Solar Filters for Smartphone Cameras

What is a smartphone solar filter?

The Omegon Solar Safe Easy Cam is a compact white-light filter for a smartphone camera. It attaches in front of the camera lens and is designed for solar images, such as sunspots or the progress of a solar eclipse. According to the product specifications, the filter is tested to DIN ISO 12312-2, weighs 3 g and is attached with a hook-and-loop dot. Its stated dimensions are approximately 9.3 × 6 × 0.2 cm.

What to check before buying

• Check that the filter can be positioned securely and completely in front of the smartphone camera you intend to use. The camera opening must remain covered if you move the phone.
• Make sure the fastening holds on your phone and cannot slip. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and inspect the filter for damage before each use.
• This is an accessory for a smartphone camera. It is not a solar filter for a telescope or binoculars and is not a substitute for solar eclipse glasses.

Photograph the Sun safely

Attach the filter before aiming the camera at the Sun and keep it securely in front of the camera throughout the exposure. Remove it only after the camera is no longer pointed at the Sun. Never look directly at the Sun without proper protection, and do not use this camera filter for visual observation with your eyes. Direct viewing requires a purpose-designed solar filter or suitable solar eclipse glasses.

Choose the right filter for your equipment

For a smartphone camera, this category offers the Omegon Solar Safe Easy Cam. For a telescope or binocular aperture, the appropriate option may be a solar filter made from filter film or a glass solar filter, depending on the equipment. These filter types are not interchangeable. Dedicated H-alpha solar telescopes and H-alpha filters are separate systems for visual H-alpha observing.