When it comes to astrophotography, nothing is more important than capturing vivid, bright images of the stars, constellations, and the Milky Way. It’s what draws us to this segment of photography, capturing the details of our universe with our cameras that our eyes wish they could see. There’s now a filter you can use at any time of the year, built and designed to make stars appear bigger and constellations stand out. That filter is the NiSi Star Soft Astrophotography Filter, and I had the chance to take it deep into the high desert of Utah and Arizona to test it out.
Key Features of the Astrophotography Filter
Before I walk through my overall experience and opinions on the NiSi astrophotography filter, let’s talk about the details, specs, and features:
- It is designed like a Graduated Neutral Density filter (GND) with the top ⅔ of the filter having the full “star soft” effect and the bottom ⅓ is clear. This allows for the foreground to not be affected if you shooting your foreground at night through multiple exposures and photo stacking.
- NiSi claims no loss of light when shooting with this astrophotography filter, and offers a neutral tone with no added color cast.
- It is available in two sizes: a 100x150mm and a 150x170mm.
- It is compatible with any NiSi filter holder that fits a 100mm or 150mm filter width with a thickness of 2mm.
It’s clear that the NiSi Star Soft Astrophotography Filter looks like an intriguing and valuable filter on paper. Although, I was also a little skeptical how big of a difference it would actually make in the field. I know the reputation of NiSi, for making top-of-the-line, compact, durable filters but until I tested this filter under the stars, I couldn’t be sold.
Out of the Box
While first impressions don’t mean much in regards to performance, NiSi certainly impressed right out of the gate. The filter is lightweight, yet thick and durable. It’s made with quality glass that can withstand drops in the field. It also comes with a beautiful, sleek, saddle brown leather carrying case with magnetic snaps. It feels as premium as the filter itself.
The NiSi Star Soft Astrophotography filter paired perfectly with the NiSi V6 filter holder I used. NiSi filter holders are simply designed yet very dependable when holding and adjusting filters. With a quick twist of the side knobs, I could raise or lower the filter to increase or reduce the filter effect in the frame.
In the Field
Now, for the most important question: Does the NiSi Star Soft Astrophotography Filter live up to the hype? Does it create much bigger and brighter stars, galaxies, and constellations? The answer is yes. It’s a lens that can truly take your astrophotography to the next level.
Take a look at the two images below. Both were shot on the same night, under the same conditions. The second image had the NiSi Star Soft Astrophotography Filter in use. It clearly has much more defined, brighter, and bolder stars. It was actually surprising to see how well this filter worked while not affecting the foreground. There was no loss of light, and the colors were natural and beautiful.
WITHOUT FILTER
WITH FILTER
What was the most impressive part of this field test? Both images were photographed outside of the Milky Way season, under a full moon. The NiSi Star Soft Astrophotography Filter still performed incredibly well. It showed a dramatic difference compared to shooting without it. Despite the poor astrophotography conditions, this filter truly shined under the stars.
Conclusion
After testing the NiSi Star Soft Astrophotography Filter in Arizona and Utah, it lived up to its lofty expectations. If you’re a photographer that is focused on astrophotography, this filter is a tool that can take your images to the next level. Not only will your stars, constellations, and galaxies be brighter, but your compositions will be more dynamic than ever before.
If you’re looking to upgrade your filter system entirely, I highly recommend looking into the entire NiSi family of filters and filter holders. Their quality and durability is second to none. Their focus on compact yet dependable designs are great for photographers that travel, or simply care about shedding unnecessary weight.
