Calibrating a Camera for a Solar Eclipse

If you think you have very little time to capture a solar eclipse and don’t want to waste much time trying to adjust the settings on your camera during the eclipse itself, then here is a handy tip to adjust your camera to approximately the same settings as you would require while photographing an eclipse.
Remember, these preset settings will not work during the total phase of an eclipse, but is valid only for the partial phases.

The simplest thing that you can do is to set up your camera by trying to photograph the regular sun during the non-eclipse period. The intensity of light at the sun will more or less be the same during the entire eclipse period except when the moon covers over 80% of the sun and of course during totality.

Point your camera at the sun with the appropriate filters and/or stained glasses protecting your lens, and set it up. Reduce the ISO to the minimum, reduce the aperture size to the minimum, and increase the shutter speed to the maximum. If the sun is still bright and shiny and your photograph is over exposing, then the only alternative that you have is to add filters in front of the lens to cut down the light.

In case the image is underexposed and you have a lot of filters piled on, then you might want to try reducing the number of filters till you get a good exposure. Once you have experimented with the filters, trying increasing the aperture size on the camera. Leave the shutter speeds as it is, since the sun and the moon will be moving and you want crisp shots. Leave the ISO at the minimum, so that you get the best grain free shots. The only thing that you can adjust safely, considering that you are focusing correctly on the sun, is the aperture. Increase the aperture size slowly till you get an image with a good exposure, giving the camera a few seconds to adjust the the exposure after each change. It is easiest if you have a histogram to work with.
In case you are able to get a good exposure of the sun the first time, or once you get a good exposure after adjustments, remember the filters and the settings so that you can use them during the eclipse. When the eclipse is nearing totality, you will notice the exposure levels reduce and you have to then compensate by increasing the aperture and the ISO slightly when required. I would still recommend you keep the shutter speeds above 1/1000th of a second. Any slower and you risk blurring the scene.

The moment you are in totality, switch to low light photography techniques, as described in the other post on how to photograph a solar eclipse.

Note: Be warned that without adequate protection, you are liable to damage your eyes. Never stare at the sun directly. If you keep your camera and lens pointed at the sun for long periods, then you are liable to damage them due to over heating. Keep the camera and lens covered and take photos intermittently.

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