Imaging Filters
Not every imaging filter is narrowband or LRGB. Ultraviolet and infrared cut filters, luminance filters, methane band filters for planetary work and dedicated infrared pass filters each solve a specific problem, and several of them are more useful than their obscurity suggests. David Astro carries imaging filters in Canada, in Canadian inventory and shipped domestically.
These filters address particular situations rather than general imaging. Tell us what problem you are seeing and we will say whether one of them fixes it.
Filters
Explore Scientific Nebula Filter H-Alpha 2-inch 12nm
Isolates the Hydrogen-alpha emission line at a 12nm bandpass Standard 2-inch filter format for modern focusers and filter wheels Dramatically incr...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Nebula Filter H-Alpha 2-inch 7nm
7nm H-Alpha Bandpass 2-inch Filter Format Isolates Hydrogen Emission Nebulae Blocks Urban Light Pollution Includes Individual Test Report Descr...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Nebula Filter S-II 1.25-inch 12nm
Isolates the ionized sulfur (S-II) emission line at 672nm Features a 12nm bandpass to increase contrast Standard 1.25-inch filter format Ideal for...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Nebula Filter S-II 1.25-inch 6.5nm
Isolates the ionized sulfur (S-II) emission line at 672nm Ultra-narrow 6.5nm bandpass for maximum contrast Standard 1.25-inch barrel size fits mos...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Nebula Filter S-II 2-inch 12nm
Isolates the 672nm Sulfur-II (S-II) emission line 12nm bandpass for high-contrast views 2-inch filter size with standard threads Blocks light poll...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Nebula Filter S-II 2-inch 6.5nm
6.5nm Narrow Bandpass Targets the 672nm Ionized Sulfur (S-II) Emission Line 2-inch Barrel Diameter for Larger Focusers Drastically Increases Contr...
View full detailsIDAS NBZ-II HA OIII Nebula Booster Filter
2" OIII 8nm (+/-0.4nm) H-alpha 9.5nm (+/- 0.4nm) (originally designed at 10nm, but on a measured basis, it's 9.5nm.)
iOptron LRGB Imaging Filter Kit - 1.25"
Complete LRGB Filter Set Includes Luminance, Red, Green, and Blue Filters Standard 1.25" Filter Size Threaded for Standard Filter Wheels and Acces...
View full detailsOptolong Clear Focusing Filter
Achieve Critical Focus with Dim Stars Transmission >98.5% Across the Visible Spectrum λ/4 Transmitted Wavefront for Image Integrity Parfocal wi...
View full detailsOptolong Clear Sky Light Pollution Filter
Suppresses common sources of urban light pollution Enhances contrast for deep-sky objects Improves natural color balance in astrophotography Durab...
View full detailsOptolong CLS Light Pollution Filter
Suppresses common light pollution sources Average transmission greater than 90% on key nebula emission lines Blocks light pollution lines with >...
View full detailsOptolong CLS-CCD Light Pollution Filter
Blocks >99% of primary light pollution emission lines Achieves >90% average transmission on key nebula wavelengths Integrated 300-1100nm UV/...
View full detailsOptolong H-alpha 3nm Narrowband Filter
3nm Bandpass at 656nm Wavelength Maximizes Contrast for Emission Nebulae Extreme Rejection of Light Pollution and Skyglow Ion-Assisted, Anti-Refle...
View full detailsOptolong H-Alpha 7nm Narrowband Filter
Isolates the 656nm Hydrogen-alpha emission line 7nm bandpass for maximum contrast Blocks mercury vapor, sodium vapor, and natural skyglow Ideal fo...
View full detailsOptolong Ha 7nm, OIII 6.5nm & SII 6.5nm Filter Set
H-alpha Filter: 7nm Bandpass centered at 656nm Oxygen-III Filter: 6.5nm Bandpass centered at 500nm Sulphur-II Filter: 6.5nm Bandpass Hubble Pa...
View full detailsOptolong Ha, OIII & SII 3nm Narrowband Filter Set
Complete SHO set includes H-alpha, OIII, and SII filters Ultra-narrow 3nm bandpass for maximum contrast Isolates 656nm Ha and 500nm OIII emission ...
View full detailsOptolong IR Pass 685nm Planetary Filter
Passes infrared light above 685nm Achieves greater than 90% peak transmission Blocks wavelengths from 350-1050nm outside the passband 1.85mm thick...
View full detailsOptolong L-Enhance Filter
Dual-bandpass filter isolates H-Alpha, H-Beta, and OIII emission lines Peak transmission of over 90% for maximum signal Blocks over 99% of light p...
View full detailsOptolong L-Extreme + L-Synergy L2 Dual-Combo Filter Set - 2"
Includes L-eXtreme (H-alpha + OIII) and L-Synergy (SII + OIII) filters Enables Hubble Palette (SHO) imaging with one-shot color cameras Captures t...
View full detailsOptolong L-Extreme Filter
Narrow dual-bandpass filter for H-Alpha and OIII Blocks >99% of light pollution emission lines Peak transmission of >90% at critical wavelen...
View full detailsOptolong L-Para HA/OIII 10nm Filter - 2"
Dual Narrowband H-Alpha & OIII Filter Suppresses Mercury, Sodium & LED Light Pollution Optimized for Fast-Ratio Systems (RASA, HyperStar) ...
View full detailsOptolong L-Pro + UHC Clip Filter Kit
Two Optolong Clip-in Light Pollution Filters in One Kit L-Pro: Multi-Bandpass Suppression Across 380-750nm UHC: >99% Blocking of Mercury and So...
View full detailsOptolong L-Pro Filter
Multi-Bandpass Light Pollution Suppression Effective Spectrum from 380-750nm Maintains Natural Color Balance on Broadband Targets High Transmissio...
View full detailsOptolong L-Quad Enhance + L-Para L1 Dual-Combo Filter Set - 2"
L-Quad Enhance Filter: A quad-bandpass filter designed for balanced RGB color from broadband targets. L-Para L1 Filter: A dual-narrowband filter...
View full detailsSpecialist Imaging Filters
Each of these targets a specific defect or a specific wavelength range that general-purpose filters do not address.
- UV and IR cut filters: Essential with refractors, which do not focus infrared at the same point as visible light. Without one, stars are bloated and soft in a way that looks like poor optics.
- Luminance filters: A broad visible-range filter with UV and IR blocking, used as the detail-carrying channel in LRGB imaging.
- Infrared pass filters: Pass only infrared, which cuts through atmospheric turbulence better than visible light and can sharpen planetary detail in poor seeing.
- Methane band filters: Very narrow filters at 889 nm revealing atmospheric structure on Jupiter, Saturn and the ice giants that is invisible in visible light.
- Continuum filters: Narrow green-band filters used for lunar and planetary imaging, reducing the effect of atmospheric dispersion.
- Anti-halation and reflection considerations: Coating quality matters here too, since a filter close to the sensor can produce reflection artifacts around bright objects.
Why Choose David Astro for Imaging Filters
These are problem-specific purchases, and the first question is whether you have the problem.
- Diagnosis before recommendation: Send us a sample image and we will tell you whether bloated stars are an infrared problem, a spacing problem or a focus problem.
- Refractor advice: If you image with a doublet and have no UV/IR cut filter, that is very often the cause of soft bright stars, and it is the cheapest fix in imaging.
- Seeing-based advice: We will explain when an infrared pass filter genuinely helps planetary work and when it simply costs you resolution.
- Authorized dealer: Genuine filters with verified coatings and manufacturer warranty, in Canadian stock.
- Ships from Canada: No duties or brokerage fees for Canadian buyers.
Imaging Filters in Canada — Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need a UV/IR cut filter?
- With any refractor, yes. ED doublets and even triplets do not bring infrared to the same focus as visible light, and an unfiltered sensor records that as bloated, soft stars.
- Does an infrared filter help with bad seeing?
- For planetary imaging, often yes. Longer wavelengths are less affected by atmospheric turbulence, so an IR pass filter can produce sharper results on a poor night, at the cost of some resolution.
- What is a methane band filter for?
- It isolates a methane absorption band at 889 nm, revealing cloud structure on the gas giants that is invisible in visible light. It is a specialist filter needing substantial aperture and long exposures.
- Why are my bright stars bloated?
- Most commonly unblocked infrared in a refractor, sometimes filter reflections, sometimes back-focus error. Send us a crop and we will tell you which.
Diagnosing an imaging problem?
Send us a sample crop and we will tell you what will actually fix it. Held in Canada, shipped fast.