I just got notice from Thousand oaks optical that the filter I ordered now has a 3-4 week lead time. It has been 3 1/2 weeks since I ordered it. Do you have a suggestion for another 86 mm filter that is not expensive - under $100. I've called them twice and emailed with no reply. I don't want to wait til the last minute and not have a filter. If anything I have glasses so I can watch it. I just want to be able to take photos. I was told if I take photos of the eclipse without a filter it can damage my camera.
I ordered from ThousanOaks a few weeks back and also have not received my filters. At the same time I ordered from another place and got those 2-3 days ago (
https://www.rainbowsymphony.com/solar-filters/). That's what I used for the above pics.
Worse comes to worse, buy this and make your own filter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thousand-Oa...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
It's the same material they use in the non-glass filters. I have a sheet here as a spare in case my filters never showed. I bought from that same ebay auction and had it in only a few days. You can make your own filter with cardboard tubes or PVC pipe using that sheet.
Yes, don't point the camera at the sun without the proper filter. A ND filter does not filter UV or IR and the remaining light can blind you and possibly hurt your sensor.
You CAN take pics directly without a filter during totality if you're in the path of totality (there is no totality if you're not). In fact if you're shooting with a filter then you must remove it during totality to capture the corona.