Is it too late to order a Solar Filter for the Eclipse?

I have a friend who wants to shoot the eclipse, I told her what she needs, but also said it may be harder now to find the filter.

Does anyone here know of the best place that would still have any in stock?

She owns the Sigma 150-600 with a 95MM filter ring.

Thank you for any help you can give me, and her!

She was able to order one from B&H

Amazon still has Thousand Oaks solar sheet film in various sizes. I posted in another thread how to make your own.
https://photography-on-the.net …read.php?t=1480​917&page=2

Some places are starting to run out.

The pre-made filters ran out first (those are very hard to find now) but mostly the film, cardboard glasses and cards were still easy to find.

But now I'm starting to notice some places even running out of the glasses & cards. So I'd definitely encourage your friend to put some priority on ordering something with all due haste. I'm guess you won't find pre-made filters, but you should be able to buy the solar material (the film) and make your own filter using some cardboard. Most people will just find a cardboard tube large enough to fit over the lens and cut a pice of film to cover one end of the tube.

It will have wrinkles ... but even pre-made filters have wrinkles (the wrinkles don't have any noticeable effect on the optical quality ... in fact I have a newer filter that uses film which gives me an image sharper than one of my older filters that uses real glass.)

Amazon has the white filter sheet coming in stock on the Aug 13th, w/prime shipping

Baader AstroSolar Visual Solar Filter Film

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …mm_white_light_​solar.html

The MrStarGuy solar filter has that material.
Quote:
The company Baader Planetarium has moved beyond Mylar and designed a specialty AstroSolar safety film. It’s a high-strength polymer that’s metalized on both sides. Solar filters made with this material are durable and they give you a natural white image of the Sun. They also result in very good white-light solar images at high magnification. The filters are mounted in mechanical cells without added stress to help maintain high-image quality over a wide range of operating temperature. Don’t be surprised to see wrinkles in these thin-film filters when they are mounted in a cell. The wrinkling does not affect image quality.
The filter material carries a ISO 12312-2 international standard.

https://www.mrstarguy.​com/category-s/1952.htm
Don

I just went to the local welding shop and they had a display for 3x5 pieces of glass for welding helmets setup that is safe for viewing the eclipse. I bought a couple of them as they were only a $1.65 each. It was a sunny day so I stepped outside and held it up and looked right at the sun with no issues.
Just an option I think.
Tom

I just finished making a filter for my Sigma 150-600C. I'm horrible at DIY projects, so if I can do it anyone can.


I bought this step up ring:


https://www.amazon.com …ords=AR+95mm+st​ep+up+ring

... and some Thousand Oaks Solar Filter Film (I bought 6x6 but 4x4 would work)


I cut two rings out of foam poster board that I got at Hobby Lobby. Taped and glued the film inside the rings and glued the rings into the step up ring.

Results:

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-tHtRDsC-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-28PT5Xt-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A

But the welders glass does not stop the damaging UV rays . However there has been plenty of talk and warning here in several different topics and people still think welders glass is ok . They are your eyes so do as you wish . However I will warn you , take care of your eyes .

Yes sir, I agree. Be safe.
I did do some research on the one I have and it does have a U6 rating for blocking UV rays which if I remember correctly is the highest rating, but do not quote me.
I was just making a suggestion but you are correct, if you do what I did please research into the glass you purchase and make sure you are safe.
Tom

Not sure what happened to the previous post but the link was good.
This is from NASA's website:

Viewing with Protection -- Experts suggests that one widely available filter for safe solar viewing is number 14 welder's glass. It is imperative that the welding hood houses a #14 or darker filter. Do not view through any welding glass if you do not know or cannot discern its shade number. Be advised that arc welders typically use glass with a shade much less than the necessary #14. A welding glass that permits you to see the landscape is not safe. Inexpensive eclipse glasses have special safety filters that appear similar to sunglasses, but these do permit safe viewing.

I have #14 with the proper rating so I think I will be ok.
Just research what you are buying as this will keep you safe.
Tom

I cut a thousand oaks filter sheet nearly perfectly to fit inside a 105mm UV filter , then screwed it on to a 95mm step up ring. Both cost $8 each, solar film $20...Amazon. The solar sheet lays flat, no creases or wrinkles, between filter & step up ring. Used it on my Sigma 150-600 C lens today, captured the sun with two sunspots! Very pleased with results.

Celestron wrote in post #18419460
But the welders glass does not stop the damaging UV rays . However there has been plenty of talk and warning here in several different topics and people still think welders glass is ok . They are your eyes so do as you wish . However I will warn you , take care of your eyes .

Per Nasa, a #14 (or darker) welders mask is good

I am "assuming" they know what they are talking about!

Mr Eclipse, a retired astrophysicist at NASA, states #14 welders glass is safe to use for viewing the sun when properly used.

Observing Eclipses Safely

That guy's credentials are quite impressive, as are his eclipse photos.

I have a DayStar universal solar filter that I'm selling in the Classifieds if anyone is looking for one.