Solar Eclipse Photography on the cheap - Turkey '06

Hi all.
I am getting very troubled at the moment. I have listened to the
advice in quite a few magazines, forums and indeed comments from the
group, regarding the Eclipse in Turkey next week. I my mind I just
want to go and enjoy the event as I did the last time I saw (a very
limited) Eclipse in the UK using a welders mask

I have a compact ETX scope with a screw on solar filter which I have
decided not to take, as amongst other things my digital camera has
proved un-reliable (when it really matters!) I am not planning to
upgrade my camera untill I can afford a decent DSLR.

My problem is I still want to return with at least some images. My
only other camera is an Olympus standard SLR with a 70-210mm lens.
This camera has a manual adapter. Not really being a photographer -
could I expect to return with any decent results from this? using a
tripod and cable release? Vibration?

If so, what shutter speeds/aperture setting should I use during the
stages of the eclipse? I appreciate I will need a quick release ND
filter (which number) I have not tried taking any pictures of the sun
via my BC&F filter so I am unsure. Where is the sun anyway!

Alternatively I could forget it all bar my solar specs & come back and
wait for Pete to upload his images and drool... ;-)

Ian.
Tamworth. UK.

My problem is I still want to return with at least some images. My
only other camera is an Olympus standard SLR with a 70-210mm lens.
This camera has a manual adapter. Not really being a photographer -
could I expect to return with any decent results from this? using a
tripod and cable release? Vibration?

My old none digital SLR only has a 150mm zoom lens. But I got a few nice
shots using tripod and cable release in France 1999. I've posted this before
but in case you missed it.
http://www.suaveharv.com/eclipse.jpg
Other pictures show bailey's beads.
It won't win any awards but it proves I was there I suppose. I'm taking it
again, along with my digitals, but I'm not taking scopes or long lenses etc.
..
It's a worry isn't it? You think it's SUCH a fantastic Astronomical
experience that you have to go balls-out and take the best pictures. But
then you think 'will it detract from the experience?'. Well, if you're not a
die-hard Eclipse photographer, I'd not sweat it. Get a few snaps, then order
some posh prints from a professional to stick on your wall.
I'm taking a bottle of bubbly.
BRING IT ON!!!!

Oh, and the forecast says Sunny for Antalya on the 29th.

BONUS POINTS!

--


"suave harv" wrote in message
...

My problem is I still want to return with at least some images. My
only other camera is an Olympus standard SLR with a 70-210mm lens.
This camera has a manual adapter. Not really being a photographer -
could I expect to return with any decent results from this? using a
tripod and cable release? Vibration?

My old none digital SLR only has a 150mm zoom lens. But I got a few nice
shots using tripod and cable release in France 1999. I've posted this
before
but in case you missed it.
http://www.suaveharv.com/eclipse.jpg
Other pictures show bailey's beads.
It won't win any awards but it proves I was there I suppose. I'm taking it
again, along with my digitals, but I'm not taking scopes or long lenses
etc.
.
It's a worry isn't it? You think it's SUCH a fantastic Astronomical
experience that you have to go balls-out and take the best pictures. But
then you think 'will it detract from the experience?'. Well, if you're not
a
die-hard Eclipse photographer, I'd not sweat it. Get a few snaps, then
order
some posh prints from a professional to stick on your wall.
I'm taking a bottle of bubbly.
BRING IT ON!!!!

On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 14:06:59 -0000, suave harv
wrote:

I'm taking a bottle of bubbly.
BRING IT ON!!!!

Sounds like a plan :-)
Where you staying? I'm in Side at the Hemera.

--
Gareth

Random Thoughts and Interests
http://web.mac.com/gaslee/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html

Sounds like a plan :-)
Where you staying? I'm in Side at the Hemera.

Ardisa in Side. Expect I'll go to the beach to see the eclipse. I'm going on
my own, but I don't expect to feel too much like Billy No-Mates as there'll
be plenty of Astronomers there to chat to.
The 29th has the best weather overview of any day that week. Things are
looking promising!

I have just got a test film back from Boots, best results using Baader
Astro-solar film over the aperture were ...

1/250 sec with a f8 mirror lens and 200ASA Kodak colour film. Tripod and
cable release are a must if lens is 200 mm or longer.

Best regards

Peter

"Ian" wrote in message
...
Hi all.
I am getting very troubled at the moment. I have listened to the
advice in quite a few magazines, forums and indeed comments from the
group, regarding the Eclipse in Turkey next week. I my mind I just
want to go and enjoy the event as I did the last time I saw (a very
limited) Eclipse in the UK using a welders mask

I have a compact ETX scope with a screw on solar filter which I have
decided not to take, as amongst other things my digital camera has
proved un-reliable (when it really matters!) I am not planning to
upgrade my camera untill I can afford a decent DSLR.

My problem is I still want to return with at least some images. My
only other camera is an Olympus standard SLR with a 70-210mm lens.
This camera has a manual adapter. Not really being a photographer -
could I expect to return with any decent results from this? using a
tripod and cable release? Vibration?

If so, what shutter speeds/aperture setting should I use during the
stages of the eclipse? I appreciate I will need a quick release ND
filter (which number) I have not tried taking any pictures of the sun
via my BC&F filter so I am unsure. Where is the sun anyway!

Alternatively I could forget it all bar my solar specs & come back and
wait for Pete to upload his images and drool... ;-)

Ian.
Tamworth. UK.

"orrerymaker" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
I have just got a test film back from Boots, best results using Baader
Astro-solar film over the aperture were ...

1/250 sec with a f8 mirror lens and 200ASA Kodak colour film. Tripod and
cable release are a must if lens is 200 mm or longer.

Best regards

Peter

Have you had a good sky transparency during your tests? According to
Espenak's table of exposure
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEmono/TSE2006/TSE2006tab/TSE2006-tab23.html
the best timing with your system should be 1/1000 of sec.
I did some tests during a very bright and clear Saturday with Baader ND 5,
Baader ND 3.8 and Thousand Oaks Black Polymer ND 5, using a Tamron 500 mm
f/8 and 2x multiplier lens, on Fuji Sensia film 100 ISO. Best results were
1/250 for Baader ND 5, 1/125 for Black Polymer and 1/2000 for Baader ND 3.8.
Unless you were using a very old Baader ND 6.0 which was available for the
August 1999 eclipse...

As for my own attempt to record the eclipse, I would try with the above
equipment and Thousans Oaks Black Polymer shooting three images for each
time in the range from 1/60 to 1/250 and would try the sequence with a 135
mm with same Black Polymer. Ah, the site: as Salloum, Egypt.

Clear skies,
---
Beta Persei
45° 35' N
08° 51' E

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On my own too.... Wifey thinks I'm mad....
Thanks for you informative replies - Make that two bottles!

I'm at the Ardisia as well, flying from Birmingham (with Omega) -
you'll probably find me in the bar!

Hope to meet you all!


On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 15:35:10 -0000, "suave harv"
wrote:


Sounds like a plan :-)
Where you staying? I'm in Side at the Hemera.

Ardisa in Side. Expect I'll go to the beach to see the eclipse. I'm going on
my own, but I don't expect to feel too much like Billy No-Mates as there'll
be plenty of Astronomers there to chat to.
The 29th has the best weather overview of any day that week. Things are
looking promising!

"Beta Persei" wrote in message
...

"orrerymaker" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
I have just got a test film back from Boots, best results using Baader
Astro-solar film over the aperture were ...

1/250 sec with a f8 mirror lens and 200ASA Kodak colour film. Tripod and
cable release are a must if lens is 200 mm or longer.

Best regards

Peter

Have you had a good sky transparency during your tests? According to
Espenak's table of exposure
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEmono/TSE2006/TSE2006tab/TSE2006-tab23.html
the best timing with your system should be 1/1000 of sec.
I did some tests during a very bright and clear Saturday with Baader ND 5,
Baader ND 3.8 and Thousand Oaks Black Polymer ND 5, using a Tamron 500 mm
f/8 and 2x multiplier lens, on Fuji Sensia film 100 ISO. Best results were
1/250 for Baader ND 5, 1/125 for Black Polymer and 1/2000 for Baader ND
3.8.
Unless you were using a very old Baader ND 6.0 which was available for the
August 1999 eclipse...

As for my own attempt to record the eclipse, I would try with the above
equipment and Thousans Oaks Black Polymer shooting three images for each
time in the range from 1/60 to 1/250 and would try the sequence with a 135
mm with same Black Polymer. Ah, the site: as Salloum, Egypt.

Clear skies,
---
Beta Persei
45° 35' N
08° 51' E

remove "_nospam" to reply



Bought from David Hinds it just states 'Baader AstroSolar' on the pack, in
the text it states a 99.999% reduction of intensity. As cameras (and
lenses) can vary I always run a test film when using new filters. There is
quite a bit of lattitude with print film, but even so it is always safer to
bracket by 2 stops. There was light cloud, and it was 10 am this morning
(in UK) , so, as you say, probably 1/1000 in Turkey?

Best regards

Peter

"orrerymaker" ha scritto nel messaggio
...


Bought from David Hinds it just states 'Baader AstroSolar' on the pack, in
the text it states a 99.999% reduction of intensity.

According to Baader's website
http://www.baader-planetarium.com/sofifolie/sofi_start_e.htm it is a ND
5.0

As cameras (and
lenses) can vary I always run a test film when using new filters. There is
quite a bit of lattitude with print film, but even so it is always safer
to bracket by 2 stops. There was light cloud, and it was 10 am this
morning (in UK) , so, as you say, probably 1/1000 in Turkey?

Well, Espenak's table should be "location insensitive", while it should be
affected by sky transparency, fog, mist, haze, clouds other than Sun's
height in the sky. All conditions that are quite difficult to replicate
correctly...hence the need for bracketing...

All the best,

--
---
Beta Persei
45° 35' N
08° 51' E

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