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Rafael Sampaio:Aygen:Rafael Sampaio:Aygen:Rafael Sampaio:Aygen: There is a huge thread on setting up the Epsilon 160 with a full frame sensor. Most of us use the Optec LEO as a replacement focuser. Even if you are shooting with an APS-C sensor there is great info there on dealing with tilt. |
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 First thing to do when setting up an E160ed |
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I've used astrodon and chroma for years but over the last year I switched entirely to Astronomik Deep Sky RGB and Astronomik MaxFR 6nm narrowband. I ended up having halos with my epsion using chroma and astrodon and found the astronomiks were halo-free. The NB filters are only 6nm, so if you need a tighter bandpass or have severe LP than you might really want a 5nm or 3nm filter. I've now used the astronomiks on a variety of scopes and cameras and they have performed flawlessly. Highly recommended as a good filter at a reasonable price range. I dont even know if astrodon still exists after Farpoint closed down, but Chroma is still made.... they are just so expensive right now that I dont think it's worth the extra cost over other options out there. |
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Chris White- Overcast Observatory: Thanks Chris! That’s surprising, always thought the Chroma fault was being expensive, not under perform. It’s a surprise for me you having halos with Chroma. Are you sure they were not defective? Did you contact them? |
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Rafael Sampaio: I only had problems with my epsilon on very bright stars, and no they weren't defective. I've owned three sets of Chromas over the years from 1.25" to 50mm and they are excellent filters. My post was not intended to cast shade so I'd like to make that clear. I think what I'm trying to say is that despite the Astronomiks being so much less expensive, they performed as well as my Chromas and even better in certain situations. Considering the price of Chroma, the Astronomiks deliver a lot of value. Specifically the Deep Sky and MaxFR series. I tested Antlia when they first came out, and they had issues. I've heard that the newer versions are much better. There are some good choices out there, and I just think that at the price, Chroma is tough to justify. |
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Generally, I would agree with Chris. Astronomik are doing the job - I can't say otherwise. Also, the price is very competitive and quality as well. Chroma's are crazy expensive.... However, and based on my personal obervations and experience, I never had any issues back then with my Chroma filters. No halos, nor strange artefacts. With my Astronomik, well, I would be lying to say that I never had halos, etc. To be honest, I would say they are doing the job most of the time, but strange artefacts are also present. Sure enough, back then I was using my Chroma's with another scope - a slower one. But, it is the way it is. Since I have embarked on a new journey (surveys, looking for undiscovered gems), I came to realize that 6nm isn't probably the best solution though. For example, filters gather quite a lot of cosmic dust with long expsoures (900s and higher) However, this shouldn't be considered as a "no-go" - not at all. It's getting more problematic in my case. In conclusion, Astronomik are very good filters, doing the job, very attractive in term of price and quality ! |
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Reading this thread, I feel so lucky right now that I got mine second hand. Basically, someone gave up on astrophotography completely and just wanted to get rid of his gear. Sold me the ASI2600MM Pro plus full set of Chroma filters and filter wheel for 3000$. Coming from OSC coupled with the L-Extreme, I dont know how comparable the two systems are, but the Chroma NB filters are exceptionell. The contrast is just too crips and no halos at all (which is always a big issue with the L-Extreme, so that was a nice change). Having said that, I would have bought also the Antlia filter set, if I had to buy everything new but that boils down to budget. |
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I had the full set of 3nm filters from Chroma for the 36mm and I can image from my Bortle 6 home and get decent data, and good stars. I have the 50mm 3nm SHO and Baader LRGB and I do not see a significant difference in the data I collect from Baader LRGB vs Chroma from home. But that might not be an accurate comparison since it is not backed by research on my part, it is a subjective opinion based on eyeballing and processing, and with seeing and moon and other factors, hard for me to definitively say. But all said, I am very happy with my Chroma filters! |
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For my use I don't see issues with my Astronomik MaxFR 6nm + DeepSky LRGB set that could justify the price difference with Chromas. This is on an E160ed in Chile, and soon another in Morocco. For "deeper" imaging, every snr bump is vital (see Aygen's work), here the chromas could make a difference. Laurent -SP |
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I will talk about myself only regardless it is worth for you or not. I started astrophotography in 2017, that time people keep talking about Astrodon, and the prices were expensive but much better than nowadays, Chroma that time wasn't ringing a bell although some said that Astrodon was being manufactured by Chroma, i wasn't sure, anyway, because i had QHY163M that time and people talked about halo so i tried very hard to save and then i bought Astrodon Ha 5nm 1.25" only, and it was perfect, but later that year end of the year 2017 i got an offer to buy Optolong SHO full set 36mm, it wasn't good filters set but i bought it to give it a try and test narrowbanding all data, later in 2020 i found two amazing deals to buy Chroma filters, so i completed that Astrodon alone filter and bought Chroma OIII and SII 3nm 1.25", now i don't need to buy all my filters to be AD or Chroma. Also by that year 2020 i believe or 2021 i bought Antlia Ha 3nm 2", it was just amazing same as Astrodon Ha 5nm or even slightly better under my light pollution sky, i chose 5nm back then because people talked about NII signal with Ha, but i don't mind using 5nm or 3nm, but for OIII i really wanted 3nm, and Chroma OIII/SII 3nm both did amazing job, and i later bought Optolong SII 3nm 2" because also i saw offers about it, i didn't test it yet, but i assume it doesn't have big issues as people said using it, and i left OIII 3nm 2" to future decision when i really need but i bought Optolong L-Ultimate which has this OIII 3nm with Ha 3nm so i ignored my choice about OIII 3nm filter, but it is still open, and i won't go to Astrodon or Chroma for larger sizes at all even if i can afford that, to me i already have so many expenses in astro and life to justify one brand expense, and because people always talk about stars issue with those filters, so i decided that i can buy the WORST NB filters in the world then and just image stars in RGB filters or OSC and use that instead and never worry about NB halo filters. |
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Is there any advantage of using 3nm narrowband filters in a dark sky like Obstech, Chile, or should we stick with 5nm filters? Maybe the 3nm could be useful for a moonlit night, what do you think? |
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Hello. |
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Rafael Sampaio: Great question. Was wondering the same. Looking forward to hear some responses. |
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Rafael Sampaio: I think it will help when the moon is bright. Earlier I was using a 10 nm filter in a dark site. I do broad-band imaging when it's dark and NB imaging when there is moon. I can clearly see changes in image background according to moon phase, meaning that lot of moon light pollution enters the filter. After I switched to 6.5 nm and 5 nm NB filters, it becomes much better. So I believe going to 3 nm will be even better, provided that you can get a halo-free (or trouble-free) 3 nm one. |
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This article may help, and supports the idea that a narrow bandwidth filter would be useful even at a very dark site: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/astronomy-questions-answers/how-does-the-moons-phase-affect-the-skyglow-of-any-given-location-and-how-many-days-before-or-after-a-new-moon-is-a-dark-site-not-compromised/ |
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Rafael Sampaio: I will say hole heartedly YES I have Chroma 3nm NB filters along with Chroma Broadband filters. I have had NO issues with them at all unlike I have had with other brand filters such as haloing among wother issues. All my filters are unmounted. |
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Rafael Sampaio: hi I own chroma unmounted set 50mm LRGB and SHO (3nm) and i love it and you do not observe haloing effect in you images and also the quality , and something not less importance ( transmission %) chroma and astrodom are around 99% , the rest are around 90% |
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Brian Diaz:Rafael Sampaio: Astronomik Deep Sky Filters are 95% and the 6n Narrowband filters are 90%. Astrodon guarantees 90% for narrowband, I cant find info on the RGB filters. Is Astrodon still manufacturing? Chroma definitely seems to have the best transmission rates, 98 to 99% as you note. |
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Chris White- Overcast Observatory:Brian Diaz:Rafael Sampaio: Astrodon hasnt been around for several years, Don retired and sold the buisiness to FarPoint who never did squat with it and couldn't come up with the same quality control of the filters. One thing Chroma has been doing over the last few years is coating both sides of their unmounted filters. It no longer matters wich way you put them in. This also helps on reflection. You pay for them, but I feel they are worth every penny. |
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Mark Ellis: Hi Mark, It always puzzles me which side of the filter should face camera and which side should face the telescope. Some people say the reflective side should face the telescope. Some say not necessarily. And also some say it doesn't matter. I can't tell whom to trust. I recently purchased a batch of unmounted 50mmx50mm Chroma filters. Nearly all of them have one side that's highly reflective, and another side much more clear. Are they those with coating on both sides? |
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Wei-Hao Wang:Mark Ellis: Chroma use to have an arrow on the side of the filter as to which way they should face. When I contacted them about these new filters is when they told me that they coat both sides and they can face either way. So I'd like to think Chroma is telling me the truth. I hope so at $1200 each |
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| Is there any advantages of using Chroma 50mm unmounted square filters, instead of the round ones, with a full frame camera? |
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Mark Ellis: I bought mine (31mm unmounted) several years ago and asked them the same question. And they said the side didn't matter. There was no arrow on mine. |
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Rafael Sampaio: It depends on how fast is your system and how close the filters will be to the sensor. Makes sense on RASA, for example. |
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Rafael Sampaio: What Nadir Astro said above is one thing. I have the 50mm due to sensor size. Once camera is the QHY268M and the Other is a QHY600M, Sometimes I think I should have gone with a larger filter for the QHY600 due to some Vinetting I still get even with the CDK14 with it's 70mm image circle. I myslef cant get filters any closer due to the mechanical restraints of the gear. But if you have a smaller sensor you won't need a large filter unless you want to future proof for a camera with a larger sensor in the future. My thoughs Mark |
