finding the sun (Page 3): It's 40 dollars...

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

MCHUGH wrote:

Thanks jcboy3
Like the suggestion of making my own type of Sop-Searcher.

It's 40 dollars

JBRIII

1grumpybear wrote:

Here is what I use. It's small and will fit in the palm of your hand. I take a couple rubber bands and strap it to my lens. Here is a link.
https://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=66

I bought some dohecky which had a threaded post attached to a plate which slides into the hot shoe. There are two threaded wheels on the post, screw one down to fasten to the hot shoe. I then threaded the sun seeker for the post (1/4, 20. Thread the post into the sun seeker and fasten tight with the second wheel. I believe both things are sold on Amazon. Many astro companies will sell the sun seeker, but deadlines for getting anything for the 8th are or have passed.

Finally the sun is not easy, your not missing anything, it is hard. The sun seeker really works. You might find plans on the web for making something similar. Just two parallel pieces one with a hole (try 1/16") and second with a screen (just mark the center, a hole reinforced might do. A piece of metal bend into a channel would do, just need good bends, not twisted. Thin wood or even PVC sheet should also work (cuts easily on table saw).

I believe the sun seeker costs around $30.

tkphelps

I mount the camera on the tripod and stand in front of the camera. I adjust the direction so that the shadow of the lens is about equally spaced around the front of the camera, and voila the sun is in the middle of the frame. I also find that with the 600 mm lens and 1.4xTC I have better luck with the last few degrees moving the tripod feet rather than trying to adjust the head.

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

Thanks MJPerini for the information. It is semular to some others but I think I can make this easier and will try to do so today.

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

gouldopfl wrote:

I am in the direct path here in central Indiana ( ... (show quote)

Welcome back to J'ville when you get to move back. Not often I fine someone who knows our little city. I have gotten some great advice so far and like you will pratice good before the eclipsse.

CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

Jacksonville, I am in Athens and watching the weather closely.

First and above all else, you are NOT in the path of totality. Send me a PM and I will send you my presentation. You have to move west about 70 miles. If you are not in the path, you will be using your filter the entire time.

A lot of good advice here and some neat tools. Here is a simple idea, using your solar glasses use the hot shoe mount like a gun sight and find the sun. Now using a lens not exceeding 700mm on a full frame camera in landscape mode point the camera (glasses off) up and then using live view move the sun to lower left corner. You may have about 2 minutes before your next adjustment to the right.

This is the week to practice this all of this in your yard. By the way, shot many times from Love's Lookout.

Mr Bill 2011 Loc: southern Indiana

MCHUGH wrote:

I am going to try to take a solor eclipse picture ... (show quote)

point the front leg of your tripod directly at the sun so that the shadow and the leg make a straight line. Center your camera so the lens is in a straight line over the tripod leg. With the solar filter on, slowly raise the camera; you should be close enough to the sun that you'll see a lighter area through the lens and can find the sun easily after that. Shouldn't take more than a few seconds.

CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

Mr Bill 2011 wrote:

point the front leg of your tripod directly at the sun so that the shadow and the leg make a straight line. Center your camera so the lens is in a straight line over the tripod leg. With the solar filter on, slowly raise the camera; you should be close enough to the sun that you'll see a lighter area through the lens and can find the sun easily after that. Shouldn't take more than a few seconds.

Great idea

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

You have pretty wide field so the one leg is a good starting point. After an hour the sun has moved 15 degrees

mikey12654 Loc: Vancouver, WA

MCHUGH wrote:

I am going to try to take a solor eclipse picture ... (show quote)

I'm kind of curious what shooting mode you're shooting in, manual, Av, fully auto or? For me I have no problem finding the sun when I use Av but have problems finding the sun in Tv mode. I took some sun shots recently, using the Av mode, f/7.1, SS 1/320, FL 500mm, cropped using a Thousand Oak solar filter.

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

mikey12654 wrote:

I'm kind of curious what shooting mode you're shooting in, manual, Av, fully auto or? For me I have no problem finding the sun when I use Av but have problems finding the sun in Tv mode. I took some sun shots recently, using the Av mode, f/7.1, SS 1/320, FL 500mm, cropped using a Thousand Oak solar filter.

Fully manual. Still trying different things. The way the weather man is forcasting it seems like we may have stormy weather, which is nothing unusual for East Texas at this time of year. Not for certain of course.

Judy795

MCHUGH wrote:

Fully manual. Still trying different things. The way the weather man is forcasting it seems like we may have stormy weather, which is nothing unusual for East Texas at this time of year. Not for certain of course.

I am coming to Frisco near Dallas. Arriving Saturday. Hoping for some sun.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

MCHUGH wrote:

Fully manual. Still trying different things. The way the weather man is forcasting it seems like we may have stormy weather, which is nothing unusual for East Texas at this time of year. Not for certain of course.

Weather is key. I saw the 2017 eclipse but due to back surgery my walking is limited.
I shot 1500 photos last time. 10 shots every cant travel. 5 minutes, varing exposure.

Mr Bill 2011 Loc: southern Indiana

mikey12654 wrote:

I'm kind of curious what shooting mode you're shooting in, manual, Av, fully auto or? For me I have no problem finding the sun when I use Av but have problems finding the sun in Tv mode. I took some sun shots recently, using the Av mode, f/7.1, SS 1/320, FL 500mm, cropped using a Thousand Oak solar filter.

From my 2017 "cheat sheet:" All manual, manual focus, Wh.balance=Daylight, iso=100, f/5.6, 1/320 sec., I.S. off. I was using a Nikon P-900 around 800-1000 mm equiv. and a Thousand Oaks filter. Set up on grass, not pavement. Check out MrEclipse.COM for more information for novices.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

Mr Bill 2011 wrote:

From my 2017 "cheat sheet:" All manual, manual focus, Wh.balance=Daylight, iso=100, f/5.6, 1/320 sec., I.S. off. I was using a Nikon P-900 around 800-1000 mm equiv. and a Thousand Oaks filter. Set up on grass, not pavement. Check out MrEclipse.COM for more information for novices.

That's about what I used