DSLR for Solar Eclipse

[lrt75914]

Hello everyone, 

I'm currently preparing for the solar eclipse in August. I already bought the TS Photoline 60mm f5.5 that I'm going to use as an imaging scope in conjunction with my skywatcher star adventurer. I was thinking about utilizing solar eclipse maestro to automate the imaging process, since I want to experience the solar eclipse with my own eyes as well. Since that particular piece of software only supports canon and nikon cameras, I'm going to need to buy a new imaging camera as well. I was hoping to spent to more than 500€ on the camera (new or used) but I have absolutely no idea what to buy. The camera will be used solely for astro and deep sky imaging, so any features that are beneficial for daytime use are of no importance to me. Could anyone of you recommend a camera, that would satisfy my needs?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[spaceboy]

I may be wrong but I'm sure I read that the EOS 1100D is rated for astronomy due to the low noise it offers. Off the top of my head I cant remember the logic behind it as it certainly isn't a low noise camera compared to mid level DSLR's. They are an affordable camera and offer live view which is handy for focusing in astronomy. It is though a colour camera which are not ideal for solar imaging where mono would be better.

[lrt75914]

1 hour ago, spaceboy said:

I may be wrong but I'm sure I read that the EOS 1100D is rated for astronomy due to the low noise it offers. Off the top of my head I cant remember the logic behind it as it certainly isn't a low noise camera compared to mid level DSLR's. They are an affordable camera and offer live view which is handy for focusing in astronomy. It is though a colour camera which are not ideal for solar imaging where mono would be better.

As you already pointed out the camera, according to sensorgen.info, neither has a high quantum efficiency nor is it a low noise camera by any length. Maybe that used to be the case a couple of years ago?

I know that a color camera may night be the ideal imaging equipment for the job, but the only other camera type solar eclipse maestro is capable of controlling is an SBIG CCD. I'm not sure if I want to fork over that much money for a portable imaging rig that needs to be able to withstand the stress of air-travel. 

Thank you for your input, though!  

Edited April 8, 2017 by lrt75914

[spaceboy]

I wish I could remember why the 1100D was rated. Something to do with sensor pixels or something ?? The more noise capable cameras associated with good images despite high ISO when used for "normal" photography are of a higher MP and more densely pixel packed sensor so the slightly smaller MP but still relatively modern and larger pixel to cover the same size crop sensor was said to be good on the 1100D .......given the price.... I might add! for astrophotography. You'd really have to read between the lines on my rather vague explanation but someone with more knowledge may be along to offer a better insight.

When I read the article it sort of made sense to me but it was only a comparison across entry level DSLR's that the 1100D came out on top. I'm not sure what 500 EURO's buy you in Germany but in the UK £500 would be around the entry to mid level DSLR's if buying new of the high St.

[lrt75914]

On 9.4.2017 at 10:24, spaceboy said:

I wish I could remember why the 1100D was rated. Something to do with sensor pixels or something ?? The more noise capable cameras associated with good images despite high ISO when used for "normal" photography are of a higher MP and more densely pixel packed sensor so the slightly smaller MP but still relatively modern and larger pixel to cover the same size crop sensor was said to be good on the 1100D .......given the price.... I might add! for astrophotography. You'd really have to read between the lines on my rather vague explanation but someone with more knowledge may be along to offer a better insight.

When I read the article it sort of made sense to me but it was only a comparison across entry level DSLR's that the 1100D came out on top. I'm not sure what 500 EURO's buy you in Germany but in the UK £500 would be around the entry to mid level DSLR's if buying new of the high St.

I think I understand what you're saying. According to DxoMark there are, however, plenty of entry level cameras from both Nikon and Canon that have already surpassed the low light performance of the Canon 1100D despite their higher pixel count. There are also those who say that Canon's cameras are subpar when compared to the low light performance of Nikon and Sony cameras. But that's to be expected, I guess.

I have done some digging and it seems like the Nikon D5300 is the bee's knees when it comes to affordable 'astro' DSLRs. There is, however, the big problem of the lossy compression scheme the D5300 uses to store its NEF files. Why Nikon doesn't offer a lossless option is beyond me. 

The whole APS-C DSLR market seems a bit fubar to me. The more I read about those cameras the less I know what's good or not. There are some cameras that would definitely fit me needs, but somehow Nikon/Canon keep f***ing it up with some odd software design choices.

 

Anyway, thank you for your reply

Edited April 10, 2017 by lrt75914

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I will be using my EOS 700D in conjunction with my 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 L zoom, with Baader AstroSolar film, in tandem with my ASI178MM and 80mm F/6 triplet with a Ca-K filter. I expect to have a hectic time

 

[parallaxerr]

I used a Nikon D3200 for AP and it worked great, despite being an entry level camera and using the compressed NEF format.

There is a program called dark current enabler which disables the RAW pre-processing in Nikons but I found it made little difference to the end image, infact, the low noise of the Sony sensor made processing quite easy.

I was doing Alt/Az imaging too, so was restricted to 30s subs which is a recipe for noise disaster, but the D3200 performed really rather well.

Edited April 11, 2017 by parallaxerr

[lrt75914]

23 hours ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

I will be using my EOS 700D in conjunction with my 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 L zoom, with Baader AstroSolar film, in tandem with my ASI178MM and 80mm F/6 triplet with a Ca-K filter. I expect to have a hectic time

 

That sounds like you'll be sweating spinal fluid. Are you going to use a special software to control your canon?

9 hours ago, parallaxerr said:

I used a Nikon D3200 for AP and it worked great, despite being an entry level camera and using the compressed NEF format.

There is a program called dark current enabler which disables the RAW pre-processing in Nikons but I found it made little difference to the end image, infact, the low noise of the Sony sensor made processing quite easy.

I was doing Alt/Az imaging too, so was restricted to 30s subs which is a recipe for noise disaster, but the D3200 performed really rather well.

I guess the D5300 will deliver nice enough photos in spite of the lossy compression. I'm just annoyed to no end that there is no option to turn the lossy compression off. It just sounds like something that the marketing team came up with to justify the price tag for some of the higher end models. 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I will control the ASI178MM with FireCapture, which allows a good deal of programmable control, so it should be clicking away happily, I am still considering options for the Canon. I was thinking about using a simple timer for the non-total parts, and going fully manual during totality, I will just focus on the DSLR, and let the ASI178MM do its thing then.

[Alien 13]

22 minutes ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

I will control the ASI178MM with FireCapture, which allows a good deal of programmable control, so it should be clicking away happily, I am still considering options for the Canon. I was thinking about using a simple timer for the non-total parts, and going fully manual during totality, I will just focus on the DSLR, and let the ASI178MM do its thing then.

Dont you need a third camera perhaps shooting time-lapse capturing the darkening sky, the shadows through the trees and the birds frantically trying to find a roost 

Alan

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

10 minutes ago, Alien 13 said:

Dont you need a third camera perhaps shooting time-lapse capturing the darkening sky, the shadows through the trees and the birds frantically trying to find a roost 

Alan

Actually, my youngest has an ISAW Action camera which could play that role. He won't mind me using it (or better: he van control it). And then we could fourth for images of the crowds and the set-up itself, and a fifth for selfies

 

[lrt75914]

46 minutes ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

I will control the ASI178MM with FireCapture, which allows a good deal of programmable control, so it should be clicking away happily, I am still considering options for the Canon. I was thinking about using a simple timer for the non-total parts, and going fully manual during totality, I will just focus on the DSLR, and let the ASI178MM do its thing then.

Are you going to image the total eclipse with or without the solar film?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

14 minutes ago, lrt75914 said:

Are you going to image the total eclipse with or without the solar film?

I will remove the solar film during totality and cover the telephoto the moment the chromosphere starts appearing again.. The ASI178MM will be protected by the Ca-K filter throughout