223 replies to this topic

[Craig_]

Yes, it fits. I also use this filter drawer and just ordered an extra filter holder. Now I have the L Pro and L eXtreme each in a holder for easy swapping.

Great, thanks for confirming! I've got a couple of spare filter holders, need to sort out some sort of decent storage for them to keep the filters in them when not in use. The standard case works but it just moves around a lot inside with no padding.

[vballrican]

Just another example of what can be done with the l-enhanced... cropped so it can be uploaded here. Thanks. 

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[Vividia]

some wonderful images for sure!  Thanks everyone for sharing.

 

I have the L-Pro and the L-Enhance, and the Extreme on order.  I am curious, assuming the same sky conditions, which of these 3 do you use for what targets?  I need to try and figure out where the Extreme will fit in the rotation, or maybe just do both Extreme and Enhance on same targets and stackem LOL.

[vballrican]

I would think having the l-extreme and l-enhance is counterproductive but that's just me. I use the L-Pro for galaxies and Clusters and the l-Enhance for nebulae... i think the wider spectrum of the l-enhance is better to capture detail otherwise not captured in a multi-"narrowband" filter. If i want to really capture just a specific wavelength, i would use mono.  

[mewmartigan]

some wonderful images for sure! Thanks everyone for sharing.

I have the L-Pro and the L-Enhance, and the Extreme on order. I am curious, assuming the same sky conditions, which of these 3 do you use for what targets? I need to try and figure out where the Extreme will fit in the rotation, or maybe just do both Extreme and Enhance on same targets and stackem LOL.

I sold my eNhance for the eXtreme. You don't need both. I use the L Pro for broadband targets like galaxies and the eXtreme for emission nebula.

[Huangdi]

some wonderful images for sure! Thanks everyone for sharing.

I have the L-Pro and the L-Enhance, and the Extreme on order. I am curious, assuming the same sky conditions, which of these 3 do you use for what targets? I need to try and figure out where the Extreme will fit in the rotation, or maybe just do both Extreme and Enhance on same targets and stackem LOL.

Once you have the L-Extreme, the L-Enhance can be sold or put away for eternity. There isn't a single case where it outperforms the L-Extreme, so you'd be best off selling it.

I'm no big fan of broadband filters such as the L-Pro, but you basically use it any time you're not shooting emission nebulae. For those you have the L-Extreme.

If you stack data from the L-Enhance with the L-Extreme the result is going to be major loss in contrast and quality of your images, especially in the green channel.

[jemarcks]

Has anybody had any experience with using the L-Extreme with a fast scope like the RASA8 f/2?  Does the 7nm band get shifted?

[Billx]

How would the L-Extreme hold up with a full moon?  Unfortunately, it seems that the clouds in my area only clear when the moon is bright.

[Huangdi]

How would the L-Extreme hold up with a full moon?  Unfortunately, it seems that the clouds in my area only clear when the moon is bright.

Ha wouldn't care much, Oiii will suffer. But Oiii will suffer even with 3nm Astrodons during a full moon. It'll do nicely.

[RogueZero]

I think I'm starting to figure it out, finally.

 

 

8 hours on the Butterfly using Extreme filter on an 80mm. No noise reduction, still has a ton of hot pixels, and Sadr is completely butchered... but it has blue!

[17.5Dob]

Any disadvantage to Optolong L-Extreme vs L-Enhance?

 

Yes, it's impossible to find.......

[elmiko]

 

Used the L-eNhance filter and UV-IR for the stars.

[Huangdi]

Used the L-eNhance filter and UV-IR for the stars.

That's really good! Nicely done.

[elmiko]

Thanks Julian! I look forward to getting the L-xtreme filter to compare!

[Scott Mitchell]

I think I'm starting to figure it out, finally.

 

Sadr1_8Hr_AddStars_x0.25.jpg

 

8 hours on the Butterfly using Extreme filter on an 80mm. No noise reduction, still has a ton of hot pixels, and Sadr is completely butchered... but it has blue!

So now you must reveal your secrets! 

Edited by Scott Mitchell, 24 August 2020 - 08:02 PM.

[Bretw01]

I am really liking my L_eNhance filter. I think any negative comments come from not properly using the filter. For me 5 minute subs are the minimum, shooting with an F5.8 scope. I have taken subs up to 20 minutes, but 5 to 10 are usually sufficient. 

 

Here are some recent examples:

 

NGC6960 Taken during the full moon, average phase 97.92%

 

 

M8 two hours integration

 

 

M17

 

 

3 hours on the Cats Eye

 

 

Similar to the OP's question, I would like to know if there is enough of an advantage to the L_Extreme, to purchase it since I have the L_eNhance.

[elmiko]

Nice Images Bret! I agree, I usually do 5 minute subs with my refractor. I have done 10 minute subs also. The 10 minute subs were really clean.

[bosh60]

This is in the context of me being a discouraged beginner.  I decided to try the L-Extreme after reading this thread (only used a UV-IR cut filter before). It arrived yesterday and this is my first image with it.  It's a game-changer for me. 

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Edited by bosh60, 26 August 2020 - 08:03 AM.

[Bretw01]

Nice Images Bret! I agree, I usually do 5 minute subs with my refractor. I have done 10 minute subs also. The 10 minute subs were really clean.

Thanks Mike. It was your work with this filter that made me decide to try it.  One of my better astro purchase decisions!

[elmiko]

Brent, nice image! Who did you order the L-xtreme from? I ordered from Agena Astro they are on backorder.

Edited by elmiko, 26 August 2020 - 12:53 PM.

[deonb]

Slowly raises his hand and asking sheepishly...

 

I've tried one of these for the last couple of nights through a ASI294MC, and though the results while good, they aren't better than I get with a monochrome ASI1600MM with even my cheap'o Ha and Oiii filters. And integrating monochrome images into color is many times simpler than extracting unwanted colors from a color image.

 

And the cost of a mini electronic filter wheel with the above-mentioned cheap'o Ha and Oiii filters are about the same price as an Optolong L-extreme filter.

 

So what is the appeal of the L-extreme? Is this mostly for EAA?

[beeboman82]

I'm not using PI, but I usually create a synthetic third layer made up from ha/oiii which gives the image more depth. It's tough to describe how the colors are achieved, I usually play around with color balance/channel mixer until I like it.

I have a duo band filter processing tutorial in the making though, perhaps that'll help you!

I would be interested in such a tutorial!

[Huangdi]

I would be interested in such a tutorial!

It's actually done already!

https://youtu.be/bEinmXFXEyk

I hope you can learn something from it.

[beeboman82]

Slowly raises his hand and asking sheepishly...

 

I've tried one of these for the last couple of nights through a ASI294MC, and though the results while good, they aren't better than I get with a monochrome ASI1600MM with even my cheap'o Ha and Oiii filters. And integrating monochrome images into color is many times simpler than extracting unwanted colors from a color image.

 

And the cost of a mini electronic filter wheel with the above-mentioned cheap'o Ha and Oiii filters are about the same price as an Optolong L-extreme filter.

 

So what is the appeal of the L-extreme? Is this mostly for EAA?

The cost comparison isn't quite fair though if one doesn't already have a mono camera (say $1300ish for the 1600 new).  I think the multi band is targeting those only with color cameras on hand, including those wanting to stick with DSLRs, and those wanting the simplicity of acquisition (probably not on processing as you mention) compared to mono.

 

I'm sure mono is better, but this thread has shown some very nice results with muli band on color.  I think the multi band opens up some satisfying new opportunities for some imagers.  For others, I suspect these filters might be the "gateway drug" to eventually going mono.

[TareqPhoto]

It depends on which multi band filter, because the one from OPT is already very expensive, i bought my ASI1600 last month or almost 2 months for $1075, consider i buy cheaper NB or LRGB filters, so that will be even less than $2000 total, if i add a filer wheel maybe yes, but how much is that filter multiband from OPT and how much is that 294MC anyway?