Which camera

[Dazholmes]

Which camera should I buy for begginers I have around 230£ to spend which is like 300 dollers I guess I was thinking maybe a canon eos 1200d ?

[seo]

If you can tell us what is your "astronomical" equipment and what you like to accomplish with it (what is your present "goal" using your existing equipment)  then I believe you can get more "precise" help.

Clear skies.

[Tim99]

I started out with an ED80 Refractor and bought the adaptor to connect my DSLR.  They make T-adapters for lots of different cameras. ( I have a Panasonic GH2 DSLR).  I got some beautiful photos of the moon and even took a stab at Jupiter & Saturn.

Then, I learned that to take pictures of the planets, you want a long focal length scope which will give you a smaller FOV  (field of view) and higher magnification.  Planets are really small so you need larger aperture scope to be able to have enough light gathering ability to use high power eyepieces etc.

For DSO's  (Deep Sky Objects)  many people are using the 80mm Refractor because of it's wide field of view (FOV).

This brings me to what I have learned about cameras.  For DSO's, you are going to be taking long exposure pictures.  You can use a DSLR for this.  Canon cameras are highly recommended for several reasons.  Canon cameras are supported by many Astro programs.  I just bought a used Canon 1100d for $250.  

Now for planetary astrophotography, many people are using webcams.  They take a video of the planet then you use Stacking software to pull out the best frames for a composite photo.  You can use your DSLR in video mode too but a camera like the ZWO ASI224MC is optimized for Solar, Lunar,Planetary and even DSO's Astrophotography (AP) and for around $350 it seems like the way to go to me.

There is no single approach it seems.  For over a year, I was content with my little ED80 and my DSLR.  Then I got the bug and bought an SCT and a Go-To Tracking mount and lots and lots of accessories (spent a small fortune).  If you have the $$$ then the sky is the limit!

Enjoy

[mcolbert]

I suppose another thing to consider is that as your interests develop / expand then the imaging requirements will change - be prepared to purchase several camera 'systems'.  Then there's also the upgrading and so it goes on.   The key thing here is to take the 'baby steps' and take the time to enjoy the discoveries of the sky and of equipment.  But as seo writes - what is your present interest?

michael

[Tim99]

Yeah Michael, that's what happens to me.  I got started and then as I learned more, I figured I needed this and that.  The fun, for me, is in the learning and discovery and of course succeeding once in a while!  You are right, go slow and enjoy it.  I started out just wanting to take some photos of the moon and planets.  I did that with my ED80 for over a year before I decided to get the SCT.   I figured the SCT would be a big step up.  Then I learned that every telescope has its niche.  The Refractor is still #1 for clarity and contrast and now I have a lot of light collecting ability with the SCT.  What a great hobby!

[cjdawson]

Which camera should I buy for begginers I have around 230£ to spend which is like 300 dollers I guess I was thinking maybe a canon eos 1200d ?

A Canon DSLR is a great camera for Astro work. Without modification it'll work well, with modification it'll work better. You don't need to modify the camera straight away. The modification is to remove an IR blocking filter that's part of the camera, that can be compensated for by adding a seperate IR blocking filter elsewhere. But you don't need to do it unless you really want it.

Canon cameras appear to have a better reputation for Astrophotography, this is augmented as they have produced a few cameras specifically for AstroPhotography (20Da, 40Da, 60Da) These cameras had the modification already done, and I believe the 20Da was the first with Liveview.

I remember being told that the cameras (all canon) firmware has better support for astro images. I remember being told that some Nikon Camera's firmware would filter out Stars in images thinking they were hot pixels or noise in the image. I'm not sure how true this is as I've not seen any side by side examples of this happening.

Overall, whatever camera you get it's best to make sure that it has the following features...

1. LiveView - Will help with focussing and framing the image

2. Mirror lock - Will help remove and camera shake from the image - especially on longer focal lengths.

3. Ability to turn on and off the noise reduction - (this is automatic dark frames, turn it off and take your own set of darks to apply to the image)

pretty much all canon camera's since the 40D have this feature. (I think the 450D came out at about the same time, but I could be wrong)

[mcolbert]

Tim, just a little OT but when you consider that you're in the U.S. posting on a forum in the U.K. and I'm replying from Aust. and people globally can read this - it says something else about our interest / passion / hobby / sanity(?)

michael

[cjdawson]

Tim, just a little OT but when you consider that you're in the U.S. posting on a forum in the U.K. and I'm replying from Aust. and people globally can read this - it says something else about our interest / passion / hobby / sanity(?)

michael

Lol, what says more about our sanity is that I'm sat in the dark in my front garden, having a go at imaging M57 whilst replying to this message. Might put a film on in a minute, yep. film night in my garden whilst babysitting my scope that's taking 60 * 3 min frames.

[mcolbert]

cj, aah the power of the unconscious!  When I read your comment about imaging and then about putting a film 'on' I read putting a film 'in'!   Wow! another film user!  The I re-read the line - oh well, there's got to be a few of us left - somewhere.  

michael

[cjdawson]

i switched from film to digital years ago. My first steps were using 400iso slide film though, it was a good experience for the learning curve. Switching to digital had its own challanges, but for me has opened up things a bit though.

[Tim99]

Yes Michael and CJ .... It's nice to talk to "like minded" folks around the world.  We live it the most amazing time.  The computer and internet has made access to knowledge and learning so much easier but the truly amazing thing is the 'free exchange' of information.  The fact that we can do this almost instantaneous from anywhere in the world is mind boggling.  

[hazegood]

before you buy anything, get hold of 'Making Every Photon Count'  by Dave Richards,  (Steppenwolf on SGL)    read it then read it again,
 

It explains what you need for different kinds of AP, why you need it, and how to use it.

(surprised no one suggested this already)

 

[Akiainavas]

Which camera should I buy for begginers I have around 230£ to spend which is like 300 dollers I guess I was thinking maybe a canon eos 1200d ?

There are many negative reviews of the 1200d. Apparently, it's plagued by some problems that make it not very suitable for AP, which is surprising because the previous model, 1100d is highly recommended. On the other hand - it will be more than enough for your 1st camera, and remember that you can always re-sell it and upgrade. We're never marrying our equipment.

I myself got the 100D as I find it's small and low-weight body to be an advantage for AP. It's still on the budget side and uses the same sensor as some more expensive models.

And definitely get the book hazegood recommended - it answered most of my questions, even those I didn't even think I had.

Good luck and remember to share your work with us

[cjdawson]

We're never marrying our equipment.

True that.  however, my LX-90 was my first scope and it's still going strong, it's the core of my setup.  Over times I've added and removed some kit, but the basic scope is still the same one.  Kit that I've replaced goes something like this...

Cosina SLR --> Canon 30D --> Canon 70D

I still have the 30D so can use it for wide field whilst the 70D is doing my deep sky work

Laptop with K108, and webcam - replaced with iPad with SkyFi and SynGuider.

The laptop was used for start charting software and scope control.  I've replaced this with my iPad using a SkyFi to attach to my scope.

The laptop also allowed me to autoguide using K3CCDTools using a webcam and a K108 relay box.  I've switch this to a SkyWatcher Synguider, which had it's first light this last friday.

Over the years, I've gone through several batteries.  Have settled on using a 70Ah leisure battery, as power source.

I've also switched out from using an SCT to M42 primal focus tube, to a flip mirror.

Whilst some kit will remain constant, there will be alot of kit that you will marry as it will work great and you'll not want to change it.  From what I've seen, if you get a good scope to start with, you'll stick with it.

OK, mine hasn't had as might light as it should have for various reasons, that said.  I'm getting better at making the most of the limited scope time that I've had, and I'm also lucky that the kit that I have works extremely well.

[employee2-4601]

^{With regard to budget, mine is non-existent, though at some stage I would like to get into AP. Is it possible to attach a standard digital camera (not a DSLR) to a scope for AP? I've got an 11yr-old Olympus Camedia that, despite all the newer and flashier cameras on the market, is still a really good bit of kit. I don't imagine for a moment that I'll get great AP results with it, but I'd like to at least dip my toe in the water, so-to-speak...}

^{(Only just ordered my first scope, so for now I'll be concentrating on simply learning the sky and enjoying the sights)}

[cjdawson]

^{With regard to budget, mine is non-existent, though at some stage I would like to get into AP. Is it possible to attach a standard digital camera (not a DSLR) to a scope for AP? I've got an 11yr-old Olympus Camedia that, despite all the newer and flashier cameras on the market, is still a really good bit of kit. I don't imagine for a moment that I'll get great AP results with it, but I'd like to at least dip my toe in the water, so-to-speak...}

^{(Only just ordered my first scope, so for now I'll be concentrating on simply learning the sky and enjoying the sights)}

Yep. it's possible.

First of all what you need is something like this.

http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Revelation-P195-A-Universal-Digiscoping-Adaptor-28mm-45mm.html

What it will do is hold the camera in place over an eyepiece barrel - much easier than trying to take a photo freehand.  Then, you can point your scope at the moon or a planet to take an image.

If your camera has a timer, use that when trying to take a photo, the 10 second countdown will give you plenty of time to let go and allow the scope to stop shaking.

Also if you can record movies. You can do that, take a few minutes of movie, then load use a program like reigstax to turn the movie into a single stacked image.

[employee2-4601]

Excellent - much obliged. Looks like the old digi-cam will be coming with me on my nocturnal excursions! :-)