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Even if you live in the middle of a city, you can take spectacular astrophotography with the best light pollution filters. If you live in a city or near one, you know how much energy we waste by putting lights up at night. This is called “light pollution,” and it makes it very hard to see deep-sky objects like nebulae through a telescope.
Astronomers can get help in the form of light pollution filters, which block out some of the light from the city. By making the contrast better, these can make up for some of the orange glow of light pollution that makes it hard to see anything. In this blog post, we’ll talk about the different kinds of filters and which types work best for which kinds of targets.
Best Light Pollution Filters Comparison Table
| Filter Model | Item Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hoya Starscape Light Pollution Cut Filter | 67mm-82mm | $35-$150 |
| K&F Concept Natural Light Pollution Filter | 67mm-82mm | $25-$40 |
| Rollei Astroklar Round Light Pollution Filter | 72mm-95mm | $70-$100 |
| Kase Wolverine Neutral Pollution filter | 67mm-82mm | $130-$200 |
| NiSi Circular Natural Pollution filter | 67mm-82mm | $100-$150 |
| Haida NanoPro MC Clear Pollution filter | 67mm-82mm | $60-$100 |
Hoya Starscape Light Pollution Cut Filter
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Filter Type | Screw-in Filter |
| Size | 77mm |
| Material | Optical Glass |
| Coating | Multi-coated |
| Compatibility | DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras |
| Weight | 0.11 pounds |
This screw-on filter from filter specialist Hoya is made in Japan and comes in a wide range of sizes to fit your lens. It is meant to reduce the yellowish and greenish color casts that can happen when taking pictures in areas with a lot of street lights.
The goal is to get better overall contrast and more natural colors, which will cut down on the time needed to edit the photos later. The manufacturer also says that the filter has a low profile and can be used with both wide-angle and super-wide-angle lenses.
The Good
- Lessens the amount of light pollution in photography at night
- Coated with multiple layers to improve optical performance
- works with different camera models and lenses
The Bad
- only comes in a 77mm size
K&F Concept Natural Light Pollution Filter
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Filter Type | Screw-in Filter |
| Size | 77mm |
| Material | Optical Glass |
| Coating | Multi-coated |
| Compatibility | DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras |
| Weight | 0.08 pounds |
Again, this double-threaded K&F Concept round filter with nano coating on both sides helps stop yellow and orange wavelengths of light from getting into the lens, giving photographers more clarity, contrast, and colors that look more natural when shooting at night in cities.
It is said to be scratch- and water-resistant, and its frame is only 3.8mm wide, making it very convenient. This means that it won’t add much to the size of your camera and lens together, and it’s also made from aviation-grade aluminum alloy.
The Good
- Lessens the amount of light pollution in photography at night
- Coated with multiple layers to improve optical performance
- option that is cheap
The Bad
- only comes in a 77mm size
Rollei Astroklar Round Light Pollution Filter
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Filter Type | Screw-in Filter |
| Size | Available in various sizes |
| Material | Optical Glass |
| Coating | Multi-coated |
| Compatibility | DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras |
| Weight | 0.04 pounds |
Rollei is another well-known name in the world of photography that is trying to solve the problem of night pollution for photographers who want to give astrophotography and other types of photography their best shot. The company says that its product is made of high-quality optical glass and acts neutrally in the infrared light range, giving nighttime images a cooler tone.
Its surface doesn’t hold water or oil, which helps stop unwanted reflections. Rollei tells its customers again to use manual white balance. Before using the filter, choose a color temperature between 700K and 1500K to get true colors in the end result. To get the best result, you will have to try things out and see what works best.
The Good
- Reduces the amount of light pollution in photography at night
- Several sizes are available
- Coated more than once to improve optical performance
The Bad
- May cause vignetting in lenses with a wider angle
Kase Wolverine Neutral Pollution filter
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Filter Type | Square Filter |
| Size | Available in various sizes |
| Material | Optical Glass |
| Coating | Multi-coated |
| Compatibility | DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras |
| Weight | 0.2 pounds |
The Kase Wolverine Neutral Night light pollution filter is made for both cityscape photography and astrophotography. It cuts down on the orange glow of old streetlights, which are still common, so that you can get more of the red light from nebulae into your pictures.
It comes in different styles, like screw-on filters for different lens sizes, a square plate that fits Lee, Haida & Hitech, Cokin Z, and Nisi 100mm filter holders, and clip-in filters that fit over the sensor in Canon, Nikon, and Sony mirrorless cameras.
The Good
- Lessens the amount of light pollution in photography at night
- Square filter allows for easy stacking with other filters
- Coated with multiple layers to improve optical performance
The Bad
- Use it with a filter holder.
- May cause vignetting in lenses with a wide field of view
NiSi Circular Natural Pollution filter
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Filter Type | Screw-in Filter |
| Size | Available in various sizes |
| Material | Optical Glass |
| Coating | Multi-coated |
| Compatibility | DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras |
| Weight | 0.08 pounds |
Natural Night was one of the first filters made for night photographers that cut down on artificial light. It is still a good choice for starscapers who want to cut down on light pollution in their wide-angle photos. The Natural Night broadband filter, comes in a great number of sizes, effectively gets rid of light pollution by blocking the yellow glow from sodium street lights.
Natural Night is one of a kind because it can only be used with the DJI Phantom 4 Pro and the advanced DJI Mavic Pro drones. However, these drones are better for filming nighttime cityscapes than starscapes. The Natural Night filter also has a coating that makes it repel water, but it costs a little more than its competitors.
The Good
- Lessens the amount of light pollution in photography at night
- Different sizes are available
- Coated with multiple layers to improve optical performance
The Bad
- May cause vignetting in lenses with a wide field of view
Haida NanoPro MC Clear Pollution filter
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Filter Type | Screw-in Filter |
| Size | Available in various sizes |
| Material | Optical Glass |
| Coating | Multi-coated |
| Compatibility | DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras |
| Weight | 0.07 pounds |
The NanoPro Clear-Night Filter, like many of the other broadband filters on this page, is made to cut down on light pollution from artificial sources and boost starlight. It does this well, getting rid of the yellowish glow in (and from) cities and giving nighttime images more contrast and a more neutral color cast.
It doesn’t change the brightness, so your photos will still look bright, and you may need to use a photo editing app to make the sky darker. The scratch-resistant NanoPro Clear-Night Filter comes in many different sizes, both as circular filters and as filter inserts for filter holders. It is also available in small sizes that can be put inside DJI drones to improve the nighttime footage they take from the air.
The Good
- Keeps dust and scratches from getting on the lens
- Different sizes are available
- Coated with multiple layers to improve optical performance
The Bad
- Does not cut down on light pollution when photographing the night sky.
FAQs
Do light pollution filters work with LED lights?
LPR filters work well with light pollution that is caused by sodium. They don’t work when there is too much light, like from LED street lights.
Which is best UV or skylight filter?
Both filters can get rid of UV light well, but because skylight filters have a pinkish cast, they may make images look warmer. When taking pictures outside, especially in open shade under a clear blue sky or near the water, the photos often look too blue.
What filter for LED light pollution?
There are two types of filters that can be used to deal with light pollution: a broadband light pollution filter and an ultra high contrast or narrowband OIII filter. The wavelengths of light from older mercury vapour and low pressure sodium lighting are cut down by broadband light pollution filters.
What color filter for light pollution?
Yellow and orange are the most common colors of sodium vapor lights, which are used in most big cities around the world. Since most of us live in or near a big city, this filter can help us cut down on the amount of light pollution in our photos.