Hi Peter!
For photography, as you describe, with a wide angle lens you should be just
fine without a filter.
A designated "Solar filter" will definitely be too dark for your purpose. A
good one will block 99.999% of incoming sunlight, thus making normal
photography impossible.
You will likely need a good lens hood, to prevent flare, but otherwise you
should be good.
You might wish to use a polarzing filter, but it would need readjustment for
every shot, as the angle of the light changed. That's up to you.
If the sun is going to be in the photo, for some of the images, you'll be well
advised to cover the lens (lens cap or what-have-you) during the periods
between exposures.
You will also want to keep the camera shaded in the bright, Florida sun, as
warm sensors yield noisier images. An umbrella, taped to an old, extra tripod,
or even just a white cloth draped over the camera & lens should do it.
I'll look forward to seeing your series!
HOWEVER ... If you are going to shoot the sun with a telephoto lens, that's a
different kettle of fish.
A tele-lens gathers a LOT more sunlight, which can result in several problems.
1 - if you look through the finder of an SLR style camera, without a protective
filter on your lens, you can permanently damage your eye. At the end of the
1979 Solar Eclipse (photographed near Ellensburg, WA), my ex-brother-in-law
looked through his telescope when he thought the solar filter was in place, but
it wasn't. Less than a half second's exposure to the concentrated sunlight
made him scream in pain and it took over 8 months for his eye to heal. 'Nuff
said.
2 - If you're using a SLR style, the concentrated sunlight can overheat and
crack the glass in the pentaprism. The faster the lens, the bigger the risk.
I've seen it happen (not to my camera, thankfully) and the cameras emit a
peculiar, distinctive, hi-pitched "Tink!" when it goes. Cue a trip to the
store, for a new camera.
3 - With a mirrorless camera, it is safe to look through the finder, because
you're not looking a the sun, but rather at a tiny TV. Still, the concentrated
sunlight can crack the IR filter on the sensor and even do permanent damage to
the sensor.
SO, if you are going to look at the sun with a tele-lens or binoculars, or a
telescope, you WILL need a proper solar filter.
Some good advice on these, can be found here:
https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/celestial-objects-to-watch/solar-filter-safety/
I hope this helps.
David.
Good afternoon to everyone. Could I please ask for advice on selecting------
filter(s) for the following concept for a series of photos? I have found
a hill-top location (kinda rare in south-central Florida) that faces
east southeast with an open view of horizons, and I was considering
trying to take a series of images thru a given day at this fixed
location from before dawn until dusk with a wide angle lens, taking an
exposure every 45 minutes or hour, tracing the arc of the sun from
morning horizon to evening horizon. It wouldn't be exactly "solar
photography" because I'm not aiming directly at the sun with a
telephoto; but something in me head still is concerned about safety of
my eyes and equipment because I've still got the sun in every frame.
Would a designated "solar filter" be too dark to allow the landscape
under the sun's arc to be recorded in the image? Any suggestions or
observations would greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Best regards,
Peter S.------
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