Solar Eclipse Exposure Calculator
Choose your aperture and ISO and get suggested shutter speeds for every stage of the eclipse — from the filtered partial Sun to the diamond ring and the faint outer corona during totality. These are tested starting points; bracket around them and check your results.
| Stage | Filter | Shutter speed | What it shows |
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How to use these settings
- Bracket everything. The corona spans a huge brightness range. Take a range of exposures around each suggestion to capture both the inner and outer corona.
- Shoot RAW and turn off auto-exposure; the eclipse fools every meter.
- Use a tripod and a remote or 2-second timer to avoid shake at longer exposures.
- Practice on the full Sun (with your filter on) days before, so the filtered partial settings are dialed in.
- Totality is short. Pre-plan your bracket sequence so you spend the precious minutes watching, not fiddling.
Frequently asked questions
- What focal length do I need?
- For a frame-filling Sun you want around 500–1000 mm on a full-frame camera. Wider lenses capture the corona’s setting alongside the landscape, which can be just as striking.
- Do I need a special solar filter?
- Yes — a front-mounted white-light solar filter rated for photography. Never shoot the partial Sun without one; it can damage your sensor as well as your eyes through the viewfinder.
- When do I remove the filter?
- Only during totality, when the Sun’s bright disc is completely hidden. Replace it the instant the diamond ring reappears.