108 replies to this topic

[gustavo_sanchez]

I have been doing a lot of imaging with my OPT Triad filter and struggled with color gradients in the image. I think it is because that filter has a 3 nm Ha passband that isn't well matched to the Bayer red filters in the camera. The images with the L-eNhance (which has a 10 nm Ha passband) filter are a breeze to process in comparison. I don't see any color gradients even for objects near my southern horizon in the Dallas light dome. I used PI's DBE process to extract a weak green background from these images. I find that after PCC, the colors are very good and bright. The after a histogram stretch and Curves processing the image looks ready to go. The only drawback that I have seen using this filter is that it is does not have a very good response on reflection nebulae (no narrowband filter woks on these broadband objects). Here is an image I took last night of the reflection nebula NGC 6914. The Ha emission nebula show up very well but the blue/white reflection nebula near the center of the image is still pretty weak after 2 hours of integration. I still love this filter.

NGC_6914_06_28_19_comp.jpg

I think you should try exposing "normal" RGB and combine both images to get both emission and reflection nebulae.

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[Zebenelgenubi]

I think you should try exposing "normal" RGB and combine both images to get both emission and reflection nebulae.

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That will work, but not from my backyard in Dallas.  I would need to travel about 100 miles to our clubs dark site in Oklahoma.

[elmiko]

Yes I agree about the broadband color not revealed using this filter. I use the same experience when I imaged the Cocoon Nebula. The dust around it never showed up. It's just dark in that area. 

Mike

[gustavo_sanchez]

It's just the nature of the filter. Even mono sensors with Narrowband filters can't pick up that signal because it's not meant to be. That needs at least a CLS filter if images from not so dark skies. Maybe the L-Pro?

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[elmiko]

It's just the nature of the filter. Even mono sensors with Narrowband filters can't pick up that signal because it's not meant to be. That needs at least a CLS filter if images from not so dark skies. Maybe the L-Pro?

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Hi, Gustavo, is it possible to combine my images from my osc without the L-eHance filter, and some with it? I know you can , just wondering if it would be worthwhile. I use Pixinsite.

Mike

[gustavo_sanchez]

Hi, Gustavo, is it possible to combine my images from my osc without the L-eHance filter, and some with it? I know you can , just wondering if it would be worthwhile. I use Pixinsite.
Mike

I would guess you can, just like people with mono sensors combine Ha with LRGB to create HaLRGB images

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[gustavo_sanchez]

It can be done with PixelMath

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[elmiko]

Thanks.  I will look into this. 

Mike 

[gustavo_sanchez]

Hey guys,

Finally! Being the OP and all, I was unmistakably absent of any contributions to this thread, so I would like to share the results of my first light using the L-eNhance filter. This is the Gamma Cygni Nebula, imaged over 2 nights for about 5 hours' worth of 180s exposures. Critique most welcome.

Equipment:

Orion EDX2 85mm refractor @ f5.3
Orion Atlas EQ-G
ZWO ASI294MC-Pro
Optolong L-eNhance 2" (obviously!)

This is Release Candidate 1 for this project:

gamma-cygni-RC1 by Gustavo Sanchez, on Flickr

[elmiko]

Outstanding Gustavo! So, how do you like the filter? 

[gustavo_sanchez]

Outstanding Gustavo! So, how do you like the filter?

To be honest, the filter performed much better than I expected. I tried to expose for a good amount to prevent getting a wrong impression resulting from a 'quick' test, and it shows. For this sort of Nebula shots, the filter is killer. Obviously, its usefulness will depend on the target.

I'm still wrapping my head at the insane amount of stellar dust I was able to gather with capture with a "Narrowband" filter... It looks like an incredibly contrasty RGB image.

The filter is definitively a keeper for this season.

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[elmiko]

Glad to hear that!👍

Edited by elmiko, 30 June 2019 - 11:24 PM.

[John Miele]

I just ordered an L-enhance filter and of course it's on backorder. A few days ago it was in stock... Anyway, looking forward to trying it on some of the summer nebulae!

[elmiko]

I just ordered an L-enhance filter and of course it's on backorder. A few days ago it was in stock... Anyway, looking forward to trying it on some of the summer nebulae!

John, OPT had it as of yesterday. 199.00 for the 2inch

Mike

[mxcoppell]

Guys, any first hand experience about the halo around bright stars with this filter? Would appreciate some examples.

[Zebenelgenubi]

Guys, any first hand experience about the halo around bright stars with this filter? Would appreciate some examples.

Here is a image of the Ha clouds in the region around the second magnitude star Sadr in the constellation Cygnus.  I am not proud of the focus in this shot and there is a small reflection nebula just to the left of Sadr that shouldn't be confused with any camera or filter induced artifact.  I have not seen any unusual halos associated with the filter.  I really am very happy with the filter's performance in my Bortle 8-9 backyard skies.

 

Edited by Zebenelgenubi, 07 August 2019 - 09:50 AM.

[mxcoppell]

Here is a image of the Ha clouds in the region around the second magnitude star Sadr in the constellation Cygnus.  I am not proud of the focus in this shot and there is a small reflection nebula just to the left of Sadr that shouldn't be confused with any camera or filter induced artifact.  I have not seen any unusual halos associated with the filter.  I really am very happy with the filter's performance in my Bortle 8-9 backyard skies.

 

Sadr_07_25_19_60_frames_PI.jpg

Thanks! I noticed that you are from the well-lit DFW as well! Just to say hello! Which city are you imaging from?

[elmiko]

Guys, any first hand experience about the halo around bright stars with this filter? Would appreciate some examples.

Hello mxcoppell, if you check out my Astrobin you can see a few images I took from my Bortle 7or8 skies using the L-eHance filter. It really keeps the stars under control. I shoot 300sec subs. Check out my M8, M20, Prawn, Cocoon and Crescent Nebulas.

Mike

[mxcoppell]

Thanks Mike. I did check out the image you made with the l-Enhance. Amazing. Especially I like the M8 - nice deep color. Although there are no perfect examples showing the performance on super bright stars, overall I think the filter did a good job controlling the tightness of the stars. I will test it out with the 168c. 

 

-Min

[Zebenelgenubi]

Thanks! I noticed that you are from the well-lit DFW as well! Just to say hello! Which city are you imaging from?

I do most of my imaging from my backyard in Plano, Tx.  

 

[elmiko]

Hey Zebenelgenubi, I have a good friend that lives just NE of you in McKinney!

Mike

[Mert]

I'm living in a Bortle class 6 zone without the stadium lights

switched on when there is a football match, then things

change to something like Bortle class 8 with the sky

looking like my flat panel!

[elmiko]

Sorry to hear that , Mert. That's too bad about the stadium lights. I live in an area between a red and white zone on the light pollution map. I can just make out Kochab in Ursa Minor.

Mike

[Mert]

I'm quit fortunate to have 2 or 3 very dark sites at about 100km

driving distance, so that's not too far away for a nice long

imaging session!

[Zebenelgenubi]

I'm quit fortunate to have 2 or 3 very dark sites at about 100km

driving distance, so that's not too far away for a nice long

imaging session!

Yes the best light pollution filter is the limb of the earth.  Our astronomy club has a dark site in Oklahoma about 90 miles north of my house.  That's were I go to capture reflection nebula and galaxies.  I can do pretty good work from my backyard on emission nebulae.  Here is the Lagoon from Bortle 8-9 Plano, Texas captured with the L-eNhance filter on my ZWOASI294MC camera.  I don't think I could have done much better from the dark site.