filters due to the brightness). This didn't allow me to see what the surface of the sun looked like, bit I could see Venus as a black spec in the sun.

[Visual Reality]

Somewhere I read something from Canon that said "Do NOT point directly at the sun".

Not sure why.

[downtrodden]

because direct sunlight cna overload the sensor and you'll get dead pixels. plus... if you're pointing your camera directly at the sun- chances are you're probably looking directly at the sun too... which.. isn't good. :X

~Cory.

PS. Lathe, thanks for the tip about the ND filters.