EOS Rebel T6 Recommended settings for solar eclipse

[Catherine1990]

Hey, everyone, I am very new with my camera I have only had it about 3 months (my birthday) and I really want to photograph the solar eclipse on Aug 21st. I will be in the direct path of totally and I have been reading all kinds of articles about how to photograph it but I have no idea what any of the settings mean. I know I don't have the best lens for pictures with it being only a 75-300mm lens but that is all I have and bigger lens are more expensive and I can't afford it. The camera I have is a Canon EOS Rebel T6 and I have no idea how to set the settings. I've been told I will want two different settings one for passing phases and one for totally that I can switch back and forth too but I have no idea what kind of settings I need or how to set it in my camera. I do have a solar filter and I know to only look through the LCD screen, not the viewfinder. Is there anyone that can help with setting my camera??

[TCampbell]

BTW, just a quick update ... I did learn of yet another application that is used for camera control during solar eclipses.  This app is available on the Apple "App" store but it is free ... named "Capture Eclipse".  I have no affiliation with the developer but I did download it to check it out.  It seems to be relatively easy ... it needs to know where you are (and supports use of USB connected GPS for laptops), asks a few questions about your camera, lens, etc. and then it builds the capture sequence.   It uses the Canon EOS SDK to control the camera and appears to support the latest version supporting EOS R-series mirrorless cameras (some older eclipse capture programs do not support the latest generation of cameras).

I believe it only works on macOS -- although it DOES support Apple's new M1/M2/M3 series processors -- not just intel-based machines. 

Good luck & clear skies,

Tim

[lcfuchs520]

Tysm for such an in-depth do not phonograph the eclipse answer! I was wondering same thing Catherine had asked however fast forward we’re now in April 2024, and the eclipse is next week! I have a 35 canon 80d and had thought about buying a filter to try and catch some pics of the eclipse…. However, I do have problems with my eyes already and do not wish to compromise what vision I have left, so I will be avoiding photographing this event and just enjoy my last eclipse possibly in my lifetime!

[TCampbell]

For your eyes, visually (not photograph) you don't want to look directly at the Sun if there is any part of it still visible.  If you are located somewhere along the path of totality and the Moon is completely blocking the Sun (the few minutes of totality) it is safe to look at the eclipse at that time without any filters.  As soon as the Sun starts to re-appear ... filters and safe eclipse glasses go back on.

Eclipses glasses were distributed to libraries around the US for this eclipse and they are free.  You can locate a participating library here:  https://www.starnetlibraries.org/about/our-projects/solar-eclipse-activities-libraries-seal/  (assuming they haven't run out).

I am a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador and I've done a number of talks on the eclipse as well as talks on eclipse photography.  NASA does not endorse any specific vendor ... but what they DO recommend is that you only use glasses or filters that conform to ISO 12312-2 -- which means the filter has to block 99.996% of all the light.  This is equivalent to a rating of ND 5.0.

You can find a list of manufacturers as well as merchants who sell them at the American Astronomical Society website:  https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters