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
Chroma H-beta Filter - 3nm
H-beta filters are also useful for imaging nebulae and objects rich in ionized hydrogen. At 486.1nm, a narrow-band filter is required to separate H...
View full detailsChroma H-beta Filter - 5nm
H-beta filters are also useful for imaging nebulae and objects rich in ionized hydrogen. At 486.1nm, a narrow-band filter is required to separate H...
View full detailsChroma HaLRGB Filter Set
8nm H-alpha, Luminance, Red, Green, and Blue astronomy filter set Filters designed for use with CCD and for f/4.0 or slower No reflections leading ...
View full detailsChroma I-Bessel Filter
NIR photometric filter in UVBRI series Filters designed for use with CCD and for f/4.0 or slower No reflections leading to image distortions or ""b...
View full detailsChroma LoGlow Filter
Blocks common spectral lines from lighting sources. This filter provides balanced color for the visible spectrum while blocking most emission from ...
View full detailsChroma LRGB Filter Set
Luminance, Red, Green, and Blue astronomy filter set Filters designed for use with CCD and for f/4.0 or slower No reflections leading to image dist...
View full detailsChroma Luminance Filter
Luminance filter for enhancing color rendering with RGB set Filters designed for use with CCD and for f/4.0 or slower No reflections leading to ima...
View full detailsChroma OIII Filter - 3nm
Chroma’s OIII filters isolate the 500.7nm primary emission line of doubly ionized oxygen. After H-alpha, this is the next most common emission when...
View full detailsChroma OIII Filter - 5nm
Chroma’s OIII filters isolate the 500.7nm primary emission line of doubly ionized oxygen. After H-alpha, this is the next most common emission when...
View full detailsChroma OIII Filter - 8nm
Chroma’s OIII filters isolate the 500.7nm primary emission line of doubly ionized oxygen. After H-alpha, this is the next most common emission when...
View full detailsChroma OIII Filter Optimized for f/3 - 3nm
Chroma’s OIII filters isolate the 500.7nm primary emission line of doubly ionized oxygen. After H-alpha, this is the next most common emission when...
View full detailsChroma R-Bessel Filter
Red photometric filter in UVBRI series Filters designed for use with CCD and for f/4.0 or slower No reflections leading to image distortions or ""b...
View full detailsChroma Red Filter
Red filter for color rendering with RGB set Filters designed for use with CCD and for f/4.0 or slower No reflections leading to image distortions o...
View full detailsChroma SII Filter - 3nm
SII filters isolate the spectral emission of singly ionized sulfur atoms, also common in nebulae. Emission is at two lines occurring as a doublet, ...
View full detailsChroma SII Filter - 5nm
SII filters isolate the spectral emission of singly ionized sulfur atoms, also common in nebulae. Emission is at two lines occurring as a doublet, ...
View full detailsChroma SII Filter - 8nm
SII filters isolate the spectral emission of singly ionized sulfur atoms, also common in nebulae. Emission is at two lines occurring as a doublet, ...
View full detailsChroma SII Filter Optimized for f/3 - 3nm
SII filters isolate the spectral emission of singly ionized sulfur atoms, also common in nebulae. Emission is at two lines occurring as a doublet, ...
View full detailsChroma U-Bessel Filter
UV photometric filter in UVBRI series Filters designed for use with CCD and for f/4.0 or slower No reflections leading to image distortions or ""ba...
View full detailsChroma UBVRI Filter Set
UBVRI filter set for photometric imaging Filters designed for use with CCD and for f/4.0 or slower No reflections leading to image distortions or "...
View full detailsChroma V-Bessel Filter
Green (Visible) photometric filter in UVBRI series Filters designed for use with CCD and for f/4.0 or slower No reflections leading to image distor...
View full detailsDaystar 2" UV/IR Filter
2" Barrel Size Blocks Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared (IR) Wavelengths Passes the Full Visible Spectrum Functions as an Essential Luminance (L) Filt...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Dark-Sky Filter 77mm Slim
77mm Standard Filter Thread Slim Profile Prevents Vignetting Optimized for Wide-Angle Lenses Suppresses Sodium Vapor Streetlight Glow Enhances Con...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Nebula Filter CLS - 1.25"
City Light Suppression (CLS) Filter Enhances Contrast for Deep-Sky Objects Available in 1.25" and 2" Sizes Ideal for Viewing Nebulae and Galaxies ...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Nebula Filter H-Alpha 1.25-inch 12nm
Targets Hydrogen-Alpha emission nebulae 12nm bandpass for astrophotography 1.25-inch standard filter size Drastically improves contrast under ligh...
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.