Hoya Intensifier (red) Filter: I read this article and was wondering if anyone had used this filter and with what kind of results did you get? I don't do a lot of Milky Way shots but...

willdell Loc: Franklin, KY

I read this article and was wondering if anyone had used this filter and with what kind of results did you get?

I don't do a lot of Milky Way shots but light pollution from Nashville is pretty bad from only 40 minutes away.

http://www.lonelyspeck.com/hoya-intensifier-review-an-affordable-light-pollution-filter-for-astrophotography/#more-53585

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

willdell wrote:

I read this article and was wondering if anyone had used this filter and with what kind of results did you get?

I don't do a lot of Milky Way shots but light pollution from Nashville is pretty bad from only 40 minutes away.

http://www.lonelyspeck.com/hoya-intensifier-review-an-affordable-light-pollution-filter-for-astrophotography/#more-53585

I have read about these. And read reports of people using them. And it all seems positive. Perhaps I need to get one?

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

JimH123 wrote:

I have read about these. And read reports of people using them. And it all seems positive. Perhaps I need to get one?

I've always used red filters with black and white film to improve sky contrast and clouds.
I don't know about astrophotography, never tried it.
I do however add the red filter effect to some black and white moon photos to increase contrast.

whitewolfowner

willdell wrote:

I read this article and was wondering if anyone had used this filter and with what kind of results did you get?

I don't do a lot of Milky Way shots but light pollution from Nashville is pretty bad from only 40 minutes away.

http://www.lonelyspeck.com/hoya-intensifier-review-an-affordable-light-pollution-filter-for-astrophotography/#more-53585

Personally, I would consider the article and the tests they ran completely useless. The shots with and without the filter were aimed differently. If you want to run a proper test, all variables need to be exactly the same except for the item being tested.

willdell Loc: Franklin, KY

whitewolfowner wrote:

Personally, I would consider the article and the tests they ran completely useless. The shots with and without the filter were aimed differently. If you want to run a proper test, all variables need to be exactly the same except for the item being tested.

So, in a worst case scenario, I would still have a filter for fall foliage. 😜

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Albuqshutterbug wrote:

I've always used red filters with black and white film to improve sky contrast and clouds.
I don't know about astrophotography, never tried it.
I do however add the red filter effect to some black and white moon photos to increase contrast.

This is not like a red filter. It is a special filter that omits a specific band of light in the Yellow-Orange range, while everything else passes through. The article presented is not the only article I have read on this filter, and others are reporting good effects with it too. My only problem in getting one is what size to get it in. I have quite a few lenses. So perhaps getting it extra large and using step up rings.

The HA filter is the same principle, except it passes only a specific band of light in the 656nm range. And the good ones have an increasingly narrower band pass window so only the HA light comes through.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I wouldn't blow off the article. It was, after all, done in the field by a joe blow.
Not some laboratory, Frankenstein.
The guy just tried to show what his results were.
YMMV

I would suggest you order one, try it for yourself, then decide. B&H carries them.
And I'd bettcha B&H would take it back if you were absolutely, positively unhappy about it.

I have several filters I've gotten for my use. Some get used a lot, some never, but I have them to have the option of trying them.
I do use a light pollution filter in my filter wheel that is position 1. Because I'm in a bad area for all sorts of light pollution.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

The red intensifier is commonly known as a poor man's light pollution filter. Tests show that it is a whole lot better than nothing, but fails to match dedicated light pollution filters.

But perhaps it does beat them on fall foilage colors?

My neighborhood now has the white LED lights, so perhaps its advantages are reduced.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

JimH123 wrote:

The red intensifier is commonly known as a poor man's light pollution filter. Tests show that it is a whole lot better than nothing, but fails to match dedicated light pollution filters.

But perhaps it does beat them on fall foilage colors?

My neighborhood now has the white LED lights, so perhaps its advantages are reduced.

Oh, those call for a .22 LR filter.
Ping!

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

SonnyE wrote:

Oh, those call for a .22 LR filter.
Ping!

The Crossman pump 710 filter produces much less noise and increases the contrast just as well...

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Albuqshutterbug wrote:

The Crossman pump 710 filter produces much less noise and increases the contrast just as well...

I beg to disagree.

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

SonnyE wrote:

I beg to disagree.

Only for the application mentioned.
👅

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

willdell wrote:

I read this article and was wondering if anyone had used this filter and with what kind of results did you get?

I don't do a lot of Milky Way shots but light pollution from Nashville is pretty bad from only 40 minutes away.

http://www.lonelyspeck.com/hoya-intensifier-review-an-affordable-light-pollution-filter-for-astrophotography/#more-53585

Whoa! Nashville - I use to live in Brentwood! - Where in Tn do you live. ...and I have not used that filter.

willdell Loc: Franklin, KY

nikonshooter wrote:

Whoa! Nashville - I use to live in Brentwood! - Where in Tn do you live. ...and I have not used that filter.

I live in Franklin, KY just across the state line. Nashville is right between me and the Galactic Center. 😡

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Mom and Dad live in Goodletsville, TN. A kind of suburb of Nashville.
(Land of the Cable Company Internet monopoly)