Carioca

Solar eclipse coming up in May, want to try to get some photos. Need a solar filter, but they don't seem to be very widely available.

If you have experience with a reputable seller, I'd be grateful for a recommendation.

Thanks!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

2 circular polarizers will work well

G.Feduccia Loc: Paradise in Florida Panhandle

Yes, I have two solar filters for a couple of my telescopes, that are very reliable. Of course, these are the, "white light" type filters that only show the sun's surface and sunspots, with the penumbra and umbra around the darkness of the spot. These filters do not show the glow of the gasses on the sun, nor can they show the prominences one sees during a solar eclipse. These white light filters can be ordered according to your telescope size from Orion Telescopes.com.

If you want to get the eclipse photos shown in the magazines, with the diamond effect and outgassing, then you need to purchase a solar telescope, with the correct filters. A basic solar filtered telescope will run you somewhat less than $500 for a 40mm telescope. You can then get the proper T-mount for your camera and have a great time taking short pics! Wow,wish I had one!!!

Hope this helps. Orion also stocks these solar scopes.

Carioca

Have you done this yourself?

Carioca

Yikes, that's way out of my budget. :(

sudzmonn Loc: here , there , everywhere

you may want to make a filter out of "badder " material. It's like a sheet of foil. I must state that you have to be extremely cautious when viewing the sun.
If you go to these sites, Astronomocs.com / and http://www.optcorp.com . Both sites are great. do a search for sun filters and see what shows -
click on solar observing / then click on the different types of baader filter and glass filter

Steven Loc: So. Milwaukee, WI.

Hoya makes one just for solar work; it's a 400x. Don't know the price so you'll have to dig a bit.

Carioca

Thanks for the tips, everyone.

Dryart38 Loc: Carlsbad, NM

I cannot over-emphasize the danger of solar shooting! I had a friend back East who was looking at the sun with a homemade solar filter, when a breeze came up and blew the filter off his scope - he had it mounted in a piece of packing foam. That quick, his eye got burnt, and to this day, he's got a black spot in his field of vision from it. Check with Edmund Scientifics - I believe they're located in New York State, I'm not sure where. They sell all sorts of telescopes and accessories. Also, go to your local library or newstand - Astronomy magazines will have muriads of dealers who carry telescopes and filters. A good solar telescope can be made by using an uncoated mirror in place of the usual coated one! I hope this will help!

Carioca

Thanks, Dryart. Glad your friend didn't lose his vision completely in that eye.

I found a site called thousandoaksoptical.com - looks like they have the sizes we might need. But since I've never heard of them before, I'm a bit leery of sending them money without a good recommendation.