Chroma filters still worth the price?

With the recent offers of other brands of filters (Baader, Antlia and others), do you think Chroma filters are still a good choice, considering its much higher price?

This is a personal thing that depends on how much money is worth to you. Are you interested in spending 2-3x the amount compared to a less expensive brand to get only a 5-10% increase in quality? These numbers are just approximate, by the way.

Personally, I would never spend that much on filters. In the old ASI1600 days I had a full set of Astrodons, but those were tiny 1.25" filters, and were also cheaper at the time than Chromas are now, even in that size.

it depends on the size.
I have the 36mm chromas and they already cost a fortune.
If you have to get the 2 inch filters it would be better to go for astrodon or antlia

I have 2” Chroma filters which I bought 6 years ago and were well worth the price back then..,,,not now as the price is ridiculous. I’ve tried several other brands (Baader, Optolong , Antlia) since then and I settled on 2” Antlia for a full frame sensor on my Tak FSQ-85 EDX with the Chroma filters still on my C11” EdgeHD.

I would tell you to spend the right amount to get good filters. Don't skimp on getting filters that then give you halos around bright stars

Bruce Donzanti:
I have 2” Chroma filters which I bought 6 years ago and were well worth the price back then..,,,not now as the price is ridiculous. I’ve tried several other brands (Baader, Optolong , Antlia) since then and I settled on 2” Antlia for a full frame sensor on my Tak FSQ-85 EDX with the Chroma filters still on my C11” EdgeHD.

So, when using the Antlia, did you ever miss the Chroma?

Rafael Sampaio:
Bruce Donzanti:
I have 2” Chroma filters which I bought 6 years ago and were well worth the price back then..,,,not now as the price is ridiculous. I’ve tried several other brands (Baader, Optolong , Antlia) since then and I settled on 2” Antlia for a full frame sensor on my Tak FSQ-85 EDX with the Chroma filters still on my C11” EdgeHD.

So, when using the Antlia, did you ever miss the Chroma?

No- not at all. I can easily afford Chroma filters but the Antlia perform exceptionally well, so I see no need to pay the extra cost. On the other hand, Baader and Optolong were not as good when I used them. Which is also why I don’t mix filter brands on a particular setup.

The only filters I have used are Chroma, so I will not offer an opinion on any other filter brand from a performance stand point.

What I will say about Chroma is that they stand behind their product. Last year, nearly three years after I purchased their filters, I discovered an issue with one of them that I had missed. When I brought it up with them, they exchanged the filter, no questions asked, never asked me to prove beyond all doubt the issue was with the filter and never tried to blame me or my other equipment. IMO, that's worth supporting and spending money on just as much as any performance difference.

I got the Chroma filters second hand and they have been great so far, but I don't have a reference to go back to. The only objective report I saw comparing Chroma filters vs other filters was this article:

https://astrogeartoday.com/narrowband-filter-shootout-chroma-3nm-vs-astronomik-6nm/

Just switched from Baader to Chroma. Will tell you more about whether it is an improvement or how much is the improvement after a few weeks, if I remember then.

I have nothing but good things to say about the Chroma filters. I bought a full set of 50mm filters three years ago for $3000. Currently looking for a second set of full frame filters, and the identical Chroma set is now around $5500. That is almost double in three years time. Unless someone has a rational explanation for such a steep increase, it just feels very wrong. Tempted by the Antlia alternative, which many people report very positive about.

I've used both Chroma and Astronomik filters and I will continue to use Astronomik's MaxFR filters if I ever need to buy new filters. Rouz Asteo did a co.parison between the two and there wasn't a huge difference between the two. Plus, the Astronomik filters are less expensive.

Several of us that use full frame cameras on the Epsilon scopes use the Astronomik filters and they work great on the Epsilon 160 at f/3.3. They come in either 6nm or 12nm bandpass though. If you want narrower bandpass filters you'd have to use Chroma or another brand. The 6nm have worked great for me on my Epsilon 160.

Willem Jan Drijfhout:
I have nothing but good things to say about the Chroma filters. I bought a full set of 50mm filters three years ago for $3000. Currently looking for a second set of full frame filters, and the identical Chroma set is now around $5500. That is almost double in three years time. Unless someone has a rational explanation for such a steep increase, it just feels very wrong. Tempted by the Antlia alternative, which many people report very positive about.

Completely agree, as I explained as well above. I have Chroma on one scope and Antlia on another- with no issues whatsoever with the Antlia. The increase in Chroma from when I bought them 6 years ago is so much higher that I almost felt they were trying to get out of the astronomy NB business- just ludicrous for their current prices.

I had the full set of filters from Chroma - entirely satisfying and never had any issues like halos etc. Can’t say the same thing with my current filters….

I am about to get Chroma again ! Yes, expensive but worth the investment from my perspective !

It boils down to personal choices. If budget isn’t an issue, “cry once” !

I've been using Antlia 2" filters for LRGB and SHO this past year purchased second hand and I have bad haloing on my Oiii and to a lesser extent Sii. Everything else works wonderfully. I decided to buy Chroma used for Oiii at 36mm with an adapter to my 2" wheel 3D printed by a member on CN. If I was to buy new them I would really need to think about it. I could fund it but do I want to? Not sure I would want to spend that amount of money. I felt replacing my Oiii was reasonable as that channel tends to suffer the most from halo. Filter comes in next week so we'll see how it performs.

Aygen:
I had the full set of filters from Chroma - entirely satisfying and never had any issues like halos etc. Can’t sas that same with my current filters….

I am about to get Chroma again ! Yes, expensive but worth the investment from my perspective !

It boils down to personal choice. If budget isn’t an issue, “cry once” !

Thanks! I am going to Obstech too, with a CDK 17 + Tak E160ed. Must confess your pictures are an inspiration for me 😊

I already bought a Chroma set for the CDK 17, and deciding if I should do the same for the E-160ed. But l perfectly understand when you say “cry once”

Is there any place one can find the actual transmission curves for the Antlia's? The peak transmission appears to be lower (85% vs 99% for the Chroma). The actual shape of the curve would be useful to compare too, especially for narrow band filters to get a better sense for rejection of unwanted wavelengths. Transmission curves and actual numbers versus wavelength are supplied by Chroma for their filters.

Rafael Sampaio:
Thanks! I am going to Obstech too, with a CDK 17 + Tak E160ed. Must confess your pictures are an inspiration for me 😊

I already bought a Chroma set for the CDK 17, and deciding if I should do the same for the E-160ed. But l perfectly understand when you say “cry once”

I have an Epsilon 160 at a dark site and I am using the Astronomik MaxFR filters. You may want to look at those as well. They have worked wonderfully for me so far. I have Chroma's on my refractor on my tandem setup at the dark site. I haven't been able to tell a difference between the two in performance.

Rafael Sampaio:
Aygen:
I had the full set of filters from Chroma - entirely satisfying and never had any issues like halos etc. Can’t sas that same with my current filters….

I am about to get Chroma again ! Yes, expensive but worth the investment from my perspective !

It boils down to personal choice. If budget isn’t an issue, “cry once” !

Thanks! I am going to Obstech too, with a CDK 17 + Tak E160ed. Must confess your pictures are an inspiration for me 😊

I already bought a Chroma set for the CDK 17, and deciding if I should do the same for the E-160ed. But l perfectly understand when you say “cry once”

You are going to love Obstech !!!! And what a beautiful setup that you have Rafael. Can’t wait to see what you are going to publish once you rig is up and running 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Aygen:
Rafael Sampaio:
Aygen:
I had the full set of filters from Chroma - entirely satisfying and never had any issues like halos etc. Can’t sas that same with my current filters….

I am about to get Chroma again ! Yes, expensive but worth the investment from my perspective !

It boils down to personal choice. If budget isn’t an issue, “cry once” !

Thanks! I am going to Obstech too, with a CDK 17 + Tak E160ed. Must confess your pictures are an inspiration for me 😊

I already bought a Chroma set for the CDK 17, and deciding if I should do the same for the E-160ed. But l perfectly understand when you say “cry once”

You are going to love Obstech !!!! And what a beautiful setup that you have Rafael. Can’t wait to see what you are going to publish once you rig is up and running 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Thank you! It should be up and running In February, I think. Just ordered de CDK 17 and L550 mount, so lets hope everything arrives on time!

By the way, did you opt for highspeed filters?

Epsilons are gaining traction at El sauce!

Rafael Sampaio:
Aygen:
Rafael Sampaio:
Aygen:
I had the full set of filters from Chroma - entirely satisfying and never had any issues like halos etc. Can’t sas that same with my current filters….

I am about to get Chroma again ! Yes, expensive but worth the investment from my perspective !

It boils down to personal choice. If budget isn’t an issue, “cry once” !

Thanks! I am going to Obstech too, with a CDK 17 + Tak E160ed. Must confess your pictures are an inspiration for me 😊

I already bought a Chroma set for the CDK 17, and deciding if I should do the same for the E-160ed. But l perfectly understand when you say “cry once”

You are going to love Obstech !!!! And what a beautiful setup that you have Rafael. Can’t wait to see what you are going to publish once you rig is up and running 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Thank you! It should be up and running In February, I think. Just ordered de CDK 17 and L550 mount, so lets hope everything arrives on time!

By the way, did you opt for highspeed filters?

I have the MaxFr filters from Astronomik. But I am about to get Chromas optimized again.

Aygen:
Rafael Sampaio:
Aygen:
Rafael Sampaio:
Aygen:
I had the full set of filters from Chroma - entirely satisfying and never had any issues like halos etc. Can’t sas that same with my current filters….

I am about to get Chroma again ! Yes, expensive but worth the investment from my perspective !

It boils down to personal choice. If budget isn’t an issue, “cry once” !

Thanks! I am going to Obstech too, with a CDK 17 + Tak E160ed. Must confess your pictures are an inspiration for me 😊

I already bought a Chroma set for the CDK 17, and deciding if I should do the same for the E-160ed. But l perfectly understand when you say “cry once”

You are going to love Obstech !!!! And what a beautiful setup that you have Rafael. Can’t wait to see what you are going to publish once you rig is up and running 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Thank you! It should be up and running In February, I think. Just ordered de CDK 17 and L550 mount, so lets hope everything arrives on time!

By the way, did you opt for highspeed filters?

I have the MaxFr filters from Astronomik. But I am about to get Chromas optimized again.

Perfect! A bit off topic, but do you use the stock focuser of E-160ed?

Spacetime Pictures:
Epsilons are gaining traction at El sauce!

Yes! 😊 Good to know you are there too!

Rafael Sampaio:
Aygen:
Rafael Sampaio:
Aygen:
Rafael Sampaio:
Aygen:
I had the full set of filters from Chroma - entirely satisfying and never had any issues like halos etc. Can’t sas that same with my current filters….

I am about to get Chroma again ! Yes, expensive but worth the investment from my perspective !

It boils down to personal choice. If budget isn’t an issue, “cry once” !

Thanks! I am going to Obstech too, with a CDK 17 + Tak E160ed. Must confess your pictures are an inspiration for me 😊

I already bought a Chroma set for the CDK 17, and deciding if I should do the same for the E-160ed. But l perfectly understand when you say “cry once”

You are going to love Obstech !!!! And what a beautiful setup that you have Rafael. Can’t wait to see what you are going to publish once you rig is up and running 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Thank you! It should be up and running In February, I think. Just ordered de CDK 17 and L550 mount, so lets hope everything arrives on time!

By the way, did you opt for highspeed filters?

I have the MaxFr filters from Astronomik. But I am about to get Chromas optimized again.

Perfect! A bit off topic, but do you use the stock focuser of E-160ed?

I have the Leo from Optec !

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