I meant to include a link to making your own solar filter for photography. I've seen tutorials that call for using CDs or floppy disk material, but I will not recommend those (without some further research). What you want to use is Baader AstroSolar material. Here are some links: http://www.baader-planetarium.de/com/pdf/construct_binocular.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiDheBRZrg0 http://astrosolar.com/en/information/how-to/how-to-make-your-own-objective-solar-filter-for-your-camera-or-telescope/
Darren Addy Kearney, Nebraska On Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 10:59 PM, Ken Waller <[email protected]> wrote: >> That's important because lens choice determines the diameter of the >> filters I'm going to have to buy. I don't want to be fumbling around >> changing lenses when the time comes and I only have three really good, >> sturdy tripods. > > > You could buy the largest filter for the lenses you have and buy stepdown > rings to fit that filter to your other lenses. > > Kenneth Waller > http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/kennethwaller > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Sessoms" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: August Solar Eclipse > > >> I've been thinking about this for a couple of years now. I already had >> the NASA sites bookmarked. >> >> I looked at the Nikon & MrEclipse sites Igor suggested, but neither of >> them answer my question about what *focal length* will give me the best >> results, which in turn determines which lens I'm going to want to use. >> >> That's important because lens choice determines the diameter of the >> filters I'm going to have to buy. I don't want to be fumbling around >> changing lenses when the time comes and I only have three really good, >> sturdy tripods. >> >> Right now I'm thinking the K1 + 300 f/2.8 on the sturdiest; K20D + >> 80-200 f/2.8 on the second sturdiest; K10D + ??? on the third and the K3 >> + ??? handheld for the moon's shadow sweeping towards me. But I don't >> KNOW if those are the best choices ... and that's the point of starting >> a discussion now. >> >> Darren's point about terrain is a good one. >> >> My first choice for a viewing point is Beech Gap on the Cherohala Skyway >> at the North Carolina/Tennessee state line between Robbinsville & >> Tellico Plains. That's close to the crest (couple hundred feet either >> way) and it's dead center in the Path of the Totality. >> >> 35.343889, -84.032817 (put those numbers in to Google Maps search) >> >> But I'm still looking at long range weather predictions, because I don't >> want to get there only to find overcast skies. >> >> That happened the last time a good eclipse came that was within my range >> of travel ... 30 May 1984 0.9980 Annular eclipse that the path crossed >> U.S. 17 within 20 miles or so of where I was at Camp A.P. Hill, Virginia. >> >> It was pouring down rain in Virginia that day. >> >> I understand Greensboro, NC got a good look; clouds broke open for a few >> minutes right as the eclipse reached its maximum. >> >> This time I have a much greater range & no real constraint on how far I >> can drive if I have to in order to reach clear skies. >> >> >> On 4/6/2017 12:53, Darren Addy wrote: >>> >>> I don't have any previous experience photographing a solar ECLIPSE, >>> but I'm about to get into serious planning mode for the upcoming one >>> in August. The center line (maximum time in totality) literally >>> crosses 1 mile north of my workplace. I plan on taking the day off and >>> being somewhere with more interesting terrain, however, even if it >>> means giving up some time in totality. >>> >>> The reason why I am interested in the terrain is that I am not just >>> interested in photographing the sun itself, but also the moon's shadow >>> as it races over the earth and then envelops my location. If I can >>> pull it off, I'd like to photograph this with several different >>> cameras.I will have my longest focal length on my Vixen Polarie, >>> probably taking time-lapse shots of the sun through a solar filter. >>> >>> I'd suggest making a solar filter and trying to take some solar photos >>> now, prior to the eclipse (there are some good sunspots to try to nail >>> your focus on, right now). >>> >>> Darren Addy >>> Kearney, Nebraska >>> >>> On Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 7:44 AM, Igor PDML-StR <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> John, >>>> >>>> First of all, thank you for bringing attention to this event. >>>> Even though we will get only a partial one, it is a great experience for >>>> the >>>> kids. I just marked the calendar. >>>> >>>> I would assume you want to use a long telephoto lens (for the moon). >>>> >>>> But if you google for e.g. "photographing solar eclipse", you will find >>>> plenty of pages discussing this in great detail. >>>> Nikon-USA did a good job, I think: >>>> >>>> http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/how-to-photograph-a-solar-eclipse.html >>>> including the link to the exposure guide at the end: >>>> http://www.mreclipse.com/SEphoto/image/SE-Exposure1w.GIF >>>> >>>> There are other pages with various degree of hype and large red letters >>>> in >>>> your face for emphasis. >>>> >>>> I would point out one very useful resource for figuring out the time of >>>> the >>>> different stages of the event: >>>> >>>> https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2017Aug21Tgoogle.html >>>> If you click on the map and make a marker for where you live, - it will >>>> show >>>> you information for the eclipse for your place. Don't get it mixed up: >>>> the >>>> time is in UTC, so you'd have to subtract the difference according to >>>> your >>>> time zone. >>>> >>>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> >>>> Igor >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Apr 5, 2017, at 11:04 PM, John Sessoms wrote: >>>> >>>>> The Great Solar Eclipse is coming to the U.S. in August. Does anyone on >>>>> the list have prior experience photographing eclipses? >>>>> >>>>> I'm planning to use my K-1 & K-3, but I'm wondering which lenses would >>>>> be my best choices? >>>>> >>>>> The pool of lenses I can choose from (full frame): >>>>> D FA 15-30 f/2.8 >>>>> Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 >>>>> FA 77 f/1.8 Ltd >>>>> SMCP-A 100 f/2.8 Macro >>>>> Tokina ATX Pro 80-200 f/2.8 >>>>> Sigma 300 f/2.8 >>>>> >>>>> Additionally, I have the SMC Pentax-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL & >>>>> SMC Pentax-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR APS-C kit lenses. >>>>> >>>>> I need to figure it out now so I can go ahead and order the appropriate >>>>> solar filters for whatever lenses I'm going to use. >>>>> >>>>> I have a viewing spot south of Great Smokey Mountains National Park >>>>> picked out, but I'll be looking for other options as the date draws >>>>> nearer based on weather forecasts. If anyone knows long term weather >>>>> trends & where I will find the highest probability of clear skies, >>>>> chime >>>>> in as well. > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and > follow the directions. -- “The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness ” ― Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Earth from Above -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
