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Photographing the sun is a lot of fun. You can do it in a number of ways such as Image projection, using a web cam, or using prime focusing. I will discuss the latter, prime focusing with a DSLR camera. in my case I’m using Nikon cameras but the procedure works the same for any DSLR.
First off, you need a high quality solar filter installed on your telescope prior to using any method. Without it your eyes can be injured due to the extreme concentration of the sun through the telescope.
To view the image with your DSLR, you will need an adapter so that the camera can be mounted to the eyepiece tube. With prime focusing, you will be removing the telescope eyepiece and will have the image viewed directly onto the CCD of the camera. The focus tube will need to be lowered a bit to bring it into focus.
If you don’t have a 3D printer, you can buy an adapter for your camera. This one is adjustable and can be used as Prime Focusing or Eyepiece Projection imaging.
Print The Adapter
For a Nikon camera, you will need and F-mount to telescope adapter. You can download it here.
PLA Color
Always print in black. Any other color will likely make it unusable due to light infiltration.
Mounting To The Telescope
With the solar filter installed on the telescope, you need to point your scope to the sun. If you have never done this before, it’s easy once you get the hang of it. I designed a simple solar finder that works great if you have a 1/4-20 screw mount on your telescope.
Aquire your image first with an eyepiece and get it into focus. Next, remove the eyepiece and slip in the DSLR with the adapter. Your image will be out of focus. Turn the focus knob down to bring the image into focus.
Take Your Pictures
With the camera in manual mode, set an initial shutter speed to 1/100th of a second and take a test shot. I prefer to use Live View for taking images since you can zoom into the sun for fine focusing and also have a better idea of the final image. If you don’t have it then no problem, you can still just look through the viewfinder provide the solar filter is installed as required.
To avoid a blurry image, you can either take a movie or use a remote shutter release. Taking a movie requires that you post image process. I use Lynkeos on my Mac to separate and stack the images.
For single shots, I use a remote shutter release such as this one. If your camera support infra red shutter release, then you can get one cheap. If you have neither one handy, then set the delay timer to as long as it will go then press the shutter release manually. A long delay will help settle down the telescope due to pressing the button.
Sun Images
As you can see from the images above, you can clearly see the sun spots. It’s fun to watch them and take photos daily. If your timing is right, you can see how the sun rotates just by watching the sun spots over time either manually or with time lapse photography. Sun spots are how scientists discovered that the sun does rotate.