My Formatt Hitech Firecrest Nightscape light pollution filter review.
The Formatt Hitech Nightscape filter is available in both 85mm and 100mm sizes so it will work with standard 85mm and 100mm filter holders.
The Nightscape filter is like magic, pop it on and the light pollution is gone.
The shots posted here have been provided by Formatt Hitech, I have used the filter several times over the last year in test conditions to make sure it really does work well.
So first things first Formatt Hitech supplied me with this filter so I could review it they have also provided me with a discount code for 10% off of their products with code HAYES10 via their website and for the sake of transparency, I should also say I get a slight kickback from sales made. The positive is you get 10% off though so it’s a win-win for everyone.
Ok, so what does this light pollution filter do for you?
The simple answer is the firecrest light pollution filter removes the normally orange coloured light pollution in astro photography. No, it doesn’t just remove the colour Orange but rather the frequency of sodium street lighting. There are probably tons of technical reviews and better explanations of how this light pollution filter actually works but I find the images below are more than enough proof for me.
Does it work?
Hell yes, see the photographs below to see how well it does its job. Forget the composition and just look at the complete elimination of light pollution.
Yes, some may say that the left image is warmer but the sky is not normally warm at night and this gives you a very false photograph.
The image with the light polution filter gives you an accurate portrayal of our skies.
Should you buy it?
Well if you are a night photography fan, so either an Astro or cityscape photographer then yes it should already be in your bag, so why are you still reading this?
This filter fits beautifully in the Formatt Hitech Firecrest 100mm MKII filter holder which I have reviewed here.
A few points to note though.
This filter is a coated filter so you need to be careful not to scratch the coating (same as most filters). All the rest of the Formatt Hitech Firecrest range of filters are bonded filters and the nd coating is sandwiched between two plates of bonded optical glass so scratching them is a lot more difficult.
Would this filter go in my bag? The simple answer is yes, is it in my top 5 favourite filters? Well no it’s not but then again I am not a Nightscape shooter, if I were this awesome light pollution filter would always be in my bag.
If you have a question then please feel free to ask me in the form below. I am only to happy to help.