I picked this up in preparation for a trip to (hopefully) catch the 2024 total solar eclipse. I intended to use it on a Nikon d300 with a Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4.0 lens (and 1.4x teleconverter). I used this setup previously to photograph the 2017 eclipse, except with a homemade filter made from ISO 12312-2 compliant film.

When I saw this, I was excited by the prospect of having a true photographic filter to view and photograph the eclipse. But the more I looked into this, the more I don't think this is a good choice for me. The listing indicates that this filter is designed for solar photography, and that is not untrue. However, I will be shooting with an SLR, which provides a direct optical path to my eye. Unlike ISO 12312-2 compliant filters, there is no indication that this filter meets the safety standards necessary to ensure no damage to my vision. If my camera had a good way to live-view the image on the screen, that would not be as big a concern, but then I might need to worry about continuous exposure of the sensor to the same wavelengths that can damage my eyes (particularly UV).

So in the end, I'm not going to chance it. However, I may find some use for this filter in extreme long-exposure photography. I briefly attempted to play around with this handheld, but 16 stops is a LOT, and I was looking at exposures over 8 seconds (at ISO 3200!) just to get something that wasn't completely black.

The filter itself is nice enough, but I'm withholding a star because the listing should be absolutely clear as to whether this meets ISO 12312-2. Your eyesight is more precious than any photo you could possibly take. Be very careful using this filter to look at the son (even through a camera).