OIII filters (or UHC)?

[iceman]

Are they really worth it? Are their benefits purely for visual observing, or do they provide any benefit for astrophotography?

Matt from T&A has them on sale (1000 oaks brand) for AU$140 and i'm planning my next purchase because i'm getting some cash from some relatives for xmas, plus my birthday is only a month and a bit after..

When the clouds eventually clear in 2007 i'd like to think that i'd enjoy using one to enhance the contrast of the nebula..

A few guys (Dave47Tuc, others?) own both the OIII and UHC.. what's the best one, which one do you use the most? I've read many times that ideally you want both because some objects are better with one filter and some objects are better with the other.. but i'm not going to get both right now, so if you could choose only one, which one would it be?

[Starkler]

Definately the UHC.
Why ?

The uhc will help viewing everything that benifets from using an OIII, but not always vice-versa. The uhc covers the OIII emission spectrum line already but is a little broader.

When I was looking I couldnt find a review anywhere for the 1000 oaks brand.

[Dave47tuc]

Ice,
I use the UHC the most. The UHC brings most nebula up better as Geoff said.

The O111 is very good to excellent on most Planetary Nebula.

BUT I do find filters a very personal thing.

A lot of observers see things diffrently. Why, well everyones eyes are diffrent. Most think we all see things the same when observing, but I find this most untrue.

It's funny how some see things then others do not!!
Experience counts for a lot, also age, younger eyes do see better!

Size of the telescope does make a diffrence. Small scopes do not cope well with the O111.

Small scopes are best with the Light Pollution Filter(LPR) or Deep Sky filter(bit old fashioned there)

Anything over 8 inch all filters will make a diffrence. My friend with the 14Lx200 doesn't really like any filters!!

I have many filters, but the one I use the most is the UHC, then the O111. I don't use the LPR or the Swan Band (for comets) much.

Color filters is a diffrent story again!!:whistle:

Hope this helps.

Best. (and still under cloud)

:astron:

[iceman]

Thanks Dave and Starkler, I knew you guys would come to the party with great advice :P

So where did you get the UHC filter from? I haven't seen them on sale anywhere except Bintel for $190. Was hoping to pay a little less..

Dave what do you think about colour filters for planetary viewing?
Are they any use or really only useful 1 time out of 100?

[Vermin]

I hope you are talking about the 1.25" UHC for $190 AUD because I bought my 2" UHC for $179 US from here:

http://telescopes.net/thousand_oaks_optical_-_nebula.html

The 1.25" works out at about $118 AUD + Shipping.

Note you will not have to pay duty on this item if you import it.

[iceman]

Yeh it's 1.25"..

How much did you pay in shipping?

$500 is the limit before you have to pay tax isn't it?

[Vermin]

The limit is actually $50 in duty, but as the duty on scopes and accessories is 10%, yes you are correct, $500 (including shipping charges).

I ordered it with a bunch of other stuff so I'm not really sure what the shipping would be for one filter.

Best idea would be to send Carlos an email, whcamera@woodlandhillscamera.com

V.

[Dave47tuc]

Ice,
That spider from down south is right, on getting the UHC from the US. I have brought plenty from the US and have never had a problem.:P

If you don't feel comfortable with buying from the US then go to Bintel. May cost a bit more but you soon forget that.

As for color filters, this is really what suits you. I'm a bit color blind. I find the red filters don't do much for me.

I mostly use the blue and green ones. I paid around $35 for each filter. This was to much and considering I don't use them much, you are better of going for the ones at Andrews.

Try to get a look through a few filters before you buy, if you can.

Mars will be back later next year, so if It was me I would get the light blue and light red ones first.

I think Andrews sell a set of 4 or 6(anyone?) There cheap and would be a good investment.

I checked back through some of my old notes and i found I use my LPR filter more than any other!! But I would still go UHC first.

Best.

:astron:

[Starkler]

If buying filters again I would definately go for the Astronomiks.
The Lumicon and others of similar construction have a life of less than 10 years before moisture damages the diffraction grating.

The astronomiks is rated a cut above all others optically by those that have written about it, and comes with a 5 year unconditional warranty.

You want to avoid the Sirius optics brand. Whilst good optically, the thin film which does the filtering is unprotected on one side and easily damaged.

[iceman]

Does anyone have an opinion on the Baader UHC-S filter?

They are listed in an advert on page 2 of the AS&T magazine, for sale by ExpertVision (or something like that) with an 07 (qld) phone number.

They're listed as $140ish which is a pretty good price.

If you've got the mag, take a look and let me know what you think..

[Dave47tuc]

Mike,
Sounds ok but I would not like to give an opinion on something I do not have or have used.

Best.



:astron:

[iceman]

Fair call, I guess I was just after a best guess from the glossy advertising :)

[Dave47tuc]

:) :) :)
I agree with Geoff, Go with Astronomiks.
I would go that way if i was in the market.:D

Best.

:astron:

[iceman]

I guess it's best to go with a known quantity.. Bintel will be happy :)

hmm maybe I can ring these other guys and see if I can loan their equipment for a trial/review.. :confuse3: :D

[silvinator]

Couldn't hurt to ask em Ice! I own the astronomik CLS filter that I bought from Bintel and I've used it quite a lot now. Seeing as it's my first nebula filter, I cannot compare it to anything else on the market. However, I can say that it is a great all round filter that works a treat on nebulas and globulars, although it does have a slight blue tinge (obviously because of the coating). When I went searching for an all-round filter, I think it was Don at Bintel told me that astronomiks make excellent filters and are better than the broadband ones I was looking at from other brands. This filter darkens the sky whilst still letting the stars shine through, whereas Don said the other ones didn't let as many stars through as this one. All I can say is that my first view of the eta carinae nebula with the CLS filter took my breath away. I just can't look at a filterless nebula from my suburban skies anymore :D The CLS is cheaper than the UHC, the only reason why I went for this one instead. The UHS is probably better though. They're on sale at Bintel now so you better hurry!

[iceman]

Hey guys.

I'm definitely going to get one of these now, should I go for the Astronomik UHC (http://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6536) or Lumicon UHC (http://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=5294)?

There's only $10 difference in price (at Bintel, both around $195), so what's the difference in quality/brand? Is there any?

Would I be better off buying from O/S? Will it work out much cheaper?

Thanks!

[MintSauce]

make sure to review which ever you get as my birthday is in a couple months and I may want to get something like that.

Ordering from the US seems to make sense tho, they charge about ~20 bucks to send over something insured upto 100bucks to me :)

G.

[Starkler]

All the reviews say the Astronomics is the best on the market.
With a $10 price difference its a no-brainer !

For a cheaper option try O'Neil Optical (http://www.oneilphoto.on.ca/) in Canada

Orion UltraBlock 1.25"................................... ...$60 US / $95 Cdn

I bought my raci finder from there and hes great to do business with.

[iceman]

Thanks Geoff, the astronomiks is actually cheaper than the Lumicon at the moment (at Bintel).

I'll hunt around for O/S prices but if there's not much difference i'll just pop into Bintel and pick one up.

[Starkler]

You posted while I was editing :)
Look again !

[iceman]

How does the Orion Ultrablock differ from the Astronomik UHC though? I don't mind paying a bit extra if it's going to be worth it.

[Starkler]

something to read (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skyquest-telescopes/message/19201)

Bear in mind that you can get the orion filter for about half the cost if willing to buy from o/s

You've got me thinking about buying an OIII filter now :confuse3:

[iceman]

hmm good thread Geoff..

So astronomiks is the best but at almost double the price.. Orion Ultrablock is in 2nd place, not quite as good, but still good and much cheaper..

Tough call now.. :confuse3:

Orion blocking all the h-beta line, and astronomiks letting a little through.. what will that help me to see? If it's only on a handful of objects is it worth the extra?

or.. as others have said before, buy best quality now and cry just once :)

[Starkler]

Realisticly for me, the filter just gets occasional use and a 10% improvement over a 50% saving.............:confused:

If you got the ultrablock your still getting a good filter and could put the savings to something more useful like a telrad or a good barlow etc

But hey , its your wifes job to tell you how to spend your money not mine :)

[iceman]

haha :lol:

yeh good points Geoff, I think i'll follow with that canadian guy and get the Ultrablock.. as you said, the left-overs can go towards something else! :D

[Astro_Guy]

Greetings from the Northern Hemisphere!

There is a great online article on this topic at http://pages.sbcglobal.net/raycash/filters.htm

Please note the test conditions using a 10" Newtonian. The O-III filter is more restrictive than the Narrowband/UHC/Nebustar/Ultrablock, or whatever other variants they have come up with. When buying one's first nebular filter, the narrowband variants are the logical choice. The O-III filter makes sense as a secondary nebular filter for scopes under 8-10" aperture, but begins to make sense as a single filter strategy with larger scopes.

Clear Skies,

Bob

p.s. -7C and snowing here tonight near Philadelphia

[Striker]

Bloody hell....filters are expensive....how am I going to explain them to the misses....

4 filters for $20...she will understand....