I Tested The Optolong L-Para filter: A Brand New Option for OSC Narrowband Astrophotography
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Not sure how this fits in since the L-eNhance has 12 and 24nm bandpass for Ha/OIII, the L-eXtreme has 7 and 7, and the L-Ultimate has 3 and 3. Having a bandpass that can be used on both F2 and slower scopes seems like the advantage with more pass on the blue end, vs. something in between L-eNhance and L-eXtreme for your average F4-F10 system.
This filter is better than the L-enhance in all aspects
Awesome work with these filters.
Hoping that Optolong or Askar comes out with a OII/SII/HA/HB filter with closer t 5nm. I am running the Quad as my primary filter right now - I could get a D1/D2 to replace it but having a single filter for my OSC is so much more convenient then 2.
Having sulfur and hydrogen together is not something many people would want. Stay tuned though as I will introduce a brand new filter tomorrow which you could find interesting (and explain why you don’t want those 2 wavelengths together)
Excellent! Thank you!!! I’m just getting started and you’re always helpful in explaining the why and how. Are there filters you would suggest to help with targets like the Horsehead or is the best filter a dark sky? I have an L-Ultimate and would like to get one more suited to galaxies and reflection nebula. I live in a Bortle 7 area but have access to Bortle 4 within a half hour. Again, thank you for being awesome!
I personally use no filter for non-emission targets. I think (unfortunately) gone are the days when light pollution filters worked, as virtually any light you have outside is an LED light. Light pollution filters have a huge benefit when it comes to old-style yellow sodium lamps. If you have a b4 in a 30 minute drive IMO that's a no brainer. In the specific case of the Horsehead, though, it is extremely bright and you can probably get a nice image even from your B7 (I live in a B7 too). For most other targets I would really recommend going out when you can When I tested a light pollution filter (L-QEF, posted on here) I specifically drove to an otherwise dark place and parked the scope under an old orange light. In the city it's all LED :(
@the_space_koalawow, the LED’s are causing some issues…. At least I’ve got a good filter for the emission targets. The rest it’s not too far of a drive to get decent skies. I’ve got a Bortle 3 within an hour so there’s that too. Thank you!
Does using a simple UHC filter on everything also bad? Or can I keep it there always?
I would not use it on anything that is not an emission target. It messes up the color balance and removes valuable signal
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This is a very interesting and informative, well presented comparison. Ive known about filters for decades, but seeing this and having you do all the "hard work" was very interesting.
thank you for saying that!
👏👏👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
How this compares with the NBZII filter
It is similar but a bit wider on the Oiii (10nm vs 8nm). I don't have that filter so I can't really compare other things like halos etc.
Thanks for a great review. you are an amazing astro-photographer and your images are great as well! i was just about to buy one of these filters, seeing the results with the flame nebula proved to me that I will need another filter for my OSC as well for my nebula images. I really want to increase the other colors besides red, like yellow and blue mainly so I need to hunt that down or just rely on my editing skills more.
You always need another filter 😁
How about L-para and antlia ALT-P(gold) filler? I'm in Bortle 8 !
from such a light polluted location I would really opt for an even narrower filter e.g. the L-Ultimate
Great balanced review. Thank you! I have the L-eXtreme, which works well. Curious to know about the L-Ultimate and how it compares to the filters you tested here.
The l-ultimate is much narrower. I have had great results with it. However it’s less flexible on f-ratios you can use it with. For f/5< I would def use that one
@ Thank you. Yes, it’s 3nm bandwidth compared to the 7nm of the l-eXtreme. Good to know, that you are happy with it!
@ BTW, I am a physicist and optical designer… also living in Switzerland… in the fog right now ;-). If you ever need support for your channel, we could discuss.
Email me I’ll be happy to chat! info at thespacekoala dot com
@the_space_koala I just ordered the L-ultimate 😃 From Reto Felder. 👍
@the_space_koala the L-Ultimate is on its way😃
Wow. This was a very, very informative and helpful review. Answered a lot of questions I didn't know I even had. I shoot OSC and I switch between the L-Pro and the L-Extreme depending on moon phase. I've been looking at the L-Quad to replace the L-Pro.
that sounds like a very good strategy! I never had the L-Pro so I can't really compare them but I had great experiences with the L-Quad.
Great review, very informative, thank you. Can't wait for it to come out.
I think it’s coming soon - I see more and more people testing and posting it!
Great review are you using a mac ? If so any tips to share for post processing using mac im new to mac and astro also
Yes I use a Mac. I do all my Astro processing in PixInsight - it’s very powerful!
I actually have the L-Quad. But for narrowband use the Askar Colour Magic D1 and D2, Ha/OIII and SII/OIII. 6nm bandpass and the pair are only $550.
I have those as well but I never actually tried them yet! How do you find them for SHO?
Two things. I've looked around, including the Optolong site. I'm find no reference to an L-Para filter. Are you calling it by a different name? And second... L-Quad Enhance Filter (L-QEF) is a quad broadband bandpass filter.
No, L-Para is the correct name, it is a filter that will be released in the near future.
I have the 2” version of the L-Extreme filter and it works great. ❤
If you are using a RASA, presumably you couldn't use the L-Para with that because of the blue shift?
No you could. I think I mentioned this too. One benefit of such a wide-ish filter that it will work on any f-ratio
Outstanding review!