Can You Use a Solar Filter as a 15-Stop ND Filter
Using a solar filter for long-exposure photography isn't recommended. While both block light, solar filters create strong color casts and loss of detail.
StingPhotography · free photography reference
Photography, by the numbers.
Calculators and a searchable database of 1,850 cameras, 1,000 lenses, 800 film stocks, golden-hour times for 650 cities and field guides for 608 species — every figure computed from published specs and physics.
Calculators
All tools
Depth of fieldNear/far sharpness & hyperfocal for any lens.Golden hourGolden & blue hour for your GPS position.ExposureEquivalent exposures & EV.ND filterLong exposures with a countdown timer.NPF / 500 ruleSharp stars, every time.Crop factorFull-frame equivalents.Print sizePixels to inches & cm.All 12 toolsField of view, time-lapse, flash…
Explore the database
1,850CamerasSensor sizes, crop factors, lens equivalents and DoF for every model.1,000LensesEquivalents on every format, bokeh index and compatible bodies.87Lens mounts & adaptersFlange distances and 300 adapter combinations.800Film stocksISO, process, formats, exposure and push/pull.650Golden hour cities12-month light tables for cities worldwide.608Wildlife guidesLens, settings and season for birds & mammals.369DoF tablesEvery focal length × aperture × format.323EXIF tagsMetadata reference with ExifTool & Python.
Camera settings cheat sheets
All 55- Milky Way photographyf/1.4–f/2.8 · 10–25 s
- Fireworksf/8–f/11 · 2–8 s
- Outdoor portraitsf/1.8–f/2.8 · 1/250 s+
- Sunset photographyf/8–f/11 · As metered
- Silky waterfallsf/8–f/16 · 1/4–2 s
- Birds in flight1/2500–1/4000 s · f/6.3–f/8
- Northern lights (aurora)f/1.4–f/2.8 · 1–8 s
- Outdoor sports1/1000–1/2000 s · f/2.8–f/5.6
Wildlife field guides
608 species
MallardDucks, Geese, and Swans
Great Blue HeronHerons, Egrets, and Bitterns
American RobinThrushes
Canada GooseDucks, Geese, and Swans
White-tailed DeerDeer
Northern CardinalCardinals and Allies
Eastern Gray SquirrelSquirrels
Red-tailed HawkHawks, Eagles, and Kites
House FinchFinches, Euphonias, and Allies
House SparrowOld World Sparrows Popular references
Latest articles
Best ND Filters for Sunny Portraits and How to Choose
Fixed 3-stop or 6-stop neutral density filters are the best choice for portraits in bright sun to maintain sharp images and accurate color reproduction.
How Much Should You Spend on a Quality ND Filter
Expect to spend between $80 and $200 for a reliable neutral density filter. High-end glass prevents color shifts that ruin long-exposure image quality.
Are Screw-in ND Filters Better Than Square Ones
Neither system is objectively better; they serve different shooting styles. Screw-in filters excel for portability, while square filters offer versatility.
Best Solar Filters for Sun Photography and Safe Gear Picks
The best solar filter is a dedicated ISO 12312-2 certified glass or film filter. Avoid standard ND filters, which lack the infrared blocking you need.
Do ND Filters Cause Colour Casts? Understanding the Tint
Neutral density filters frequently introduce colour casts, particularly with high-density glass. Learn why these shifts happen and how to manage them.
Open data, transparent math
Specifications are merged from 14 public sources — Wikipedia, Wikidata, Lensfun, openMVG, GeoNames, iNaturalist, ExifTool and more — then every derived number (crop factor, depth of field, NPF rule, print size, sun position) is calculated with documented formulas. How we calculate · All sources
7,051pages
1,850cameras
1,000lenses
650cities
14open sources