The information in this video is incorrect. While it is enormously dangerous to view the sun either directly or through an optical system-SLR, DSLR or telescope-there is no danger to your eyesight from looking at the live feed of your drone's camera on an LCD screen of your controller even without a filter. The LCD is incapable of producing a brightness greater than its maximum output. Similarly, photographing the sun with a mirrorless camera is not an issue. In both cases the light of the sun is not magically passing directly to the LCD-it is an image generated by the data passed from the camera sensor. There are literally billions of images made in which the sun is visible in the frame that have been made without Solar or ND filters. What the filters offer is flexibility and range of exposure since the orb of the sun is an enormously powerful light source. Additionally, focusing the sun's rays onto a camera sensor for a prolonged period of time while mounted on a tripod could potentially damage the sensor and/or camera shutter. Given the nature of a drone-always some movement when hovering-this is very unlikely. Also do not refer to ND filters or Solar filters as being "like sunglasses." They are nothing of the sort. Sunglasses absorb much less energy than either an ND or a solar filter. Making that comparison only suggests that one might be able to look at an eclipse through sunglasses. That is also very DANGEROUS. This video should be edited for accuracy as UAV Coach is a trusted source of information. Again looking at the sun directly, or through a focusing lens is DANGEROUS. Looking at the view captured by your camera sensor on a controller display is not the same thing. Please refer to this resource from NASA for accurate information. eclipse2017.nasa.gov/static/img/smartphone-photography-eclipse/Photographing_the_Eclipse_with_your_Smartphone.pdf
Thank you for your comments and feedback. The difference between images that have the sun somewhere in the frame and photographing a solar eclipse or just doing solar photography is that the camera would have to be pointed directly at the sun for long periods of time. And when I referenced ND filters as being like sunglasses, I was merely trying to explain what an ND filter does for someone that has no experience with one. They darken the frame, just like sunglasses "darken" your view. I would never suggest that sunglasses are a good alternative for viewing the solar eclipse. And after further research it does seem that looking at your controller display or camera screen without any filter protection is safe for your eyes. Thank you again for the feedback on that part and hope you can enjoy the eclipse!
The moment I heard the comment about needing eclipse eyewear to protect your eyesight I busted out laughing. As if an LCD phone or tablet screen could damage your eyes looking at the sun. It's a mistake ,and they have now admitted it, but it really kills the video's credibility when you hear that.
@@uavcoach Totally agreed that focusing on the sun directly for long periods of time can damage your camera sensor as I said in my comment above. But think about it-that warning is for cameras mounted on tripods with telephoto lenses being used to capture the duration of an eclipse over a series of minutes. If you consider dynamics of drone flight, the focal length of drone camera lenses and the type of images that people are trying to capture with drones, the likelihood of frying your sensor is pretty low. If I were using a drone to make an eclipse image it would be to capture the eclipse at totality, or close to it, in context with the landscape also visible in the frame. Otherwise why not just photograph from the ground? For sure use an ND filter if beneficial to have more exposure options prior to and just after totality but you could absolutely pull that image off without any filter. Most credible sources recommend not using a solar filter when an eclipse is at totality because the the light of the sun is so diminished at that point. Also, a hovering drone, while stable, does move somewhat and exposures are going to be very short. It's just not the same as a camera on a tripod being used to make long exposures. Moreover, having witnessed the position of the sun during the eclipse we just experienced I am not sure that I could have managed to point my drone's camera at the sun anyway. It was quite high in the sky. Lastly, with regard to sunglasses, I do get that there was a comparison being made. However, people miss details and if somebody came away with the idea that sunglasses were a substitute for solar glasses then that's bad. Again, think about it, you didn't understand that the light from the LCD on your controller was not the same as the light passing through a telescope lens directly to your eyes. Details matter. You guys do good work, and except for some uncritical drone fan boy reporting from time to time, the information you provide is solid and credible. Therefore, when the info presented doesn't meet that standard, it should be addressed.
Luckily I live in Erie, Pa. and plan on taking my fam to Raccoon Park, a local beach in the area. I just swapped my Mavic Air 2 stock lense with the ND/256. I had/have no idea which settings to use while recording, so...thank you for this video sir. Hopefully it cpmes in handy tomorrow! A tip for amateurs out there like myself: I recently read that recording in the 'hyperlapse' setting - shorter intervals during partial/extended intervals during totality - makes for amazing quality video, supposedly. Good luck out there tomorrow folks!
Was in Erie P.A. last month. First time ever been there. Even was in front of that store " Eye Glass world" in which the movie " evil genius on netflix" was filmed.
I will not be filming the actual eclipse but the progression from light to darkness in timelapse. Where I am at will be about 95% totality. I usually leave an ND 16 on my drone pretty much all the time for sunny weather. Thoughts on the ND16 or should I use the ND32?
I would use 32… Eclipse is going to be shot by millions of people today. No use risking damage IMO. You’ll be happy when the camera works tomorrow. Having said that, it just occurred to me… I’ve been pointing my MP-4 at the sun a lot over the last year. Even in clear blue daylight skies. Recently I did a Timelapse as clouds were breaking past it. 16 minutes of photos. My camera works just fine. No ND used either. Maybe I just got lucky.
If you were gonna pick one setting. Instead of changing them, what would you pick? I plan on using mavic 3 drone with nd I think I have a 64. I was thinking of just setting it to snap an image over an under exposed every 4 second to make a lapse. lot of work. Maybe just leave it in auto? I could change them on the fly, theres enough time. Cool video.
Glad you liked it! If I were to pick one setting I would do: shutter speed - 1/250sec, F/8 and ISO 100. This would work for the partial eclipse and for baily's beads but you'd possibly have to change the shutter speed to around 1/15sec during totality.
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Because it's a small sensor and a small aperture, I took a timelapse with my drone and a 30+ minute video with the OSMO pocket 3 both without filters with no damage lol, my Sony camera on the other hand with a 350mm lens I used a solar filter
An ND32 is not 32 stops, its 5 stops, and the photo of the eclipse stating you can take off your glasses is an annular eclipse, and you CANNOT take off your glasses during an annular eclipse, there is no "totality". You dont need glasses to look at your screen, unless you are purposely using your screen as a mirror maybe and trying to directly reflect the sunlight into your eyeballs? Using a true solar filter for your drone would require you to land the drone during totality (for a total solar eclipse) take off the filter then take off again, also as totality ends you would have to land again and put the filter back on, not feasible unless you want to miss a lot of the best part! You cant really see partial phases of an eclipse with the drone anyway so just wait until a minute or less before totality and point the drone at it and do your timelapse/video etc whatever you want, it's no worse than recording a sunset or sunrise.
Thanks a lot for this info! Hoping for clear weather. Did you use a filter during any phase? If so you mind sharing what worked for you? I think I have up to like a ND1K but wasn't sure if that was going to be dark enough
Im gonna try and get it with my dji mini 2. Forgot to order nd filter so i will just cut out some parts of eclipse glasses and use that . Will it work?
The filter from eclipse glasses might work to view the sun, but understand that such filters are very dark, and you cannot use them to view the corona during totality because they are too dark for that. You can also do a test before the eclipse to make sure the plastic is not too dark for direct solar photography. But understand that generally the human eye is more sensitive than photographic equipment, so if something protects the eye then it is more than sufficient to protect a camera.
Good info and video. Thank you. I am wondering one thing. I have been watching a lot of videos on the solar eclipse and photographing it with regular cameras. Everyone of them says you'll want at least a 16 stop ND filter but most say you will truly need a 20 stop solar filter to really protect the camera. But you said and 8, 16 or 32 for the drone. Is the drone sensor built so much differently than a mirrorless camera that I could get away with just a 32 DJI mavic 3 classic filter? Just a little worried. Thank you.
@@uavcoach You bet. But not to be a wise guy but I did ask a very real question. I know this is a channel of expertise I'd really like to know the answer.
Im in michigan so driving a couple hours weather permitting to hit the path of totality. Just bought the some filters, so the ND 32 should be good, cause was thinking of cutting one of those glasses and gently tapping that over the camera lens. Oh and just a cheapy drone, the Mini 2 SE
I'd watch some more videos other than this one. Andy filters unless they're up around a million won't protect the objects of your camera. You need solar film. What I would do is use your drone to record where you are in the land around you as you go into and out of the eclipse. That would be very interesting use a DSLR or even a smartphone to photo of the eclipse at totality. If you have solar film you can use a DSLR to record or photo the whole eclipse, but you need solar film. ND filters are not safe for your sensor either on your drone or on a separate camera.
Drone isnt ideal for direct pictures of eclipse unless you have really power zoom Or cant otherwise see the eclipse from the ground. A telephoto lens with a solar filter will go a long way
Yep, telephoto lenses are great for those detailed shots. Drones can be nice to capture a full timelapse of the event or if you want to try and capture a photo from an aerial point of view.
From this article: www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/domesticnotices/dom24008_gen.html It looks like the FAA is just issuing out travel warnings related to planes flying around the path of totality because of the increase in people at those locations. They do say some areas might have temporary flight restrictions, but I believe that will vary based on the location. I would recommend checking with your local area to see if it is safe to fly and if there are any temporary restrictions in place.
@@BIGPAPAFOOT According to that theory we shouldn't need them during twilight or if we are making a short flight at night. Even before it's completely dark we are supposed to have them on! Thus the twilight rule! Where did you find this? The same place you found 1000%?
@Outdoors1776 Hi, I spoke directly with the FAA, and I spoke to Pilot Institute. They advised that since it is not a prolonged darkness so there is no need to have strobes. I will have 3 strobes on anyway because I love flying with strobes on most all flights.
U dont record the damn sun with a drone u get the same affect using a regular hand held camera if not better. Do a time lapse of the earth from the sky
I recently purchased a small drone and I don't think it would be able to angle the camera upwards toward the sun. Certainly, for viewing the sun and the corona, ground based observation is usually far superior. However, if it happens to be cloudy, I might want to use the drone experimentally to see the effects of the eclipse on the surrounding landscape, and particularly on the distant horizon, which is not normally visible from my residence at ground level.
Yeah that would definitely be an interesting alternative if it is cloudy. You can see if your gimbal angles upward by going into settings in the DJI Fly app, go to camera view>control>allow upwards gimbal rotation
