Does LPS filter help under dark skies?

[cookie8]

My IDAS LPS filter works wonderfully in my LP suburban backyard. But should I still put it on or should I take it off under dark sky eg. at Lostock?

[Gama]

No, dont use it in dark sky's.
It removes certain bands that galaxies and other objects emmit at.
Its only used when you have no choice...

Narrow band filters is different though. They are helpfull where ever.

Theo.

[Phil Hart]

I'd generally agree with Theo.. for anything that emits light in broad spectrum, eg galaxies, reflection nebula, clusters etc take the LPS filter off under dark skies or you are losing light. You can prove this easily with a few quick test shots.

For some emission nebula, the LPS can still be beneficial, especially if you are shooting a little lower toward the horizon where the filter can help to reduce sky glow etc.

I also find when taking wide-field images of the milky way with modified cameras that using the LPS filter helps to produce a more natural colour balance in the final image and to enhance red emission nebula.

Phil

[RobF]

Don't be like me Vincent and forget to take it off when you do finally get to a beautiful dark sky site for the first night! :P
I love what you can do from town with the LPS, but there's less fighting with colour balance of subs taken without it from a dark site. I find its almost impossible to get the same spread of star colours once you've used the LPS, however the neb etc can often be coaxed into decency.