Which Filter set for Mono narrowband Imaging? - Forums

Topic starter

26 days ago

Hi there. I just aquired my first mono camera (ZWO ASI 585 MM pro) and i made the mistake to buy the cheapest SHO narrowband filters possible (the SV227 filter set). I now suffer from severe haloing. Although other than the halos the filters are actually not that bad considering, i get good signal. Anyway i am here to ask the question to the more experienced guys out here:
Which brand offers halo free filter set? I dont mind wider band like 7nm for example and it has to be 2" mounted filters. I know i will have to spend some money on this but as little as possible would be ideal.

andrea tasselli

Frequent contributor

26 days ago

Chroma. Ain't the cheapest tough. Just the opposite. Other than that I haven't found halos (at f/4) with either Baader Ha filter (6.5nm) and Astrodon OIII filter (6nm). Both 1.25" version.

Gamaholjad

26 days ago

I've found the Antlia range good for starting. I use dark series lrgb. And 3.0nm ha,sii,oii for nebula. Reasonable pricing. I originally started with zwo filters and couldn't get on with them. Have fun with your mono camera opens up so many options, and processing is fun too.

Quinn Groessl

IOTD Staff

26 days ago · Edited: 26 days ago

Good luck completely getting rid of halos. Generally you have to pay up to do that. AgenaAstro in their disclaimer for halos with Antila filters recommends Chroma or Astrodon filters. No matter what you're going to be paying up, especially if you're insisting on 2" filters.

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Brian

26 days ago

Hi,

I own the 585 Mono by ToupTek.
Im using the 1,25" ToupTek filterset.
https://www.touptekastro.com/en-eu/products/sho-filters?variant=50556267266360
https://www.touptekastro.com/en-eu/products/lrgb-filters
I also own the 36mm set for my IMX571.

No issues so far.

When you like to buy filters with a better reputation and quality (ToupTeks are good so far) take a look at Astronomik or Chroma.
I know several people with Astronomik. They are using the filters with fasters then f4 with no problems.

https://www.astronomik.com/en/Narrowband-Filters/HSO/
They have 12nm and 6nm in different sizes.

Chroma is quiet expensive.
But they offer filters with the same or better quality as Astronomik with tighter bands.

Helpful

ScottF

Frequent contributor

26 days ago

Chroma filters. I can only dream of owning them at this point.

Well Written

Astro Hopper

26 days ago

Antlia, good quality for reasonable price!!! I use them LRGB and 4,5 EDGE for SHO and no halos at all. And above all good contrast in narrowband set. I shoot from Bortle 7 and up until now had no issues wit them:

Arun H

Frequent contributor

26 days ago

Quinn Groessl:
Good luck completely getting rid of halos. Generally you have to pay up to do that. AgenaAstro in their disclaimer for halos with Antila filters recommends Chroma or Astrodon filters. No matter what you're going to be paying up, especially if you're insisting on 2" filters.

Astrodon of today isn't the Astrodon of old after Don sold his business.

Chroma is probably the only real option.

Pretty reputable imagers seem to be having good luck with Antlia, but there are varying opinions on this. With Chroma, you get consistency and support, at a price.

ScottF

Frequent contributor

26 days ago

If I could stomach the price, I'd get Chroma, but it's pricey for a half-baked imager like myself. lol

Dane Vetter

26 days ago

Hi,

I have been using Astronomik filters for years and am very satisfied. I think they are very good value for money and I have not had any problems with halos so far. The filters from Chroma and Astrodon are out of proportion for me, and unfortunately even these manufacturers are not exempt from halos.

https://www.astronomik.com/en/Narrowband-Filters/

Seung-Jun Kim

26 days ago

Based on my personal experience using Antlia, Optolong, Baader, and Astronomik filters, I personally prefer Antlia over the others. Antlia consistently produced very minimal halos, which significantly improved the quality of my images.

Additionally, Antlia filters are priced in a more affordable range, offering great value for their performance.

I do acknowledge that Chroma and Astrodon filters are superior in terms of quality. In nearly every comparison, they exhibit less halo and better peak transmission. However, their cost is roughly 3 to 4 times higher, which makes them less accessible for many users.

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Dan Kohn

26 days ago

I am also just starting out in Mono narrowband, and I went with the Scorpio SHO set (5nm, 3nm is about $100 more), a bit over $400 for the set. I had seen excellent reviews on Cloudy nights, and so far no issues, no halos. They are available on Aliexpress. https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/938884-short-review-of-the-scorpio-3nm-sho-filters-on-aliexpress/?hl=%2Bscorpio+%2Bnarrow+%2Bband#entry13784240, example image: https://www.astrobin.com/6thckp/B/, https://www.astrobin.com/yvcpph/F/

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Tony Gondola

Frequent contributor

26 days ago

Brian:
Hi,

I own the 585 Mono by ToupTek.
Im using the 1,25" ToupTek filterset.
https://www.touptekastro.com/en-eu/products/sho-filters?variant=50556267266360
https://www.touptekastro.com/en-eu/products/lrgb-filters
I also own the 36mm set for my IMX571.

No issues so far.

When you like to buy filters with a better reputation and quality (ToupTeks are good so far) take a look at Astronomik or Chroma.
I know several people with Astronomik. They are using the filters with fasters then f4 with no problems.

https://www.astronomik.com/en/Narrowband-Filters/HSO/
They have 12nm and 6nm in different sizes.

Chroma is quiet expensive.
But they offer filters with the same or better quality as Astronomik with tighter bands.

I have had the same experience with my ATR585M from touptek. All of the filters L,R,G.B, Ha, Oiii and Sii work just fine with no halos.

Well Written Concise

jmdl101

26 days ago

Dan Kohn:
I am also just starting out in Mono narrowband, and I went with the Scorpio SHO set (5nm, 3nm is about $100 more), a bit over $400 for the set. I had seen excellent reviews on Cloudy nights, and so far no issues, no halos. They are available on Aliexpress. https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/938884-short-review-of-the-scorpio-3nm-sho-filters-on-aliexpress/?hl=%2Bscorpio+%2Bnarrow+%2Bband#entry13784240, example image: https://www.astrobin.com/6thckp/B/, https://www.astrobin.com/yvcpph/F/

That's the thread I started on cloudynights, and I'm still loving my Scorpio filters. I just ordered a 36mm LRGB and 5nm SHO set. I think they're out of stock on 1.25" 5nm SHO right now, but they restock fairly often.

Well Written

Lynn K

26 days ago

I use Astronomic 6nm MaxFR for Ha & SII. Chroma F3 3nm OIII. Al are are halo free.

If you are slower than F4, you don't need the MaxFR and can use the regular Astronomic 6 or 12 nm.

Lynn K.

HR_Maurer

IOTD Staff

26 days ago · Edited: 26 days ago

I use Chroma, and i dont have an issue with Halos i think. My older Baader filters (bought 2nd hand like 7 or 8 years ago) didnt have an issue, too, as far as i would tell.
However, when i bought my filters from Chroma (4-5 years ago? Antlia was just new), i had to check the transmission curve, and after checking it i had to discuss with some engineers, to get one replaced. The transmission wavelength had been unsuitable for the desired aperture ratio.
Chroma sent Transmission spectra, and these werent necessarily wrong, But you dont know exactly the incident engle and angle distribution in their spectrometer. And i cloud perform spectrometric measurements myself, including parametrization of the incidence angle.

Back then when i bought these filters, Chroma didnt cherry pick the filters for specific applications. I think they ran their coating process with certain parameters, and then sold their filters accordingly. If the transmission wavelength was a bit off, they didnt care. Back then, buying an Antlia filter could happen to give you better (and much cheaper) performance, since Antlia did cherry picking. As far as i know.
I dont buy NB filters so often, but i think Chroma changed that procedure some years ago. That's the benefit of competition! As far as i read, they're now cherry picking their filters, considering the transmisison peak blue shift for the desired aperture ratio.

Brian Diaz

26 days ago

HI

I use chroma , Antlia and astronomik.

My List :
Chroma
Astronomik
Antlia

CS
Brian

Arun H

Frequent contributor

26 days ago

Lynn K:
I use Astronomic 6nm MaxFR for Ha & SII. Chroma F3 3nm OIII. Al are are halo free.

If you are slower than F4, you don't need the MaxFR and can use the regular Astronomic 6 or 12 nm.

Lynn K.

I also have considered a mix and match approach where I’d use Chroma for OIII and cheaper filters for everything else. The problem is that you’d have to readjust your OAG focus when changing filters due to the different glass thickness.

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Anthony MICHEL

26 days ago

Dan Kohn:
I am also just starting out in Mono narrowband, and I went with the Scorpio SHO set (5nm, 3nm is about $100 more), a bit over $400 for the set. I had seen excellent reviews on Cloudy nights, and so far no issues, no halos. They are available on Aliexpress. https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/938884-short-review-of-the-scorpio-3nm-sho-filters-on-aliexpress/?hl=%2Bscorpio+%2Bnarrow+%2Bband#entry13784240, example image: https://www.astrobin.com/6thckp/B/, https://www.astrobin.com/yvcpph/F/

I also have bought a full filters set of Scorpio LRGBSHO 2" 3nm.
They work very well, halo free, very happy with the results.

Bruce Donzanti

26 days ago

I have two complete 2” mounted NB sets that I have used for years:

Chroma - on a C11” EdgeHD

Antlia - which have been used on several small refractors

I’ve never had any issues with either set. While Chroma is the king of filters, I bought mine many years ago before the ridiculous price hike.

Bottom line: Chroma if you have the budget but Antlia is a viable option that you will be very pleased with.

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Tony Gondola

Frequent contributor

25 days ago

Bruce Donzanti:
I have two complete 2” mounted NB sets that I have used for years:

Chroma - on a C11” EdgeHD

Antlia - which have been used on several small refractors

I’ve never had any issues with either set. While Chroma is the king of filters, I bought mine many years ago before the ridiculous price hike.

Bottom line: Chroma if you have the budget but Antlia is a viable option that you will be very pleased with.

If there are no issues with either set, what makes Chroma the king?

andrea tasselli

Frequent contributor

25 days ago

Money.

danieldh206

25 days ago

Tony Gondola:
Bruce Donzanti:
I have two complete 2” mounted NB sets that I have used for years:

Chroma - on a C11” EdgeHD

Antlia - which have been used on several small refractors

I’ve never had any issues with either set. While Chroma is the king of filters, I bought mine many years ago before the ridiculous price hike.

Bottom line: Chroma if you have the budget but Antlia is a viable option that you will be very pleased with.

If there are no issues with either set, what makes Chroma the king?

If you get halos with a Chroma filter, Chroma will exchange the filters, but I have never heard of anyone having halo issues with Chroma filters. With all other brands of filters, you are playing "halo roulette."
You don't need Chroma filters for LRGB, and most narrowband filters with a width of 6nm or greater will not have a significant halo problem. It is when you get into the 5nm or smaller bandpasses that halos become an issue.
I run a set of Antlia and Astrodon filters with no halo issues.

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andrea tasselli

Frequent contributor

25 days ago

Plenty of examples of halos with RGB filters and there is no systemic casual relationship between bandwidth and haloes.

Arpad R

25 days ago

Dan Kohn:
I am also just starting out in Mono narrowband, and I went with the Scorpio SHO set (5nm, 3nm is about $100 more), a bit over $400 for the set. I had seen excellent reviews on Cloudy nights, and so far no issues, no halos. They are available on Aliexpress. https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/938884-short-review-of-the-scorpio-3nm-sho-filters-on-aliexpress/?hl=%2Bscorpio+%2Bnarrow+%2Bband#entry13784240, example image: https://www.astrobin.com/6thckp/B/, https://www.astrobin.com/yvcpph/F/

I have also been looking at these filters for a while. Great price if the specs are true. I'm just worried about bandpass shift at f/4 and below which is why I've been mostly looking at 6nm/7nm filters.

Well Written