Filter Upgrade Time - Antlia Quad Band? - Forums

Topic starter

Dec 9, 2023 · Edited: Dec 9, 2023

Hi folks:

I've been imaging with from my Bortle 7/8 backyard for a few years now, and I'm starting to wonder if it might be time to consider upgrading the filters I'm using. I use an Optolong L-eXtreme for Ha/OIII targets which I've been really happy with, and an L-Pro for everything else - galaxies, star clusters, etc. I image with a Zenithstar 61 and an ASI533MC-Pro.

My subs usually come in around 3-4 degrees FWHM with guiding around 0.4-0.6 RMS (if the ASIAIR is to be believed) on a good night, so I'm thinking my seeing isn't super, and perhaps switching to new Ha/OIII filter with narrower bandpasses would be a bit of a fool's errand - I'd just have to increase my exposure time and lose any improvement in detail due to nominal guiding error and atmospheric distortion over time. But I wonder if I might consider replacing the L-Pro filter.

Optolong's replacement, the L-Quad Enhance, doesn't seem to offer much of an improvement in the side-by-side comparisons I've seen, but the new Antlia Quad Band filter looks like it produces fewer gradients and better contrast, especially on my end of the Bortle scale. Reviews of this new filter seem pretty scarce, butthis one caught my eye last night.

My biggest worry is that the NIR it passes might produce some unexpected issues with my Zenithstar doublet, as I understand NIR may not come to focus at the same point as visible RGB. Secondary to this concern, this new approach to to broadband light pollution filters - where desirable bandpasses are "notched in", rather than the old approach where undesireable bandpasses were "notched out" - seems a lot more restrictive of light, and I wonder if I'll be losing fainter detail & luminosity. The reviewer I linked to has a remarkable test of M45 where the Antlia produces very good results, so I'm intrigued.

What do you folks think of this filter? Is it a good upgrade from the L-Pro or am I asking for trouble? Should I, instead, be looking at Ha/OIII filters and keeping the L-Pro?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, and CS!
Mark

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Rob Lyons

Dec 9, 2023

I have recently picked one up and haven’t fully made up my mind yet. The las fee clear nights I’ve had have been around the full moon and I shoot from a Bortle 9, so very difficult conditions. The colour balance is better than the L-Pro, and it provides much better contrast. The red really picks up hydrogen alpha quite well, almost no need for an additional filter. The infrared does add more detail to the shot, it is obvious when I compare it to the L-Pro and Antlia Triband filters. I would say it is the best light pollution filter if you shoot in extremely high light pollution and you’re crazy enough to go after broadband targets… on a full moon. I’ll have some images up soon.

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Mark Germani

Topic starter

Dec 9, 2023

Hey Rob! That’s really neat that you’re testing this filter. I don’t think I’d be quite so brazen as to go for broadband targets on a moonlit night, but as long as it offers better detail and contrast than the L-Pro, I’m interested. I can’t wait to see your test images!

CS,
Mark

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DavidT

Dec 9, 2023

I just got one a few days ago. Shot M33 with it. I'm very impressed with it. It will replace my L-Pro in my Filter Wheel.

Dan H. M.

Dec 9, 2023

With a 61mm refractor the quadband would only help you with M31 and to a lesser extent M33. It won’t do much of anything on reflection nebulae, especially from B7-8.

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Philip F.

Dec 9, 2023

How about matching your L-Extreme with an Askar D2 or and Alp-T S-Hb? Lee Pullen at urbanastrophotography.com has some interesting things to say about the combo.

https://urbanastrophotography.com/index.php/2021/06/14/my-astrophotography-kit/

BryanHudson

Dec 9, 2023

I just returned Antlia quadband filter because of halos. Was looking for something better/different than my Optolog L-Pro. Reviews were good, perhaps mine was defective.

Monty Chandler

Dec 9, 2023

Like you I use the L-Pro for reflection nebula, clusters, and galaxies. I use the radian ultra quad-band for emission targets. I've been shooting the vdB reflection targets this winter before galaxy season. I've just put the antila quad-band light pollution on my rc8 rig with the asi071mc. I've seen an immediate difference in gradients, especially from the moonlight. I just completed vdB141 using it and am very happy with the filter. Also shooting C5 and hope to complete that target this month.

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BryanHudson

Dec 10, 2023 · Edited: Dec 10, 2023

Happy for your good result. Unfortunately, my result was not good. Halos were severe.
It was suggested that I add a UVIR cut filter to the optical train.
This was the only filter with halos, so I can live without it rather than add more glass to the train

Monty Chandler

Dec 10, 2023 · Edited: Dec 10, 2023

BryanHudson:
Happy for your good result. Unfortunately, my result was not good. Halos were severe.
It was suggested that I add a UVIR cut filter to the optical train.
This was the only filter with halos, so I can live without it rather than add more glass to the train

I have it paired with the 071mc camera with AR glass instead of the IR/cut on the 2600MC. The tri-band might be more appropriate for the 2600mc's ir/cut glass? Will continue to test the filter as fortunately it's relatively cheap. I see you're using the 533mc with its ar glass as well. I'll keep an eye out for halos.
CS

BryanHudson

Dec 10, 2023 · Edited: Dec 10, 2023

Thanks,
I've already returned Antlia quadband. I'm doing well with my other broad and narrow band filters in the EFW: L-Pro, L-Enhance, SVBony SV220 Dual narrowband (a surprisingly good filter!), UHC, and UV/IR. None of these exhibit halos with my gear. I also shoot with Canon 70D

Mark Germani

Topic starter

Dec 10, 2023

Philip F.:
How about matching your L-Extreme with an Askar D2 or and Alp-T S-Hb? Lee Pullen at urbanastrophotography.com has some interesting things to say about the combo.

https://urbanastrophotography.com/index.php/2021/06/14/my-astrophotography-kit/

I remember reading that review. That’s a really interesting idea. I see a lot of great work done with that D2 plus a traditional dual-band.

My biggest hesitation is that we get relatively few clear nights on the Pacific west coast. My concern is that I’d be splitting my narrowband sessions between two filters, and maybe being stuck with incomplete or low integration times when clouds come and I’m stuck for weeks before I can have another go. Would I be better off focusing on Ha and OIII and getting a filter with narrower bandpasses?

If I did go the SII/? approach, I wonder how the Askar D2 would compare to the Antlia ALP-T with SII and Hb.

Thanks for the great idea!

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Mark Germani

Topic starter

Dec 10, 2023

BryanHudson:
Happy for your good result. Unfortunately, my result was not good. Halos were severe.
It was suggested that I add a UVIR cut filter to the optical train.
This was the only filter with halos, so I can live without it rather than add more glass to the train

See, that’s what I’m worried about too. I’ve already noticed that the halos are worse now that I’ve switched from my modified DSLR to the ASI533MC. Thanks for weighing in!

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Clint Lemasters

Jan 9, 2024 · Edited: Jan 9, 2024

First image with mine and I am happy with it!

Auriga Nebulae