£200 to spend - which option?

[pringlepowell]

In your opinion, what would have the biggest benefit for AP - modding my DSLR or getting a CLS light pollution clip? Both appear to be about £150-200.

[JB80]

You would still need an LP filter with a modded cam so I would start there.

That said you could always get the mod and then try and pick up a filter second hand later on.

Not much help I know, sorry.

[Gina]

I guess it depends on how bad your light pollution is. It also depends on what you want to image.

[sologuitarist61]

Yep I agree with the above. However, I would go for the LP clip filter as without it your images won't be very good whether the camera is modded or not. But why use the clip filter? Buy a decent 1.25" or 2" LP filter and then you can afford the modding as well - just a thought

[Gina]

That's a good point - clip filters are very expensive for what they are IMO.

[pringlepowell]

Thanks to all. I'm more of a DS guy than planetary, so I've read that having that IR light coming through really helps with detail on long exposures. I have a light pollution filter but didn't notice an exceptional difference, suggesting mine might not be too bad, plus you lose a lot of starlight in clusters with an LP filter.

Anyone know whee I can find some comparison shots between modded/unmodded?

[Star Gazer]

.. I have a light pollution filter but didn't notice an exceptional difference, suggesting mine might not be too bad, plus you lose a lot of starlight in clusters with an LP filter.

Really? Are you sure about the effectiveness of your LP filter, especially given your location in Maidstone? I would be very surprised if you took a 3 minute exposure with you DSLR, without the LP filter and it wan't noticeable orange. However with the LP filter the same 3 minute exposure would have no orange tint all. You can do a crude test to see the effectiveness of the LP filter by looking a a street light through it. Don't expect to see the light to disappear, but you should see most of the scene illuminated by the light will no longer be visible.

[Gina]

The street lights DO disappear with a CLS filter - I've tried it. I've got a clip-in Astronomik CLS CCD filter. Street lights disappear completely and you're left with the white house lights and advertising signs.