The best astro filters are the perfect tools for capturing spectacular shots of the sky at night – even if you live in the middle of a city. Light pollution emitted by houses, cars, streetlights, and other light sources is the biggest culprit, and can often scupper an astro shoot, preventing you from being able to capture the stars and constellations above, no matter how clear the sky is.
Light pollution filters can help fix this. These glass filters are designed to suppress the emissions that are generated by artificial lighting, reducing the yellow-green color caused by city lights. This means that your astro images will have greater clarity, more natural colors, and improved contrast.
However, not all light pollution filters are created equal, as some are more effective than others, feature anti-reflective coatings, or are built to be water- or oil-repellent. My guide will help you find the best light pollution filters for your budget.
But that's not all: I've also included one or two other filters aimed at astrophotographers to help enhance their images of the heavens above.
Dan is an intrepid photographer who loves shooting the great outdoors but knows that an array of filters is essential for capturing scenes at their best. He's personally tried and tested the light pollution filters in this guide.
The best filters for astrophotography
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Best overall light pollution filter
The Cokin Nuances Clearsky is a professional-grade light pollution filter designed to eliminate the artificial yellow and orange glow of sodium and mercury-vapor lamps. It is one of the most durable and effective filters on the market, and is available in an extensive range of formats, including seven circular screw-in sizes (52mm to 82mm) and three square slot-in sizes (84mm, 100mm, and 130mm wide).
Constructed from high-resolution phosphate laser neodymium glass, it features a double-sided multilayer nano-coating. This coating makes the filter exceptionally resistant to oil, water, dust, and scratches. The glass is remarkably hardy, capable of surviving significant drops onto concrete. For square filter users, Cokin offers metal frames that provide even greater protection and ease of handling.
The Clearsky maintains impeccable image sharpness and actually improves contrast and fine detail. It has one of the strongest light-suppression effects of the filters tested, resulting in a distinct purple hue straight out of the camera. While this effectively neutralizes urban skyglow, it does require more active post-processing. It remains functional in extreme temperatures (-10°C to 40°C), making it a reliable choice for long, cold winter night shoots. Its superior durability and professional-grade optical results make it a worthwhile long-term purchase for those working in harsh environments.
See our full Cokin Nuances Clearsky review
Best star-sharpening filter
This specialized filter is designed to improve astrophotography, as well as cityscape and portrait photos. It works by slightly blurring the image, which in turn makes stars appear larger and brighter in night sky photographs without compromising the sharpness of the foreground. The 'W' version of the filter has a softening effect that is half as strong as the 'A' version.
While effective at what it does, the filter does not include a light pollution cut feature. For this, you would need to either use it in conjunction with a separate light pollution filter or opt for the more expensive Kenko Starry Night filter, which combines both functions.
The Japanese-made filter is well-built and has a premium feel, with an aluminum frame and optical glass. It is available in a variety of screw-in sizes and also comes in a sheet form. Its thin frame is designed to prevent vignetting on wide-angle lenses. The filter also features a digital multi-coating to help suppress reflections, although it does lack a water-repellent coating. Despite this, the filter is highly recommended for its performance and value, making it a solid choice for photographers looking to improve their night sky images on a budget.
See our full Kenko Prosofton Clear review
Best premium light pollution filter
The Irix Edge Light Pollution Filter is a professional-grade filter for night photography that aims to neutralize the disruptive yellow glow of sodium-vapor street lamps. Only available in larger filter thread sizes, it prioritizes durability and optical precision but at a higher price than enthusiast alternatives. It's backed by a five-year warranty, which should provide peace of mind.
Part of Irix’s Super Resistant (SR) series, the filter is constructed from toughened tempered glass that has undergone thermal treatment to resist shattering. Indeed, even after being dropped multiple times, the filter remained undamaged. It features a multi-layered nano-coating on both sides, making the surface hydrophobic and oleophobic and ensuring that water, oil, and dust are easily repelled, facilitating quick cleaning in cold or damp conditions typical of night shooting.
The filter’s primary function is to block the specific 589nm wavelength common in older urban lighting. In testing, it effectively eliminated the garish yellow-orange color cast from cityscapes and improved the contrast of the night sky, making stars and astronomical objects more prominent. Image sharpness remained excellent across the frame with no noticeable vignetting, even when using the slightly thicker Super Endurance frame design.
See our full Irix Edge Light Pollution Filter review
Best light pollution filter for size choice
The Rollei Astroklar is available in an impressively wide range of sizes, including 15 different circular thread options (from 39mm to 105mm) and two square formats (100mm and 150mm). It features a double-sided coating that is both hydrophobic and oil-resistant, making it exceptionally easy to clean in the field.
In testing, the filter successfully reduced the washed-out haze typical of light-polluted horizons and neutralized artificial color casts in urban environments, significantly enhancing contrast and color accuracy for city-bound photographers. Image sharpness and contrast remained excellent, with no noticeable chromatic aberration or vignetting. However, the filter reduces light transmission by approximately 2/3 of an f-stop, requiring slightly longer exposure times.
The most peculiar aspect of the Astroklar is its erratic pricing, with larger filters occasionally significantly cheaper than smaller ones, so savvy buyers should check all sizes and consider using step-up rings to save money.
See our full Rollei Astroklar review
Best light pollution filter for urban scenes
The K&F Concept Natural Night Filter is a budget-friendly solution designed to combat the garish yellow and orange color casts caused by sodium and mercury-vapor street lamps. Its slim, low-profile design is particularly advantageous for wide-angle astrophotography, as it minimizes the risk of vignetting even when stacked with other filters. The filter features a 28-layer double-sided nano-coating, making it resistant to water, oil, scratches, and dust. During testing, water beaded off the surface easily, simplifying field maintenance.
The filter selectively blocks light wavelengths between 575nm and 600nm to neutralize urban skyglow and restore the natural blue and indigo tones of the night sky. Image sharpness remains high, and the anti-reflective properties (keeping reflections down to 0.15%) ensure that ghosting from bright light sources like car headlights is minimized.
The K&F Concept Natural Night Filter is a top-quality option for those on a budget. It may not quite match the absolute optical perfection of premium filters like the Cokin Nuances Clear Sky, but for the majority of enthusiast photographers, its balance of affordability, robust coatings, and effective light suppression makes it highly recommended.
See our full K&F Concept Natural Night Filter review
Best budget light pollution filter
The Hoya Starscape Light Pollution Cut filter is a budget-oriented astrophotography filter designed to neutralize the yellow and orange glow of artificial street lighting. It is something of a bare-bones option that uses a specific glass formula rather than surface coatings to filter light, which results in a very natural color balance. The light-pollution-cutting effect is rather subtle compared to competitor filters, but on a positive note, the resulting images are easier to edit because they lack a heavy artificial color shift.
Unlike its more premium competitors, the Hoya Starscape lacks advanced protective coatings, making it significantly harder to clean in the field. Sharpness is generally good, though I noted a very slight softening of fine details when zooming in significantly. Because it has only a single anti-reflective coating on each side, it is more prone to reflections than multi-coated alternatives. The frame is constructed from aluminum and is slightly thicker than average, protruding 4mm from the lens, increasing the risk of vignetting when using ultra-wide lenses or when stacking filters.
The Hoya Starscape is available in nine circular thread sizes (49mm to 82mm) and as a 100x100mm square filter. It is a good option if cash is tight, especially for those using smaller lenses, where the price is very competitive. However, the value decreases as the filter size increases, with the 82mm version reaching prices where competitors offer more features for a similar outlay.
See our full Hoya Starscape Light Pollution Cut filter review
How to choose the best light pollution filter
Do I really need a light pollution filter?
Probably! If you enjoy shooting astrophotography, you’ll likely be aware of how the glow from street lighting can make stars less visible. If you visit a designated Dark Sky area, where there is very little light pollution, this is less of an issue; the rest of the time, your astro shots will benefit from you using a light pollution filter, with heightened contrast bringing out more stars.
Even if you don’t shoot astrophotography, any scenes you shoot at night in or near cities can look more natural with the help of one of these filters.
Do light pollution filters counter the effects of all street lighting?
No, they typically address the yellowish cast of conventional sodium streetlights. As more cities are gradually switching to energy-efficient LED street lamps, which typically have a purer white tint, this will present greater challenges to astrophotographers as their use spreads.
How we test filters
When we test filters, we look at both optical performance and general build quality – how robust the filter feels, how easy it is to use and how securely it attaches to the lens. We use a combination of real-world and lens testing to inform our comments in reviews and buying guides. For filters, we test light transmission levels, color neutrality (i.e. if the filter introduces a cool or warm cast) and the impact a filter has on image quality.
Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World
