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Televue Planetary Filter Feedback?


scarp15

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There has been a couple of threads concerning this filter as I recall a while back, which brought to attention this, at the time, new addition filter from Televue. Anyhow with Jupiter season soon approaching, which this filter is primarily (in addition to Saturn) I believe designed to enhance, I would like to ask opinions from anyone who has previously used this for any feedback and perhaps the type of scope(s) they were using. My aim is to attempt to set up the 14" dob for this in the backyard, as well as more typical use at dark sites.  

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I have never used this filter Iain. Hopefully someone will be along soon that has. I find the Baader Neodymium helps a lot on Mar, Jupiter and the moon in terms of increased contrast and detail visible. It seems to shift the colour balance into the blue slightly which suggests to me it's comparable with a light blue filter which is often suggested for similar applications.

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I was so impressed with what I read I ordered one but it has never arrived (9 months), this is not the UK. I am surprised TS in German have not managed to nail one down but that is how it is. I would like one very much but sadly Telescope House have a one charge shipping fee up to about 30kg and that is about 30 quid. Seems rather a lot for something which weighs a few grams. So nothing doing here at the moment.

There are about 4 on site that have bought them and all are migthy impressed with them.

Alan.

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I initiated the thread earlier this year.  The filter is excellent and others concurred.  I used it in my 4' refractor and delivered an excellent view (also the case when I put it in my 8" sct).  It definitely enhanced the viewing in all respects. 

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I certainly hope it's not like the fast one Orion in the US is trying to pull:

http://www.telescope.com/Accessories/Telescope-Eyepiece-Filters/125-Orion-Jupiter-Observation-Eyepiece-Filter/pc/-1/c/3/sc/48/p/101703.uts

If one looks carefully at this, it will be evident this nothing more than a standard 80A blue-filter, which are available all over the map for far less than the price on this. Including from Orion itself at $12.50 as part of a 4-filter set for $49.95. But I'll go track down the TeleVue offering.

Certified Filter-Nut,

Dave

ps - thanks for bringing this to my attention.

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Hi there, I was also involved with the earlier thread and bought one as a result to use in my 4" refractor, and have to say I was dead impressed with it's effect on Jupiter, real colour enhancement and good sharp image, to the extent that I will never look at Jupiter again without it.  Not sure how it will perform in a larger Dob, with the extra light-gathering power I would expect it to perform pretty well.  Not had chance to try it on Saturn yet.  One of my best ever buys.

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I just wish I could get one without paying a lot for postage.

Alan

Alan

Could you not try and arrange to order one through Agena astro and have it sent to say family or friends connections in UK? Perhaps inquire if someone from UK would place the order for you - Agena Astro - Ebay shop, and then forward it onto you from UK, unless you aim on planning a visit sometime. Could be the cheapest solution.

I ordered one of these last night via agena astro (Ebay shop) it has already been dispatched, the third purchase I have made via this retailer and they have them in stock so no waiting around. All all items have been Televue, and as Robin has mentioned on previous threads, recommend them highly  :smiley:

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Scarp 15,

Not a bad idea but I am the only remaining member of my family and I don't really want to trouble anyone else (cousins). It will not be long before I cannot resist the Ethos 4.7mm and I will have the two items delivered in one parcel. I almost pressed send earlier after writing an e-mail to TH, I am not sure I can hold out much longer. The other rather shameful thing is they will only allow 300 quid transfers now from a B Acc to a seller, you can transfer more but you have to get permission and that takes about two weeks, they call it progress.

Alan. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I tried mine on Jupiter for the first time last night with my new 22".

Have to say, trying it with and without the filter, it made a massive difference with the filter in place.

The trouble without the filter is the brightness of the planet with the big mirror, the filter tones this down allowing the detail the increased apperture can show. It also improves the contrast and makes features much easier to see.

Unlike colour filters there is also no colour cast to the view allowing a very natural look.

With the 10mm ethos and the tele vue filter (x188 mag) Jupiter was simply stunning last night, despite the fog which I was battling against. Conditions were not great but I could easily make out the whispy weather in the main bands and on the bottom (actual top really I guess - reflector) of the planet.

Like Robin I will always add this to the eyepiece now for planets. Great bit of kit!

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Thanks for that review Simon, sounds like a great night. I have the filter in my eyepiece case and look forward to using it with the VX14. If full aperture will allow then toning down the brightness as you indicate could be quite revealing. I now thanks to Shane's advice, have an aperture mask (just under 6") ready to try out to. 

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I also got my first chance to use the televue filter last night in my 4 inch refractor. I know I'm in a minority here but I was disappointed. To me it put an orange cast over Jupiter and it didn't reveal any more detail. I compared it my baader moon and sky glow and much preferred the baader which in my opinion gave a more natural view and made the details such as the shadow transit and GRS easier to see.

I'll continue to test it on other nights with other scopes since the reviews have been so positive but I can see me not using it much.

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I did get a chance to try the Planetary filter on Jupiter in my 16 inch dob last weekend, using Delos eyepieces.

First I had no filter. Hmmm, not bad. Then popped in the Planetary. I had a nice big smile on my face, superior view to my eye. The colour reminded me of the beautiful photos you see, and I could see more detail, no question. However, this is where things get muddy...

Took the filter off again, and to my surprise, the level of detail seemed the same. The loss in that pretty colour minimal. Huh? I tried this a few times. The gain the filter had over the first view seemed to have more or less disappeared.

Thinking about it later and chatting with my other half who is astro mad too, we concluded that the view through the filter *was* better and once the brain was tuned in better to the detail that was there, it was able to manage a lot better without filter than before.

I think this may be a little related to what Swamp Thing said about a big dob possibly helping you see more in smaller scopes. Think he might be onto something.

And my wife Sarah recalled that she has better colour for astro with her left eye, even though her right eye is dominant. If she uses her left eye on Jupiter then swaps back to her right eye, the right eye then works better for colour! So I think once the brain has picked up some strong clues, it helps aid your vision?

So this is making me think it could be quite tricky to do a decent shoot-out. I have no regrets buying mine, should last a very long time.

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That's a really interesting observation Luke. For me, taking the filter away again degraded the view but, now you come to mention it, possibly not as much as the first go without it......I will have to try it again and see. 

You don't think the conditions/seeing suddenly improved when you added the filter do you? Be a bit of a coincidence I guess. 

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I think you may be right, Luke. The brain sees very much what it knows should be there. This is also why taking your time on a planet to tease out the detail is so important. I have often noticed that after one or two of those fleeting moments of good seeing, the image seems to be better. Once the brain has picked something up, it needs only a hint to keep seeing it, it seems. I might try the UHC filter I have first, to see if I can duplicate your results, before forking out for this TV filter. The filter-switch diagonal means I can change filters in and out of he light path quickly, so I should be able to make rapid comparisons.

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