weetooner Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Hi folks, can anyone recommend a decent light pollution filter to connect to a Nikon D3100 DSLR.Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychobilly Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 How are you using it with lenses, on a scope or a bit of both?Peter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnrt Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 The Astronomik CLS and Hutech IDAS are generally considered the best, but as Peter says much will depend on how you wish to put it in front of your camera - lens, scope or both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orley Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 The Astronomik CLS works well. Well...it reduces the pink in my images, but I still get a lot of washout. Depends on the severity of your light pollution I guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weetooner Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Going to be just using it with the lens for the time being. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychobilly Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 What sized filters do your lenses need...The larger IDAS filters are quite expensive - I have the 77mm one and step down ribgs so that I can use it with most of my lenses...You might want to consider a 2" filter to start with if your lenses use filters aroun 50-55mm with step up rings.. The reduction in aperture will alter the focal ratio and will usually clean up star shapes in the corners and edges of the frame...IIRC Skywatcher have something which might work..www.firstlightoptics.com/light-pollution-reduction/skywatcher-light-pollution-filter.htmlSorry on the smartphone so it's not appeared as a clickable link... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weetooner Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 What sized filters do your lenses need...That I don't know, how do you find out?I have a Nikon D3100 with the 18 - 55mm lens.Can anyone tell me how I find out what size filter I need? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celestron8g8 Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 That I don't know, how do you find out? I have a Nikon D3100 with the 18 - 55mm lens. Can anyone tell me how I find out what size filter I need? I have a Canon 18-55mm and should be the same as yours . Mine calls for a 58MM filter . Look on the front focus ring of your lens and it tells you . It should have a little zero with a back-slash through it . That's the semble for filter size . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weetooner Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 Hi thanks for the reply, have looked at the front focus ring but no sign of what you described, however I have found something on the side of the lens it has a circle with back slash and number 52. Would that be the filter size? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychobilly Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 So for a first low cost test you could use the Skywatcher LP filter and a 48-52 step down ring...http://www.amazon.co.uk/52mm-48mm-STEP-DOWN-RING/dp/B0013UMSG0http://www.firstlightoptics.com/light-pollution-reduction/skywatcher-light-pollution-filter.htmlPeter... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weetooner Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 Thanks for that.Now if I get the 52-48mm step down what size of LP filter do I get? In the link you provided there is two, 2" = 50.8mm and the 1.25" = 31.75mm can't see one for 48mm.Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychobilly Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 The 2" filter has a 48mm thread.... Make sure you get the right adaptor you want to use a smaller diameter filter on a larger diameter lens there are two different types step up and step down and some sellers describe them wrongly...Whats the rest of your setup? Mount etc...This isn't the best LP filter out there but should help reduce skyglow ... at the fraction of the cost of one of the high performance filters... Have you got a pic of your LP?This thread shows the difference the "cheap" skywatcher filter makes...http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/234757-skywatcher-light-pollution-filter-first-use/?hl=%2Bskywatcher+%2Blp+%2Bfilter#entry2541103example with and without in the first post http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/234757-skywatcher-light-pollution-filter-first-use/?p=2541083FLO have a pretty good returns policy if it doesn't do anything for you...Peter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weetooner Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 The 2" filter has a 48mm thread....Cheers.At the moment I am just using the camera with a tripod (no tracking) completely new to this and is all trial and error at the moment, mostly error I may add ;o).1st photo takenAnd reason for LP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychobilly Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Thats what I suspected so there's no point in using a filter that will cut through the LP allowing 5-10 minute exposures that would need a tracking mount and auto-guiding...I would try the cheaper option first Peter... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weetooner Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 Thats what I suspected so there's no point in using a filter that will cut through the LP allowing 5-10 minute exposures that would need a tracking mount and auto-guiding...I would try the cheaper option first Peter...Thanks, will go for the cheaper option 1st. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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