Orion UltraBlock LP

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Equipment Reviews:Filters:Orion UltraBlock LP

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Brand and Model:Orion UltraBlock LP
Price ($USD):100-130
Type:Narrow-Band
Filter Position:
un-checked .96" checked 1.25" checked 2"
checked Visual Back un-checked Full Aperture
Description:Contrast enhancing filter for emission nebulae such as M42. Also good on most if not all planetaries.

Vote Highlights Vote
Orion UltraBlock LP
Very good value, great all round filter. I liked the 1.25 so much that I bought the 2 inch also.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 20 (Notable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=548415

Orion UltraBlock LP
Reading the other reviews, they all make sense. On a small scope, the loss of light means the contrast enhancement can make a faint nebula invisible, no matter how much it darkens the background. I've used this on many scopes, and it works best on 5" and larger (maybe a good 4" refractor). By the time you get to enough aperture that cutting down on the brightness is not an issue (say 8"), the improvement is remarkable. The Bow-Tie shaped Dumbbell Nebula becomes a football with the bow-tie across the narrow axis. The Lagoon becomes multiple clouds of gas surrounded by moats of dark nebula, and faint planetaries barely visible start displaying their true sizes and shapes (like the small planetary in the star cluster M46). Recommended along with the Lumicon UHC, and works better on achromatic refractors than does the UHC. Has the effect of doubling your aperture for less than $100. I tracked almost the complete ring of the Veil Nebula in a 5" scope at 100X. Impressive and essential tool. Everyone should own either this or the UHC, regardless of eyepieces used.
Don

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=273600

Orion UltraBlock LP
I have the 2" version. This is one of the best values - much cheaper than the Lumicon narrowband filter, and delivers similar views. It is a nice balance as it is much more effective than the broadband filters (i.e. easily shows the veil nebula in my 8" scope), but still broad enough to show galaxies and star clusters.

Great value for a 2"er! Also, it is made in Japan (i.e. WELL MADE!)

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 9 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=242100

Orion UltraBlock LP
Although I use this filter with every scope I own it works best with my largest scope, an 8" f6 newt. I use it most often with a 26mm Plossl. I live on the Jersey Shore and battle sky glow constantly, but even when the sky is milky M42 is beautiful with alot of extension. Finding planetaries is easy if you leave the filter off the ep and find the neb. by dsc or starhopping. When you're pretty sure the neb is in the f.o.v. just pass the filter in front of the ep. The nebula should "blink" in. This filter will also enhance the belts on Jupiter but does give a greenish cast.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 6 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=65024

Orion UltraBlock LP
This is an excellent filter to have around for the suburban astronomer. The best way to tell how well it works is to describe all that I have done with it. In early February, I tested it out on the Orion Nebula. Using it with my XT10i telescope and an Orion 8mm Stratus eyepiece, I did not find much of a difference in the view. I was slightly disappointed. After all, spending $80 on a tiny little piece of glass, I was expecting a mighty portal into the heavens. I found out much later through experience that the disappointing views that I had that night was not the filter’s fault, it was the impatient dummy behind the eyepiece. That night in February from my viewing location, the Orion Nebula was hovering just below 42 degrees altitude, which is close to its peak. Being as close to overhead as it was going to get, this was the best view possible from northern Ohio. Through experience, I found that the best time to observe an object is when it is at its peak altitude. It glowed far above the light pollution in the southern horizon offering breath taking views of wisps and clouds, yet the filter did nothing to improve the view. Two months later M42 was floating in the murky western horizon somewhere around 19 degrees. You couldn’t even see the nebula with the naked eye anymore because of all the light pollution and horizon muck. Through my telescope, it glowed rather sickly, a shadow of its former glory. I put in the UltraBlock filter and was astonished at what I saw. The Orion Nebula glowed just as awesome as if you were looking at it from its peak altitude back in early February. An “Ah Ha” went off in my head; this is how the filter is to be used. It is rather useless when an object is out of light pollution. But when it is in muck, it gives you a view that is comparable to a light pollution free view. In late June I tried the filter on some of the nebulas in Sagittarius. These nebulas at that time floated far into my southern light pollution zone. Without the filter, the Lagoon and Omega nebulas for example were just hazy, featureless clouds. But with the filter being used, it brought out fabulous details in the glowing goodies. The difference is extremely apparent and amazing. My conclusion is that this is a magnificent little piece of glass. At first I believed it to be useless, but after learning how to use it, I found it to be worth every penny. If you live out in a dark area where there is hardly any light pollution, the filter may not do you any good. But if you live in a lit up area where light pollution is abundant, it is an extremely useful tool. The
splendid views are hiding behind all the light pollution, the UltraBlock just helps you carve through it.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=549456

Orion UltraBlock LP
Great filter for emmission nebulae all around! Relatively inexpensive compared to other brand names.

Michael

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=324153

Orion UltraBlock LP
I love to view nebula w/o the filter and then with it. The difference is remarkable.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=83165

Orion UltraBlock LP
I live in a an area with moderate to high light pollution. After reading the reviews for this eyepiece I was set on buying it. After paying 100 dollars and trying it out I was severly dissapointed. It actually made nebulas and clusters look dimmer. Maybe it blocks out to much light. Maybe I had a lemon but I sent it back because for 100 dollars I would expect a lot more.

Overall Rating: 4
Optics:4 Value:4
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=111877 

>After paying 100 dollars and trying it out I was severly dissapointed. It actually made nebulas and clusters look dimmer. Maybe it blocks out to much light.

Could be. Since you haven't said how much aperture you have, it's impossible to say for sure. I've also found that with my Orion Skyglow the surrounding light becomes much more intrusive, so I drape a towel over my head while viewing.

I own both the Skyglow and the Ultrablock, and without these filters deep-sky observing would be impossible for me.
Orion UltraBlock LP
compared to the OIII, I find this filter to be not quite up to the same standard. This is likely due to the transmission ratings which are just at the 90% mark as compared to my OIII at around 94%. Still a nice filter adn I reccomend it highly.

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:8 Value:7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=68863

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