Reviews

Optolong L-eNhance

Formats

  • 1.25″ Mounted
  • 2″ Mounted (48mm thread)
  • Canon EOS APS-C Clip-in

Spectral Transmission

Yellow line is published transmission. Color fill is my independent verification with the filter I tested.

Physical Characteristics of 2″ Filter

  • Filter mount thickness: above threads: 4.97mm; including threads: 6.93mm
  • 48mm threads with 0.75mm spacing
  • Minimal knurling only on top
  • Dual bandpass narrowband filter
  • Inner retaining ring does have notches for easy filter disassembly with a spanner
  • Width of the glass filter without the filter mount is 45.93mm

Real World Tests

Bortle 8, Stock Canon EOS T7, 464mm f.l., f/5.4, ISO3200, 36 min. integration (9*4″). Open full-size image in new tab.
Bortle 8, Full Spectrum Modified Canon 60D, 464mm f.l., f/5.4, ISO3200, 36 min. integration (9*4″). Open full-size image in new tab.

Comparisons to No Filter

Before Image After Image
Stock Canon T7 - No filter vs. Optolong L-eNhance

Before Image After Image
Full Spectrum Modified Canon 60D - No filter vs. Optolong L-eNhance

Reader Rating95 Votes
69
Pros
Excellent Value
Transmits the Ha and [OIII] emission lines at over 85% transmission
Blocks light pollution better than typical light pollution filters
Cons
Results appear noisier with less contrast than some competitors because the filter passes more light pollution
95
Purchase from:
High Point Scientific
Nico Carver
Related
Previous Light Pollution Filter Shootout
Next Optolong L-eXtreme

9 Comments

  1. Hi Nico! I just wanted to ask, how would you rate this filter? I’m a beginner and I also have a low budget and I don’t know what to choose.

    Reply

    1. Hi Andrei, it’s a great filter for shooting emission nebulae with a color camera from the city. I have no reservations about recommending it. I think it fairly priced.

      Reply

  3. Hi Nico,
    Thank you for all of your very helpful videos about astrophotography. I have been doing a bit of astrophotography with my tripod and a borrowed star tracker. I plan to purchase a ZWO AM3 for use with my Canon R5 and Canon lenses. Are there any narrowband astro filters with 77mm and 82mm threads?
    Thank you for your help.
    Mike Dorward

    Reply

  4. I watched your video on this as I really wanted to start capturing red nebulae, and I just managed to get one of these for less than 30% retail value on eBay, I am super stoked to use it! Need to get some stepdown adapters to use on my tele lens but man I can’t wait. Cheers for the review!

    Reply

  5. Hi Nico

    I’m using a SeeStar S50 from a Bortle 8 sky in North London UK. Do think an Optalong L enhance filter would work better than the built in filter in the SeeStar foe emission nebulae?

    Thank Howard

    Reply

    1. Yes, apparently the bandpasses for the built-in filter are 30nm for the OIII and 20nm for the Ha, while the l-enhance is 20 and 10nm respectively. So, at least in theory, this should produce better results on emission nebulae from a Bortle 8 sky. I haven’t had time to test this myself yet, but I have no reason to think the L-eNhance wouldn’t work better than the built-in.

      Reply

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Final Score

All content and images licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, Nico Carver (Nebula Photos)