Is it OK to take a photo of the solar eclipse?

[Editor’s Note: You can watch a special live FOX 8 broadcast from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. during the time of the Total Solar Eclipse, CLICK HERE TO WATCH.]

CLEVELAND (WJW) — You already know not to directly look into the solar eclipse with your bare eyeballs. BUT there are so many other questions about how one can safely take in the big show come April 8 in Northeast Ohio.

One of the biggest questions from our viewers regarding the eclipse was is it safe to take a photo of the eclipse?

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Local astronomer Jay Reynolds made clear that taking a photo with your phone should not be a problem, with certain precautions taken.

“Cell phone cameras have a little receptor, a little chip, it’s almost the size of your pupil, so solar glasses over that is fine,” he said

But he cautioned to not watch the whole thing through your phone or you’ll be missing out on the experience in real life.

Reynolds also said anyone using a high-end camera should be extremely careful during the eclipse as it could ruin the lenses and your eyes, and that solar glasses won’t help.

However, specially-made dense solar filters are an option to check out.

Find out more about the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse in Ohio

Matthew Parnell, a photographic specialist at Dodd Camera in Cleveland said these filters can range anyway from $20 to $5,000 and can be used preferably by using a lens with a fairly long focal length.

“These filters come in different sizes, they come in 77 mm, 82 mm and 95 mm,” he said. “So we have stepping rings that will be compatible, so you can mount on the rear of these filters and you can place them on your lens.”

Using a tripod and timer is also key to capturing a successful photo, Parnell said.

But what about other kinds of viewer devices, such as binoculars? Reynolds said you shouldn’t try to adapt solar glasses to binoculars.

“One mistake, you will be blind in an instant!” he cautioned.

Instead, the only way to look at the view through binoculars would be to use professionally produced solar filters.

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