Baader filters

Mike et Alias...
I am prompted by the thread on moon filters to ask a question that had been in the back of my mind...
Mike, you said you had returned some baader filters, and I wonder if you would explain why and what satisfaction you got?
Any other comments about the baader filters quality/efficacy from any one?
Thanks
Dan

Well, of course AP is a quality outfit. I only asked for them to evaluate 2 of the 6 filters, and they ended up replacing both for me. It did take awhile, but I was feeling patient because I was still going to bed before Jupiter was in good position to observe. I think I like the filters, but I've only had one session observing Jupiter with them, and conditions weren't very good.

One of the filters I sent back had a coating flaw at the edge, and when clean it still displayed a fingerprint-like pattern when I fogged it with my breath. That was iffy. I probably wouldn't have pursued a return on that one if it weren't for a more obvious problem with the other. The other filter seemed to be jammed in the casing at a slight angle (as evidenced by the retaining ring being cross-threaded), and I got a series of reflections around bright objects.

As for efficacy versus standard filters, I'm not sure. I'm only using them in situations where contrast and sharpness of bright objects are critical, so while one person might ask why pay twice as much, I tend to ask why go with the Chinese filters (which have no AR coatings at all or inferior coatings) just to save $60 (or whatever it happens to be).
--
Mike