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Kendrick Solar Filters

We are NOT accepting pickup orders at this time. We're right in the thick of it ahead of April 8 and pickup orders take away from manufacturing time. We're making them as fast as we can! After March 22, we will revist this policy.

Kendrick Solar Filters

Are you ready for the April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse? Deadline for ordering is March 22, 2024. Beware that many models will be SOLD OUT well before the order deadline.

Kendrick Solar filters featuring Baader film are famous for their exquisite sharpness and detail across the entire field of view in an eyepiece and have a very pleasing and comfortable image brightness.

IMPORTANT: We do NOT accept returns on Solar Filters! That is NOT a new policy. It is important to remind you that you need to take care to measure your equipment to choose the correct size.

This web page shows several tools (a video, a Selection Guide that shows what and how to measure - scroll down) to help you make the correct choice. Namely:
  • Our filters use a metal frame with nylon thumb screws that clamp onto the outside of a "TUBE".
  • What is the OUTSIDE DIAMETER of that tube?
  • The size of the lens is NOT the important measurement because a lens is always affixed to a TUBE that has a larger diameter. The TUBE is what the filter will clamp onto.
  • Photography Lens Owners TAKE NOTE. We do NOT make "thread-on" filters. Again, it's a metal frame that clamps onto a tube (the lens body).
  • Do NOT measure circumference, measure the DIAMETER.
  • We can only help you choose if we know the diameter that our filter frame will clamp onto.We are happy to answer questions about our products, we just can't answer questions about products made by others. There are just too many models of telescopes, binoculars, camera lenses and manufacturers don't publish what we would need to know. The good news is that you have the telescope/lens/etc.in your hand and it's easy to measure.
  • Why Kendrick?

    Kendrick Astro Instruments manufactures more models, bar far, than any other solar filter manufacturer. From the largest telescopes, to binoculars and camera lenses, we have a model to fit your application. All models use nylon thumb-screws to secure the filter to your telescope/lens. Nylon is a soft material and will not scratch not scratch or mark the finish on your telescope, binoculars or camera lens. Unlike the other brands' "friction fit" system, our fastening system allows the use of a larger frame which increases the clear aperture area for unobstructed full field of view.

    Baader film is incredibly tough and does not break or tear easily. To puncture it with a blunt object takes a lot of force, much more force that would be used in normal day to day useage.

    Unlike glass filters, Baader film does not have a perfect cosmetic surface. Wrinkles, folds, kinks, pinholes and other imperfections in this film are normal and will be present on any Baader film solar filter purchased from us. These do not affect the image quality or safety of the filter. In fact, most experienced solar observers say that "wrinkles" improves image contrast. Pinholes, even at full solar intensity, work as a camera obscura. This means that each pinhole would project its own solar image, just like eyepiece projection. Anyone expecting or requiring a perfect cosmetic filter surface should consider another manufacturer's filter.

     

    What Color is the Sun?

    The Sun is White. You do NOT want a false “tinted” image. A filter that transmits the white color is what you really want and that’s what we manufacture. Some filter buyers look for filters that “tint” the color to be yellow/orange, but if you do that, you won’t see the beautiful dark red “Earth Shine” that happens during a solar eclipse. If you really want to “tint” as a false color, you can do that in Photoshop, but a tinted filter gives you fewer options in post-processing and also reduces the image contrast. Stick with “White”.

    Best Image Contrast

    Our filters are made with Baader Film and offer the best image contrast. That’s not just our opinion! We get so many stories from our customers who report that their Kendrick Solar Filter is far superior to “glass” filters. Owners will note that our film has a bit of “wave” and that is by design. If we could find a way to “crinkle” the film, contrast would be even better. We go out of our way to avoid stretching the film “drum tight” and it makes a noticeable difference.

    Are you ready for the next Solar Eclipse?

     

    April 8 2024 Solar Eclipse

     Don’t wait until it’s too late! Astronomers in North American are already counting down the days until the next big solar eclipse event. The April 8, 2024 total eclipse, with a “path of totality” that will extend through the entire continent will test our ability to supply the demand for SOlar FIlters.

    Just like the Aug 2017 event, many of you are going to be disappointed because you waited too long to order a Solar Filter. We are gearing up for heavy demand, but with so many filter models, we can’t predict which models will sell-out early. Procrastination means lost opportunity, as well as increased prices needed to service such a high demand. Prices and shipping charges will go UP as the date looms closer! Don’t be disappointed, order NOW.

     

    Deadline for ordering is March 22, 2024. Even then, we cannot guarantee that your filter will arrive on time, or if it will even be in stock. So, don't be disappointed. ORDER NOW!!

    What is IN STOCK? All products you see as a "Add To Cart" item are available for ordering and typically ship within 2 days. The model(s) shown below are temporarily out of stock but more will be available soon:

    If your model is "temporarily OUT OF STOCK", place the order now and we will contact you when your order ships. If paying by Credit Card, your card will NOT be debited until the order ships. Beware that PayPal is immediate payment when your order is placed.

  • All models currently IN STOCK
  •  

    Who uses Kendrick Solar Filters?

    Kendrick Solar Filters are literally “out of this world”. You will find Kendrick Solar Filters all over the world and even in orbit! We’ve even made 3 trips to space onboard the International Space Station. Our filters use Baader Solar Film renowned for its excellent contrast and safety. Of course, thousands of us "terrestrial" dwellers also use Kendrick Solar Filters on our telescopes, binoculars, and camera lenses.

    2017 Eclipse

     

    Kendrick Solar Filters are perfect for visual observing AND photograpy. In fact, Kendrick filters, made with Baader Solar Film (white light) filters are the best type to use for eclipse and transit events.This photo, taken by a Kendrick employee during the 2017 Eclipse used a Kendrick Solar Filter on a Televue NP101is Refractor telescope:

     

     

    Helpfull Guides and Videos

    Kendrick Solar Filter Family

     

    NEW>> - Solar Filter Selection Guide Find the perfect fit for your telescope. Use this handy selection guide: Solar Filter Selection Guide (PDF)

    Filters will attach to the front of your telescope/binoculars/camera lens and clamp onto the outside of the optical tube assembly (OTA). There are now thousands of telescopes, binoculars, and camera lenses and we can't keep track, so we intentionally avoid stating size information with reference to specific equipment models. But it is really easy to find the right fit. Simply measure the outside diameter of your optical TUBE. NOT the size of the lens or mirror, but rather the diameter of the tube that houses your lens/mirror. If you are using a refractor telescope or camera lens, you have a choice to attach the filter to the Dew-Shield/Lens-Shade OR directly onto the body of the telescope/camera lens. SCT & Dobsonian owners take note....do you have dove-tail bars or other accessories mounted near the front of your telescope? Take those into account when chossing the right fit.

    How To Video
    This short YouTube video will show you the different styles of filters and demonstrate how to use the Solar Finder accessory https://youtu.be/psHb7kumg_0?si=5qea4FEB33KuOwUU.

     

    Visual Solar Filters with Solar Finder

    NEW! Solar Filters with built in sun finder!
    The new design has a built in sun finder making centering the sun in your eyepiece very easy. The finder target is visible from both the front and back sides of the filter making centering the sun easy from either end of the telescope.

    We have replaced the filter rims with three tabs that contain a secure threaded insert and a nylon thumb screw, making the filter much lighter without reducing the security of the fit. The main reason we made this particular change is that many telescopes have dovetails or other attachments that interfere with the proper fitting of a solar filter to the telescope. Now the filter can be placed onto the scope so that the three thumb screws always firmly attach to the body of the scope. As well, the tabs extend down far enough to allow the thumbscrews to connect beyond the bevels found on some dewcaps or the corrector plate rings and tube rings of some telescopes, ensuring a very secure connection to the telescope.

    Solar Finder with Built in Finder Solar Finder Solar Finder Front Solar Finder Back

    The filter material itself is the famous BAADER AstroSolar Film. This film has set a new standard for white light filters and gives a very pleasing and high resolution image. The image color is a bluish white. The filters are available in photographic film also. Constructed of aluminum.

    • Avoids dovetails, counterweights bars and otherdevices or objects that would prevent a standard ring stylefilter from fitting properly.
    • Has built in Solar FInder to help locate and center the sun in your eyepiece. (Actually much harder to do that many would initially assume.
    • Lighter weight design. Will not unbalance your telescope.
    • Very easy to replace the filter ring if the solar filter material gets damaged.
    • Held in place with nylon thumbscrews.

    VISUAL FILTERS (ND 5.0)

    NOTE: To ensure proper fit of the solar filter you must measure the outside diameter of the front opening of the telescope, binoculars or lens. To convert measurements in inches to metric, multiply your measurement that is in inches by 25.4. For example, a dewcap that is 6.25" outside diameter will be 159 mm (6.25 x 25.4 = 158.75mm)

    SKUDescriptionPrice 
    6001-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, 70mm aperture (Fits 70mm to 90mm tube) CAN $99.00
    6002-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, (75mm filter aperture) Fits tube ODs 80mm to 95mm CAN $106.00
    6004-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar finder, (80mm filter aperture) Fits tube ODs 90mm to 120mm CAN $107.00
    6005-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, 90mm aperture (Fits 100mm to 130mm tube) CAN $118.00
    6006-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, 100mm aperture (Fits 110mm to 140mm tube) CAN $129.00
    6007-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, (110 filter aperture) Fits tube ODs 113mm to 143mm CAN $122.00
    6008A-SF NEW> Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, 130mm Aperture (Fits 133mm to 168mm tube) CAN $132.00
    6008-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, (130mm filter aperture) Fits tube ODs 150mm to 180mm CAN $132.00
    6011-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, (155mm filter aperture) Fits tube ODs 165mm to 195mm CAN $139.00
    6013-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, (8 inch filter aperture) Fits tube ODs 220mm to 250mm CAN $189.00
    6015-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, (9.25 inch filter aperture) Fits tube ODs 245mm to 275mm CAN $237.00
    6016-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, (10 inch filter aperture) Fits tube ODs 275mm to 305mm CAN $245.00
    6018-SF Visual Solar Filter with Solar Finder, (12 inch filter aperture) Fits tube ODs 320mm to 350mm CAN $281.00

     

    Visual Solar Filters for Scopes (Classic Ring Style)

    Customers have spoken! The Classic Ring style was a big hit, but our “SF” Models are far more popular. So, we are clearing out the inventory to make room. Once they are gone, the Classic Ring style will be discontinued.

    The Classic Ring Style features solid metal collar all the way around the outside of the filter ring. Some of our customers prefer this style as they feel more secure about this type of design.

    The Classic Ring Style has a more rigid design and replaceable filter rings if the filter gets damaged. The rings are held in place with nylon thumbscrews.

    Please note that these filters cannot accommodate dovetail bars, counterweight bars or other accessories or devices that extend to the front of the telescope. If your telescope has accessories that will interfere with the fit of this particular filter, you must purchase the 6***-SF version of our filters.

    NOTE: To ensure proper fit of the solar filter you must measure the outside diameter of the front opening of the telescope, binoculars or lens. To convert inch measurements to metric, multiply your tube diameter measurement that is in inches by 25.4. This will give you the diameter in millimeters.
    SKUDescriptionPrice 
    6001 Visual Solar Filter (63mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 66mm to 76mm CAN $89.00
    6003 Visual Solar Filter (80mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 90mm to 100mm CAN $90.00
    6005 Visual Solar Filter (90mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 115mm to 125mm CAN $92.00
    6006-A Visual Solar Filter (117mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 117mm to 130mm CAN $95.00
    6007 Visual Solar Filter (114mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 130mm to 140mm CAN $97.00
    6011 Visual Solar Filter (155mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 182mm to 192mm CAN $144.00
    6011-A Visual Solar Filter (152mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 191mm to 201mm CAN $146.00
    6012-A Visual Solar Filter (177mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 214mm to 224mm CAN $161.00
    6014-A Visual Solar Filter (231mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 252mm to 262mm CAN $195.00
    6015-A Visual Solar Filter (203mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 270mm to 280mm CAN $210.00
    6015-B Visual Solar Filter (255mm filter aperture), Fits tube OD 280mm to 290mm CAN $216.00
    6016 Visual Solar Filter (253mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 288mm to 298mm CAN $223.00
    6017-A Visual Solar Filter (100mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 312mm to 322mm, Off Axis 100mm filter CAN $186.00
    6017-B Visual Solar Filter (290mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 322mm to 332mm...Full aperture CAN $232.00
    6018 Visual Solar Filter (305mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 337mm to 347mm...Full Aperture, for 12" SCTs CAN $259.00
    6018-A Visual Solar Filter (100mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 337mm to 347mm...Off Axis 100mm filter, for 12" SCTs CAN $189.00
    6021-A Visual Solar Filter (120mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 395mm to 405mm...Off Axis 120mm filter CAN $239.00

     

    Photographic Solar Filters

    Discontinued (July 2016)
    We sold very few of the Photographic Filters because a Visual Filter CAN be used for photography, but a Photographic Filter CANNOT be used for visual observing.

     

    Open Frame Style Visual Solar Filters

    Open Frame Style Filters are similar in construction to our "SF" filters, but do NOT have the built-in Sun Finder Accessory. They are perfect for short focal length (wide field) telescopes, binoculars, and camera lenses that might not be able to fit the Sun Finder feature or the wrap-around "collar" of our Classic Style Filter. Also available in "pairs" for use with binoculars.

    SKUDescriptionPrice 
    665N OPEN FRAME Visual Solar Filter (50mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 41mm to 64mm CAN $87.00
    670N OPEN FRAME Visual Solar Filter (55mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 50mm to 69mm CAN $87.00
    690N OPEN FRAME Style Solar Visual Solar Filter (70mm filter aperture). Fits tube OD’s 70mm to 90mm CAN $90.00

     

    Visual Solar Filters for Binoculars

    Visual Solar Filters for Binoculars

    Visual Solar Filters for Binoculars

    To ensure proper fit of the solar filter you must measure the outside diameter of the of the binocular barrel (not the lens diameter). To convert inch measurements to metric, multiply your diameter measurement that is in inches by 25.4. This will give you the diameter in millimeters.

    Note that any of our filters can be used for binoculars, so if the sizes below are not big enough, check the list of our single filters for the proper size and buy two.

    SKUDescriptionPrice 
    6001-PR Classic Ring Style Pair of Visual Solar Filters, (63mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 66mm to 76mm CAN $163.00
    665N-PR OPEN FRAME STYLE Pair Binocular Solar Filters (50mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 41mm to 64mm CAN $140.00
    670N-PR OPEN FRAME STYLE Pair Binocular Solar Filters (55mm filter aperture), Fits tube ODs 50mm to 69mm CAN $175.00
    690N-PR Pair of OPEN FRAM Style Visual Solar Filters for Binoculars (70mm filter aperture). Fits tube OD’s 70mm to 90mm CAN $180.00

     

    Sun Finder

    Solar Finder for DSLR Body Sun Finder Sun Finder Tape Sun Finder Mounted

    NEW MODEL - DSLR Camera Body Mount!

    SUN FINDER: For use with solar filters that don't have a built in solar finder
    Locating the Sun through an eyepiece or camera lens is harder than you think! Our Solar Finder is an aiming assistant that makes it possible to align to the sun before.

    The "6000-SUN" model is for use with telescopes and includes a double sided adhesive foam tape to mount to a solar filter ring or other surface. The NEW 6000-SUN-DSLR" model has a bracket that attaches to the "hot shoe" on your DSLR Camera body. Feedback from our field testers is that everyone loved it! This is the same finder that is built into 6000-SF line of solar filters.

     

    Helpfull Videos

    Hot Shoe Finder Demonstration

     

    This short YouTube video is a short demonstration of the DSLR Hot Shoe Solar Finder accessory https://youtu.be/4Hp2569gPi0?si=mG2_WPyNeR3KNuNt.

    SKUDescriptionPrice 
    6000-SUN Self Adhesive Sun Finder CAN $39.00
    6000-SUN-DSLR Sun Finder - DSLR "Hot Shoe" Body Mount CAN $105.00

     

    How Too Choose The Correct Size

    The most important piece of information you will need to choose a filter is the diameter (not circumference) of your telescope tube or dewcap (whatever the filter will fit over) or the diameter of your camera lens BODY (NOT the lens itself) or the diameter of the barrels on your binocular. Ultimately, this is more important than the aperture diameter shown in our shopping cart.

    When you know the diameter of the device that the filter is meant to fit over, choose the appropriate filter in the shopping cart below based on the spec that says, for example, "(Fits 245mm to 275mm tube)". DO NOT USE the filter aperture spec in our shopping cart or your lens optical diameter as a guide to purchase your filter.

    Find the perfect fit for your telescope. Use this handy selection guide: Solar Filter Selection Guide (PDF)

     

    Cleaning and Care of your Solar Filter

    When not in use, store the filter in the box it came in. Clean your filter as seldom as possible. If it is ever necessary to clean the filter, you will need things listed below:

  • An air bulb for blowing loose dust and particulate off the filter.
  • A micro fibre cloth for removing finger prints, moisture, fluids or sticky particulate. Only use a micro fibre cloth for cleaning. Never use tissues, paper towels, etc as they will scratch the coatings and only use very light pressure.
  • 99% pure isopropyl alcohol and distilled water (mixed 50/50).
  • Finger prints will etch the coating of the filter so they must be cleaned up as soon as possible. To do so, move the cloth over the affected area with small, gentle circular motions until the finger print has lifted. If necessary, a drop or two of alcohol/distilled water mix on the micro fibre cloth will help.

    Note that Baader Astro Solar Safety Film is coated on both sides so even if the coatings on one side are damaged by fingerprints or fine scratches it does not reduce the image quality of your filter or alter its safety.

    Deep scratches need to be assessed for safety by holding the filter close to your eyes and pointed at a bright light source (the Sun). If the light passing through the scratch looks noticably brighter, then do NOT use the filter. Please do NOT send us photos of your scratched filter, as we cannot assess anything from a photograph. If in doubt, do NOT use the filter!

     

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