What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
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What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
I am very disappointed with this filter, the views were quite awful due to massive reflections.
I bought this thing to replace my old 1.25" filters which also suffered from quite a bit of reflection. But the 2" filter is way worse. I can't believe I wasted cash on this garbage.
Can anybody recommend a decent Moon filter with no reflections, no ghosting whatsoever? Also, what densities do you recommend for a C9.25? Is any variable polarisation filter out there that can do the job nicely? Or do you recommend single density filters instead?
I am looking forward to reading your answers.
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
Now my shades are far from perfect optically, but I haven't yet noticed any blur, waviness, reflections, scatter and what have you. I wonder, using a filter close to the eye may have it's benefits.
Using the filter on the far side of a diagonal it is putting it in a disadvantages position. The light cone from any feature on the moon is still quite wide there, and the chance that a wide portion of the filter is perfectly plan parallel is very slim. Using the filter closer to the focal plane would be better.
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
The B+W filters are quite flat and can be used wherever. For that flatness one pays a price, though. https://schneiderkreuznach.com/en/photo-opticsRuud wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2020 11:49 pm I use no filter at all: zero distortion and no reflections. The full Moon is unpleasantly bright that way, which becomes better with sunglasses on, but when full the Moon is quite boring anyway so I just ignore it.
Now my shades are far from perfect optically, but I haven't yet noticed any blur, waviness, reflections, scatter and what have you. I wonder, using a filter close to the eye may have it's benefits.
Using the filter on the far side of a diagonal it is putting it in a disadvantages position. The light cone from any feature on the moon is still quite wide there, and the chance that a wide portion of the filter is perfectly plan parallel is very slim. Using the filter closer to the focal plane would be better.
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
Normally when doing lunar observing I just do not let my eyes become dark adapted and the view is not bright.
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
I agree that it's the best to avoid extra optical elements, but above a certain
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
Don't buy this:Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:29 am I use B+W and Hoya polarizers when I do use them, can you post a link to the filter you purchased?
Normally when doing lunar observing I just do not let my eyes become dark adapted and the view is not bright.
https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/pr ... neten.html
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
I checked out their website but I did not find any info about whether they make filters for 1.25" eyepieces. Do you know if they do?notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2020 11:15 pm I use B+W Professional neutral density filters 2x, 4x, and 8x. Very high optical quality!
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
I've never looked for the 1.25" diameter. All I have are the 2" and that's all I use.stewe wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:50 amI checked out their website but I did not find any info about whether they make filters for 1.25" eyepieces. Do you know if they do?notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2020 11:15 pm I use B+W Professional neutral density filters 2x, 4x, and 8x. Very high optical quality!
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
The Orion ND filters are worthless. I am surprised that the color filters work for you. My experience was that they are as bad as the ND filters optically. They aren't optically flat for one thing. My color filters are all Baader. I ditched the Orion filters years ago and replaced them.
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
Were you using the two pieces together or seperated?stewe wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:42 amDon't buy this:Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:29 am I use B+W and Hoya polarizers when I do use them, can you post a link to the filter you purchased?
Normally when doing lunar observing I just do not let my eyes become dark adapted and the view is not bright.
https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/pr ... neten.html
One piece on the diagonal nosepiece and one on the eyepiece?
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
No, I used them together on the diagonal nosepiece.Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 6:29 pmWere you using the two pieces together or seperated?stewe wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:42 amDon't buy this:Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:29 am I use B+W and Hoya polarizers when I do use them, can you post a link to the filter you purchased?
Normally when doing lunar observing I just do not let my eyes become dark adapted and the view is not bright.
https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/pr ... neten.html
One piece on the diagonal nosepiece and one on the eyepiece?
The vendor's description says: "The brightness adjustment is achieved by rotating the lower part of the filter".
I also wanted to try them together on the eyepiece, but by eye I judged that they would probably be too long for the latter, so I decided I'd rather not try it.
Do you think using them separately would give better results? If so, why?
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
So what's your experience, are the Baader filters any good?notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 5:11 pmThe Orion ND filters are worthless. I am surprised that the color filters work for you. My experience was that they are as bad as the ND filters optically. They aren't optically flat for one thing. My color filters are all Baader. I ditched the Orion filters years ago and replaced them.
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
When you want to vary the density, turn the eyepiece.
That should get rid of your reflection issue. This can also occur when stacking different filters so the seperation is rather common thing to do.
Baader does make good filters, like anything though someone else may make the best.
The majority of my filters are Baader though.
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
I see. I have to admit, I also had trouble finding any B+W filters in the 2" size online, all I saw at European vendors' sites were various filters for camera lens sizes.notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 5:08 pmI've never looked for the 1.25" diameter. All I have are the 2" and that's all I use.stewe wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:50 amI checked out their website but I did not find any info about whether they make filters for 1.25" eyepieces. Do you know if they do?notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2020 11:15 pm I use B+W Professional neutral density filters 2x, 4x, and 8x. Very high optical quality!
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
They do not make astro sizes, you can buy standard 48mm or 46mm filters with a 48-46mm step down ring.stewe wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 8:14 pmI see. I have to admit, I also had trouble finding any B+W filters in the 2" size online, all I saw at European vendors' sites were various filters for camera lens sizes.notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 5:08 pmI've never looked for the 1.25" diameter. All I have are the 2" and that's all I use.
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
I will give it a shot if I have a chance and let you know what I found. Yet I still can't think of any obvious reason why would it work better that way, and if it indeed does, why on Earth do the manufacturers suggest otherwise. For example, the Baader tuneable polfilter cannot even be taken apart, according to their website. Also, I thought that by using the two parts together on the diagonal would allow me to use it also for 1.25" eyepieces, which would then not be the case.. Schade!Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 8:11 pm try one part on the nosepiece and one part on the eyepiece.
When you want to vary the density, turn the eyepiece.
That should get rid of your reflection issue. This can also occur when stacking different filters so the seperation is rather common thing to do.
Baader does make good filters, like anything though someone else may make the best.
The majority of my filters are Baader though.
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Re: What's a good Moon (neutral density) filter?
Using the filter in two pieces give you the convenience of tuning from the eyepiece instead of having to remove the diagonal/ eyepiece to turn it and then check if it is enough.
I cannot comment on the Baader but it is likely sealed for a reason.
Coatings and glass shape can cause many different filters to reflect and separation usually will stop the issue.
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
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