Venus Transit

JSArmour

JSArmour

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James
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Ok so i would really like to photograph Venus transiting the Sun at the start of June, but what i dont know is what kind of set up to use. and how to get the required filters. i have a very low budget so i would really love it if there was a way i could make them myself.

I will be viewing it from the Northern Ireland so it will be very early (5-6am), and thus the Sun will be very close to the horizon.

any help or ideas?

P.S. my equipment is on my profile i think, if not just ask
 
I'm not sure if this helps any, but I think you may need specialist equipment, If I was you I would look for an astronomical photography site / forum and they will give a a better insite to your project.
Or you can wait to see if anyone else has more of an idea, but usually people only tend to take shots of the moon
 
the moon is a common subject for me also, but i thought i would try something different. As i used to be the leader of an anstronomy society at my school i thought this would be cool
 
tbh I haven't a clue but going by your gear, maybe at 600mm ( 300 with tele) you will be able to get a shot of the sun with Venus passing across..........heavy crop in pp may give a you a half reasonable shot....better than nothing i guess unless you can borrow some more appropriate kit.

As for filters, maybe an ND filter to reduce the suns glare??

Something to watch though is our eyes.....when viewing, perhaps best to wear some eye protection (sunglasses)??

I really am stabbing in the dark for ideas for you as it's not an area i'm knowledgable in!

best of luck anyway...would like to see whatever result you come out with!
 
You don't really want to be using nd filters try googling Baader Solar film
 
Splog said:
Baader Solar film
Click to expand...

Looks like the proper stuff for the job!

I'm sure I read somewhere that shooting directly into the sun can cause damage to the sensor of a dslr???

Presumably with a suitable filter in place all will be ok??

As I said before, not an area i know much about!
 
i have done sunset shots before, andc they are ok but it was in winter when the sun is weaker. i'll post a few shots in a moment. and of course i will share if i get anything in june
 
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sunsetsnow2.jpg


sunsetsnow.jpg


and a moon that i took last month

IMG_5386.jpg


i did it from photobucket because i dont like the image uploader on this site :p
 
what focal length did you use for the sun shots?
 
75mm at f/6.3 and 1/200s
 
obviously i want detail in the june sun shots and will be using the 300mm x2 at about 1/250s
 
JSArmour said:
75mm at f/6.3 and 1/200s
Click to expand...

Perhaps zoomed in using the tele ( remember you will lose approx one stop with this on!) to fill the frame F/11 ISO 200 Shutter 1/200 set on a tripod......as you can't afford a filter then perhaps try without but as i mentioned, i don't know if you risk sensor damage from the intense light from the sun.....perhaps worth googling it?
 
lol yeah... i'll be using a trypod. basicly the same setup as with the moon but slightly faster... it was 540mm, iso-800, 1/80s, f/11 (according to the properties on my computer; i cant remember if that is exactly correct) i also done some PP to remove glare and the hazy halo i managed to get in the RAW
 
im scared to risk my sensor... a low budget for filters also means not being able to replace or repare my camera
 
JSArmour said:
im scared to risk my sensor... a low budget for filters also means not being able to replace or repare my camera
Click to expand...

Cameras can be repaired..... Eyes can't!
 
JSArmour said:
im scared to risk my sensor... a low budget for filters also means not being able to replace or repare my camera
Click to expand...

I've just done a very quick google and found the responses to be mixed regards shooting into the sun ......It seems most folk believe the sensor will be fine if it's not a long exposure shot and/or not full midday sun......I suppose that the sun being low in the sky early morning then maybe it won't be problem ( or at least no more of an issue than taking siunrise/set shots).....i would get more info between now and the event just to be sure....I don't know wether a telephoto amplifies the intensity of the sun on the sensor....

You will probably receive more help from other users later this evening and throughout the coming days....
 
Splog said:
Cameras can be repaired..... Eyes can't!
Click to expand...

i dont plan on using my eyes... i was going to use the LCD to view it... but now that u mention it that would be silly without a proper filter as the sensor will be open to the sun for longer :confused:

i will be scouring the internet all month about this and hopefully i can get a good image at the end of it all. thanks all who have posted and to all those who are going to post after this :D
 
JSArmour said:
indeed it is... you want to buy it to me? :p when i said my budget was low i meant almost non existant :(
Click to expand...

If you think £22 is a lot, it is a good job you were not considering a Hydrogen Alpha filter, for those lovely orange coloured images of the sun LINK
 
Don't know if you have seen this link, but if not then it is quite useful. As you'll see from the British Isles the transit is well under way before the sun rises.

http://astro.ukho.gov.uk/nao/transit/V_2012/index.html

Another thought -

This is clearly your call and at your own risk.

I bought some welding glass as a cheap try at a big stopper. I found that it so dark that I could hold it at arms length and view the midday sun (not in June but also not midwinter either) with the naked eye.

Don't know what the difference would be by using it as a filter on your camera or whether it would be is safe, but it stops a hell of a lot of light and only costs about £2.

You'd need to adjust the white balance or you'll get a magenta sun.

Just a thought.

Dave
 
sounds great guys
 
I put together instructions for making a proper filter here - LINK.

Do not be tempted to use ND filters. While they do a good job of blocking vivible light they will let through a lot of IR. And that's the stuff that's going to do a great job of burning your eyes and/or your sensor.
 
hollis_f said:
I put together instructions for making a proper filter here - LINK.

Do not be tempted to use ND filters. While they do a good job of blocking vivible light they will let through a lot of IR. And that's the stuff that's going to do a great job of burning your eyes and/or your sensor.
Click to expand...

i have found uv filters on ebay for £1.99 each. i think i will be able to afford that and the filter film. i asume your instructions work for 58mm diameter lenses. very good link thanks
 
JSArmour said:
i have found uv filters on ebay for £1.99 each. i think i will be able to afford that and the filter film. i asume your instructions work for 58mm diameter lenses. very good link thanks
Click to expand...

You won't need a UV filter with the baader film...
 
hollis_f said:
The UV filters are used to make a safe holder for the Baader film.
Click to expand...


Ah! Okay, my apologies...... I just used a tin lid and velcro ;)
 
The transit is viewable from here from Dawn (4am!) till 06.30; am I correct in thinking that:

a) shooting at the sun with a 300mm lens will be a waste of time
and
b) I'll be risking sensor IR damage with my 18-55mm with a welding glass filter on?
 
My cunning plan involved using my 720 nm IR filter and liveview... from what else has been written it's a bad idea!
 
Darthchaffinch said:
The transit is viewable from here from Dawn (4am!) till 06.30; am I correct in thinking that:

a) shooting at the sun with a 300mm lens will be a waste of time
and
b) I'll be risking sensor IR damage with my 18-55mm with a welding glass filter on?
Click to expand...


Not useless with the 300mm. though it will be tiny, very dangerous to you and your camera using welding glass, you need a proper solar filter to avoid damage to your eyes and your camera.
 
From what I am seeing if shooting from most of the uk its going to be a waste of time anyway due to cloud but I am going to head to my chosen location anyway and see what happens.

I had a play yesterday after making me filter from a sheet of baader solar film, you can see nothing through it untill you point it at a light source even a 100w lightbulb is very faint through it but point it at the sun and you can see that easily.

Shot on a 300mm and 1D, not that much of a crop either.
540391_10150866946618387_1029942189_n.jpg


I was pretty impressed really, I didn't expect to see sun spots or anything but I wasnt sure what to expect, and yes the lens/sensor etc are clean I moved the sun arround the frame and the spots were all in the same places.
 
Little John said:
From what I am seeing if shooting from most of the uk its going to be a waste of time anyway due to cloud but I am going to head to my chosen location anyway and see what happens.

I had a play yesterday after making me filter from a sheet of baader solar film, you can see nothing through it untill you point it at a light source even a 100w lightbulb is very faint through it but point it at the sun and you can see that easily.

Shot on a 300mm and 1D, not that much of a crop either.

I was pretty impressed really, I didn't expect to see sun spots or anything but I wasnt sure what to expect, and yes the lens/sensor etc are clean I moved the sun arround the frame and the spots were all in the same places.
Click to expand...

That's pretty good.... (y)
 
So did anyone get some images?

Sadly i'm stuck offshore working so with a bit of luck, my dad and uncle would have taken the telescope out and captured some great pictures.
 
I sat on Ditchling Beacon with another 2 dozen people to watch the clouds. Drove home in brilliant sunshine.
 
I went to Mam tor and sat and looked at clouds for an hour waiting and saw plenty of clouds as I was in them as well. knackered after walking up the "mountain" that was more like a hill carrying tripod 1d with 300mm and a 2x and the 500d with the 70-200 2.8 to weigh the tripod down a little.

I would have been gutted if I hadn't gone and people were posting images but I went and tried and had a mcdonalds breakfast on the way home back to bed for an hour before getting up for work again.
 
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