The transit of Venus - June 5 and 6

Anyone gearing up to photograph this transit? I would like to know what type of filter I might need for my camera to take direct pictures, without frying the sensor - maybe you can't do this, maybe it isn't worth the risk? I have two sets of ND filters, 2 each of 1, 2 and 3 stop filters and I am wondering if I put all of these in front of the lens - my 100-400L IS on my 5D, whether that would work or not, or am I better off trying to make a pinhole camera and photograph the projection from that? Maybe a Lee Big Stopper - http://www.leefilters.​com/index.php/camera/b​igstopper ?

Any ideas or experience that anyone would care to share will be appreciated. Thanks.
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WesternGuy

Yes, I am.
NOW STOP with your filters. ONLY use the likes of the "Thousand Oaks" ND 5, or the Baader FIlm ND 5.
The ND 5 means a reduction in the transmitted light of 10^5 or 100,000X. That's the type of filter you need for VIEWING - and it can be used for photogrraphy. For photography only (whatever that means, since you still have to look at it) you can use a Baader Film ND 3.8 (~6,000X).

WIth the ND 5 filters, your exposure for the sun in a clear sky are approx:
ISO 100, f/8 to f/11, 1/160 to 1/200 sec.

(It's been ages since I used the ND3.8 type and I can't remember, but exposure times are much higher.)
Am.

ameerat42 wrote in post #14375331
Yes, I am.
NOW STOP with your filters. ONLY use the likes of the "Thousand Oaks" ND 5, or the Baader FIlm ND 5.
The ND 5 means a reduction in the transmitted light of 10^5 or 100,000X. That's the type of filter you need for VIEWING - and it can be used for photogrraphy. For photography only (whatever that means, since you still have to look at it) you can use a Baader Film ND 3.8 (~6,000X).

WIth the ND 5 filters, your exposure for the sun in a clear sky are approx:
ISO 100, f/8 to f/11, 1/160 to 1/200 sec.

(It's been ages since I used the ND3.8 type and I can't remember, but exposure times are much higher.)
Am.

Thanks for the information. I sent "Thousand Oaks" an e-mail and asked about the filter - no luck, they do make it, but the backlog is such that they would not be able to get one to me in time for the event. I guess I will have to try and construct a pinhole that I can use to project an image on a white board or something.

WesternGuy

Then 4-get 1000 Oaks. Try for some Baader Solar Filter Film in your area. It's got to be around. Just make sure you get the ND 5 version (even if you also get the ND 3.8). Make up a SECURE filter housing yourself and off you go. Baader film comes in two varieties AFAI can tell. One is a thin black plasticky sheet, and the other is a silvery sheet. They are both OK, though I have only used the siiver stuff.

This is a link a mate sent me for the dark material:
http://www.ebay.com.au …_trksid=p3984.m​1497.l2649
Good luck, though you won't need that much, I'm sure.
Am.

ameerat42 wrote in post #14386911
Then 4-get 1000 Oaks. Try for some Baader Solar Filter Film in your area. It's got to be around. Just make sure you get the ND 5 version (even if you also get the ND 3.8). Make up a SECURE filter housing yourself and off you go. Baader film comes in two varieties AFAI can tell. One is a thin black plasticky sheet, and the other is a silvery sheet. They are both OK, though I have only used the siiver stuff.

This is a link a mate sent me for the dark material:
http://www.ebay.com.au …_trksid=p3984.m​1497.l2649
Good luck, though you won't need that much, I'm sure.
Am.

Thanks for the info. I will call around to some of my local camera stores, who knows, they may have some. Do you think I could cut the material to fit a Lee square filter holder? I would just have to make sure that there was no light leakage around the filter. The other thing I could do is to "recycle" a couple of old UV filters that I have kept (no longer use) and try and make a "screw-on" for my camera. Any thoughts?
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WesternGuy

Hey guys, I did a lot of reading about this a while ago. I ended up getting a solar filter from my awesome local telescope shop. I'm paranoid about going blind or frying my equipment, so was happy to spend the $ 90 on it to get the right gear. I would advise against building something.

The instructions with my solar filter urge to never leave your gear unattended, and to make sure the filter is secured so it won't fall off if pointing down or gusty wind picks up.

I still won't look through it, but happy to risk my telescope and dslr if something bad happens, they're replacable. Hope this helps?

p.s. You'll also want a shade cloth. I'm used to astro/night time weather, so after 15min in the sun I was sweating like a ham! If anyone knows where to buy a big golf/shade umbrella that mounts onto a telescope with a hole for it, I'll buy one!

legoman_iac wrote in post #14389577
Hey guys, I did a lot of reading about this a while ago. I ended up getting a solar filter from my awesome local telescope shop. I'm paranoid about going blind or frying my equipment, so was happy to spend the $ 90 on it to get the right gear. I would advise against building something.

The instructions with my solar filter urge to never leave your gear unattended, and to make sure the filter is secured so it won't fall off if pointing down or gusty wind picks up.

I still won't look through it, but happy to risk my telescope and dslr if something bad happens, they're replacable. Hope this helps?

p.s. You'll also want a shade cloth. I'm used to astro/night time weather, so after 15min in the sun I was sweating like a ham! If anyone knows where to buy a big golf/shade umbrella that mounts onto a telescope with a hole for it, I'll buy one!

Care to share the brand/type you bought and the specs. Don't forget, I am looking for one for my camera as I do not have a telescope(yet). Curious why you advise against building one, as there are lots of instructional stuff on the web about how to do this. Thanks.
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WesternGuy

You can look through it. Just put a piece of paper or your hand back there first. Better a hot hand than a fried camera. When I shoot the Sun my camera tends to get hot. Not from what is coming through the scope, but just because it's black and sitting in the sun. I usually wrap my camera with some aluminum foil just to reflect the sunlight off it.

The pics below are with Sky-Watcher PRO 80ED APO Refractor with an Orion Glass 4.57" Solar Filter. looks like the part # is 07798. It lets the light through as yello. I shot video and processed with Registax using prime, 2x barlow, and 2x barlow + 5x crop. For the transit I will shoot lots of single shots

I also use an Astro-Tech 8in with a Thousands Oaks wight light Solar Filter.

I hope this helps

WesternGuy wrote in post #14388546
...Do you think I could cut the material to fit a Lee square filter holder? I would just have to make sure that there was no light leakage around the filter. The other thing I could do is to "recycle" a couple of old UV filters that I have kept (no longer use) and try and make a "screw-on" for my camera. Any thoughts?...
WesternGuy

Yes to all. I have done the same.

legoman_iac wrote in post #14389577
...to get the right gear. I would advise against building something...

...I still won't look through it...

Baader Solar Film ND 5 IS the right gear, both for optical viewing and for photography, but it's up to you. Bought or built yourself, there's no difference. The BSF ND 3.8 is ONLY for photography, though.

WesternGuy wrote in post #14390023
...as I do not have a telescope(yet). Curious why you advise against building one...
WesternGuy

A "good" 400~500mm telephoto +/- 2X converter will yield the likes of TC's first image above. I agree with the rest.

Toxic Coolaid wrote in post #14390991
...The pics below are with Sky-Watcher PRO 80ED APO Refractor with an Orion Glass 4.57" Solar Filter. looks like the part # is 07798. It lets the light through as yello. I shot video and processed with Registax using prime, 2x barlow, and 2x barlow + 5x crop. For the transit I will shoot lots of single shots

I also use an Astro-Tech 8in with a Thousands Oaks wight light Solar Filter.

I hope this helps...

Top stuff, TC.

Am to all.

TC, great shots, that is the sort of thing I will be looking to try and get. Guess I will go and hunt for some Baader ND 5 film.
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WesternGuy

Toxic Coolaid wrote in post #14390991
I hope this helps

As usual, it does. Nice shots, I want to get a solar filter for this event.

I think you can probably shoot video, but limit it to short lengths. You can get 30 frames a second, then use Registax to pick the best 80% from maybe 30 second batches. I think that taking very fast single pictures is what I will try 1st. If I get good shots I may try video next. The problem with video is you can't see it on the spot (sorry had to say it :rolleyes I'll just have to see on the day. Hopefully is't clear.

WesternGuy wrote in post #14388546
Thanks for the info. I will call around to some of my local camera stores, who knows, they may have some. Do you think I could cut the material to fit a Lee square filter holder? I would just have to make sure that there was no light leakage around the filter. The other thing I could do is to "recycle" a couple of old UV filters that I have kept (no longer use) and try and make a "screw-on" for my camera. Any thoughts?
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WesternGuy

Yes, I got a 4" square ND5 that works great in my Cokin Z-series holder (uses the same size filters as Lee).

WesternGuy wrote in post #14390023
Care to share the brand/type you bought and the specs. Don't forget, I am looking for one for my camera as I do not have a telescope(yet). Curious why you advise against building one, as there are lots of instructional stuff on the web about how to do this. Thanks.
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WesternGuy

Hey WesternGuy,

Sorry for the delayed reply, been away for a bit. I bought the Orion 80mm Solar Filter, to go on my Orion ED80T CT ... but it fits on my Tamron 200-400mm as well, you'd just have to make sure it is well secured.

I advised against building one, mainly as I'm lazy ... haha, but also don't trust my handyman skills. Should've said, it's "easy to buy one than to build one ... if you're as handy as me", haha.

This thread has my first solar pic, if you want to see what my first attempt with this gear looks like ... https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1116938

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Watch the video :

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1185987