Solar Filters

[reefman8471]

I am interested in purchasing a solar filter for my new scope and was wondering what some of your thoughts were on the filters that are out there before I purchase one.

James

[jflowers]

Baader Solar Film is how I made ours, very good and cheap. It comes with instructions to make a cheap filter cell as well as instructions on the website

[Merlin66]

James,

You don't say which telescope you have?

I'd give a second vote to the Baader Solar film.

[StuW]

Baader for me aswell.

[Bizibilder]

Another vote for Baader film - and a homemade holder. Baader have a website with full instructions as to how to make one.

[RikM]

I use Baader Astrosolar film as well.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I just got Baader solar film for the kids' mini-Dob. I use a Thousand Oaks glass filter on my C8, but when I bought that, there were still some questions over the type of film I could get then. Now I would go for Baader film for the C8 as well.

[reefman8471]

The solar film idea sounds good to me but the telescope that I have is a Meade 5 inch reflector with a focal length of 1020mm.

James

[jflowers]

The film comes as an A4 sheet, so will easily do a 5" apperture

[ggreene1]

I just bought some Baader film. Have yet to build my holder. The reading I did about various film and the fact that Baader is coated on both sides sold me. The chances of having a pin hole on both side seems to me like it would be rather remote.

[Nurse Roberts]

will the baader A4 film be big enough for an 8" scope?

[jflowers]

will the baader A4 film be big enough for an 8" scope?

Not quite big enough for a full aperture filter no, but you can make an off axis one like this one here or the 4th diagram here on Baaders site. The advantage of this is that you have some film left for your finder and other scopes if you have any

[Nurse Roberts]

Is there and compromise by using an off axis as opposed to a full aperture filter?

[Merlin66]

No, not really.

The average seeing conditions in the UK, mean that a 100mm aperture works as good as anything else.