What are everybody’s favorites and what objects do you find each type work best on ?
2 Likes
@Starrancher , I’ve never used any filter and personally have no idea. I’ve got a 130p newt and how would those filters help the visibility? Can they make a huge difference?
2 Likes
For nebula there are basically 3 filters you will want. A Oiii filter, a narrowband and a H Beta. The H Beta is the one everyone seems to use when they go after the Horsehead. For me the Oiii is the one i use the most
4 Likes
Hi:
Nebula filters help to contrast image.
They constrain light that allow pass in some bands such Halpha, Hbeta or OIII.
Depending on what nebula you want to observe, you’ll use a Halpha for HII Nebula or a OIII for planetary nebula.
Besides, there are other filters to fight light pollution, cutting some bands from street lights, improving the quality of image.
Regards
3 Likes
Right . I’m aware of what they do . I started the thread to get opinions on what are people’s favorites and what filters they feel work best on various objects . In my experience it’s not always the filter that you might think is the best for a certain object and I’ve found objects that are actually better without a filter at all . I’ve logged all my observations over time and found that things aren’t always improved by using the filters or the filter that was “supposed” to be the recommended filter for the particular object . I’m guessing it’s somewhat subjective .
For me it seems like a Oiii filter is the one I use on most nebula followed by a narrowband.
1 Like
Thank you very much 
2 Likes
I should get some and give a try!
2 Likes
They aren’t cheap . I think I’ve got at least $500 in Nebula filters .
That’s actually too much for me!
1 Like
Yeah , you’re looking at about $100 per each maybe a bit more by now . I bought mine back in 2008 or so .
Mine are all 1.25 inch . I only use 1.25 inch eyepieces so … . They’re also made in the 2 inch format which are slightly higher in price of course
I will look for those 
1 Like
It’s fairly expensive. Start out with a narrowband if you can only afford one .
I would hate to think about how much i have in filters. They are all at least 100 a pop now days and i have both 1.25 inch and 2 inch.
1 Like
Mine are all Meade filters . They were great stuff but needless to say , they are now unobtainium .
1 Like
Mine are all Orion except for the Baader Contrast Booster
1 Like
I’ve got a Baader Semi Apo
Oh , I’ve got a Baader Hyperion Zoom eyepiece too . Rarely use it .
I tried the Baader Mk IV zoom once. Its the only Baader eyepiece i have ever seen in the wild lol
1 Like
They make nice stuff . I just never saw the need to spend anymore than staying with my Meade Plossls . I’ve been to many a star party and tried all kinds of oculars through my own scopes and yeah , there was a set of Vixen oculars that I was really considering as a possible upgrade , but when I had a chance to try them , I couldn’t detect an improvement other than one out of the entire set and any improvement was so negligible that there was no way I could justify 5 times the price . And I don’t really need wide field pieces since I have the Schmidt Newtonian . I get the entire Andromeda galaxy with a 26mm Plossl so …
The only thing I can’t grab in its entirety is the Pleiades , That’s a binocular object IMHO .
I know the expansive apparent FOV of 68 or 82 or 100 degree oculars are a desirable thing for some but as far as image quality goes , it tough to beat a good Plossl .