A solar eclipse – when the moon passes in front of the sun from a particular viewpoint on Earth – is an astronomical spectacle that, unsurprisingly, photographers clamour to capture. During a total solar eclipse, day turns to night for a brief few minutes of totality as the sun is completely obscured, its light reduced to a delicate white halo (the solar corona) around the rim of the moon's silhouette. No solar filter is required for totality, but on either side – and from a vast swathe of Earth – are an hour or two of partial phases for which a solar filter is imperative.
A total solar eclipse occurs on average once every 16 months, but you need to be in the right place on the planet to observe it. The most recent total solar eclipse could be seen from North America on April 8, 2024, but was visible only from 15 US States and parts of Mexico and Canada. The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026, and you will need to be within the path of totality in far north Siberia in Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, or the extreme north-eastern tip of Portugal (see details) for a chance to observe it. However, on August 12, a deep partial solar eclipse will be visible across western Europe, Canada, and in some northeastern US states – and to photograph any of that, you'll need a solar filter.
Looking directly at the sun is never a good idea, be it with your own eyes or via a camera viewfinder, and while you can buy low-cost solar eclipse glasses to view an eclipse, if you want to photograph a total or partial solar eclipse, you will need a solar filter to put over your camera's lens or over the objective lens of your telescope.
However, the standard ND filter you use for shooting waterfalls and seascapes is simply not strong enough. Typically, you will need dedicated solar film, or a neutral density filter with an optical density of 5 or more – that reduces exposure by at least 16 stops. I have handpicked the options available to be ready to observe and photograph the next eclipse.
Best solar film and filters overall
![Baader AstroSolar Safety Film is just 0.0004 inches [0.01mm] thin.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BSV5PWcyThdmHHdFqkdd5S-1200-80.jpg.webp)
Baader AstroSolar Safety Film is the absolute gold standard for serious eclipse photographers who refuse to compromise on image quality. Unlike options that tint the sun an artificial orange or yellow, Baader’s specialized film renders a beautifully color-neutral, true-white solar disk. This clear neutrality delivers exceptional contrast and edge-to-edge sharpness, allowing you to capture intricate sunspots and solar surface details with pinpoint clarity.
You can purchase it either as raw sheets for DIY lens mounts or incorporated into premade Baader Solar Filters (ASTF, ASSF, and ASBF) that fit securely on camera lenses, telescopes, and binoculars. While it's not officially ISO 12312-2 certified, it provides eye and sensor safety by blocking 99.999% of sunlight.
The main drawback is that the film itself is incredibly delicate and prone to wrinkling or tearing if mishandled, requiring extreme care during travel and setup. The premium preassembled filters are also quite expensive. However, if your ultimate goal is maximum optical sharpness and authentic color rendition for solar photography, its stellar performance easily justifies the premium.
See our full Baader AstroSolar film and filters review
Best cheap solar eclipse filter
The Daystar Universal Lens Solar Filter is one of the simplest and most affordable options for travelers to safely photograph a solar eclipse. Its slip-on design is exceptionally versatile, working seamlessly across camera lenses, binoculars, and scopes. This flexibility saves you from investing in multiple expensive, threaded filters.
Built around trusted Thousand Oaks SolarLite film, it delivers dependable protection and renders a beautiful, warm orange solar disk with strong contrast that clearly highlights sunspots. It also packs perfectly flat into a camera bag and can be removed instantly during totality – a massive advantage over screw-in models.
Naturally, there are some trade-offs for the low price. The folded cardstock construction feels temporary, meaning it won’t withstand years of abuse, and assembly can be a bit fiddly, sometimes requiring masking tape to secure safely. Optically, it results in slightly longer exposures and produces slightly softer detail than premium Baader AstroSolar film. However, for occasional eclipse chasers prioritizing versatility and value over perfection, it punches well above its weight.
See our full Daystar Universal Lens Solar Filter review
Best screw-in solar filter
The K&F Concept ND1,000,000 is a remarkably practical and compact ND filter for casual eclipse photography and creative long exposures. Rather than dealing with fragile solar film systems that can get crushed in luggage, I loved this durable, screw-in optical glass filter. It threads smoothly on lenses, coming in sizes from 49mm to 95mm, and includes a tough hard case.
Performance-wise, it delivered surprisingly impressive contrast and controlled flare when mounted to a mirrorless camera. At ISO100 and f/8, exposures around 1/50 sec rendered a beautiful yellow-tinted sun with visible sunspots. Beyond solar events, its 20-stop light reduction makes it fantastic for smoothing water or blurring out crowds in everyday landscape work.
However, there are important safety trade-offs. Because it lacks formal ISO 12312-2 solar certification, I must emphasize that you should never use it for direct visual observing or through a DSLR's optical viewfinder – it is strictly for mirrorless EVFs or Live View. The glass absorbs heat and gets distinctly hot during long sessions, and the images are slightly softer than what you would get with dedicated Baader solar film.
See our full K&F Concept ND1,000,000 ND filter review
Helpful information
How to stay safe
At no point should you look at the sun directly; its infrared and ultraviolet rays are incredibly dangerous, and you must use solar eclipse glasses to look at eclipse events and place solar filters on the front of any telescope, binoculars, or camera lens. Crucially, solar eclipse glasses and solar filters must meet the ISO 12312-2 standard; the American Astronomical Society provides a list of suppliers of safe solar viewers and filters. Don’t look through your camera’s optical viewfinder if you are using a DSLR; use the LCD live view screen.
This advice holds true for a partial eclipse, a 'ring of fire' annular eclipse, or for the partial phases of a total eclipse. However, during the brief period of totality, when the whole of the sun is covered by the moon, and it gets dark, you should remove solar eclipse glasses to watch with the naked eye and remove solar filters to take images.
How to choose the right size filter
You need a filter that fits your lens’s filter thread. The diameter of the front threaded ring is often marked on the lens in millimetres and prefixed with a Ø symbol.
Where do you get solar glasses to view the eclipse?
Solar eclipse glasses and viewers made of card with special solar film are readily available. Look out for multipacks that allow you to make savings, so you can be prepared for the event. Here are some typical online deals:
But if you want a closer view of the spectacle, and don't have a camera with a telephoto lens, you can get pairs of special solar binoculars – here are deals on some of the options we have tested:
