9 replies to this topic

[Ptarmigan]

I notice that the Antlia RGB Ultra Filter just came out and is a triband filter. I wonder how it compares to other triband filters. They claim it can be used on galaxies and other broadband objects.

 

http://www.antliafil...m/pd.jsp?id=136

https://www.cloudyni...

Edited by Ptarmigan, 28 January 2023 - 11:18 PM.

[nicknacknock]

Have one on order and should have it next month. I want to see how it performs Vs the duo band I have..

[MarMax]

Here is what I've done so far with the Antlia RGB Ultra filter.

 

M42 and scroll down to Post #10296 for Thor's Helmet.

 

Medusa Nebula

 

Monkey Head Nebula

 

There is also a post in the Beginning DSI forum on this filter.

 

I've only used it one night so far. It's pretty far out in terms of blue and changes the color palette quite a bit as you can see in M42 and Thor's Helmet.

[johnpd]

I have only used mine briefly for one night on M42 as well. The Running Man (a reflection nebula) did not seem as bright as with a standard UV/IR filter so I am wondering if some of the good blue is being cut out.

 

JohnD

[MarMax]

Here is a few more images with the RGB Ultra filter.

 

The Rig: Losmandy G11G, Orion Optics UK VX8, ASI294MC with Antlia RGB Ultra filter

 

More details with the images in my Gallery. All are SharpCap live stacks, saved as seen and full size (just reduced to meet the 1600px format).

 

M33, [60" / 21'], Link to Large

 

 

M1, [30" / 15'], Link to Large

 

 

M81 and M82, [30" / 15.5'], Link to Large

 

 

NGC 2903 and NGC 2916, [30" / 15'], Link to Large

 

 

[steveincolo]

Here is a few more images with the RGB Ultra filter.

 

The Rig: Losmandy G11G, Orion Optics UK VX8, ASI294MC with Antlia RGB Ultra filter

 

More details with the images in my Gallery. All are SharpCap live stacks, saved as seen and full size (just reduced to meet the 1600px format).

 

M33, [60" / 21'], Link to Large

 

 

 

M1, [30" / 15'], Link to Large

 

 

 

M81 and M82, [30" / 15.5'], Link to Large

 

 

 

NGC 2903 and NGC 2916, [30" / 15'], Link to Large

 

Ooh, M82, nice detail!  I've got to return to this.  NGC 604 is very bright in M33, but I see other patches of nebulosity.  Did a nice job on M1, too.

[MarMax]

Here's a couple more images with the Antlia RGB Ultra filter.

 

I'm finding that this filter for "live" EAA work is not ideal but it really works nicely with some post-processing.

 

Linking since they are post-processed.

 

EDITED to say I added a third image (M97 and M108) to the above post.

Edited by MarMax, 17 February 2023 - 05:17 PM.

[nicknacknock]

MarMax,

 

Any of those post-processing techniques available to augment the views during a live session in say SharpCap? I notice more stretching in the post processed images and of course much improved color balance, both of which can be done in SharpCap.

[MarMax]

MarMax,

 

Any of those post-processing techniques available to augment the views during a live session in say SharpCap? I notice more stretching in the post processed images and of course much improved color balance, both of which can be done in SharpCap.

I doubt the post workflow or anything even close could be done while live stacking. I'm saving 16-bit FITS files in addition to the "save exactly as seen" PNG files. I'm opening the FITS files in Astro Pixel Processor for stretching, noise reduction and calibration, and saving as TIFF. I'm opening the TIFFs in Photoshop 24 and running a series of plug-ins in addition to many other workflow steps. I'm mostly using the RC Astro plug-ins (GradientXTerminator, StarXTerminator and NoiseXTerminator). And sometimes finish with AFP-T sharpening.

 

All of the images loaded into My Gallery and presented here are low resolution (1600x1600 max) JPGs. When you look at a PNG side-by-side with a processed TIFF they are vastly different. A 1600x1600 JPG is 2Mb max and the typical full resolution TIFF is 50-150Mb depending on the sensor.

 

With good sky conditions, rig configuration and calibration frames you can get some really nice "save exactly as seen" PNG stacks. Especially with GC's, OC's and PN's, but for the faint fuzzies a live stack can always be improved with post work.

 

I've used the RGB Ultra filter four times now and IMO I've not found a live stack color balance that is better than what I get using an IDAS-LPS-D3 or UV/IR cut filter. It took some post-processing for me to see the value of the RGB Ultra filter. For live stack viewing I'd pass on the RGB Ultra in favor of another light pollution reduction filter (L-Pro, IDAS-LPS-D3, etc.).

 

I know there is a lot of red in everything astro, but I'm much more appreciative of any color other than red. M42 with a UV/IR filter is my favorite palette. The RGB Ultra is a bit too red for my taste.

[nicknacknock]

Sigh, need to try then with both this and my UV/IR and decide which I like best. I had high hopes for this filter for EAA.