Light pollution filter

bugeater (Marty) · #1 05-04-2015, 09:15 PM

Well I have to face up to it - the light pollution in my area isn't great. I get a not so lovely orange glow in the background of my shots and now I'm getting the polar alignment down, plus autoguiding, this is limiting my exposures. So I need a light pollution filter. I have a nebula filter from my last foray into this hobby 15 years ago, but it's only 1 1/4".

I've narrowed down the choice to the IDAS LPS filters which you can get here:
http://www.tan14.com/IDAS.htm
but I'm not sure if to get the D1 or the P2. My guess is the D1, since I'm using an unmodified DSLR. But any input would be good.

I'll also get a Baader MPCC, so I guess the 2" will just screw into this.

rustigsmed (Russell) · #2 07-04-2015, 10:05 AM

hi marty,

im not too familiar with the IDAS filters I've got an astronomik ccd cls - but I've heard the IDAS are good too.

From looking at the graphs the P2 looks like its got a bit extra wavelength in the red. the material on the website seems to suggest that the extra bandwidth causes a bit of a red cast (when using a modified dslr). http://starizona.com/acb/IDAS-Light-...P2806C737.aspx

perhaps a D1 will be a better option for you, while your camera isn't modified you wouldn't notice a difference with the P2 if you did modify it may cause a red cast.

Cheers

bugeater (Marty) · #3 07-04-2015, 11:19 AM

Thanks Russell. I've kind of settled on the D1. Seems the most appropriate. Just waiting for a quote to come through.
What a money pit this all is....

rustigsmed (Russell) · #4 07-04-2015, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bugeater

Thanks Russell. I've kind of settled on the D1. Seems the most appropriate. Just waiting for a quote to come through.
What a money pit this all is....

it sure is!

a light pollution filter is necessary in my opinion so worth the investment, I only recently got one - I wish I had one sooner!!

i'm going to have to redo all my photos because it makes it that much better. beforehand I could only manage 70 second exposures till skyglow/LP started overtaking signal but now I can nab 3 minute subs - a massive increase. it has also made processing easier.