My first ever solar image

[kerrylewis]

..or any astro image for that matter.

Tried my Olympus DSLR with the WO refractor and white light filter.

Difficult to achieve spot on focus but this is the best effort 

Any tips for improving the focus? 

[nightfisher]

good for a first go, be happy with it, re focus it can be tricky looking at back of camera with sun shining on you, so i tend to put a fleece over my head/camera to black out the image

[Stu]

Very nice Kerry. My smart phone efforts struggle to get sharp focus. Looking good though

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bizibilder]

A very good first attempt.  Just to be picky (hope you don't mind  )  try lowering the exposure and taking a few trial shots (or use live view if you have it).  It is much easier to set focus on a dim image than a bright one.  Secondly if you take a few "subs" you can stack them using Registax and this will lead to a much improved final image.  There is a tutorial here:  http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/153712-simple-white-light-solar-imaging/  (modesty forbids me from giving the name of the author    !!)  Hopefully it will explain enough to get you started on the "light side" of astro-photography.

[kerrylewis]

Thanks all

Slightly better version. I'll try the techniques suggested by Roger and others next  

[Pete Presland]

welcome to the " imaging club" and well done in your 1st image!

[kerrylewis]

A very good first attempt.  Just to be picky (hope you don't mind  )  try lowering the exposure and taking a few trial shots (or use live view if you have it).  It is much easier to set focus on a dim image than a bright one.  Secondly if you take a few "subs" you can stack them using Registax and this will lead to a much improved final image.  There is a tutorial here:  http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/153712-simple-white-light-solar-imaging/  (modesty forbids me from giving the name of the author    !!)  Hopefully it will explain enough to get you started on the "light side" of astro-photography.

I've read the tutorial Roger and it's excellent. The only problem is that I cannot get my Mac Powerbook to connect to my camera for direct control. It seems that Olympus don't support the software anymore but it should still work. I seem to be making things difficult for myself in using Olympus (and a Mac)  - may have to give up and use a Canon like everyone else! But not a PC.......

[David Smith]

Nice shot. Single shot afocal is always tricky.

[Luke]

Well done on your first astro image, Kerry!

[sooot]

Oh dear you have dipped your toe into the dark art. Good first image

[Space Cowboy]

Nice start!