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Askar 3nm Colour Magic Ha/OIII & SII/OIII (E1+E2) Filter Package

Askar 3nm Colour Magic Ha/OIII & SII/OIII (E1+E2) Filter Package

par Askar
UGC ASK-CM-E1E2
$1,216.68 - $1,216.68
$1,216.68
$1,216.68 - $1,216.68
$1,216.68
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  • Enables SHO "Hubble Palette" imaging with a one-shot-color (OSC) camera
  • Includes two 3nm dual-bandpass filters: E1 (Hα+OIII) and E2 (SII+OIII)
  • Isolates all three key emission lines (H-alpha, O-III, S-II) across two exposures
  • "Ultra E" design provides advanced halo suppression around bright stars
  • Maximizes contrast for deep-sky imaging from light-polluted locations
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  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • In the Box
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  • Warranty

  • Askar 3nm Colour Magic Ha/OIII & SII/OIII (E1+E2) Filter Package

    The Askar 3nm Colour Magic Filter Package uses two distinct 3nm dual-bandpass filters to let you capture all three key narrowband emission lines required for Hubble Palette images with a single color camera. This two-filter system, consisting of the E1 (Hα+OIII) and E2 (SII+OIII) filters, isolates data from hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, creating a streamlined workflow that was previously only possible with a monochrome camera and filter wheel.

    The 3nm Colour Magic System: SHO Palette Imaging with Your OSC Camera

    This filter set fundamentally changes the capability of a one-shot-color (OSC) camera. By separating the H-alpha and SII signals into two different filters—while capturing OIII data with both—you can effectively assign each channel to a specific color in post-processing to create SHO images.

    The tight 3nm bandpass on each emission line aggressively rejects light pollution, moonlight, and atmospheric airglow. This dramatically increases the contrast between your target nebula and the sky background, allowing you to capture faint, detailed structures even from suburban locations.

    Filter E1 (Hα+OIII): Capturing a 3nm Signal from Hydrogen and Oxygen

    The E1 filter is the primary data-gathering tool in the set, capturing simultaneous 3nm signals from the two most dominant emission lines in most nebulae: Hydrogen-alpha (Hα) and Oxygen-III (OIII). When used with an OSC camera, Hα data is recorded by the red pixels, while OIII is recorded by the green and blue pixels.

    This filter can be used on its own for high-contrast, bi-color images of targets like the Veil Nebula or the North American Nebula (NGC 7000). The "Ultra E" engineering specifically targets and suppresses halos around bright stars, ensuring clean data without distracting artifacts.

    Filter E2 (SII+OIII): Adding a 3nm Sulfur Channel for Structure

    The E2 filter completes the trio by isolating the Sulfur-II (SII) and Oxygen-III (OIII) lines within a 3nm bandpass. The SII signal, recorded by your camera's red pixels, often reveals different structures in nebulae compared to H-alpha, adding depth and detail to the final composite image.

    By capturing OIII data again with this filter, you increase the total signal-to-noise ratio on the faintest OIII regions. In processing, you combine the data from both filters, using the red channel from the E1 exposure for Hα, the red channel from the E2 for SII, and the combined blue/green channels from both exposures for OIII.

    Colour Magic vs. Mono SHO: A Streamlined Two-Filter Workflow

    This two-filter system presents a powerful alternative to a traditional monochrome imaging setup for creating Hubble Palette images. It eliminates the need for a filter wheel and the complexity of managing three separate single-bandpass filters.

    • Advantage Askar: You can capture all the necessary data in just two imaging sessions instead of three, saving valuable clear-sky time. The workflow is simpler, requiring less equipment and fewer steps to achieve a full SHO color image.
    • Advantage Monochrome: A dedicated monochrome camera with separate R, G, B, and narrowband filters will still offer the highest possible resolution, as it avoids the color interpolation of an OSC sensor's Bayer matrix. However, this comes at a significantly higher cost and complexity.

    For the OSC imager who wants to create dynamic, detailed SHO images without investing in a completely new camera and filter system, the Askar 3nm Colour Magic package is the most direct path.

  • How does the Askar 3nm Colour Magic filter set work with a color camera?

    The Askar Colour Magic set uses two filters to isolate the three main narrowband emission lines. First, you image with the E1 (Hα+OIII) filter, which puts H-alpha light on your camera's red pixels and O-III light on the blue and green. Then, you switch to the E2 (SII+OIII) filter, which puts Sulfur-II light on the red pixels and more O-III on the blue and green. In processing software, you can then separate these channels to create a full SHO (Hubble Palette) image.

    What is the benefit of splitting SII and Hα into two separate Askar filters (E1 and E2)?

    By placing H-alpha and Sulfur-II on separate filters, the Askar Colour Magic system allows you to isolate them cleanly using only the red pixels of your color camera. Standard "tri-band" or "quad-band" filters often capture both Hα and SII signals on the red pixels simultaneously, making it impossible to separate them for SHO color mapping. This two-filter approach is the key to achieving true Hubble Palette images with an OSC camera.

    What processing is required to create a Hubble Palette image of the Eagle Nebula (M16) with the Askar Colour Magic filters?

    After capturing data with both the E1 and E2 filters, you would use a program like PixInsight or Siril. The basic steps are:

    • Split Channels: Separate the RGB channels from both your E1 master file and your E2 master file.
    • Assign Channels: The Red channel from your E2 image becomes your Sulfur (S). The Red channel from your E1 image becomes your Hydrogen (H). The Blue and Green channels from both images are combined to create your Oxygen (O).
    • Combine: Use a channel combination tool to map S, H, and O to the Red, Green, and Blue channels of a new color image, respectively.

    Is the Askar Colour Magic set better than a single duo-band filter like an L-eXtreme?

    They serve different purposes. A standard duo-band filter is excellent for creating dramatic bi-color (red and teal) images with a single filter. The Askar 3nm Colour Magic set is specifically designed for tri-color Hubble Palette (SHO) imaging. If your goal is to create images with the distinctive gold-and-blue look of the Hubble Space Telescope, the Colour Magic set is the superior choice as it allows you to isolate the critical SII signal that duo-band filters cannot.

    Can I use the Askar Colour Magic E1 (Hα+OIII) filter by itself for imaging the Cygnus Loop?

    Yes, absolutely. The E1 filter functions as a high-performance 3nm duo-narrowband filter on its own. It is perfect for capturing high-contrast images of targets rich in Hydrogen and Oxygen, such as the Cygnus Loop (Veil Nebula), the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888), or the North American Nebula (NGC 7000).

    What are the limitations of the Askar Colour Magic system compared to a monochrome camera?

    The primary limitation is resolution. A one-shot-color camera uses a Bayer matrix, meaning only one-quarter of its pixels are sensitive to red light. Since both Hα and SII signals are captured by these red pixels (in separate exposures), the effective resolution for those channels is lower than what a monochrome camera, where every pixel is used for every filter, can achieve. However, for many imagers, the convenience and reduced cost of the Colour Magic system outweigh this difference.

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