Some advice on SLR cameras, please folk

[rickygoespop]

Hi all

Im looking into buying my first SLR camera, i havnt done any research on what excactly they are but i know i love photography of all kinds and they are for much higher quality photos which you have more control over.

Im looking for a decent camera which will be suitable for all round use as well as some astrophotography (just planets and moon for now until i upgrade my mount in the future) , i have popped into my local part exchange shops to see what they have and i have found the following.

i need to run the camera on a laptop running windows 7,any advice or experience on any of these will be very helpfull.

Canon eos 1000d plus 18-55mm lens £275

canon eos 1100d with lens £300

Pentax K-X body only £195

Olympus e500 body only £90

cheers..rich

[swag72]

If you are thinking of dabbling in astrophotography, then Canon is the best supported out of the bunch. There is 3rd party software available for controlling it, modding available perhaps further down the line. For daytime photography, I think there is little in it these days. People tend to buy into a system then stick with it as they accumulate lens's.

Definately can not go wrong with either of the Canon's. I have a 1000D and understand that the 1100D has some better features. The 1000D was a bench mark for many for some time.

[rickygoespop]

thanks for the info, when you mod a camera, do you mean the operating system is updated by a computer as such?

[malc-c]

Whilst the Olympus E500 is a nice camera and for daytime use there would be little difference in the performance between it and any other camera in it's class, it's pathetic for imaging work, especially when connected to a scope as the sensor gets far too hot and images are plastered with hot pixels. As Sara has mentioned, Canon are classed as the defecto standard for astro work, and perform well for everyday photography. I picked up a second hand 400D with 18-55mm lens, charger and 2 batteries, all boxed got £240. It lacks some features, but has been giving me excellent results for my imaging.

[malc-c]

thanks for the info, when you mod a camera, do you mean the operating system is updated by a computer as such?

No.. modding a camera refers to removing the IR filter so that when used with astro imaging this wavelength is recorded as well. This often involves stripping the camera down to some degree, and not a case of simply unscrewing a filter

[brantuk]

This is a great page to read about Canon dslr's and their use in astronomy. Tells you what to look for and ads/disads of the different models. They also do mods and AP accessories. I've used them several times in the past and allways been impressed

Astronomiser - Automated Astronomy and AstroImaging Solutions

[rickygoespop]

thankyou guys, are those good prices for the canon cameras? i thought £300 for the 1100d with lens sounds quite fair, would that be a good purchase ?

[rickygoespop]

This is a great page to read about Canon dslr's and their use in astronomy. Tells you what to look for and ads/disads of the different models. They also do mods and AP accessories. I've used them several times in the past and allways been impressed

Astronomiser - Automated Astronomy and AstroImaging Solutions

thanks ill have a read

[austen4]

I had a pentax kx but sold it recently for a canon. If you wanting to go into astrophotography with a telescope I advise to get a canon because there is no good software for the pentax that can be controlled from a computer which is useful as you dont have to sit with the camera.

Hope this helps

[GJBC]

Hi Rich and welcome to the world of ever deeper pockets ;-)

looking through the list my choice would be the Canon 1100 but i would still have a look on line there are some canen EOS 550's out ther at just a little more and teh chips are better for all round imaging.

You also mention it is Moon and planets for now. if that is the case go for a web cam, a dslr very rarely gets near web cam images of the planets. i know the web cam cant do daytime etc but it will give you time to get the extra pennies together. i am saving toward the 550 or 600 or might hold out for a 60D not sure yet but i am moving away from Astro imaging into terrestrial. i currently have a 20Da i use for both but want the extra pixels the new camera s have.

good luck hope it helps

[redneon]

I just purchased the Canon 1100D based on some advice on here given to me yesterday. I ended up buying it from an eBay seller called DigiGood based on a recommendation from PsychoBilly on here.

The only places cheaper I've seen it were on SLRHut and DigitalRev which have both had terrible reviews (particularly SLRHut).

[brantuk]

Congrats Rad that's a good price and you won't be disappointed with the camera

[carastro]

I agree with all the advice above. I paid £275 on Ebay (reconditioned 2nd hand with lens) for my DSLR and the modding cost me a further £200, but if you're technical enough you can do it yourself. So yes I think those prices and models are right. I have a 450D by the way.

My only advice is to get a Canon that allows live view and exposures longer than 30secs which some of the older models are restricted to unless you add further hardware etc into the equation.

Some of the later models have video but I am not sure which ones allow this.

Definitely get Canon for the reasons stated above.

Carole

[Photosbykev]

The Canon 1100D is probably the current 'starter' camera for astro work nowadays that will provide you excellent images for normal photography as well. The Canon range are well supported with free or very cheap specialised software for astro work and linking it to a laptop helps considerably with focusing.

[ezroller]

after owning an olympus e420 before my current canon i would say definitelt canon.

the low light, high iso performance on the olympus was pretty dismal and the main factor in deciding to switch, but also the availability of lenses for the canon eos range was a big one as well.

i own a 1000d and am very happy with it but would recommend that if you can afford it go for a newer model, theres a few features it lacks such as not being able to mirror lock up for more than one shot at a time (ie whilst shooting star trails) or whilst being computer controlled and also the iso range is only up to 1600, not that you really need it but newer ones can exceed 3600

after seeing the star shots on my freinds 600 quid nikon id pick my 100d that i got for 120 everytime,

[rickygoespop]

thanks for all the input, lots to read and think about, i have purchased a webcam the philips SPC900nc ready for the telescope with a uv filter, i will be buying a slr for both nice photos and astro pics but ill play with the webcam first

a quick question, will i be able to capyure star trail pics using the webcam and wxastrocapture?

[ezroller]

providing you can do 15 second or longer exposures you should be able to

[Prador]

I have yet to use my recently purchased 1100d for AP but it is a joy to use for normal terrestrial use . It is very user friendly whilst retaining a lot of high end features of the more expensive EOS models.

Comet do the red body version (marmite moment as its either a love/hate colour), 18-55mm image stabilising lens, 8 GB class 10 card and a case for under £400

I just purchased the Canon 1100D based on some advice on here given to me yesterday. I ended up buying it from an eBay seller called DigiGood based on a recommendation from PsychoBilly on here.

The only places cheaper I've seen it were on SLRHut and DigitalRev which have both had terrible reviews (particularly SLRHut).

Please correct me if I am wrong but is that a grey import Rebel T3 from America?

Might be a bit stuck for warranty issues if they go under

[Psychobilly]

You would have to go through the ebay seller... It's one of things you need to factor in when you decide if the savings worth it...

Seeing as the cams i have bought from them have been modded after a few weeks the warranty issue wasn't a concern for me...

Peter...

[gdheib0430]

As stated with getting a webcam for planets and the moon it is recommended...if you want to go the slr route I should highly suggest you start off with wide view long exposures of the milky way, galaxies or cloud formations rather than with planets...you will soon want the whole kit I am saving up for them now.