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Shotting the venus transit using D70.

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Kalyan Varma

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I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot ? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
 
You cannot use a polar filter, you must use a proper solar filter.

Also 1cm by 1cm is a very small filter, you need a filter which will cover the full diameter of your lens.

regards,
Tarkan
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
--
A Nikon D70 Owner
 
Please don't think that it's going to be safe to look through a 300mm lens with the human eye - unless you don't mind losing the eye.

300mm is pretty powerful when talking about something with as much energy as the sun. I have also been hoping to shoot this, but using the LCD reviewing and trial and error to get the shot. However, after enquiring it seems that my polariser and ND 8x filters together will not be enough to guarentee my CCD doesn't melt, so I'm going to leave it.

It is possible to get eclipse filters specially for this, but they seem to be hard to find. Good luck :)
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
--

http://forbesweb.typepad.com/photoblog/ - D70 PhotoBlog
http://forbesweb.typepad.com/photos/nikon_d70_/
 
You can shoot safely (with care) if you can buy a 'space blanket' in your area, they are an aluminised foil blanket made for emergencies,any camping store should have one for $5-10.Make sure it'sthe very thin foil one,not the laminated heavy one. i.e. it should be a mylar film one. Make sure you use two thicknesses!

Here's previous post:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=9066785
tarkan said:
Also 1cm by 1cm is a very small filter, you need a filter which
will cover the full diameter of your lens.

regards,
Tarkan
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
--
A Nikon D70 Owner
Click to expand...
--
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and
I’m not sure about the universe — Albert Einstein
 
An ND8 cuts the visible light enough for high speed shots but you need an IR rejection filter as well. The mylar space blanket double thickness is about ND11-ND12 and cuts IR very well.
mf said:
300mm is pretty powerful when talking about something with as much
energy as the sun. I have also been hoping to shoot this, but
using the LCD reviewing and trial and error to get the shot.
However, after enquiring it seems that my polariser and ND 8x
filters together will not be enough to guarentee my CCD doesn't
melt, so I'm going to leave it.

It is possible to get eclipse filters specially for this, but they
seem to be hard to find. Good luck :)
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
--

http://forbesweb.typepad.com/photoblog/ - D70 PhotoBlog
http://forbesweb.typepad.com/photos/nikon_d70_/
Click to expand...
--
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and
I’m not sure about the universe — Albert Einstein
 
I am no way looking at it directly though a lens.. its only for my camera.. looks like I will have to skip the shoot.. don't want to push my luck
  • kalyan
mf said:
300mm is pretty powerful when talking about something with as much
energy as the sun. I have also been hoping to shoot this, but
using the LCD reviewing and trial and error to get the shot.
However, after enquiring it seems that my polariser and ND 8x
filters together will not be enough to guarentee my CCD doesn't
melt, so I'm going to leave it.

It is possible to get eclipse filters specially for this, but they
seem to be hard to find. Good luck :)
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
--

http://forbesweb.typepad.com/photoblog/ - D70 PhotoBlog
http://forbesweb.typepad.com/photos/nikon_d70_/
Click to expand...
 
Re-read my post, if you use the double mylar film, its quite safe to shoot with your camera. Just don't let it slip off! BTW its also safe to try and see the transit directly by looking with the double thickness mylar film.
Kalyan Varma said:
  • kalyan
mf said:
300mm is pretty powerful when talking about something with as much
energy as the sun. I have also been hoping to shoot this, but
using the LCD reviewing and trial and error to get the shot.
However, after enquiring it seems that my polariser and ND 8x
filters together will not be enough to guarentee my CCD doesn't
melt, so I'm going to leave it.

It is possible to get eclipse filters specially for this, but they
seem to be hard to find. Good luck :)
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
--

http://forbesweb.typepad.com/photoblog/ - D70 PhotoBlog
http://forbesweb.typepad.com/photos/nikon_d70_/
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and
I’m not sure about the universe — Albert Einstein
 
We are dealing with someone's eyesight here, never use anything which has not been approved for viewing the sun !!

It does not take much for it to go wrong, and there is no going back if it does go wrong.

Tarkan
KiwiD70 said:
Here's previous post:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=9066785
tarkan said:
Also 1cm by 1cm is a very small filter, you need a filter which
will cover the full diameter of your lens.

regards,
Tarkan
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
--
A Nikon D70 Owner
Click to expand...
--
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and
I’m not sure about the universe — Albert Einstein
Click to expand...
--
A Nikon D70 Owner
 
DON'T DO IT!! Do you value your eyes and camera? The sun can ruin your eyes and you will no even know it. In a pinch, use the proper welders glass. Polarizers will no handle the intensity of the Sun. And to get good size, you should use at least a 1.4x teleconverter at 300mm IMO.

http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/eclipse/safety.html#anchor137373

http://www.barrie-tao.com/astro_photo.html

Ciao....Barry
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
 
Surprised to see how well a good quality blank CD rates. Don't think I'll try it, though. Maybe with two, but then I don't think that I'll see anything.
Barry Carter said:
http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/eclipse/safety.html#anchor137373

http://www.barrie-tao.com/astro_photo.html

Ciao....Barry
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
--
Click to expand...
 
I wouldn't have suggested it unless it was 'safe'! Of course nothing is totally safe,walking around outside you can be struck by lightening, don't fly on planes cos they may crash et,etc. Using two thicknesses of 'space blanket' is perfectly safe when done carefully, in fact it's safer than using a properly designed glass solr filter,as glass can crack.
tarkan said:
It does not take much for it to go wrong, and there is no going
back if it does go wrong.

Tarkan
KiwiD70 said:
Here's previous post:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=9066785
tarkan said:
Also 1cm by 1cm is a very small filter, you need a filter which
will cover the full diameter of your lens.

regards,
Tarkan
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
--
A Nikon D70 Owner
Click to expand...
--
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and
I’m not sure about the universe — Albert Einstein
Click to expand...
--
A Nikon D70 Owner
Click to expand...
--
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and
I’m not sure about the universe — Albert Einstein
 
CD's are NOT recommended,they are very variable and the definition through them is really lousy. If you want a 'nice' cheap filter,with a bit of messing around you can take a old UV filter,disassemble it and cut two circles of space blanket material to fit the filter,put them and the glass UV filter circle bac kinto the filter mount.The glass only goes back in to protect from knocking the sapce blanket material out.

BTW It's not just for transits, it's quite interesting and informative to shoot the sun on occassion to check out the sunspots.
Tailz said:
Barry Carter said:
http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/eclipse/safety.html#anchor137373

http://www.barrie-tao.com/astro_photo.html

Ciao....Barry
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
--
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and
I’m not sure about the universe — Albert Einstein
 
I have mounted a Mylar solar film over the solar cap of the lens. This film is the same for use within photographing the sun through telescopes.
You can buy it as A4 sheets or bigger and costs about 20 $ for one A4 sheet.
Just ensure that the film can't fall off or that it does not have any holes!!

Mattias
Kalyan Varma said:
I want to shoot the venus transit using my 70-300mm G lens with
D70. I do not have access to a camera filter from where I live.

I do have a polar filter which can be used to see directly. Its a
small 1x1 sq cm sheet. Will I be able to use that to take the shot
? I presume it will be safe for the ccd considering its safe for
the human eye.

thanks,
  • Kalyan
Click to expand...
 
Will work OK, as long as you tape a piece of card around it to make SURE that no sunlight can enter the lens. ie. cut a piece of card into a 4 inch circle with a 1 inch hole in the middle,tape the glasses over the hole. Metering won't necesasarily be accurate as you've just built a stop for your lens, but just try some test shots.
arfee said:
What about stuff like this ?

http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/eclipse/soleclipse.html

Its cheap and I can hold one in front of my camera as well. I will
be careful not to let the sun shine directly at any given time.
Click to expand...
--
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and
I’m not sure about the universe — Albert Einstein
 
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