Optolong L-eNhance vs L-eXtreme: Should you really upgrade?

[@rickbattle5706]

Great, honest video. Appreciate the info and explanation of the difference between the two filters.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thank you for watching! I have another video comparing general purpose, broadband light pollution filters. IDAS LPS D1 vs D2 vs Optolong L-Pro. If you have the time, please check it out and I hope it is useful to you.

[@remigerber63]

That’s a great video Angus. All is clear and really pedagogical. It reinforces my choice of the l-enhance filtre i just bought to use with my dslr. You gained a subscriber : hope to see more of your vidéos soon. Keep on the good work. Remi

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thank you Remi! I have a few more ideas lined up and I hope you will stay tuned for more. The L-eNhance is a fantastic filter, I've been very happy with it.

[@Wheeljack678]

Thanks for an honest review, not sounding like a commercial. I have a similar setup to yours (astromodded DSLR) and I was contemplating one of those filters (currently using the L-Pro) and I found your video very helpful. Also, that cheeky "that's 6 degrees celcius everywhere else" made me chuckle.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thanks for watching! Yeah I hope this was helpful to you! So which one are you going with? 🙂

[@Wheeljack678]

Based on comments in various groups on FB, the cloudy nights forums and your review, I think the L-enhance is the way for my current setup. I will most likely take the plunge into a cooled camera next year or so, and then I'll look into the L-extreme or whichever new kid on the block is on the market by then.

[@nocturneastro2539]

@@Wheeljack678 I think that's a good approach. I never advice people to "buy" until they're satisfied, because a true astrophotographer will never be satisfied. And it doesn't make sense to upgrade your entire setup when the time isn't right for YOU, just because of one filter. Trust me, you will love the Optolong L-eNhance. Hell, I still use it on my dSLR.

[@mbc-xe8rb]

One of the clearest user-level comparisons between these two filters! I have the L'enHance, but as a 1st year imager I wondered if I needed the "bump" of the Extreme to improve my photos. I see I will save my money and get a cooled camera first. Thank you very much! 👍

[@mwales2112]

I live under a bortle 4 night sky and have been using the L-Enhance for a couple of years with results I'm happy with and have wondered if I need to upgrade to the Extreme or now the Ultimate. Great video. Thanks..

[@NOVA8264]

Thanks Angus, I’ve really been thinking of getting one of these two filters, but have also wanted to make the jump to a dedicated, cooled Astro cam from my dslr. This has really given me more to think about that I had not considered, really helpful.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thanks for visiting! That's really exciting! Do you think you would go with the L-eXtreme filter if you're going the route of the cooled camera?

[@NOVA8264]

@@nocturneastro2539 Yes, most likely.

[@davidaylsworth8964]

Enjoyed the review. Listing the honest pros & cons as well as the limitations is very helpful in order to understand the factors around these two accessories. For nebular objects these filters are very good performers, but galaxies and star fields would need a broadband filter. I’ve seen a few of your videos now, but today smashed the sub button. I like your genuine style. Doing it right Sir!

[@nocturneastro2539]

Wow, thank you for those kind words! I will definitely keep this standard up whenever possible! Now I just need these clouds to go away so I could get started on my next review video... 😔

[@davidaylsworth8964]

@@nocturneastro2539 we’re all in the same boat I’m afraid. It’s been six weeks since my observatory got a workout. The spiders are using it as a gymnasium now I think. 🤔 Clear skies Sir!

[@ryanastroman9846]

Great comparison Angus! I'm leaning more towards the L enhance, your video helped me out with that!

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thank you! I hope it helped. You'll be very satisfied with the L-eNhance. There's definitely enough of a "wow" factor with it already. If you think you can deal with some of the drawbacks of L-eXtreme, it's still worth a consideration.

[@MrSpike2450]

Perfect thanks for the video, Loving your astro pics on facebook.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thanks! Follow me on instagram if you aren't already, I have more pictures there. I am going to try to make a few more videos.

[@outdegree]

Thanks for sharing! I think I will start with my Celestron UHC/LPR that's close to Optolog L-Pro and see what will happen. I just recently got my first dedicated astro camera and Background Extraction has been a challenge for me in Alameda :)

[@nocturneastro2539]

Hey thanks for watching! Let me know how your night turned out, would love to see your images too! A dedicated astro camera sounds very very exciting! I'm envious! :)

[@TalkingJesus]

I do have the L-Enhance living in New York bortle 9 I need it.

[@beckylee5992]

Great video! As a beginner like me, it is very informative and helpful for me to make a decision which one I should get for now. Please make more video about post processing for beginner! Cheers and clear sky!!

[@nocturneastro2539]

Oooh post processsing is not my strong suit... Let me think about it 🤔. I need to make sure I know what I'm doing first. Thank you! More videos are coming! 😃 Thanks for checking it out!🙏

[@thefourgrapples2810]

I totally agree with your assessment of these two filters. If you are a narrowband junkie, then yeah, you probably have the equipment needed to exploit the full potential of the L-extreme. I recently purchased the L-enhance, and will probably buy the L-extreme when it becomes available. Great video, and it earned you a sub.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thank you for the sub! I specifically wanted to make this as my first video because the L-eXtreme gathered quite a bit of interests from a lot of people. And I think most beginners think about components by themselves, and now how one can drastically change, or in some cases, ruin the entire system as a whole. Thanks again for visiting! I am looking to upload another video either tonight or tomorrow morning. Stay tuned! 😃

[@gabrielvillegas4490]

thank you very much for your incredible video, you have helped me a lot to make a decision, I was in that dilemma which of the 2 to buy now I have it clear thanks to you, excellent video and thank you again

[@nocturneastro2539]

You're welcome. Though this video may be slightly outdated... Please check out my most recent filter video? It goes into more details about how to pick your own filter. 🙂

[@raylyndaschilke8686]

Angus I am late getting this comment to you. I found the Extreme to be way too extreme for my conditions. I had the enhance and was delighted with it but thought more was "better". I found that not only did the extreme mess with my gains and make me have 4 second flats (making me have to have 4 second dark flats) but it DESTROYED some shots like on M42 or the horsehead. I wish you had done this video sooner and saved me $ lol. I did break even selling/trading my extreme back for an L enhance on CN classified. To other viewers I have dedicated cooled astro cameras( 183mc pro and 2600mc pro) and I found the extreme was way too much and I ended up HATING the extreme. Thanks for validating my opinion on these 2 filters as I thought I was crazy. Very well put together video sir.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thank you Raylynda Schilke! I haven't given up hope on the L-eXtreme yet. But man, I am starting to hit the point where I am having to change what, and how I image simply because this filter is sort of running my dSLR into the ground.

[@ChrisWAnim]

I'm about to take the dive into a dedicated cooled astro cam, was not sure which of these to get but I think it'll be worth going extreme. Maybe get an Lpro for the more broadband targets too

[@nocturneastro2539]

If you are going with a dedicated astro camera, then the L-eXtreme definitely makes a lot more sense. Let me know how you like it! 🙌

[@antandshell]

Hi! Good to see so many new faces in AP, especially on youtube! My opinion on what kind of videos you should make? Just share your journey with what you enjoy doing 😊

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thank you Anthony! My goal is to be helpful to people and beginners starting out. I find that good, easy to understand information is not always available. I hope to be a resource to those who don't even know what to ask. Thanks for visiting, stay tuned for more videos! Clear skies!

[@eduardobrandao4307]

Well done Angus! Congrats and thank you. I'll opt for L Enhance...

[@hotwirez]

Nice video. Just a thought; I plate solve with my guide camera, so no filters involved (in case it helps). Good luck with the channel.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thank you! Oh I didn't know one can plate solve from the guide camera. That means that your guide scope and telescope have to be perfectly aligned though, right?

[@hotwirez]

@@nocturneastro2539They do need to be pointed similarly. I just pointed at a spot on a fence down the street and got it as close to matching as I could, but it doesn't have to be perfect. The sensor on my guide camera is so small that if something is visible on it, it's guaranteed to show up on the main camera. Just have to be sure to tell the plate solver the FOV for the guidescope if swapping to that.

[@TalkingJesus]

Thanks for the info. I am considering getting an extreme, never heard a review from your point of view. I do have a dedicated camera (ASI183) so cooling is not a great issue, but will take your review in mind in my decision making process.

[@MrSpike2450]

Awesome thanks im going with the Enhance, any recommendations on a galaxy filter.

[@nocturneastro2539]

I've tried a few general purpose light pollution filter. So far, the Optolong L-Pro works best for me. It does a good job blocking out light pollution, without being so harsh that you lose out on natural, broadband colors. Of course, the best galaxy filter is no filter at all if you can get to a dark enough sky :)

[@Br00se]

Thanks for doing this comparison. Hey, am I your first subscriber?

[@nocturneastro2539]

Hmmm you could be. Regardless when, I really appreciate it! Let me know what other beginner topic you'd like to see. I'll see if I'm knowledgeable enough to talk about it. Haha. Keyword: knowledgeable...

[@Br00se]

@@nocturneastro2539 I appreciate comparison videos where all the details are given and the results speak for themselves. I'm using an L-Pro now and like it for what I use it for, but I would like a Duo Narrowband. I'm considering the ZWO Duo Narrowband because of the price, I've been on a spending spree and needs to slow down a little. The band pass graphs are similar to the Nhance and may work for what I need. I may end up getting the Xtreme down the road. Thanks again and Clear Skies. Oh, I almost forgot, is your 60D astro modified?

[@nocturneastro2539]

@@Br00se I forgot to mention it in the video, but yes, my 60d is HA modified. You're right the L-eNhance and the ZWO Duo have very similar graphs. I don't think you can go wrong either. Though I don't have experience with the ZWO. Also, there's enough of a "wow" factor already with the L-eNhance that will make it worthwhile.

[@ScoobyJoobyJew]

If you're getting star trails doing 30 second unguided subs you have a polar alignment issue. I'd recommend getting SharpCap Pro and using your guide scope/camera to polar align your mount. It makes the process much easier and faster. Just run the routine twice to ensure a good alignment.

[@psuaero100]

Very nice comparison and great images. I'm leaning toward the ZWO Duo Band filter which looks to be the L-eNhance (based on the band pass graph). I already have a cooled camera so thermal noise won't be an issue. Have you tried an Optolong L-Pro? How does it compare to the other two? I have one but haven't used it much. I bought it for my DSLR but had a hard time with processing so I haven't used it since. Do you turn up your ISO really high when doing the plate solving? That should help, right. I've been using the same gain when plate solving that I use for imaging but I'm assuming I'll have to crank it up a bit when I get a good filter on there.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Let me link you to a more recent video I did comparing those general purpose, broadband, light pollution filter, including the Optolong L-Pro: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIu4hGWBpNJ2ndk I can't really compare the L-Pro to these duo-narrowband filters. They serve different purposes and are too different to compare. Generally speaking, these duo-narrowband filters were designed for nebulae use as the specifically only allow HA and Oiii through. Broadband filters are more suited for objects with a lot of natural colors (like galaxies) Yes, with plate solving, I turn my ISO as high as it will go. Because I only need the camera to detect bright dots in the sky to map it.

[@psuaero100]

@@nocturneastro2539 You're right... good comparison. I think I'll go put my L-Pro in the Redcat. I really haven't given it a fair shot since getting an astro-camera.

[@j-astrobackyardobservatory1213]

What's up brother? We're in some of the same groups on Facebook. It's because of you that I bought my WO zenithstar61. I use the Optolong L-enhance pro nowadays myself. It works perfectly for me. If I ever can afford the upgrade I will for sure. But my next purchase will be the zenithstar 103 and I want the exact mount you have. But that's definitely going to be a while. Lol! But I've got some awesome gear that I'm enjoying the best I can. Awesome video man. ✌🔭🌎

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thanks for the visit! I should thank you and the rest of the Facebook group! After all, it was you guys who encouraged me to start making videos 😅🙌

[@woody5109]

I’m confused, do you or do you not recommended the L extreme ?

[@Cosmic_Gypsy]

Thank you so much for keeping it real and saving my cash. It's important to know the capabilities of your whole setup. I use an iOptron SmartEQ Pro mount with a 102/600 achromat doublet and a full spectrum EOS 3000D. The mount very rarely balances well and I can't tell why. I can get upto 1 min exposures only. And this would be pushing the limits because of the balance.

[@whatmattersmost6725]

New sub here! Thanks looking for more vids from you. Ok I have all 3 of them, the L-Pro,L-xExtreem, and L-eNahnce 2" filters, BUT what is the #1 reason is having a Mod DSLR as the sensor has a Ha blocking installed, where a real CCD/Cmos astro camera does not have that Ha blocking filter. So my point is if you are using a Canon 60D or a un-Mod DSLR then the L-eXtreme is not worth it, and a L-Pro or a L-eNhance would be a better choice. But always think for down the road as you may upgrade to those CCD/Cmos astro cameras and then no need to purchase different eq!

[@nocturneastro2539]

You make an excellent point about modded/unmodded and using these filters. That internal filter is basically the last gatekeeper for HA. That's why I modified mine :) . Sorry I didn't say that in the video, I wanted to focus solely on the filters. Though, in hindsight, I should have mentioned that my 60D is HA modified. Thanks for visiting! More videos are coming :)

[@redhatoracle]

Very informative video!

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thank you! I hope it was helpful.

[@redhatoracle]

@@nocturneastro2539 Yes, it helps a lot for whose need to decide which one to use based on each own image setup. Thank you for sharing!

[@nocturneastro2539]

@@redhatoracle feel free to let me know how to make these videos better, or if there was anything unclear! Appreciate it! At the end of the day, they're both great exceptional filters. You just need to figure out which one would likely to work better for you system as a whole. 😃

[@alexanderwagner9524]

Very informative video. I am also trying to decide between those two filters in addition to my STC Astro Multispectra. Btw: The music makes your voice hard to understand sometimes (I just realized it's only bad on the right channel - where I use my earplug)

[@nocturneastro2539]

Yeah I screwed up on the editing of this video. Didn't catch it until months later. Check out my other video on filters and how to understand them. That video should complement this one.

[@sjpp71]

Nice and honest video, good info on it. I've been considering getting this filter, but I find it way too expensive (I know there are much more pricier ones). I already have a cooled camera (qhy183C) and a fairly decent mount (eq6-rpro). From my latitude (27 deg south) I have not much access to the great northern nebulae like cygnus (just about 30 degrees above horizon :( ), but I can image the lagoon, triffid, Eta Carina, and the Tarantula Nebula (which is now starting to show in the southern sky and I can't wait to try and shoot again. Not to mention Orion nebula, of course. I guess all those targets are emission nebula, there must be plenty of Ha on them, so I think getting the l-extreme could be a good choice for me (just trying to convince myself, hehehe). Thanks a lot for sharing your experience, keep the videos coming. Clear skies.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thank you! I will try and keep the videos coming despite living underneath a blanket of clouds. I have actually learned new knowledge which would make this video somewhat obsolete. I will have a follow-up to this video soon. But long story short, the L-eXtreme is a better filter if it is within your budget, you can't go wrong with it! 🙂

[@merlinbk]

What are your recommendations for light pollution filters?

[@nocturneastro2539]

I'm actually in the process of making a video comparing the IDAS LPS D1, D2, and Optolong L-Pro. I will include the results, make them as fair as possible, and you can decide which overall result you like most. Please look for that video to be uploaded soon! Thank you for visiting. Please consider subscribing if you haven't already. Clear skies! :)

[@tacomaastro7462]

Good comparison video. Other things to consider, ie: equipment, these two filters will give different results if you are using a telescope with longer focal length and faster F-stop. Obviously the Extreme would be very comfortable in a F2 RASA. I have the L-Enhance on a WO Zenithstar 103, FL 711 at F/6.9 with a Nikon D810 DSLR which performs nicely in bortle 8 skies and 50% moon on Orion @ 3 min. subs / iso 800. I chose to go down the rabbit hole and purchase both filters Yeah, 8 minutes at iso 3200 is pushing it, you could see the accumulated noise in your images. That was a Space Cat, correct? You have the mount for it.... looks like you'll have to get yourself another telescope... heh-he :) Clears skies

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thank you for watching! And ooooooooohhh I have a few other refractors, hehe.

[@Adrian-uc4ox]

Is your camera modified for astro?

[@danielbahlman1826]

Halos. L Extreme leaves halos on bigger stars. Extra work in post!

[@jameswoods1939]

Hey Angus, thanks for the info! Are these filters 48mm? A lot of 48 & 50.8mm filters are listed as 2". Before I invest I just want to be sure I'm getting the correct size for my Redcat.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Yeah I've seen that before as well, apparently different manufacturer measure them differently. I am assuming some measures from the outside of the rim (~50mm), while some measures the glass diameter only (~48mm). Either way, if you are purchasing from Optolong, just make sure you get the "2 inch" version. Sorry, I hope that helps.

[@pemongillo]

Good start as a KZbinr. Astrophotography is complex and the music is distracting. No music please.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Thanks! I actually screwed up majorly on the editing. My voice only came through from one channel and that was my own fault.

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

Hello! Nice video! I have the Optolong L enhance and very pleased with this filter, I will make a full review soon on my channel Galaxy Art Media. it is very good for my bortle 4 sky, also uhc-s nebula filter from baader is very nice broadband quality filter at a good price, good option to consider when starting astrophotography.

[@nocturneastro2539]

Wow bortle 4?! I would even argue that one can go without any filter... Thank you for watching the video! Look for another upload in the coming days!

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

@@nocturneastro2539 Sure, Is possible without a filter also but filters do help a lot, at 15 km from the town i enter in bortle 3 but light pollution and sky glow still will be present in longer exposures. When i image galaxies i do usually without any filters, but on nebulas i still need them. Check my channel also, i have many astrophotography videos, reviews tutorials and vlogs.

[@hael8680]

What about halos people are getting with the L-extreme?

[@nocturneastro2539]

I have heard of them, and that people are dealing with them especially around bright stars. I see it too, but it's really inconsistent and so I don't think I am ready to comment on them yet. But yes, I get the halos on an inconsistent basis.