Don’t destroy your camera! If you want to photograph the eclipse in August, you NEED a solar eclipse filter

Photographers across the UK and Europe will be pointing their lenses at the sky next month, as a spectacular solar eclipse is due to occur on August 12. However, if you don’t properly protect your equipment, trying to shoot this event could completely destroy your camera.

You might remember playing with a magnifying glass during summers as a kid, focusing the sunlight into a concentrated point and burning holes in paper or leaves. Well, when you point your camera at the sun, your lens is acting like a giant magnifying glass – except this time the concentrated point of sunlight is going to burn holes in your shutter and image sensor.

To prevent this irrepairable damage to your camera components, it is absolutely essential that you use a neutral density filter on your lens. But not your regular 2- or 6-stop filter that you use for landscapes; you need a purpose-built solar filter with as much as 20-stop power.

And you need to ensure that it’s from a brand you trust, as a cheap filter from an unknown company can leave you with a repair bill in the thousands – if not having to replace your camera altogether.

Meet the ND 1 million filter!

K&F CONCEPT has made a name for itself when it comes to lens filters, particularly in the ND space. So when you need a solar eclipse filter, you need look no further than K&F CONCEPT’s Nano-Xcel series – which offers both 16.6-stop and 20-stop ND filters for safe, spectacular solar photography.

The ND1000000 and ND100000 Fixed Neutral Density Nano-Xcel (Solar Eclipse Filter) boast stopping power with accurate light reduction, giving you guaranteed color fidelity and fine detail when photographing the sun. As you’ll know if you’ve ever used a cheap filter, color and sharpness aren’t always guaranteed, but here you don’t need to worry.

Both filters are manufactured with high-quality optical glass and 28 layers of nano coating. Not only does this give you the kind of anti-scratch, water-repellent and oil and dust resistance you expect, but it also effectively reduces filter surface reflection and ghosting.

In addition they feature ultra-slim frames to help prevent vignetting, and are made of aluminum alloy to keep them lightweight while ensuring a long service life. Both filters come in 49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, 82mm and 95mm options, providing compatibility with a huge variety of lenses.

Filters you can rely on from a brand you trust

Since 2012, K&F CONCEPT has been trusted by photographers and videographers around the world to provide the very best camera accessories and equipment. Over the past 14 years, it has been recognized with awards by some of the most prestigious bodies in the industry, including three Red Dot Design Awards, five DGP Gold Awards and three IF Design Awards.

K&F CONCEPT’s products are truly global favorites among professionals, having been bestsellers in over 100 countries. Indeed, in 2024 the company was recognized as being the world’s number one brand for online lens filter sales, confirming its place as the go-to solution for photographers and videographers across the globe.

And there is a reason that these are the filters of choice, especially among pros: tried, tested and demonstrated results for almost a decade and a half. When it comes to capturing any photograph, you need to know that your equipment can be relied on. But when it comes to super rare astrophotography events like a partial or total solar eclipse, you can’t afford to miss the moment.

To get the shot, you need gear you can depend on. To get the shot of the solar eclipse, you need an ND1000000 and ND100000 filter from K&F CONCEPT. For more information, visit the K&F CONCEPT website.

Solar Eclipse International Photography Contest

If you can't photograph the event yourself, K&F CONCEPT is live streaming the solar eclipse on August 12 via its website, YouTube and other platforms – so you don't need to miss the incredible celestial activity.

And as soon as the livestream ends, K&F CONCEPT's "See the Unseen Dark" photography contest opens! An extension of the brand's slogan, "See the Unseen", you can enter the competition with photographs of both total and partial eclipses.

There are three categories – Astronomical Equipment, Cameras and Mobile Phone – and submissions are open from August 12 to September 15. Enter the competition at the K&F CONCEPT website when the livestream concludes to be in with a chance of winning!