Herschel Wedges

Use this section to discuss "standard" Baader/Coronado/ Lunt SolarView/ Daystar, etc… filters, cameras and scopes. No mods, just questions/ answers and reviews.
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ffellah
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Herschel Wedges

Post by ffellah »

Hello all: I am contemplating buying a Herschel Wedge for my 152mm refractor. I am looking for feedback/experiences with various types of wedges, and particularly the more reasonably priced Meade and Lunt 2" models ($300 range here in the US). i am not sure I am prepared at this point to shell out the $600 to $750 for the Baader models. Also appreciate knowing the configuration of the systems used (barlows, powermates, camera used). This is for granulation images.

Thank you in advance for your input.

Franco


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Re: Herschel Wedges

Post by rsfoto »

ffellah wrote: Fri Dec 27, 2019 4:55 pm Hello all: I am contemplating buying a Herschel Wedge for my 152mm refractor. I am looking for feedback/experiences with various types of wedges, and particularly the more reasonably priced Meade and Lunt 2" models ($300 range here in the US). i am not sure I am prepared at this point to shell out the $600 to $750 for the Baader models. Also appreciate knowing the configuration of the systems used (barlows, powermates, camera used). This is for granulation images.

Thank you in advance for your input.

Franco
Hi Franco,

I once had one Lunt 2" but sold it at is was redundant. You need some ND filters and a continuum filter ( green filter ) to enhance contrast.

Check what is included in the Lunt package. So far It has only a ND3 installed grey filter, no Continuum filter ...

Baader has a P version = Photographic and a V version = Visual ... and the photographic version has included a set of green filter and 3 ND filters ...

Baader looks interesting. Honestly I do not know why the Badder are so expensive ? Made in Germany does not justify that price ... ?

Perhaps others have more information about why Baader Herschel wedge instead of Lunt Herschel wedge ¿?

The back part gets a bit warm but that is all. The backfocus distance is the same as if you use a 2" diagonal.


regards Rainer

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Re: Herschel Wedges

Post by Montana »

I have the Baader photographic version. It is absolutely superb and comes with many different combinations of filters to you can mix and match to suit your camera and powermate. All the filters and continuum filters come in the set. This is probably the added expense, it also comes in a lovely carry case too.

A long time ago the Lunt had a fixed ND5 filter so it wasn't easy to use for photographic but as usual I think Mark T managed to break it open and swap the ND filter. I am not sure if this has changed now or not.

Alexandra


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Re: Herschel Wedges

Post by ffellah »

Thank you Rainer, Marcus and Alexandra for your input.

Franco


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Re: Herschel Wedges

Post by Rusted »

I have the Lacerta 2" with the odd Brewster angle.
It appears to be optically fine and the heat sink remains cool in my 7" f/12.

It has a rotatable top stage which allows very easy dimming using a single polariser.
It has a built in ND and I added a 1.25" Baader Solar Continuum.
The third filter actually exceeds the stack capacity of the standard 1.25" eyepiece holder.
Requiring some care on insertion of accessories. The Lacerta is heavy and robust when carrying binoviewers.

The 67°exit angle, rather than the more normal 90 may be at a disadvantage in some situations.
Particularly if you live in the Southern Latitudes and want to use it visually at high noon with binoviewers.
Though it is fine at all other times of morning and evening, almost everywhere, when the "seeing" may be better.

However, if you want to use a camera with the Lacerta prism.
Then it won't complain of an aching neck from staring predominantly upwards, around lunch time, in high summer. ;)

P1370278 rsz.JPG
P1370278 rsz.JPG (195.14 KiB) Viewed 5250 times


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Re: Herschel Wedges

Post by ffellah »

Hello Rusted: thank you very much for your input. After reading your post I looked around the web and the Lacerta seems to be a very interesting and intriguing design. It also seems like a number of members of this forum use it very successfully. I will do more homework on this but certainly seems worth of consideration. Thanks again !

Franco


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Re: Herschel Wedges

Post by Carbon60 »

Hi Franco,

I’ve responded to your PM.

Stu.


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Re: Herschel Wedges

Post by Carbon60 »

Hi Franco,

My PM seems to have gone adrift somewhere in hyperspace.

Basically, yes, I can recommend the Lacerta. I added a continuum filter, removed the supplied ND filter and use one or two polarisers to adjust the brightness to max out the shutter speed at a few microseconds to steady the effects of poor seeing.

Hope this helps.

Stu.


H-alpha, WL and Ca II K imaging kit for various image scales.
Fluxgate Magnetometers (1s and 150s Cadence).
Radio meteor detector.
More images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/solarcarbon60/
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Re: Herschel Wedges

Post by ffellah »

Very helpful, Stu, thank you !

Franco


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Re: Herschel Wedges

Post by rsfoto »



regards Rainer

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Re: Herschel Wedges

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Franco,

I am considering getting a Lunt wedge myself.

James


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
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