Baader Cool Ceramic Wedge has arrived! :)

[iwatkins]

Nothing to see here but my photo version of the wedge arrived from TS in Germany this morning. Excellent kit in a snazzy flight case. To say I'm happy with the kit and with the great service I've had from TS would be an understatement

I also ordered a low profile 2" to T ring to mount the DSLR on after removing the 2" EP adaptor. I also got an excellent little adaptor that is T ring one side and C mount the other with a built in (but removable) IR filter for whenever my DMK41 mono arrives.

So I am sorted for visual and for imaging both with my DSLR and DMK.

I'm still awaiting the arrival of the 6" f/8 refractor, early next week hopefully, but for now I had a quick setup with my 80ED. Very showery here today, so dodging them. Setup the 80ED and my PST on the SkyTee2 and had a look.

I've looked through this wedge before on a cheaper refractor about a month ago, and was impressed hence the purchase. On my 80ED with an 8mm Baader Hyperion, I'm blown away. This setup shows the full disk. The image is so sharp I cannot believe it. And green (with the BSC filter fitted). Cannot wait to start imaging.

Quick look through the PST and then the heavens opened.

Hopefully these shower bands will move a little further east this afternoon and I can sit down and have a proper viewing and try a few DSLR shots.

I've used Baader solar film for years, but this is a different ball game altogether. Very happy.

Cheers

Ian

[Montana]

Excellent news, I'm really looking forward to some lovely pictures from you. The sun is unfortunately blank at the moment though, I think it knew you were getting a new wedge!

I'd like to see some pictures of the metal print too, sounds weird.

Alexandra

[Dennis Put]

That's great!! I'm curious to images!

[Cschur]

Youll really like your wedge once you get used to it. I did a comparison with the same scope minutes apart with mine vs the astro solar film on my 80mm, and while the optical quality of the film is better than 1/4 wave and produces sharp images, the contrast is far less than the wedge. My rough guess is that the wedge was 3x the contrast both for imaging and visual on solar features.

[Merlin66]

I agree with Chris...even with the DIY Herschel wedge the image was much improved.
The Baader Solar film is good and safe..but the Herschel wedge is even better!!

[iwatkins]

I would agree Chris & Ken. X2 - X3 improvement in contrast for sure.

I managed another 20 minutes this afternoon and compared to solar film, needless to say I doubt I'll use the film again

80ED is 600mm FL, but even so I got, I think, the occasional smattering of granulation. Atmosphere was churning today so would say seeing was 2/5 at best.

Looking forward to when the big frac arrives.

By the time I decided to get the DSLR out I could start to hear the thunder to the north west and just packed up by the time the hailstones started to fall. Oh well, there is always tomorrow

So images will have to wait Alexandra & Dennis.

Cheers

Ian

[florencior]

Congratulations, looking forward to enjoying images take with that great setup.

[marktownley]

New toys are always fun! We want pictures!

[astroshot]

I have one too.
Its good.

[solarchat]

The wedge is probably the absolute best bang for the buck investment in solar astronomy.