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Astronomik MaxFR 12nm Ha Filter – 2 inch

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Thickness = 20.5mm
Internal Height = 9mm
Weight = 691g
Disk = 7 x 36mm Filters
Interface = Female M54 (Telescope Side) + Bolt on System for QHY Accessories
Interface = Dovetail / Bolt on System for QHY Cameras + M54 Female (Camera Side)

QHYCCD selected a high quality ultra-thin hybrid stepper motor for their 3rd generation filter wheel design.  Compared to the PM stepper motor used in many filter wheels, the hybrid stepper motor has higher precision, a smaller step angle and is more expensive.  The motor is enclosed to prevent dust from entering the motor, thus improving reliability and motor life.  The direction of filter rotation can be reversed; the filter carousel can be rotated clockwise or counter clockwise to complete the rotation quickly which is very convenient.

Regarding the evolution of the motor drive, our 2nd generation filter wheels used a gear drive while this 3rd generation filter wheel uses a friction drive that with zero backlash. It also positions and stops with high precision.

The QHYCFW3 main body is cut from a single piece of Aluminium by a precision CNC machine.  The craftsmanship and finish are exquisite.  When you hold the small design, you do not want to put it down!

There is a switch button on the QHYCFW3.  The serial port switch can accommodate fast switching between serial communication mode and USB communication mode.
There are four versions of the 3rd generation QHYCFW3 filter wheel: QHYCFW3XL (extra-large size), QHYCFW3L (large size), QHYCFW3M (medium size), and QHYCFW3S (small size). Both the QHYCFW3M and QHYCFW3S are also available in a standard version (SR) and thin version (US).

QHYCFW3 supports two socket modes. One is the 4PIN QHYCFW socket. If your QHYCCD camera has a 4PIN socket you can connect it directly to the QHYCFW3. There is 12V power in the 4PIN socket so it does not need any extra power.  If you don’t have a QHYCCD camera or the camera has no 4PIN QHYCFW socket, you can use the USB socket to connect with the computer.  The QHYCFW3 can be powered and controlled with USB port.  Please note the current requirement when using the USB cable is higher (780mA) than the USB2.0 port can supply and some computer will limit the current to 500mA. In this condition, QHYCFW3 can draw the power from the QHYCFW socket port (the 6PIN RJ11 port in the QHYCFW3) and you need a 12V to RJ11 cable to power the QHYCFW2. When using this method. The current draw from USB cable will reduce to less than 100mA when motor rotating.  (* The 12V to RJ11 cable is the standard item listed after 2019.4).

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QHYCFW3-XL Filter Wheel – Extra Large Filter Wheel.

• The QHYCFW3XL Filter Wheel accommodates up to 9 x 50,4 mm round unmounted or 7 x 50mm square filters in interchangeable carousels.  The default configuration from the factory is the carousel for 50mm round unmounted filters and an extra carousel for 50mm square filters is included for the user.
• Extra-Large size – but only 21.5mm thick
• Working with high quality ultra-thin hybrid stepper motor
• Uses a friction drive with zero backlash, It also positions and stops with high precision
• Increased precision of filter positioning.
• The QHYCFW3-XL Filter Wheel supports USB Port and Powered by USB when connected to a computer.
• Supports the 4-Pin QHY CFW socket
• The L version with 7 positions is also available
• Navigate to the manufacturer’s website here

The post QHYCFW3-XL Filter Wheel appeared first on Modern Astronomy.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

Antlia made huge efforts to minimise halos around bright stars and achieved very good results with the Antlia 2″ 4.5nm SHO Filter Set, therefore you will most likely never see halos, however this is a very complicated topic as halos can be caused by various elements in the optical train. There are thousands of possible scenarios and they simply cannot promise that there will be no case when some level of haloing will appear.  Antlia filters are extremely good and represent very good value, but only much more expensive filters (like Astrodon and Chroma) are likely to provide halo-free images. We can supply these filters, however in most cases Antlia filters offer a near-perfect solution at an affordable price.

The post Antlia 2″ 4.5nm SHO Filter Set appeared first on Modern Astronomy.

Consider also the Optolong L-Pro Filter where LP conditions are more favourable.

The relentless spread of urbanization and its associated light pollution have become a growing problem for all amateurs and astro photographers. The current solutions to the problem can be expensive and might include the purchase of a monochrome camera, several types of narrowband filters and a filter wheel.

The Optolong L-eNhance Filter – 2″ provides an economical and practical solution for amateurs. It is a triple-band pass filter which has been designed for DSLR (digital SLR), colour CMOS and CCD cameras. The convenience and cost effectiveness of this filter allows amateurs to image a rich selection of astronomical images, even in bright, heavily light-polluted areas.

Optolong believes the design of our L-eNhance filter is a technical innovation among filters. It effectively isolates the H-Alpha, H-Beta, and Oxygen III nebula emission lines and achieves a maximum transmission of up to 90%. The performance of this filter delivers images that superbly control the impact from light polluted skies.

Read the Sky and Telescope Review of the Optolong L-eNhance filter. Click here!

L-eNhance Filter Spectrum Curve

According to the characteristics of celestial body emission lines and feature of light pollution span of spectrum, Optolong specially designed and optimized trip-band L-eNhance filter in order to retain the prominent color of nebula RGB while blocking out most of light pollution. Spectrum as shown below:

The Major Emission Lines of Nebulae: H-α 656.3nm, H-β486.1nm, OIII 495.9nm, OIII 500.7nm
The Major Emission Lines of Artificial Light Pollution: Hg 435.8nm, 546.1nm, 577nm, 578.1nm, Na 598nm, 589.6nm, 615.4nm, 616.1nm

Optolong will continue to optimize the product according to actual testing, therefore the above curve is not to be used as the final product data.

Available Sizes

2” mounted and EOS APS-C clip filter are available.

Sample photos

Imaging Target： Vela Supernova Remnant
Camera : CentralDS Astro A7s (cooled at -2C)
Lens : Canon EF 300mm f/4L (non-IS)
Filter : Optolong L-eNhance
ISO : 6400
Tracker : Star Adventurer
Autoguide : none
Exp time : 1min X 81frames
w Dark, Bias frames
process with PI, PS CC
Offered by Optolong co-photographer Vincent Cheng

After a simple red structure transformation, the effect of SHO Hubble colour can also be simulated. Compared with the previous narrow band filters of Ha, SII and OIII, the L-eNhance filter is a good substitution. This one filter is multi-purpose and worth having!

Imaging Target: NGC 3372 Eta Carinae
Camera: QHY168C
Telescope: Pentax 100 SDUF II F/4
Filter：Optolong L-eNhance
Exposure:
Light Frames 15 x 240sec
Dark Frames 15 x 240sec
Bias Frames 50 x 0.001sec
Flat Frames 15 x 0.55sec
Software: SIRIL & Pixinsight 1.8.6
Offered by Optolong co-photographer Tommy Lim

More will come soon !

Package Details

• Silver cardboard box
• Plastic PP box
• Imported high pressure EVA case lining

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