how to take picture of the Sun?

[Bubble]

anyone in here use the Coronado SolarMax 40 H-alpha Solar Telescope yet? beside the Coronado SolarMax, is there an alternative for me to view the sun and take picture of it?

[Nighthound]

I haven't use the Solarmax 40 but I have used the Coronado PST. If it's surface detail edge to edge you're after the Coronado line(h-alpha) delivers amazing views and imaging opportunity. Solar filters are available for standard telescopes as well. Coronado makes an H-alpha filter for 60mm scopes. You DO NOT want to view or photograph the Sun without proper filtration. Permanent eye damage can occur in seconds by doing so and you risk damage to your optics and camera as well.

Here's a shot I took using the Coronado PST and a Nikon 4300(4mgpix) camera attached to the telescope eyepiece with a Digi-T adapter system.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Astrophotography/sunjbmethod.jpg

[black_z]

I took a shot of the sun a while back and it looked NOTHING like that! :( Solar flare is what I was wanting to see, but didn't get any.


400mm + 2x TC + 1.4x TC
A couple ND filters
1/8000 and
Aperture was something crazy f 50 something and maybe even close to 100 or so

[Oneslowz28]

You can buy a solar filter (has to be one that fits over the objective end of your telescope) that only transmits .005% of the light coming from the sun. I had one for my 10" intelliscope but sold it shortly after to aid in the purchase of a new EP.

[hollis_f]

You can make your own filter using Baader Astrofilm (transmits 0.001% of light). I used some of that, sandwiched between two clear glass filters, to take this -

http://photos.imageevent.com/frankhollis/astropix/websize/sunspot.jpg

[Jeff]

Here's an example using the Baader Solar film on a Sigma 70-200. It normally goes on a 12x80 finderscope but found it fits on the Sigma too. I think the picture of the sun is a little overexposed.

[mellowd]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Astrophotography/sunjbmethod.jpg

That is awesome!

[Bubble]

after much considerate, i think i'll put aside this "taking Sun picture" aside. The proper equipment run around $1700. Don't know how many times i'll take sun picture to justify for the cost. :)

[Elphaba]

I have a Solarmax 40 and the Coronado eyepieces made for hydrogen alpha scopes. It has been a while since I worked with it, but here are 2 of my shots from a few years ago: #1 is just a prominence shot and #2 is a different day composite shot of the disk with prominences. It is a great little solar telescope... I just haven't used it much in the last 2 years due to solar minimum has seen the sun pretty dampened down in viewable solar activity. When I do use it, it piggybacks my 8 inch SCT that I set up to track the sun, because I also image the sun with a white light filter through the SCT.

[Juliana]

Well captured! You got some great images!I really like the action you caught in the second image.

[Mark]

lol, just don't point your 600 and a 2x straight at it :)

[Fawlcon]

I took a shot of the sun a while back and it looked NOTHING like that! :( Solar flare is what I was wanting to see, but didn't get any.


400mm + 2x TC + 1.4x TC
A couple ND filters
1/8000 and
Aperture was something crazy f 50 something and maybe even close to 100 or so

For flares etc. you'll need a Ha filter. Whitelight wont show them up :(

[PM01]

If you have a good Coronado, stick with it. Otherwise I'd go with Luntsolarsystems. Ever since Coronado was bought out by Meade, the QC has been a bit lacking.

[Karl Johnston]

I fear damaging my camera's sensor or my own vision.. I wouldn't know where to start learning about how to properly capture the sun as seen above. Those are great images.

I don't suppose a simple nd400 would be adequate protection from shooting the sun?

[BPL]

I haven't use the Solarmax 40 but I have used the Coronado PST. If it's surface detail edge to edge you're after the Coronado line(h-alpha) delivers amazing views and imaging opportunity. Solar filters are available for standard telescopes as well. Coronado makes an H-alpha filter for 60mm scopes. You DO NOT want to view or photograph the Sun without proper filtration. Permanent eye damage can occur in seconds by doing so and you risk damage to your optics and camera as well.

Here's a shot I took using the Coronado PST and a Nikon 4300(4mgpix) camera attached to the telescope eyepiece with a Digi-T adapter system.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Astrophotography/sunjbmethod.jpg

Incredible!

[PM01]

I fear damaging my camera's sensor or my own vision.. I wouldn't know where to start learning about how to properly capture the sun as seen above. Those are great images.

I don't suppose a simple nd400 would be adequate protection from shooting the sun?

I wouldn't try it. The infrared energy is more than enough to cook your eye and cause damage if viewed for extended sessions. Stick with a dedicated solar filter. You can try out the ones at Baader Planetarium - their solar film works great. Astro physics has them in stock.

http://www.astro-physics.com

[Heliocentric]

I use the Coronado Solarmax40 for capturing the Sun. Below are a couple of images.
Though I use a NIKON , I have seen CANON perform better in astro-imaging generally.
I recon they produce less noise.
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/7093/dsc0955copy2.jpg

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7690/18jul2010dsc1217copy.th.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/18jul2010dsc1217copy.jpg/)

There are also the Lunt Solar scopes. The below pic is with a Lunt.LS60T Ha
a 60mm/500mm aperture with BF 1200. Single stack

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/9653/15jul2010dsc1094.th.jpg (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/15jul2010dsc1094.jpg/)

For both images I have Used a MEADE 2x converting the scopes to 800mm (Coronado) and 1000mm the Lunt Solar.
Both images where taken in prime focus , that is placing the camera with the 1.25 adaptor after the 2x which is mounted to the diagonal.

Perhaps the most important in photography is the BF (Blocking Filter) which is the diagonal located at the back of the scope. A BF 600 from lunt has around 4.5mm width for viewing. While a 1200 about 10mm.
So if you want to photograph more details aperture isn't the only thing


I shoot 2 pics , one with faster speed to capture granulation of the chromosphere and one with less shutter speed to capture the prominences. After some photoshop processing I combine the two for the result.

Of course DSLRs are not the best for capturing images with a Solar Scope.
Usually as I found out CCD camera like the DMK41 can capture many images per second and then stacked and processed through a programm (i.e. registax) will give a more optimum result.

For more contrast & detail one has to use a second etalon filter mounted on top of the solarscope These are dedicated- calibrated filters that reduce the bandpass to <0.55A (Angstrom)
The Coronado solarmax 40 has a <0.7A as a single Etalon and <0.5 as double.
The Lunt Solar has a <0.75A as a single etalon and <0.55A as a double stack.

Since I have both I noticed that the Coronado is easier to use. It has a more responsive trim on the tuner of the etalon. And that is immediate difference in detail
when triming the wheel.

Also there is a spot where you get ALL prominences in view, whereas with the Lunt there are different spots where you get different prominences in view.Also with the Lunt you will have to wait 5-10 seconds after each trim to see the result.
All in all the Coronado achieves better contrast detail than the Lunt as a single stack. Perhaps is because it has a shorter bandpass.
I have to say though that the image resolution on the Lunt (and Luminosity) is well noticeable compared to the 40mm Coronado. (60mm is double the Light)
For this reason and for summing up amount for double-stacking my Lunt I have the Solarmax 40 for sale.
Photographing the Sun in detail through H-Alpha can be an expensive hobby for anyone that seeks perfection & detail in that cause.

Hope that helped.

[mcluckie]

I used to shoot eclipses for nat geo -- i used welders glass cut to fit. A good glass shop will have it. On a 500mm, it went on the rear element. The Solarmax does seem cool....

[Todd]

Heliocentric- I just got my solarmax 40 with a 10 BF. What I can't figure out is how you photograph anything. With my 1D, I'v tried using my MP 65 5x macro, and my 28-70 lens through the eyepiece with no luck. It will be nice to get these views on film (or whatever medium being used!).
Take care,
Todd