View Single Post
  #14  
Old 14-11-2008, 10:47 AM
Peter Ward's Avatar
Peter Ward
Galaxy hitchhiking guide

Peter Ward is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Shire
Posts: 8,482
Just to expand a little on my last post...

PAR focal filters are simply equal thickness filters, and will not change the focus of a converging light cone from one filter to the next.

With reflective optics the focal plane remains unchanged across the spectrum.

With refractors however, even APO's, there is a subtle variance in red, green and blue focal planes.

While it would be possible for a refractor manufacturer to design a variable thickness RGB filter set that would correct the focal plane variation in a specific instrument, I am not aware of any....plus a variable thickness filter set would not kind toward reflective or different spec refractive systems.

There is also a secondary effect of having to change focus for RG&B filters. The image scale will change and you may see subtle rainbow fringes around stars after the 3 planes have been colour stacked.

(Hope that wasn't seen as an exercise in "how to suck eggs" )

Last edited by Peter Ward; 14-11-2008 at 10:49 AM. Reason: clarification
Reply With Quote