Solar Filters

[bluescope]

What are the best filters .... aluminium film or glass ? Opinions please.

:thumbsup:

[DaveM]

My understanding is that the film gives slightly more resolution, but typically gives a bluish view, which some people dislike. Depending on the brand of glass the colour can range from bluish to yellowish. I have purchased a glass filter largely due to the fact that it is more robust than the film, and I would tend to err on the side of caution with solar viewing. I wasn't too worried about the slightly better resolution with the film because in my experience, atmospheric turbulence during the day tends to be the limiting factor. Having said that, you can make up your own film filter for your scope for less cost than buying a glass one.

Cheers,
David

[gbeal]

Baader solar film is the universal favourite, and it is DIY. I have them for most of my scopes. I also have a pricey glass one, made by Zeiss, for the Zeiss scopes, and it too is a stunner. If pushed I prefer the orange and quality of the Zeiss, but the Baader is darn good.
Gary

[bluescope]

I agree that the glass would probably have a longer life. I found a good quality film filter on eBay for Aud$59 which is quite cheap but then you factor in the shipping and time waiting for delivery and it's most likely better to buy from Oz dealer. What brand filter do you have Dave ?

:thumbsup:

[CoombellKid]

David,

Where did you get the idea the film gives a bluish view? I use Baader film.
Which gives a coloured view the same as the sun pic on the left of this page.

I made my own filter from the above mentioned film and have had it for a
1 and a half years it works a treat! still I do look after it and it has it's own
cover. I went halves in a sheet that cost $45.00 a couple of hours to make.

So it cost me $22.50 plus a couple of hours labour, pretty cheap really considering
it would cost at last look $210.00 for a glass one for my 8" newt.

Still even though I keep it well protected I still check for any holes before
I place it on the scope. I use it along with my PST :)

regards,CS

[bluescope]

Is the Baader film what MyAstroShop sells ?

No sorry just checked and he sells Thousand Oaks.

I'm only planning on using my DSX90-AT Maksutov for solar viewing and photography.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I managed to pick up a Konus (?) brand film type filter to suit my little ETX-70 at last years Astrofest from a bargain bin - $10, what a bargain indeed!

(The ETX is actually a great size for solar (or lunar) viewing, field of view with a 9 to 4 mm ep encompasses either object nicely! I was using my 8mm Orion Stratus in it the other night at a public viewing event which gave a nice, clear, clean image of good size.)

[casstony]

I haven't used my baader film for a while, but I remeber it giving a white view of the Sun. The film is very tough and difficult to damage even if you try to tear it.

[CoombellKid]

You can get two types of baader solar film Visual and photographic. I use the
visual type. here's a pic I took awhiles ago through it with my digital held
to the ep. It pretty much how o'l looks looks when viewing through the ep,
except maybe slightly more yellow looking.

regards,CS

[[1ponders]]

I have both Baader Solar film, which gives a white light (http://www.aoe.com.au/solarobserving.html) and a Thousand Oaks glass filter (yellow/orange) for the 8" SCT. The Baader gets far more use as it is for my 80ED and 102mm Celestron refractor and they are much more of a pack and go scope than the SCT.

Having said that the PST gets a fair work out as well ;)

[[1ponders]]

Oh and if you get the film you will probably have enough left over to do a pair of binoculars or a finderscope or two. :thumbsup:

[bluescope]

Thanks for the link Paul, I like the idea of the Baader Solar Continuum Filter 1.25" as well for flares and sunspot detail etc.
I had an empty Moo cheese container somewhere that is the correct diameter for my 90mm scope to make a filter with the film .... just got to find the little sucker or buy some more cheese.

What do most people use to make the filter ?

:thumbsup:

[bluescope]

I like the yellow/orange images as per your photo Rob ... thanks.

:thumbsup:

[DaveM]

Hmm, I stand corrected. I thought I had seen a review somewhere saying that film was bluish. I bought a JMB glass filter just before the Mercury transit, and have been happy with the views, but if you can DIY more cheaply, that sounds like the go.

DM

[csb]

Also with the film you can make a full aperture filter or/and an offset filter to suit your viewing needs and scope.