buying solar filter shortly-what are others using?

[hotspur (Chris)]

looking at purchasing a solar filter or maybe two.For the up coming Venus transit.I found this at Bintel

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/welcome.htm

it appears it will fit either 80 mm and 100 mm scopes,has anyone here got one like this?? I have 81 mm and 103 mm scopes,these filters should fit these scopes-Thought I'd ask before spending $200.

Hoping to image through one scope and view through the other.Hope its not cloudy!-otherwise its $200 down the drain!

Thanks for any thoughts regarding these filters on my size scopes.cheers Chris

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

I am using a Baader Solar Filter that I had to make up the cell from the sheets of solar film. I could only get the film from My Astro Shop as Bintel were out of it. $39 for an A4 sheet.

This is a single frame taken with an 80mm scope, no Barlow, with a Canon 400D. Just to give you an idea on colour. Mind you this was the first time I had used this type of film so results are less than perfect

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

I have recently purchased a sheet of Density 5 Visual Baader Solar Film. There was enough in an A4 sheet to make up filters for the finder scope and 50mm dust cover step down on the 12", as well as the 80mm refractor and the 7x50 binos with some left over.

The view through the 12" Dob is impressive with very sharp definition of the sunspots. I used a yellow filter on the eyepiece to give the Sun some colour instead of the white light. The filtered binoculars are easy to access if I want to have a quick check of sunspot activity, but the 80mm refractor is let down by the average quality optics.

Baader sell Density 3.8 Solar film which is designed for photograpic use. It is not safe to use visually.

I rate this product but it is not as sturdy as glass.

I hope luck is on your side and you can catch an image of Venus and an aircraft passing the Sun at the same time.

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Originally Posted by Shark Bait

I hope luck is on your side and you can catch an image of Venus and an aircraft passing the Sun at the same time.

Now wouldn't that be a sight.

[frolinmod]

I use a Lunt Herschel wedge and a Baader solar continuum filter on my Stellarvue 80ED.

I use Baader AstroSolar film and a Baader solar continuum filter on my larger scopes.

[Dennis]

Hi Chris

I used to have a 1000 Oaks glass solar filter for my Vixen ED102S 4” refractor and although it is a top quality, well made filter, I never managed to obtain any decent images. This might be down to user error, poor seeing, etc., but I did not find the images crisp and I also had evidence of some ghosting, as if I was getting an internal reflection from one of the glass surfaces. The 1000 Oaks filter did produce nice, deep orange coloured images though and it has an excellent reputation. There is also a safe and secure feeling about having a substantial, professional, filter on the front of the telescope.

Since I moved to my home made filters using sheets of Baader solar film, and in particular the photo density film (not for visual use) my images have been excellent; crisp and full of detail although this does depend upon the day time seeing as well of course. The Baader film does produce a whitish/blue solar disc which may not be to everyone’s taste.

If you are going to make a visual filter and a photo filter, make sure you label them clearly so you do not accidentally look through the photo filter.

Cheers

Dennis

[sheeny (Al)]

I used Baader Astro Solar Film on my C8 and I still do on my ED80 and finderscope. I also have a 1000 Oaks glass filter for the C11. My experience is the 1000 Oaks will allow you to capture more orange peel detail than the Baader solar film.

Al.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

hi Chris I have a Kendrik visual white light filter and it shows very good deatail of the sun spots and their surrounds, and also granulation is more easily seen than in my Thousand oaks glass filter .
But the nice orange colour in the TO filter is more pleasing then the Kendrik's white image .
One more thing I dont know why , but with the naked eye the Kendrik gives a white disk but when I photo the sun it comes out a purple colour , not a problem as the extra deatail seen more than makes up for that . .
Brian

[frolinmod]

Brian, does your camera have an IR filter on it? If so, then you might consider either removing it or using a different camera.

If your photos are turning out purple, then try an IR pass filter. Note, IR pass, not IR block. An IR pass filter blocks everything except the red end of the spectrum. A red filter may work as well. I've seen some very crisp images taken with a full aperture Baader AstroSolar film filter and an IR pass filter.