neilt3

Thanks for replying . I've converted Sony and Nikon cameras to full spectrum or infrared before , and these just have the one filter in front of the sensor . I wasn't aware that canon DSLRs had two . I'll use the UV/IR filter on my full spectrum camera or narrowband filters for general widefield use , but I'm now also looking into a dedicated mono astrocam .

Thanks . I'll be looking more into a dedicated Astrocam , though I'll be running it via USB 2 with the laptop I have . I will also be looking into wireless options as mentioned though .

I'd likely be doing the conversion myself , unless I found one at a very good price to save me time . Especially as the canon cameras have just had one filter pack removed , rather than having the Baader one fitted ( which cost about £100 anyway ) . I've converted several Sony and Nikon cameras to full spectrum or Infrared myself , so I'd do it myself anyway . I've an old Canon EOS 60d that I'm tempted to do . But on the back of this thread , the Sony NEX 6 full spectrum camera I have will do the job I want with a UV/IR block filter on it that allows the Ha through I want . Once I source the best filter out to use I will get one , cut it , and fit it into a holder I have that sit's in the camera so I can use regular E mount lenses as well as on a telescope . So as I'm not needing to upgrade the DSLR or Mirrorless cameras I already have , I will look more into a dedicated Mono Astro camera , starting with the ones you mention and some others I'm looking at . Astro cameras aren't something I'm familiar with though . Thanks' for replying .

Still works . Just easier ways of doing things , at a price.

Technology's come on some since my barn door mount made out of two bits of scrap wood, a rusty gate hinge and a bit of threaded rod ! Nice to know they can be controlled via a phone or tablet, more convenient than a laptop in the field.

Ultimately, yes , I'll be getting a dedicated astro cameras . And it does seem mono is the way to go , though I need to read up a lot more on it . What software for processing the images do you recommend with mono cameras ? As I tour around a lot in my campervan, some areas are excellent dark sky areas , others are badly light polluted, so that has to be taken into consideration. The point of this thread is though astro modded cameras v's full spectrum cameras for when I'm traveling light . I've always got my photographic gear with me , film and digital , shooting colour digital , full spectrum digital, infrared digital and black and white film . So I have lenses with me from around 12mm full frame to 600mm which work on all those cameras . Plus the telescope's. Needless to say , I don't have everything in the same backpack! So there's times I'll hike out to a location to take shots and need to travel light . Tripod , 2 or 3 camera bodies and just the lenses I intend to use . So if I'm to stay out doing astro shooting, a dedicated astro camera , a laptop computer to view it and power packs , and a hike both ways , just isn't happening . But I am still interested in that route too , for when I'm parked up in a suitable area .

I've downloaded a copy of Sharpcap to try out on an cheapo digital eyepiece I picked up to try out . It will give me a comparison on astro cams on a telescope compared to normal camera . I think I had Registax on an old laptop years ago too . I'll try a few to see which one I prefer before I look more at a good quality astro cam .

I have tried shooting planets with the camera connected directly to the telescope , but wasn't ideal , the astro cam and stacked images will be better . I took this a a good while back after a few failed attempts with a Pentax Q just hand held over the eyepiece on a SkyMax 127 on a SkyTee II mount on the legs supplied on the EQ-5 . Seeing was good and I got a good view of the moons too , but the shot has a lot to be desired .

I believe it's the mk2 of the a7/a7r range onwards that's got the problem with star eating , so I had been looking an the original a7 astro modded or full frame . But as I already have the full spectrum NEX 6 and either way I'll need to be using filters , I'll see how I get on with that first . I will also be looking at the astro cams , and still needing to look at the pro's and con's of colour v's B&W for my needs . Likewise I'll look further into the tracking mount , the last one I used was a barndoor type one I made myself around 30+ years ago that I used my Minolta 7000AF on , probably with Ilford FP4 in ! Thanks for the suggestions on Youtube , I shall give them a look .

I do realise tracking will be necessary for the best results , both for telescope and camera and lens and camera . It'll be something that will do both . As I'll also be using it with the SkyMak 127 , I'm thinking auto guiding is needed for planets , moon and sun . But again, working the right combination of equipment is the thing to make sure I buy right . Part of this is down to the combined weight of the gear used , hence my need to decide between a Canon DSLR or Sony mirrorless as the heaviest setup , and an astro camera being a lightweight combination. I'm looking at seeing what I can do with the gear I currently have , if we ever have a clear , dark sky as soon as some new filters arrive . Thanks for the book suggestion, I have been reading up on websites and forums , but I don't bother with YouTube. Too many idiots on there , and you can't tell who knows their stuff and who's talking rubbish. Thanks again for the help .

One of the main reasons I'm asking about using a full spectrum DSLR/ mirrorless camera is because when I'm away I will always have one with me that I use for infrared photography. So if that'll do exactly the same job as a camera modified for astro , then there's no point buying an additional camera . The Canon DSLRs that I'm looking at seem to have just had one of the two filters removed to allow light at the Ha to pass easier , so I'd still need narrowband filters anyway . In which case I might as well stick with my full spectrum NEX 6 . I think my old EOS 450d does have the Baadar conversion in it though . Regards to CCD astro cams , I am looking at a used mono CCD from ATIK , which seems cheap for what it is, so was wondering why . That explains it . The astro cameras would be an addition though , rather than instead of . That side of things is all new to me , so I'm trying to do more research into it . I would like to buy a current book , but most books on astrophotography seem very out of date compared to the gear that is currently available. Any recommendations?

Tracking devices is also an area that I'm looking at that has come on a long way since I last looked at what was available ten or fifteen years ago . And certainly a big step up from my first telescope forty + years ago ! I need to work out if I'll be using the tracker on my heaviest scope/camera set up or just a camera and lens setup . So I want to upgrade my camera setup first and see how I get on with shorter exposures stacked , before I look at enabling long exposures tracked . Though at some point , I will go down that route, I just need to make sure I get the right tracker so I only buy once . I've just bought a laptop that I can take away with me for computer controlled gear rather than trying to connect up to a desktop at home . Just trying to avoid buying unnecessary or the wrong kit .

Thank you for replying. I have also been looking at astro cameras but for different usage, namely planetary. I'm thinking an APSC or full frame one would be out of my budget as main photography interests are landscapes , both film and digital . Astro cameras are an area I still need to do a lot of reading up on , as it's very different than the type of photography equipment I'm familiar with . No doubt I'll have questions to ask on that topic at some time , but first I need to do my homework on it . So a regular camera that has been altered for for than just visible light is what in looking for here . Looking at the current offerings ( unlike my EOS 450d ) just seem to have had one of the two filters removed from the sensor to improve the passage of light at the Ha end of the spectrum, but not UV or IR . It seems to me a genuine Baadar conversion can be used as us , but the rest still need either a UV/ IR block filter or the narrow bandpass filter . In which case , the full spectrum cameras I already have will already do that job , and I should just invest in the correct filters . I think at the moment regardless of which camera is used ( full spectrum , astro modded DSLR or astro camera ) I'll be using filters when fitted to the telescope , and probably within a lens to body adapter for the regular cameras that are modded . Thanks for mentioning the ZWO adapter for astro cameras and Canon lenses . I wasn't aware of them . Thanks again.

Hello all . I'm a keen photographer and I am looking at upgrading my camera for astrophotography, both using camera lenses and with the camera attached to a telescope . Amongst my normal cameras I also have an infrared camera ( Sony E mount ) , a couple of full spectrum cameras ( Sony E mount ) an old Canon EOS 450d converted for astrophotography with ( I believe ) the Baadar astro mod filter . Apart from the age of the 450d , my main issue with the lack of a moveable LCD for composition. There's times where I want the camera connected in line with the telescope rather than via a diagonal, plus when I'm using a camera lens . On my dob it's not been a problem as you look down on it , but as I want to travel light while I'm on tour in my campervan I've picked up a Sky watcher ST 102 , plus I have the Skymac 127 plus an assortment of camera lenses up to 600mm , Canon EF mount , Sony A mount and Sony E mount . So I'm considering an upgrade . I've done quite a bit of searching both on this forum and over on Cloudy nights , but can't come to a conclusion . Usage wise is for typically nice colourful images of such as M42 etc , so need to capture light such as hydrogen alpha . I've been reading the advantages to use a dual band filter such as a Ha and OIII on a camera with the Baadar conversion . So if I'm to use a dual band filter , or a straight Ha filter on it , would a full spectrum camera not give the same result as an astro modded camera ? Both cameras will capture the wavelength of light required , the filters just block out the unwanted wavelengths. I'm trying to decide if all I need is a new filter to go with the full spectrum camera I already have , or a new camera instead , or as well as , when used on a telescope . Fitting the filter into the light path when using camera lenses might be a different problem , but using SLR lenses on a mirrorless body should just need adjustments on an adapters depth . I'm not adverse to getting a new body for some uses , and the relevant filter as well, if that is necessary. I just don't want to waste several hundred pounds , especially if I've already got the gear needed . Thoughts please . Thanks in advance , Neil .

Thanks for this review , on the strength of it I've just ordered one up . I have a full set of eyepieces already , so it'll be interesting to see how they compare. I tour around frequently in my old campervan and want to have a more compact setup so I'll actually take it with me . This might fit the bill .