H-beta filter - worth getting?

[WaveSoarer]

Thanks all. A very interesting discussion.

[scarp15]

M43 doesn't need a filter - it's very bright (which is why it made it onto the Messier list). I've seen the Cocoon, Flaming Star and California Nebulae with the Lumicon UHC and 8-inch scope at a dark site. All extremely difficult. Don't know if H-beta would be any better but I doubt there would be much difference - apart from M43 you're talking various shades of extreme difficulty. Flaming Star and Cocoon nebulae are combined emission/reflection so any filter will reduce the reflection nebulosity - you need to compare views with and without the filter to get a full picture. Cocoon has a long dark nebula attached which you can only see as an absence of background stars - any filter will only make that harder to see. California is the only object apart from the Horsehead that is regularly named as the reason for getting an H-beta.

When buying a filter, bear in mind that not all OIII, UHC or H-beta filters are the same. I've only used the Lumicon UHC. As I recall, the website that compares various filters on lots of nebulae says that if you only buy one filter, buy that one. Certainly that was the advice when I got mine, and it has been good advice. However I don't know if the Lumicon UHC is still available - a quick search of UK suppliers only brought up the Lumicon Deep Sky filter, and I don't know how that compares.

http://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/lumicon-deep-sky-filters.html

Yes certainly M43 is clearly distinguishable without the need for a H beta or necessarily any filter. The H-bela filter is evidently highly specialised, interesting to read your comments 'various shades of extreme difficulty'.  I consider myself to be moderately experienced, in terms of observation skills and therefore teasing out any form from these objects will be an interesting challenge. Personally I would like to try a H-Beta filter, due to being able to access very dark locations. 

I currently use a Lumicon OIII, which yields superb views on many subjects that it is designed for. I also have an Orion Ultra Block filter, however this is the SCT type and therefore unforunately unusable with the reflector.