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Equipment Discussions >> Binoculars

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SMark
professor emeritus

Reged: 08/29/11

Loc: Atlanta, GA USA

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: Scanning4Comets]
#5120216 - 03/13/12 01:25 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Let's hear it for gambling your precious vision on Gatorade bottles and rubber bands!

I wouldn't use it if it wasn't safe. I know there's always a risk in using any solar filter if someones not careful. Many people buy sheets of solar filter and make their own filter holder so I don't see whats wrong with that.

Quote:

Quote:

The filter actually stays by itself without the rubber bands, they are just for extra security. I think if I replace them when needed it should be fine. Duct tape would be harder to remove and leave the binoculars sticky.

I'd rather have sticky binoculars then no vision left. I prefer to stay away from ANY type of solar viewing....I would only do it using something professional and safe if it were me.

Cheers,

The internet appears to provide a number of long threads on this subject. And yet, unless you want to go all the way back to Galileo, I'm not finding any examples of someone blinding themselves studying the sun with any sort of optical instrument. I expect that there are some examples, I just can't seem to find any. But that also tends to make me believe that those of us who choose to make our own solar filters are actually much better at it that those who choose not to... want to believe. "Warnings" are certainly appreciated, but how about cutting the guy a little slack. Treating him as if he's an idiot for even considering the idea is (IMO) pointing the finger the wrong way.

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*skyguy*
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/31/08

Loc: Western New York

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: Scanning4Comets]
#5120471 - 03/13/12 03:47 PM

Quote:

I'd rather have sticky binoculars then no vision left. I prefer to stay away from ANY type of solar viewing....I would only do it using something professional and safe if it were me.

Cheers,

This is what happened to the "Good old American, can do spirit" ... it's now the "can't do spirit" ... how very sad!

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RobbW
sage

Reged: 02/09/10

Loc: Elgin, IL

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: *skyguy*]
#5120663 - 03/13/12 06:00 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I'd rather have sticky binoculars then no vision left. I prefer to stay away from ANY type of solar viewing....I would only do it using something professional and safe if it were me.

Cheers,

This is what happened to the "Good old American, can do spirit" ... it's now the "can't do spirit" ... how very sad!

Technically, he never had the "Good old AMERICAN can do spirit" to begin with!

I prefer to think that we amateur astronomers, especially those of us who DIY things frequently, are relatively intelligent and can manage to observe without injuring ourselves. Most of us probably would not use specific tools if there was a HIGH probability of injury (not just a mere potential). If you choose not to partake in solar observing with the use of high-end, "professional" (i.e. expensive) equipment, then that is your prerogative and/or loss. For myself, I'll continue to use my DIY solar filters until I deem them unsatisfactorily risky!

To each their own!

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krp
super member

Reged: 11/10/10

Loc: Central Illinois

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: SMark]
#5120684 - 03/13/12 06:07 PM

Quote:

The internet appears to provide a number of long threads on this subject. And yet, unless you want to go all the way back to Galileo, I'm not finding any examples of someone blinding themselves studying the sun with any sort of optical instrument. I expect that there are some examples, I just can't seem to find any. But that also tends to make me believe that those of us who choose to make our own solar filters are actually much better at it that those who choose not to... want to believe. "Warnings" are certainly appreciated, but how about cutting the guy a little slack. Treating him as if he's an idiot for even considering the idea is (IMO) pointing the finger the wrong way.

Thank you. Like I said if I could afford a nice solar telescope I would buy one. Otherwise I'll just use this. I want to be able to observe the upcoming solar eclipse and Venus transit in some way.

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Special Ed
Postmaster

Reged: 05/18/03

Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: krp]
#5121361 - 03/14/12 06:14 AM Attachment (40 downloads)

Solar observing can be very harmful to your health, so I would not criticize anyone who was very wary of it (even if they are Canadian

). I am an experienced solar observer, yet, in a moment of hurried carelessness I almost melted a hole in one of my eyepiece covers, so respect the Sun!

That said, I have been happily looking at the Sun through homemade and store-bought AstroSolar film filters for almost a decade now with no ill effects. These filters on my 15x70's are from Kendrick. The Sun has lots of activity these days to look at and I suggest everyone figure out some way to view the upcoming Transit of Venus--you'll be glad you did.

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Tony Flanders
Postmaster

Reged: 05/18/06

Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: Scanning4Comets]
#5121376 - 03/14/12 06:40 AM

Quote:

I'd rather have sticky binoculars then no vision left. I prefer to stay away from ANY type of solar viewing....I would only do it using something professional and safe if it were me.

I understand that point of view, but to a large extent it's due to inexperience.

I used to feel the same way. But after realizing that many of the best observers use homemade filters, and making several filters myself, I realized that solar filters are really very simple devices, and there's no reason that a homemade filter should be inferior to a manufactured filter in any way.

If anything, I feel safer with the filters that I built, because I know the precise details of their construction.

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gwd
member

Reged: 08/27/11

Loc: DC

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: SMark]
#5122521 - 03/14/12 07:14 PM

[Quote] The internet appears to provide a number of long threads on this subject. And yet, unless you want to go all the way back to Galileo, I'm not finding any examples of someone blinding themselves studying the sun with any sort of optical instrument. I expect that there are some examples, I just can't seem to find any. But that also tends to make me believe that those of us who choose to make our own solar filters are actually much better at it that those who choose not to... want to believe. "Warnings" are certainly appreciated, but how about cutting the guy a little slack. Treating him as if he's an idiot for even considering the idea is (IMO) pointing the finger the wrong way.

I believed the manufacturer of my first scope that I could safely view the sun with their filter. I don't think they expected a curious 12 year old to spend long periods of time watching sunspots with fascination. The filter cracked while I was using it. My eyeball felt hot from the searing light and I jumped away from the scope so forcefully that I fell on the ground. It didn't hurt exactly but my whole body reacted violently. My right eye has bothered me ever since. The eye doctor says he can't see anything weird in there but I know it isn't right. I use the pinhole projection device for eclipses and have a hand held filter but I stay away from magnifying optics pointed at the sun now. I'm not taking a position on the homemade filter idea just pointing out that one failed on me while using it.

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SMark
professor emeritus

Reged: 08/29/11

Loc: Atlanta, GA USA

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: gwd]
#5123146 - 03/15/12 04:04 AM

Sorry to hear that. My first scope had a screw-in solar filter for the eyepiece that was rather poorly made. But maybe that was to be expected from a cheap 50mm refractor. Fortunately, when it failed it didn't fail while in use. I think that whole concept of putting the filter at the eyepiece was misguided to begin with...

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tigerroach
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/13/08

Loc: Houston, TX USA

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: SMark]
#5123311 - 03/15/12 08:36 AM

Quote:

I think that whole concept of putting the filter at the eyepiece was misguided to begin with...

Absolutely! Hopefully no one is making those any more.

My first scope (a classic department store refractor) came with one of those also. My father forbade me to use it, and naturally when he wasn't around I did anyway. It never failed on me, but now I realize that the old man was right and I was lucky that I never used it long enough for it to burn through.

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harbinjer
sage

Reged: 12/17/08

Loc: Southeastern Minnesota

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: krp]
#5125136 - 03/16/12 09:57 AM

Instead of duct tape, you might try gaffer's tape. It's a bit more expensive, but it also comes off cleanly. But if it stays on without the rubber bands, then I'm sure you're fine.

I made solar filters for my Pentax 20x60 with longer, very snug tubes of cardboard. They are snug enough that they don't need a secondary mechanism to hold them there.

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Scott Beith
SRF

Reged: 11/26/03

Loc: Frederick, MD

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: Scott Beith]
#5265172 - 06/10/12 06:33 PM

Quote:

My review of the Coronado 12X60 BinoMite II Solar Binoculars is complete and will be submitted to CN tomorrow. I don't know when it will be posted in the review section.

I forgot to follow up on this. Here is the link:

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2756

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anton
member

Reged: 04/03/06

Loc: Ontario Canada

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: harbinjer]
#5291188 - 06/27/12 08:21 AM

aluminum tape is not as sticky as duct tape and works well.
anton

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edwincjones
Close Enough

Reged: 04/10/04

Re: Observing the Sun with Binoculars new

new

[Re: Scott Beith]
#5292181 - 06/27/12 08:31 PM

Quote:

Quote:

My review of the Coronado 12X60 BinoMite II Solar Binoculars is complete and will be submitted to CN tomorrow. I don't know when it will be posted in the review section.

I forgot to follow up on this. Here is the link:

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2756

I am glad that your pair worked out. I got one at about the same time,
but the image was very, very dim-much more so that other solar filters that I have used-and not very useable

edj

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