Baader O-III Filter 2" (10nm) visual

Baader O-III Filter 2" (10nm) visual

Premium OIII Filter for Visual Observation of Nebulae

Baader’s 2” OIII filter delivers the absolute highest contrast views of diffuse and planetary nebulae. The filter is ideal for visual observation of nebulae such as The Veil, Lagoon (M8), Swan (M17), Ring (M57) and Dumbbell (M27). In many cases, the Baader O-III filters reveals a level of intricate detail that rivals the best deep sky photographs. With a larger scope, you can even view the famous 'Pillars of Creation' in the Eagle Nebula (M16).

The Baader O-III perfectly isolates the two doubly ionized oxygen lines (at 496nm and 501nm) emitted by nebulae using a very sharp and narrow bandpass (about 10 nm wide). Unlike other O-III filters, the Baader O-III completely blocks longer and shorter wavelengths (which is why this filter appears a teal color rather than pink) along with common light pollution bands. The result is the highest visual contrast achievable in an O-III filter. When combined with a Baader UV/IR filter, this O-III also works well for deep-sky imaging.

Superior Optical Quality, Even at High Magnification

At the heart of the Baader OIII filters are their special fine optical substrate polishing process and advanced hard coating design. The result is a filter that imparts virtually no image degradation. Manufacturers of lesser filters, to prevent deterioration from cleaning or exposure to moisture, sometimes resort to sandwiching their delicate coatings between two layers of filter glass, resulting in potential blurred or double images. Unlike these lesser filters, the superior optical quality of the Baader OIII filter allows for use at higher magnifications which are particularly useful for studying fine detail, particularly in brighter diffuse and planetary nebulae. Baader OIII filters can take high magnifications, and stars retain their pinpoint sharpness, even if the filter is used far ahead of the image plane when used for astrophotography or when used ahead of a star diagonal or binoviewer.  Baader filters fulfill the requirements of an ideal optical filter - to perform at highest efficiency without any other detectable effect on the image.

Advanced Optical Manufacturing for Long Life and Superior Performance

Unlike many budget filters, Baader Planetarium filters are not “biscuit cut” out of larger plates of glass, a process that causes micro-cracks around the filter edges. These cracks can attract moisture between the glass substrate and coating layers via capillary action which causes premature aging and degradation.

By contrast, each Baader filter is individually cut to size (1¼", 31mm, 36mm, 2", 50,4mm, 50x50mm, 65x65mm), then polished flat on both sides to a quarter wavelength to ensure maximum image sharpness and distortion over the entire filter, even when the filter is not close to the focal plane. Then each blank is then individually coated with a hard, ion-beam-deposited scratch-resistant coating. However, the coating is not applied all the way to the edge of the substrate to ensure the filter is sealed against the penetration of moisture, even in very humid conditions. This is especially important in multilayer, narrowband filters where moisture can seep in if the coating is not properly deposited. The hard coatings also mean Baader filters are easier and safer to clean without damage.

Baader filters are also tested repeatedly to comply with MIL-specifications. One common process is to boil the test specimen for one hour in salt water to induced damage. Unlike budget filters cut from larger plates, Baader filters remained completely intact without changes in their transmission characteristics after this rigorous environmental testing.

Baader’s careful engineering and manufacturing mean you need to buy a Baader filter just once and it will last you for a lifetime of astronomical observations.

About Baader Filter Cells

Many filter vendors insert their filter blanks into standard tightly-screwed filter cells. Unfortunately, the stress on the filter can result in drastic deformations of the substrate and degradation in optical performance.

That’s why all Baader filters are no longer tightly fixed but are held spring-loaded in the filter cell. The filter glass may ever so slightly “clatter” in the cell when shaken, but that neither affects the image quality nor results in a displacement in the final image. This “clatter” is not a flaw in the filter cell. It is entirely intentional.