The Astronomik Clip-Filters offer a number of practical advantages that make them an ideal choice for astrophotographers:

• Installing and removing the Astronomik Clip-Filter is very quick and easy and requires no extra tools or modifications to the camera body. They can be changed at any time, even at night.
• All lens functions, such as focus, aperture, and image stabilization remain fully functional.
• The Astronomik Clip-Filters are held securely in place without stressing the high-quality glass.
• The Astronomik Clip-Filters are designed and optimized for use with both standard camera lenses and telescopes.

Through the Astronomik Clip-Filters, we were able to solve several common issues faced by astrophotographers:

• Large filters for large camera lenses are very expensive.
• Using a filter holder between the camera body and the lens prevents focusing to infinity.
• For very fast telescopes (low f-number) like the Vixen R200SS or the Takahashi "Epsilon" astrograph, a filter drawer or filter wheel can not be used because the distance to the corrector lenses would be changed.
• Long exposure times lead to dust settling on the camera's sensor chip.

Due to the very tight bayonet and the limited space inside the camera, the Astronomik EOS XL Clip-Filters cause a minimal obstruction in the corners. But this can be easily corrected by flatfielding.

Installing the Astronomik EOS XL Clip-Filter

To install the filter, activate "Mirror Lockup" in the "Custom Functions" menu, press the exposure button once to lock the mirror up, slide the Astronomik EOS XL Clip-Filter into the camera body, and press until it rests on both arms (right and left). Deactivate the "Mirror Lockup", and your camera is ready for imaging.

Note: The installed Astronomik EOS XL Clip-Filter fixes the mirror in the upper position, disabling the optical viewfinder. Use the LiveView monitor on the back of the camera or remote control via USB cable for searching, focusing, and centering. Autofocus and image stabilization remain fully functional, and the fixed mirror does not cause any errors.

Removing the Astronomik EOS XL Clip-Filter

To remove the filter, pull it out with one finger on either arm, grasp it with two fingers, and place it back into its storage box. The mirror will go down, and the camera will function as before.

The following video shows you how easy it is to use the Astronomik EOS XL Clip‑Filter.

NOTE: Please store the Clip-Filter in the supplied storage box and do not leave it in the camera for long periods of time. 

Use Astronomik filters for your Canon EOS full-frame DSLR camera and enjoy marvelous images with an ultra-light equipment!

Compatible Canon EOS full-frame DSLR cameras

A short guide for selecting the right filter

If you are just getting started in astrophotography and looking for your first filter, we recommend the Astronomik CLS filter. It effectively suppresses artificial light pollution and natural airglow, giving you a dark sky background and therefore allowing for much longer exposures. This makes it possible to capture much fainter structures and deep-sky objects, even under urban or suburban skies. Despite its strong suppression of unwanted light, the Astronomik CLS filter maintains neutral and well balanced colours, similar to how your eyes would see if they were far more sensitive. For nightscape photography and time-lapse movies, the Astronomic CLS filter is a good choice. However, if you are using a modified camera sensitive to infrared (IR)-light, make sure to choose the Astronomik CLS-CCD filter, which includes a built-in IR-blocker to prevent IR contamination in your images.

The Astronomik UHC filter is a great alternative when photographing under extremely light-polluted skies. Its narrow transmission range allows light from only specific emission lines - H-beta, OIII, H-alpha and SII - to pass through, while filtering out almost all the other light. The Astronomik UHC filter provides much stronger reduction of light pollution than the Astronomik CLS and CLS-CCD filters but will work for emission nebulae only. For galaxies and open or globular star clusters the filter is not suitable. 

For those who want to explore photography with narrowband filters, especially with astro-modified cameras, Astronomik offers dedicated Narrowband-Emissionline filters for Oxygen (OIII), Hydrogen (H-alpha) and Sulfur (SII), available with 6nm or 12nm Full-Width-Half-Maximum (FWHM). These filters enable ultra-deep imaging even with the full moon high up in the sky or in severely light-polluted environments. Please note that each Astronomik Emissionline filter only allows light from a narrow wavelength range to pass through. Therefore, colour images must be created by combining exposures through several filters, similar to how false colour images from the Hubble Space Telescope are made. But even images taken with only one filter, particularly with an Astronomik H-alpha filter, can produce stunning monochrome pictures.

If you own a modified camera and want to use it for conventional photography, the Astronomik OWB (Original White Balance) filter is the right choice. It restores the normal colour reproduction of an unmodified camera, allowing you to shoot in daylight again without the need for colour-correting each image afterwards.

Please feel free to contact us if you need any more help or advice in selecting the right filter for your application.