Deep Sky Light Pollution Filter
- Thread starter freddylq
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Currently I use an L-Extreme on the OSC for my narrow band captures. For everything else with that camera I use no additional filter. My area is going to LED lighting and the old standbys don't work well with the wide band light from an LED.
I have contemplated getting an L-Pro for use on the OSC for when the moon is bright, but usually I shoot narrow band targets during that period with both cameras (mono and OSC). My mono camera has Ha/OIII/SII/LRGB filters on it, so it's easy to choose with it. NB when the moon is bright, LRGB when it is darker out. I live in a Bortle 5 area (barely - 4.8/4.9 on most charts) and can drive about 30 minutes and get into Bortle 3 skies, so city light is not as bad for me as someone living in a larger city with a higher Bortle rating.
The Pleiades images I am posting are being shot during dark sky and with no filter, only camera and telescope.
This is the stretched image only (only background neutralization processing applied to it).
I have contemplated getting an L-Pro for use on the OSC for when the moon is bright, but usually I shoot narrow band targets during that period with both cameras (mono and OSC). My mono camera has Ha/OIII/SII/LRGB filters on it, so it's easy to choose with it. NB when the moon is bright, LRGB when it is darker out. I live in a Bortle 5 area (barely - 4.8/4.9 on most charts) and can drive about 30 minutes and get into Bortle 3 skies, so city light is not as bad for me as someone living in a larger city with a higher Bortle rating.
The Pleiades images I am posting are being shot during dark sky and with no filter, only camera and telescope.
This is the stretched image only (only background neutralization processing applied to it).
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- #3
. What would be a good light pollution filter? I have a Svbony CLS but have not tried it yet. I'm sure there's something better for a OSC.Me personally.... I'd lean towards an Optolong L-Pro. I'm still thinking of getting one for the ASI533MC Pro (had one on order but cancelled it) to see how it does on those brighter moon night, might allow me to shoot a few more wide band targets with the OSC.
They aren't cheap (around $199 for a 2 inch, a little more for those for DSLR cameras). Got other toys I wanted to buy, so the filter went to the background for now since we are getting into winter and some nice nebula targets in my locale.
Some others I've heard good things about are the Astronomik CLS ($159 ), but generally the Optolong L-Pro is considered best bang for the buck for high Bortle areas.
But try your Svbony. They are probably in line (glass wise) with what ZWO sells as their filters. They make decent intro level equipment. I know it hurt buying my L-Extreme and I debated on the L-Ultimate, but since I shoot in lower Bortle areas I figured the L-Extreme was fine as I didn't need as much blocking of the light that the L-Ultimate provides. For you, the L-Ultimate would be a better choice for narrow band if you don't already have one.
They aren't cheap (around $199 for a 2 inch, a little more for those for DSLR cameras). Got other toys I wanted to buy, so the filter went to the background for now since we are getting into winter and some nice nebula targets in my locale.
Some others I've heard good things about are the Astronomik CLS ($159 ), but generally the Optolong L-Pro is considered best bang for the buck for high Bortle areas.
But try your Svbony. They are probably in line (glass wise) with what ZWO sells as their filters. They make decent intro level equipment. I know it hurt buying my L-Extreme and I debated on the L-Ultimate, but since I shoot in lower Bortle areas I figured the L-Extreme was fine as I didn't need as much blocking of the light that the L-Ultimate provides. For you, the L-Ultimate would be a better choice for narrow band if you don't already have one.
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- #5
The L-Enhanced is targeted towards narrow band acquisition with an OSC. The L-Pro is more for light pollution issues.
I wish I had kept the few frames I captured of the Pleiades using my L-Extreme.... the "naked" scope did much better in capturing data overall. The L-Extreme & L-Ultimate are mainly targeted at allowing the Ha/OIII bands through and they filter the rest. That's why an image like the below you can still see color in the stars, but it enhances the narrow bands.
If you are going after narrow band targets in a high Bortle area, I'd lean towards the L-Ultimate instead of the L-Extreme. If you are wanting to capture galaxies clusters and such that are reflective, you want to use something like an L-Pro... but even that won't solve all the light pollution issues. Only darker skies can do that. In the higher Bortle areas, you simply can't get the detail you can from a darker area.
Not a OSC image... but this is some recent data from about 5 hours of the Horsehead with a mono using narrow band.
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I thought the same thing and was about to pre-order it.. and for me I'm in a zone it is recommended for.
From their website:
This makes it sound like even for regular objects that they recommend a narrow band pursuit like the L-Extreme/L-Ultimate if you are in a higher than a Bortel 8/9 area.
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- #16
I received the filter. I ordered a new diagonal and a red dot finder. It's the red dot finder that got delayed and I need it for the AT70ED. I prefer red dot finders over optical finders. Much easier to find objects. I bought a 10" Explore Scientific dob about a year ago. Used it for first light and saw that round object going across the moon. Dob has been sitting in my room and haven't used it since.
