Opinions and Reviews for the Optolong LRGB set - Forums

Topic starter

May 30, 2025

Hello fellow astrophotography enthusiasts,

I'm seeking your opinions, especially from those who use the Optolong LRGB set in their mono astrophotography setups. I'm in the process of renewing my entire set of LRGB and SHO filters, and I've narrowed my options down to Optolong and Antlia for 2" LRGB filters.

I'm currently leaning towards the Antlia LRGB-V, but I need to consider the investment involved. One concern I have is the significant gap in the yellow wavelengths between the Red and Green filters, which bothers me. The Optolong filters have a narrower gap between bands and are nearly half the price. Besides, broadband filters are generally less demanding than narrowband ones, and in that department (narrowband), I'm quite satisfied with what I currently have.

I would appreciate feedback from users of the Optolong LRGB set, specifically your thoughts on the overall quality, whether the L, R, G, or B filters produce halos, and your general experience. Please share your honest opinions, and examples would be very helpful.

Most importantly: I kindly ask that you don’t try to persuade me to choose Antlia (just because is a Antlia brand), especially if you haven’t used either of these two sets. Money is a factor here, and don't have deep pockets and if I do go with the Antlia set, it will require some extra effort on my part to afford it.

Regards to all and CS,

Cesar

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Andre Vilhena

May 30, 2025

Hello César,

Since I haven't tried Antlia I can't tell you of they're better but what I can tell you is that I am using an Optolong LRGB set for two years now and I am perfectly fine with it - have no halos in the photos and the backgrounds are quite smooth - no issues whatsoever.

Cheers,
André

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Observatório Astrográfico do Boqueirão

Topic starter

May 30, 2025

Andre Vilhena:
Hello César,

Since I haven't tried Antlia I can't tell you of they're better but what I can tell you is that I am using an Optolong LRGB set for two years now and I am perfectly fine with it - have no halos in the photos and the backgrounds are quite smooth - no issues whatsoever.

Cheers,
André

Thank you my friend. That's what I wanted to hear. Like I said above: the main reason is to comprehend if the Optolong ones are a good investment and the opinions of people who actually use them, like you

Best regards,

Cesar

Brian Diaz

May 30, 2025

HI . ALL

Here I leave my list of favorites

First option

CHROMA
ASTRODON ( old version)

second option

ANTLIA
ASTRONOMIK

now about optolong, for me to much halos

CS
Brian

Tobiasz

May 30, 2025

I can recommend the Antlia Dark Series, no transmission gaps and halos.

José Manuel López Arlandis

May 30, 2025

I use a set of Optolong 2” LRGB filters and Optolong Hα-OIII-SII filters with 7-6.5-6.5 nm bandwidths. I have no complaints. I don't know what would happen if I switched to Antlia or Astrodon filters. I also don’t know if it would be worth replacing my Meade ACF 12” with a Planewave, or my SW EQ8R mount with an Astro-Physics one. Maybe my photos would improve a bit, but my diet would get a lot worse. I believe Optolong offers more than reasonable quality for its price.

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blastrophoto

May 30, 2025

I've been using Optolong LRGB filters for years now and I've never been disappointed. They perform wonderfully and produce no halos.

For SHO: I have used the 6.5/7nm filters and their new 3nm filters. I'd recommend the 3nm filters 100%. I have zero issues with these filters and they perform wonderfully. I would not recommend the 6.5/7 as I've seen irregular light pass throughout the FOV.

Hope this helps! You're welcome to look at my gallery for images taken with the optolongs. Clear skies

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Drew Hackney

May 30, 2025

I use this Optolong set as filters in my mono setup, which I think includes the 2" LRGB Optolong filters you're asking about: https://www.highpointscientific.com/optolong-2-filter-set-with-lrgb-h-alpha-sii-and-oiii-filters-lrgb-hasiioiii-200

I haven't had any issues with the filters. An example of an image I've taken with them is linked below. There is a halo around Alnitak, but it's Alnitak.

https://app.astrobin.com/u/dahackne?i=rtmj4u#gallery

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Bob Rucker

May 30, 2025

I started out with Optolong LRGB filters for my mono rig. I subsequently upgraded to Antlia Pro LRGB filters. I have noticed that the Antlia filters have a bit less fringing on the blue channel. In my opinion, the Optolong filters provide good performance for the price. Having experience with both filter sets, I think both options are good for LRGB with the Antlia's having a slight advantage.

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Observatório Astrográfico do Boqueirão

Topic starter

May 31, 2025 · Edited: May 31, 2025

Thank you all guys, you have givin me wonderfull insights in both filter sets!
Those opinions and examples helped me take a deeper decision on it and I'm checking also your profiles and images taken with those sets, and do come comparison!

Clear skies to all and thank you all one more time,

Cesar

Norman Hey

Jun 1, 2025

I too have the Optolong RGB filters. I have seen no significant issues with them since I have started using them. All RGB images in my gallery done with the 268M camera were made using them. I cannot speak to the Antlia filters, except to say that I am perfectly happy to have not spent extra money for them when the Optolong filters perform so well.

Good luck with your image comparisons. There is probably more variation in processing skill and output than can be attributed to filter brand.

Clear skies,

Norm

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patrice_so

Jun 1, 2025 · Edited: Jun 2, 2025

Hi here,

I use Optolong LRGB filters since last fall. So far, I am very happy with them. There is a light halo in the broadband blue on very bright stars, but unless you break the bank, you will get some. As you say, money is an issue and if it is, I think one can achieve great images with Optolongs.

I just got a Top Pick award using my Optolongs.
https://app.astrobin.com/u/patrice_so?i=zm4asw#gallery

And some Top pick nominations, too. Check my page
https://app.astrobin.com/u/patrice_so

Everything starting with my M33 was captured with the LRGB-SHO Optolong filter set. If there is something like mono-imaging on a budget, I believe that Optolong filters are really great value for money.

Today, another Top Pick was awarded to an image using Optolong. Its gorgeous :
https://app.astrobin.com/explore/iotd-tp-archive?i=hxqesw

Clear skies,

Patrice

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Jake K.

Jun 1, 2025

I was just in this predicament. The only thing that sold me on the Antlia LRGB set was the selection of SHO filters in stock I had at the time to choose from, wanting to keep it all one brand. I had been asking around to individuals I know in person or have met online that own the Optolong set and they didn't have any noticeable issues besides the normal offending bright stars. They look to me like pretty decent value for the price. I'm still somewhat new to this, and can only personally speak to the Antlia set and I have not seen an issue at all with them in the short time I've owned them through any of my test shots. My images wouldn't be a good judge of their quality, that's for sure, but I don't see halos or anything weird going on in my subexposures beyond the goofiness my newtonian is giving me as I'm slowly modifying it. I personally wouldn't recommend trying to stretch your budget on what is likely splitting hairs. Money's getting tight all over the place these days. Slight halos on bright stars is probably worth the free time gained and unnecessary stress avoided trying to go beyond your means, and that's if you even get halos that you notice. I actually would have preferred to save the money and get a full Optolong set. I am just too impatient a man for that. You can always upgrade down the line and sell off the filters if you don't like them.

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Dan R

Jun 2, 2025

I moved to a mono set-up around December last year and stumbled upon a set of 36mm unmounted LRGB SHO (3nm) Optolong filters on a second-hand astro site and snapped them up for a decent price. I've got them mounted in a Player One Phoenix wheel and I feel that I have no complaints at all with them.

Granted, I'm using a 73mm doublet that doesn't have the best optics so bright stars will inevitably look a bit bloated but I'm pretty happy with how my stars come out. The best example I have of an image using these filters with a bright star that could exhibit a large halo is my image of the Ghost of Cassiopeia, 'Navi'/Gamma-Cassiopeiae came out relatively ok in my opinion.

The true test though will be next Winter when I try and go after the Horsehead with the mono set-up, Alnitak will surely test these filters!

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GalacticRAVE

Jun 2, 2025

I used the 31mm Optolong LRGBs, and they are fine. I also have a set of Antlias, and don't see a difference in terms of haloes or so. One caution, however:
the Optolongs have a very broad wavelength coverage for each of the bands, and in particular the B and L open already well below 4000A (Baader does the same),
while the Antlias (like also Astrodon and Astronomik deep sky) open only at 4200 or so. This feature of Optolong & co is good if you want to maximize intake of light
but if you have chromatic issues with your scope or reducer, Antlia & co may be a better choice. CS Matthias

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