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[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

Zhumell 2 inch High Performance Urban Sky Filter

I snapped this up - at $28.00 and free shipping.

DESCRIPTION
This filter increases the contrast of deep-sky objects like emission nebulae and darkens the background sky by blocking mercury vapor light transmissions and enhancing transmission in the hydrogen beta, doubly ionized oxygen and hydrogen alpha regions of the spectrum.

Enhance deep-sky observing in light-polluted skies
Blocks the common wavelengths of light pollution
Improves the view of nebulas, galaxies and clusters
If your going to own a filter, this is the one to have
Darkens the background sky, images "pop" out much better

-----------------

I have been desiring some exotic 2" filters of the more delicate kind - other than the broad monocolored filters. Looking at 0-III, Narrow/Broadband, anti-fringe Violet etc... have usually been on the expensive side.

But at under thirty bucks, (some discount applied), it's worth investing in adding it to the filter collection.

Review when it comes in.

[-=CROMAN=-]

I just bought it as well.if joe says it's cool I'm all in. alcohol had nothing to do with it.

[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

Excellent.

I think it will provide some nice contrasty views.

Don't know about knocking the orange glow from the FOV, but it should be interesting - especially for astrophotography.

Alcohol makes winter observing more tolerable.

[Mark Ross]

Almost looks too good to be true.

[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

I like Zhumell products, and although not the top end of astronomical equipment....I trust their line of goods.

It will be a fine acquisition...email says that it's on it's way.

[Paulie pchris00]

I don't know about this particular filter, but my experience with LP filters says they're kind of a poor man's OIII filter. They do wonders for M57 & M42.

[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

I am...this close to getting the 0-III filter, but holding out if they slash the price.

There are some band filters in my eyepiece case, but in the 1.25" size....sometimes they are good, most times not...but good to have them anyway.
.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Lumicron or baader oiii?

[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

No, still in the Zhumell line....the others are way too expensive.

A Zhumell 2 inch High Performance Ultra High Contrast UHC Filter

and a Zhumell 2 inch High Performance O-lll Telescope Filter.

Economical at $49.00 each....but I'm hoping they will be cheaper soon.

[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

Sky Filter came in....

Good shipping time.

Arriving at 6:30 pm via FedEx, it came hand delivered in a bubble wrapped envelope and we take a look at what we got...

Simply viewing thru it, with a quick on/off wrist action movement in front of an eye, it does darken the scene a bit, transferring a bit of the purple-ish hue to the scene outside of my window - but also enhances the coloring.

But, as a comparison, I thought I would look around and see what other retailers are selling this filter for...

I'm satisfied on the purchase...

And it also seems that 1.25" filters of this kind are priced even more!

I don't know how much of the light polllution haze will be removed, but it will certainly enhance colors of telescopic objects...

Now...for some clear skies to test it out...

[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

Primary test of the Sky Glow Filter....

It's been pretty much overcast since this filter arrived and anxious to try it out, I bundled up on a cold Chicago night and set up outside of the garage for some quick testing...

Electing not to set up the C11 beast, I grabbed the smaller tripod mount and the 90mm refractor - setting up with the 2" right diagonal. Observing Jupiter in a 25mm 1.25" Plossel with 1.25" adapter, one could easily see the ghastly orange hue of the light polluted skies over the city. Flicking the filter lens back and forth between my eye and the eyepiece, I could see that this filter made for a darker FOV and limited the orange glow. It lends a slight purple-ish hue to the object, (in this case Jupiter), but also brings out nice contrast in the Jovian banding.

Slewing around the sky, the FOV was remarkably darker and light pollution glow diminished. Targeting the Moon now, I preferred the filtered view over the straight un-filtered view, as when removed, the lunar view took on a curious greenish tint - a play on my cones & rods.

I screwed the filter onto the 2" diagonal and set it back into the refractor and using the Zhumell Zoom 24mm - 8mm eyepiece, I was treated to a nice darker background and nicely contrasted lunar features and Jovian banding. The filter does diminish the brightness of the object somewhat, but not dramatically.

I also tried this filter out on the C5 SCT with similar results.

I am satisfied on this brief first test of the Sky Glow filter, and anxious to try it on the C11 and on Deep Space Objects.

Highly recommended... #Thumbsup#

More soon.

[patrickm]

For Jupiter and moon, the darkening would be a plus. Looking forward to trying my Orion Ultrablock out down here. Hope for similar results.

[amryan]

I am a resident of Oak Park that has recently resurrected my interest in star gazing with the purchase of an 8" reflector on a dobsonian mount. Since I am only four blocks outside of the Chicago city limits, the skyglow is rather intense. I was thinking about purchasing the Zhumell filter set and found this excellent forum while I was looking for reviews. Hopefully sometime in the near future I will be able to join you at one of your star parties, but in the mean time I was wondering what you throughts were on the Zhumell filter now that you have had it for a while.

[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

Amryan,

Welcome to the Chicago Astronomer and hope you will join the crew during one of our frequent star parties.

Just this past weekend fellow C.A. crew member Bill and I were testing out the this filter during the Curiosity landing event by the Adler. Bill targeted the E.T. (Owl) Star Cluster in his six inch reflector. Nice view, but the night was a bit hazy and reflecting/bouncing the mercury vapor pollution.

I unscrewed the Zhumell filter and hand held it in between the eyepiece and my eye - flicking it back and forth - comparing filtered and unfiltered views. There was a definite darkening of the FOV and reduction of the intrusive orange sky glow - without a great diminishing of the star fields.

I keep it on the right diagonal permanently and recommend it highly.

Watch for our next announcement of Chicago Astronomer star parties and/or follow along on twitter/facebook/google+...and I can put you on the email list is desired.

Ain't astronomy fun?

[amryan]

Right now I only have 1.25 inch eyepieces so I am considering the See It All filter set from telescopes.com. It has the urban sky filter, an OIII filter, an UHC filter, and a variable polarizing filter all for $89. Compared to other filters, that is a steal.

I am glad that you have found the filter useful. I am looking forward to seeing more deep sky objects without the orange glow around them.

And yes, astronomy is fun. My older brother got a BS in astronomy and took me out to look at the stars many, many times in my youth. Back then we lived in a small farm town in Central IL where skyglow was unheard of. I am really enjoying discovering all the advances in technology that have occurred in the last 20 years. Having my iPad tell me the name of a satellite flying overhead is simply amazing.

Thanks for the recommendation,
Tony

[mojocvh]

Hey guys am I reading this right that the Zhumell and Skywatcher are the same filter but branded?

cheers

Mo.

[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

Mojocvh...

Yes, the Skywatcher, the Orion Skyglow and the Zhumell Urban sky filter all seem to be equal in performance.

[mojocvh]

Excellent news buddy, I was thinking of ordering from the states but this clears things up a LOT

[mojocvh]

And I have to say I'm pretty impressed. Kills orange sodium glow and the effect on the reflections from a house wall are quite amazing.

Now some more stuff from the UK some may well have seen this already, apologies if so, but its well worth a looksie.

stargazerslounge.com/topic/137910-comparing-neodimyum-and-idas-lps-filters/


Mo

[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

Mo,

Glad you dig it.

I like it a lot and it gives sky objects a little kick in contrast.

[mojocvh]

Update- Astronomik CLS clip filter for the un modded 1000D has arrived...more info to follow.....

Mo.

[Chicago Astronomer Joe]

You mean this...?

Very cool.

I anticipate your review on this.

[mojocvh]

Grr looks like this weekend is also "washout" but I WILL prevail.

sorry for the delay in getting back to you guys...

Mo.

[mojocvh]

Right, Mo is on the naughty step isn't he

Sorry to Joe and all....

Firstly, in probably the worse conditions of 100% cloud, snow and my hometown LP....not a 100% astro test, but after the recent snow I was kicking the cat out for the night and the whole place was Über orange...so.... bling...



Filename - IMG_2160.JPG
Make - Canon
Model - Canon EOS 1000D
Orientation - Left bottom
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
DateTime - 2013:01:25 19:33:51
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 196
ExposureTime - 3 seconds
FNumber - 4.50
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 1600


and with the cls clip filter.. the manual focus was on the right hand twin streetlights everything else wasn't there...GOOD for STARS..funny that..




exposure was lengthened but it lets you work to the limits of the mount etc not the orange fill..as I said above, actually a kaka astro test, BUT it does demonstrate the ability of the filter to negate sodium and other sources of light pollution.

Filename - IMG_2166.JPG
Make - Canon
Model - Canon EOS 1000D
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
DateTime - 2013:01:25 20:51:18
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 196
ExposureTime - 8 seconds
FNumber - 4.50
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 400




It really does rock IMO.


PS BUGGER.

Just realised I've snafud the ISO's

Orangy was 3 sec at 1600, Mr Nice was 8 seconds at 400..SORRY


but it still rocks.