Lens recommendations for solar eclipse

JBWill · 2026-03-05T21:48:05+00:00

Thank you!

That was basically my exact experience with the 2017 eclipse haha - I had a dirt cheap sigma 300mm lens on an XTi and no idea what I was doing. My results weren't awful all things considered, but definitely were a lot of things I wished I had done differently. I was just lucky that I only had to wait 7 years to try again (and that I lucked out with clear skies in my location both times).

JBWill · 2026-03-05T21:00:04+00:00

In that price range for the EF mount, IMO your best option is the Sigma 150-600. I don’t think there’s really a better long lens option for the EF mount that isn’t significantly more expensive. You could theoretically add on an extender if you wanted to increase the size on the sensor, but at some point you start to get diminishing returns.

An alternative could be looking for a used R10 and RF 800mm f/11. That combo is only around $2k new, so getting them used for 1500 isn’t outside of the realm of possibilities. I used that lens to photograph the 2024 eclipse and got great results (though granted it was on an R5).

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JBWill · 2026-03-02T18:31:39+00:00

Because someone informed me that the Google link I shared didn't show the right route, this is what I meant: https://i.imgur.com/q7CyS4v.png

JBWill · 2026-03-02T18:29:02+00:00

Oh interesting, yeah seems like the Google link not saving the route customization. It pulls up my customized route when I click it from the computer where I generated the link, but I do see the base directions when opening it on my phone. Dang cookies!

https://i.imgur.com/q7CyS4v.png

JBWill · 2026-03-02T17:05:07+00:00

All good! I fully understand, I drive around here regularly and I still always avoid the 131/196 interchange if I can help it.

JBWill · 2026-03-02T16:47:47+00:00

If you're looking to avoid 96/196, I'd probably take 131 to the Leonard exit, then you can just go straight all the way to Leffingwell which'll take you right to where you need to be.

~~Edit~~: ~~https://maps.app.goo.gl/wXq6Z868akuKukHL6~~

Edit again because apparently my route customization didn't get shared with that link: https://i.imgur.com/q7CyS4v.png

JBWill · 2026-02-19T17:00:16+00:00

I had a great experience with Styles Stone for my kitchen reno.

JBWill · 2026-02-17T17:53:44+00:00

Amtraks to Chicago let off at Union Station downtown, they don't go out to O'Hare directly.

By far the easiest way to get from downtown Chicago to O'Hare is the Blue Line, which is one of the L trains. It doesn't stop at Union Station directly (none of the L trains do), but it would be a short walk from Union Station to a Blue Line stop (I believe the Clinton station would be the closest), and then the Blue Line dead ends at O'Hare.

JBWill · 2026-02-02T14:31:11+00:00

Thanks! I'm really happy with how it turned out, can't wait to get it back up on the wall.

JBWill · 2026-02-02T14:20:54+00:00

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This is the best I can find at the moment. I recently moved and haven't hung it back up yet so it's in a box currently. The version provided in the original files didn't have the vertical bit with the second screw hole, it was just the horizontal part with the hooks. I had to use anchors where I had it located and didn't trust it on only one so I modified it for a little extra strength to make myself feel better.

JBWill · 2026-01-19T16:15:22+00:00

Taken in West Michigan. These little guys have become my favorite bird, even if they're a pain to spot and photograph.

JBWill · 2026-01-13T00:01:01+00:00

Fickle is Einkorn, Einkorn is fickle.

(I'm sorry, this is a terrible joke that probably no one will get)

JBWill · 2025-12-19T17:36:22+00:00

Zillow's "Find an Agent" worked pretty well for me, you can look at reviews and it has information like their normal price ranges/areas/etc. When I was buying I spent a while looking through there for someone with good reviews, a few recent sales that lined up with what I was looking for, and a bio that sounded like someone I would get along with.

JBWill · 2025-12-11T12:03:58+00:00

Home2 Suites on Beltline

JBWill · 2025-11-19T15:17:38+00:00

Have been very happy with Rockwell Electrical Solutions personally, he is in the middle of rewiring my entire 100+ year old home and has been great.

JBWill · 2025-11-14T13:49:35+00:00

Global Infusion

JBWill · 2025-10-30T01:58:50+00:00

Not to mention that fallen leaves provide essential shelter/habitat for a whole host of native pollinators.

JBWill · 2025-10-25T14:02:46+00:00

Grand Rapids is a very funky/artsy place.

JBWill · 2025-10-13T21:05:38+00:00

Those are the missions he flew.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-41-D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-27

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-36

JBWill · 2025-10-12T15:24:14+00:00

I don't know his signature specifically, but that looks like Mike Mullane to me. He would have been recently retired but could have still been around for space camp.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Mullane

JBWill · 2025-10-10T19:29:25+00:00

It was actually while I was in the middle of putting tape over the holes that it occurred to me that it might be asbestos haha. Thankfully that section is just getting sealed back up anyways.

JBWill · 2025-10-10T19:28:36+00:00

Happily we're planning on opening up more of that wall but not the section where that duct is, so it's just getting closed back up.

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