Hi All
Not sure if this is the forum to post this queston in, but here goes
I have a Lumicon OIII filter that appears that the coating is breaking down. I tried to take a pic of it, but it's just not working. If you hold it at an angle in the light, it looks like the coating is crazing about 1/3 around the outer edge. It doesn't seem to be noticeable in use, but I can't under stand what can be causing this. The filter has always been stored in its case, which is stored in an Orion eye piece case with dessacant packs in the case to keep things dry while in storage. I bought this filter from Pocono Optics about 10 or so years ago (just before they went out of buisness) The other filters in the box are fine, including an Orion LPR bought about the same time. I have only cleaned the filter a few times using a Lens Pen ( finger prints from fumbling around in the dark) and have not ever used any chemical cleaners on it. When I say crazing, what I mean is the coating looks like it has fine cracking that looks brighter in the light than the rest of the filter.
Has anyone else had similar problems with Lumicon or other brands of OIII filters? Altho this one still does a great job in enhancing nebulas, I think I'm going to pick up a new one, but I don't want it to start breaking down like this one. Do these filters have a limited life? By the way, I really never noticed the coating breaking down untill this year, but then again, I've really never taken it out in the day light and looked at it untill just recently when I decided to clean out the ole box
Thanks for any advice or recomendations
Roger
Not sure if this is the forum to post this queston in, but here goes
I have a Lumicon OIII filter that appears that the coating is breaking down. I tried to take a pic of it, but it's just not working. If you hold it at an angle in the light, it looks like the coating is crazing about 1/3 around the outer edge. It doesn't seem to be noticeable in use, but I can't under stand what can be causing this. The filter has always been stored in its case, which is stored in an Orion eye piece case with dessacant packs in the case to keep things dry while in storage. I bought this filter from Pocono Optics about 10 or so years ago (just before they went out of buisness) The other filters in the box are fine, including an Orion LPR bought about the same time. I have only cleaned the filter a few times using a Lens Pen ( finger prints from fumbling around in the dark) and have not ever used any chemical cleaners on it. When I say crazing, what I mean is the coating looks like it has fine cracking that looks brighter in the light than the rest of the filter.
Has anyone else had similar problems with Lumicon or other brands of OIII filters? Altho this one still does a great job in enhancing nebulas, I think I'm going to pick up a new one, but I don't want it to start breaking down like this one. Do these filters have a limited life? By the way, I really never noticed the coating breaking down untill this year, but then again, I've really never taken it out in the day light and looked at it untill just recently when I decided to clean out the ole box
Thanks for any advice or recomendations
Roger
