carleton@elwood.DEC (Dennis Carleton) (05/24/84)
Does anyone out there know if a special filter exists for taking pictures of the sun ? If not, what filter factor would be needed to prevent damage to your lens, eyes, etc. ? dmc@dec
marcus@pyuxt.UUCP (M. G. Hand) (05/25/84)
No problem with the lens unless you took a very long exposure and buckled the iris which is hardly likely with a something as bright as the sun. Your eyes are a differrent matter though - i've no idea of the filter factor required but astronomers regard the sun as magnitude 27 in brightness so its pretty bright. Whenever doing this kind of photography you'll have to brackte shots anyway. Why not try this technique for size - use a telescope to project the image of the sun onto a white board and photograph that instead. You'd find it very easy to measure the light coming back at you, and wouldn't risk your sight either. marcus hand (pyuxt!marcus)