It is the camera sensor that detects light and then converts it into an image; it is, in a way, the retina of our devices. We must therefore cover their lens with a filter complying with the ISO 12312-2 standard to avoid breaking them. Please note: this filter must completely cover the front of the device bezel.
NASA also warns that you should not look at the sun through your camera's viewfinder, even with protective glasses, because it can concentrate the Sun's rays like a telescope: they could then pass through the glasses and burn the retina.
However, it is safe to take photos without a filter during the period of total darkness, just as it is possible to watch the eclipse with the naked eye at this precise moment.
“We really want to commemorate an event like that,” recognizes an astrophysicist in an interview. She recommends using specialized filters, but “if you really want to do it a bit “homemade”, a smartphone and your eclipse glasses over the camera can do the job.”
NASA also offers some advice to people who want to take good eclipse photos, including using a tripod and a self-timer to stabilize the camera and avoid blurry images. This is particularly important when the light is low. Adjusting the exposure – the amount of light that reaches the sensor – will also be necessary to obtain good results.
The astrophysicist points out, however, that the total eclipse will last from a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on where you are. So now is not the time to play with your phone to take a photo. “There are lots of beautiful images of the eclipse that will be released by professionals. Really, look with your naked eye and enjoy the show, because you don't know if you're going to see another one. »
This observation is shared by the American Astronomical Society. It is unlikely that you will be able to take good photos of the eclipse without professional equipment. Why not just put your phone away and enjoy the moment?
