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Canon EOS 1000D astro mod.

simon84

By simon84
in Discussions - Cameras

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simon84

simon84

Posted
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I've been looking into astro modified dslr's and was wondering if anyone has attempted doing the modification themselves.

I have a 1000D, I wasnt allowed to modify this camera but there maybe a chance that I can.

I have found the video and print out guides for doing the mod. I have a place to do it and I have the time. I wont be using the camera for anything other than astro so I dont need to preserve the auto focus by replacing the removed filter and if I did use it with a lens on it from what I've read I can still focus the camera and lens manually.

What I would like to know is on a scale of 1 to 10 how difficult did anyone who has done it find it. I'm a tinkerer by nature and am used to taking laptops apart and repairing them. I can solder and I have one of those daylight lamps with the magnifying lens in it.

Should I or shouldnt I? If I mess it up its £280 for a new 1000D body or its £440 for an already modified one which I just dont have at all.

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Deneb

Deneb

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Simon, just to yourself a favour, do it where you won't be disturbed, take your time & make sure you have the right tools for the Job. One thing you might need if your doing a filter removal only is a IR/UV Cut filter at the end of your t-thread adaptor if your going to image with a refractor..

You won't need to solder anything...

Scale 1-10: I would say 3, being quite easy, it's just fiddly..., another tip: Whatever you remove tape it down on a photocopy of the piece you are removing. Last thing you want is some screws missing or finding out where you removed them from...

Nadeem

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Psychobilly

Psychobilly

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1000D is pretty straight forward and if your going to use it as a dedicated astro cam on the back of scopes even more so... just ditch the the filter... if not you will either need to shim the sensor unit or use a clear glass replacement to maintian infinity focus with camera lenses...

Work methodically in a clean dust free environment checking the items off against a printed copy of oen of the modification guides and use a compartment box to keep the parts from each stage... check them oiff again as you out it back together...

Oh and no soldering required...

Peter...

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simon84

simon84

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Cheers chaps. From what I've been reading it would be fairly easy to replace the filter with a Baader uv/ir cut filter from Bern and then using a custom white balance be able to have it fully functional as a daytime camera aswell.

Would I be right in saying that?

If so the filter is only £56 and I'd get a camera that will do both.

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MickyWay

MickyWay

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You could do worse than check Gary Honis' web pages Canon Digital Rebel XSi 450D, 1000D, 500D IR Filter Removal Modification- Page 1 -Configuration & Preparation -by Gary Honis

Gary has modified many EOS cameras and it was with his help I modified my 1000D.

Follow the advice already given, take your time, keep clean, dust is the big enemy.

All the connecters are very small and require real care when disconnecting and especially reconnecting.

Most post-mod problems are due to badly inserted connectors and dust getting on the optical surfaces.

I would only attempt this mod if you are 100% confident in your own ability to work methodically and cleanly.

That said, it's not that difficult, and I hope you give it a go!

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tooth_dr

tooth_dr

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I previously modded my 300d, and then bought a 1000d after a used body came up at the right price.

I was disheartened to hear that the baader filters were impossible to get to do the replacement, and felt that I had 'wasted' my money on the 1000d.

HOWEVER, that was not the case. There are two filters in the 1000d, and it so happens that the one you need to remove does not affect the IR/UV filtration. This is done by the second filter that you do not need to remove. Such that you do not need to buy the baader filter, and the second remaining filter continues to protect the sensor, and maintains the piezo cleaning function.

As per autofocus issues. Well the difference is so negligible, that you won't see any difference in the normal holiday snaps you might take with it, and certainly not if you only view them on the pc or print out standard small photos.

I found the process pretty straight forward, and easier than the 300d mod. I just kept all the screws neatly in order on the table as I removed them, and made sure I had enough time to carry out the whole job in one go. You do not want to leave it and come back later as you'll forget what goes where!

Check out this link that explains about the two filters on the 1000d:

Astronomiser - Automated Astronomy and AstroImaging Solutions

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Sam

Sam

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I did my own, didn't replace the filter and used Gary's pages. Very easy to do - just need a steady hand and not focus on the fact you're voiding the warranty on an expensive camera! If your nerves can handle that then go for it - it is worth it.:)

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simon84

simon84

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Thanks everyone for the encourangment. I will be giving it a go. I've printed off Garys work sheets and I have the video which I've watched half a dozen times now.

I did read that the 1000D has a dual filter but if I can replace the removed filter for one that costs only £56 which would make the AF spot on again then it surely must be worth it.

I'm totally confident that I can pull this off, so fingers crossed as soon as my Baader cut filter arrives I can get it done.

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tooth_dr

tooth_dr

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I did read that the 1000D has a dual filter but if I can replace the removed filter for one that costs only £56 which would make the AF spot on again then it surely must be worth it.

If it's only for astro work, then it's £56 wasted imo.

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tooth_dr

tooth_dr

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indeed if its only for astro on the back of the scope its unneccesary...

I am actually moving away from the scopes though and enjoying widefield with camera lenses more...

Peter...

I love the widefields you've done, the Cygnus neb especially (June), and the latest star trail image. Great work!

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simon84

simon84

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Well going from Denebs post above with reagrds to using the modded camera with a frac, he has said that I would need a cut filter anyway so I might as well kill two birds with one stone and pop one in there anyway. If the camera still functions properly with it in then at least I have the option to use it for daytime use.

I agree with you though Peter, widefield photography is certainly alot of fun. I'm still putting my rig together, similar to your rig you made. I'm doing mine completley with ali and I think I will need my NEQ6 to mount it, its coming in rather heavy.

More to read about though before I decide to jump in and mod the camera, that and Bern is out of stock of the Baader filters at the moment. So I have plenty of time to think it through.

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simon84

simon84

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Sounds good, I had the 486RC2 head but like a fool parted company with it.

For my widefield rig I was thinking of using the 804RC2. Havnt decided totally on it yet but it seems good enough.

So much going on, which reminds me I must sort the shipping out for the UPS's.

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Psychobilly

Psychobilly

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I found a pan and tilt heads a PITA on the EQ mount to be honest the larger ball heads make life so easy...

The 488 or 498's are tall enough to allow you to rotate the camera from landscape to portrait without fouling the Dovetail bar i have them mounted on...

Peter...

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Deneb

Deneb

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Well going from Denebs post above with reagrds to using the modded camera with a frac, he has said that I would need a cut filter anyway so I might as well kill two birds with one stone and pop one in there anyway. If the camera still functions properly with it in then at least I have the option to use it for daytime use.

I agree with you though Peter, widefield photography is certainly alot of fun. I'm still putting my rig together, similar to your rig you made. I'm doing mine completley with ali and I think I will need my NEQ6 to mount it, its coming in rather heavy.

More to read about though before I decide to jump in and mod the camera, that and Bern is out of stock of the Baader filters at the moment. So I have plenty of time to think it through.

If your going down the route of filter replacement, then your going to need some of this stuff as well, to affix the filter within the frame..

Nadeem.

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3ggman

3ggman

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So I just picked the 1000D two days ago and I am very tempted to do this mod as it doesnt seem to difficult. I am still a bit unsure though, if I remove the filter without replacing it does the camera become useless with a lens or is it just the auto focus that no longer works, does manual focus still work fine.

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