7 replies to this topic

[astro_no0b]

I know the basics and I've scoured the interwebs for all there's to know, but somehow I still feel ill prepared to actually point my scope at the sun and risk damaging my cameras.

 

I've aquired some Baader Solar Film OD5.0 to make some solar filters for my three scopes. I also made some Solar glasses out of this stuff and for the last partial eclipse these worked well and my eyes stayed unharmed.

 

Is there really nothing else to it than to place this solar filter foil infront of my scope to do some white light imaging with my OSC camera? My Quattro 150P and the Evoguide are rather fast scopes, so I don't really know if they will actually work for this, but the SkyMax 127 at F11 should do just fine, allthough I can't get a full disk image with this scope.

The best combination for a full disk image would be the Evoguide + the IMX462, as the IMX462 has a very high framerate. I'll get a 462 Mono delivered soon, which i read will benefit by using a red filter.

The Quattro 150P would be a nice fit with the IMX585 for a full disk image, but at F3.45 I don't know if it'll actually produce a usable image... overexposure is quite likely. Also the IMX585 doesn't have a high framerate.

 

I'll also get a IMX571 colour camera soon, and it would actually produce a full disk image combined with the SkyMax 127, allthough there'll be heavy vignetting involved. The framerate of the IMX571 is also quite abysmal for this task.

 

 

So these are my thoughts with my equipment at hand for this summer as I can't do any nightsky imaging due to the lack of a nightsky until September.

 

Any input from seasoned solar imagers would be welcome.

[gstrumol]

Yes, if you use a front mounted Baader solar film all your cameras will be fine.

 

I use my Canon T7 DSLR with a Celestron 8-24mm zoom EP attached to it to take all my solar images:

 

 

Here are some images I took with my Apex 90mm Mak and the Baader film:

 

(click to enlarge)

 

With proper framing, you should be able to capture all of the spots even though you'll miss the poles (which is generally blank anyway). With the shorter FL scopes you'll be able to get a full disk as well.

[astro_no0b]

Thanks. I think I'll try taking a solar image with the Evoguide and 462MC first and go from there then.

[eblanken]

Hello (aka astro_no0b),

 

+1 on what Gary (aka gstrumol) said . . . "Bang-for-the-buck" the Baader ND 5.0 is the best way to go for White Light (WL) Solar . . .

 

     colored filters and ND filters are useful too . . . the pinned threads at the top of this forum are very good . . . 

 

Best,

 

Ed

 

P.S. Gary is amazing and you will have to work on your processing to get to his level . . . 

Edited by eblanken, 20 April 2025 - 03:15 AM.

[Kerste]

If the telescope is too fast and you can't use short enough exposure times or low enough gain, you may have to use a simple grey filter in addition (like you may use for the moon for visual observations), or a Barlow lens (the larger image is darker, too). But usually, you only need the ND5 film in front of the telewscope. Have fun!

[eblanken]

If the telescope is too fast and you can't use short enough exposure times or low enough gain, you may have to use a simple grey filter in addition (like you may use for the moon for visual observations), or a Barlow lens (the larger image is darker, too). But usually, you only need the ND5 film in front of the telewscope. Have fun!

 

Additionally, masking down your aperture can get you some "wiggle-room" also . . . the green filters (#58) and Continuum can help too . . .

 

Ed

 

P.S. Using the full Moon (no ND 5.0) can be a "surrogate" for the Sun's full disk (with ND 5.0) so you can practice . . . 

Edited by eblanken, 20 April 2025 - 03:28 AM.

[astro_no0b]

Thanks for giving me some confidence in using this Baader solar film for photography. The cameras aren't exactly cheap, so I was really hesitant to try this.

[Sebastian_Sajaroff]

The Baader ND 5.0 front filter is perfectly safe for both visual and photography, and gives a crisp view.