Did You Order Your Solar Filters Yet?

Formatt Hitech 77mm Firecrest Neutral Density 5.4 Solar Eclipse Filter (18-Stops)

If you have been following our news page/feed, you know that a solar eclipse is coming to the USA on August 21st, just under 2 months away. While nearly 2 months may seem like a long time, solar filters have been in high demand and you can't count on the ones you want being in stock at the last minute. Retailers have purchased a finite amount of stock in anticipation of the demand, but as solar eclipses are so rare, you likely shouldn't assume retailers will refresh inventory of the otherwise-relatively-low-demand items once they run out.

In addition to simply acquiring your solar filter, you should be practicing with your camera, lens, tripod and filter setup well in advance of the big day. That will give you time to determine if your gear and techniques are adequate.

And keep in mind, even if you aren't located in an area allowing for a view of the total eclipse, much of the US will be able to enjoy a strong partial eclipse that's worth viewing and/or photographing.

We have posted some great information about photographing the eclipse, so start making your plans and order necessary equipment sooner rather than later. Please heed the warnings about not looking at the sun directly, especially through a long focal length lens. Even some solar filters are not safe to look at the sun through. Permanent eye damage can happen before you are aware of it. While shopping for solar observation glasses, be sure that the glasses meet ISO 12312-2 guidelines for safety.

Solar Eclipse Photography Articles