Pictures - Solar

Camera of choice by far is the Leica Digilux. In conjuction with the splendid Baader Astro Solar Film in a home made cell, I enjoy spectacular views, and pictures of the solar surface.
I normally use a 20mm Celestron Erfle eyepiece, and the camera with the zoom at it's most tele setting. Solar Pictures Update In late October 2003 the sun flared up, and a particularly good showing of several sunspot groups was observed. Also several locations were treated to spectacular aurora displays, myself included.
I was fortunate to hear of this latest showing early enough, and also able to shoot the sun every day for over a week, with the exception of one day where rain precluded this.
I initially started with the Zeiss AS63/840, but after a couple of days switched to the Zeiss ED80/840. While not greatly different, I felt that the slightly larger aperture may be beneficial for the higher magnification views.
Full disk shots were captured using an old Celestron 20mm Erfle (a favourite through trial and error), and the in-built lens on the Leica Digilux 4.3.
For the individual sunspot shots I used either a Zeiss ortho O-12.5mm or O-8mm eyepiece, and the in-built camera lens zoomed to it's maximum telephoto setting. In all cases the initial resolution was set to 2400x1800 pixels. Processing was carried out in PhotoShop. The image below may be to large for your screen resloution. To view the image at 100% just rollover it and wait till a button comes up in the buttom right corner, click on it, alturnatly the cusor may change to a magifacition symbol.

Sun Spot Timeline