nebula filters

[asimov]

Sorry if this has been discussed before in here, but I have very dark skies where I live, just wondering if a nebula filter would be of any benefit to me?

Thanks.

[atalas]

Hi John, yes mate It will still make a huge difference on nebs !

Louie :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

Unlike a Moon filter which kills everything except the Moon.

I should know! I accidently leave mine in after Mooning on a regular basis and keep wondering why I can't see anything LOL!!

[dhumpie]

Hi John,

They make a big difference in the intricate detail you can see, both from the suburbs and from dark sky sites. I would recommend bypassing SkyGlow and broadband nebular filters (i.e. Orion SkyGlow and Lumicon Deep Sky filter) as they are more useful for photography from the burbs and are of limited use for visual astronomy. For general visual use the UHC filters (i.e. Lumicon UHC, Orion Ultrablock, Astronomiks UHC) are the best. For specific uses (i.e. planetary nebula's and supernova remnants) the OIII filters are the best. For a more indepth read see:
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=63&pr=2x9x42

Hope that helps.

Darren

[asimov]

Yes guys, that helps.. Thanks for your quick replys!

[dhumpie]

Hey John,

If you are thinking of getting UHC or OIII filters, the current recommendation is for Astronomiks filters. Ask John Bambury and he will give you the details :)

Darren

[ballaratdragons]

I am going to try those yellow night driving glasses as someone in our society said it brightens some objects. Interesting!

Darren, your location in the upper right of your posts say 'Brisbane'. I thought you moved to Hong Kong.

[asimov]

TY Darren.

[dhumpie]

I think you got me mixed up with someone else :) I'm from Malaysia.....

Darren

[asimov]

SHoooWeee! Those filters are DEAR! How bout a Baader? their a lot cheaper....?

[ballaratdragons]

Sorry Darren, I must have.

John, Andrews sells fairly cheap filters but I don't know the quality.

Here is a great site about which filters to use though

http://sciastro.net/portia/advice/filters.htm

[asimov]

AOE seems to be the cheapest by the looks......but they only sell Baader, anyone know of the quality of these? :confuse3:

[RAJAH235]

Are you looking at the 1 1/4" ?? They're cheap at around $190.00. Oh, if you have 2" E/Pcs.,they're around $500.00 & beyond!!!
If you have dark skies then you'll find the UHC & the OIII best. :D L.
ps. Check Astronomik & Lumicon @ Bintel for quality filters.

[asimov]

Thanks for the link Ken. Very informative.
L $119 at AOE for the baader 1.25" UHC

[RAJAH235]

That's a good price for a UHC. What's the quality like? Anyone. :D L.

[asimov]

I'll have to go in search of some comparison reviews I think. I've been caught out a few times now by purchasing second-rate accessories. :computer:

[RAJAH235]

This site has them for $90 > UHC & $94 > OIII. US $ of course.
http://www.alpineastro.com/
http://www.alpineastro.com/product_listing.htm#filters
http://www.dracoproductions.net/faq.htm
http://www.astronomy.net/forums/eyepieces/
Check out the forum.
HTH. :D L.

[asimov]

found: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/entry.php?sectionid=26&entryid=32 :confused:

[cristian abarca]

John I have a Sirius optics nebulae 1 filter and it works pretty well on my little scope. I was told that this filter is good for planetaries as well as nebulas where as others are only good for nebulas. My scope is dark anyway so it doesn,t do this filter justice. I can still see the difference though. I think through a better scope you would be able to really tell the difference. Ibought it from melbourne for $125 1.25". But I think that Telescope and Astronomy in South Australia sell them cheaper. I got an IR Baader filter for $85 for my webcam. Their website is www.telescope-astronomy.com.au (http://www.telescope-astronomy.com.au)

Regards Cristian

[astro_south]

John

Tonight I hope to test out my new 2" NEB1 filter. It does similar things to a UHC, with subtle differences in the bandpass. I also have a Lumicon 1.25" UHC (a reason I wanted something slightly different). The NEB1 is from Sirius Optics (USA) and I purchased it from Andrews. It is cheaper than other filters as the coatings aren't laminated between two pieces of glass, rather the coatings are exposed on one side of the filter (the side that ends in the eyepiece when the filter is in place). Obviously much more care needs to be taken with these filters, but part of the idea is to improve the view by removing the extra glass.

I will get back to you with how it performed after tonight - fingers crossed :)

[ausastronomer]

Hi Cristian,

One quick word of warning regarding the Sirius Optics filters. These filters are surface coated with the material on the eye lens side of the glass, which makes them very easily damaged. Sirius optics recommends leaving the filter permanently attached to an eyepiece to avoid the possibility of damage, or at least they did with the 2 I bought about 5 years ago. Optically the Sirius optics filters are pretty reasonable. The more expensive filters like Astronomiks and Lumicon are "sandwich filters" with the filter material sandwiched between 2 layers of glass, these filters are extremely durable. The Astronomiks has a 5 year guarantee.

To John,

If your can't afford the Astronomiks or Lumicon the Baader filters do a pretty good job, remember of course you usually get what you pay for in life.

Another option is the DGM Optics NPB filter, I have a friend in the US that I greatly respect who rates this the best narrowband filter he has used and he just recently tested 25 of them for a magazine review.

http://users.erols.com/dgmoptics/

This filter would only cost you about $100 by the time you import it from USA. I haven't used one myself. Of the multitudes I have tried I rate the Astronomics UHC and OIII very highly.

CS-John B

[dhumpie]

I agree with what has been said. Better to get a better filter that will last and give you great views that to spend less and get one that is not as good. Astronomics seems to have a good following followed closely by Lumicon and Orion (which incidentally just released their own version of an OIII filter). Regarding Sirius Optics filters, most reviews I have read have noted their delicate nature. Most owners leave them screwed onto the ep to avoid damaging the coatings.

Darren

[asimov]

:confuse3: Thanks for the input guys. The astronomiks or lumicon UHC sound like the obvious choice really. Unfortunately the bank balance say's NOOO! at this stage. :poke:

[dhumpie]

Have you tried Astromart John? You can save a few bucks off when you get them used :)

Darren

[p medcraft]

I agree with Darren, give Astromart a go. I picked up a 2" OIII for $125.00 USD. WhichI got within a week or so of paying. That is way less than a 1.25" would cost.
Here is an advert off Astromart today, most sold unfortunately but it gives you an idea on price.
ORION Sky Glow - good broadband LPR for price 1.25" $40 (( SOLD 2" $55))
ORION UHC - great filter, just as good as Lumicon. 1.25" $55](( SOLD 2" $75 ))
Lumicon OIII - also great filter. (( SOLD 1.25" $70)) (( SOLD 2" $150 ))
Lumicon H-beta - for faint nebs. (( SOLD 1.25" $75 ))
ORION Minus violet - Takes out purple edges for refractors (( SOLD 1.25" $35 ))

[asimov]

I think I'll just wait till I get some "excess" money.

[tornado33]

Hi all
I use Lumicon filters, I find the deep sky makes a slight improvement visually, but far more improvement photographically (See my posts in deep sky photography section). The UHC greatly improves detain in emission nebulae like the Lagoon Nebula, and dust lanes in Eta carina are jet black. The Oxygen 3 works better on Planatary nebulae like the large but faint Helix. Just today my Baader UHCS filter arrived, I will let you know what it's like when I use it soon :)

[dhumpie]

Do give us a comparison report between the Lumicon UHC and the Baader UHCS filter. that would be an interesting shootout :)

Darren

[asimov]

Yes, I'm on the verge of getting the baader....just waiting for you to compare the two!!.....I have no doubt the Lumicon will win out, optical quality wise.....But given the difference in price between the two....It could very well turn out the baader is a better buy....Should be interesting! :D

[asimov]

Hey tornado33....Saw your 'baader UHC filter rock's' thread....:thumbsup: When you get a chance mate...a VISUAL comparison is needed. Thanks. :D

[iceman]

Hi guys.

I have just placed an order (yesterday) with DGM Optics (http://users.erols.com/dgmoptics/) for 3 of their highly rated NPB filters. They're on sale at the moment.

I got 2 x 2" filters (1 for John B (ausastronomer) and 1 for h0ughy), and a 1.25" filter for myself. We got a flat rate US$10 shipped (combined postage of all 3 filters).

My 1.25" filter only costs < AU$80 shipped to australia, a bargain price compared to $190 for the Astronomik UHC/OIII, and if the reviews are right, this filter will outperform those high priced filters.

Sorry to xstream, couldn't get your filter included as it would be pushing it close to the $500 customs duty limit.

If anyone else is interested in getting these filters, I recommend you band together with others living close to you and do the same thing (combine postage) to save cost. They're a bargain right now. Dan seems a very nice guy and easy to deal with too, so I doubt you'll go wrong.

Of course the proof is in the first light test, and we'll be sure to test them out when they arrive and let you know how they perform compared to John and Rod's other OIII/UHC filters.

[ving]

also, try scopetronics on ebay. they sell the orion range fairly cheap. I bought a skyglow from them and the service was pretty fast from the US. they have the ultrablock too

[chunkylad]

Hey Iceman. Any update on the performance of the DGM Optics NBP filters? :poke:

[janoskiss]

Nope. I had mine for over a week but haven't had a chance to use it. Good idea bundling orders, Mike.

[iceman]

I'm going dark sky this weekend so will do some more tests vs John's filters.
Just haven't had the chance to use it yet, sorry.

[ausastronomer]

Dave,

As Mike mentioned hopefully we will get to compare them this weekend as we were busy doing the eyepiece testing last time we got together.

Last itme together we looked (or at least Louie and I did, not sure if Mike took a peek) at 1 target only that night through 3 different Narrowband filters. They were the Astronomiks UHC, the Celestron UHC and Mikes 1.25" DGM NPB and the target was M20 the Triffid nebula. I felt the Astronomiks was slightly better and only slightly, on that 1 target than the other 2 which I felt were about equal, there wasn't a lot in it all round. Unfortunately we really need to test on a number of different targets to form any sort of worthwhile opinion as 1 target only doesn't mean anything. What I can say is that seeing the effect of the DGM NPB filter on M20 I certainly think its going to represent excellent value for money as its 1/3rd the price of the Astronomiks.

If your working to a budget I would get my order happening for the DGM NPB, if money isn't an issue you might want to wait to see if it is worth spending the extra money on the Astronomiks. If I can get Scott (Tornado) and Andrew (Hector) to our next new moon session, I would also like to include Scott's Baader UHC filter, Andrews Lumicon UHC and my Astronomiks OIII in the comparison as well, if they will loan them to me.

CS-John B

[chunkylad]

Thanks guys

I ordered a NBP filter from DGM this morning. It seems to represent good value for money, especially if it performs as well as it's supposed to.
Cheers

[acropolite]

I've got one (1.25 inch) on order too, the postage to Tas was only $12.50 making the total US $67.50.

[davidpretorius]

top stuff phil, just in time for next friday and an imaging session with my toucam!!