Canon suggestions for astrophotography.

[Ivar]

What's the best canon eos for astrophotgraphy (and daylight imaging) under 500?

Any suggestions or advice would be helpful.

Thanks in advance! 

[fozzybear]

Ivar

have a look at

https://www.cheapastrophotography.com/Available-Cameras.html

[happy-kat]

What mount do you plan to use with your camera?

As I use mine for daylight as well as night I didn't get it modified as I didn't want to faff about with white balance. An articulated screen in handy but read up first on the more newer canons like the 700/750d as I think I'd read that some has caused issues with imaging related to the changes in the focusing.

[TerryJ]

I got a good second hand EOS450D with a low shutter count from https://www.wexphotovideo.com

Maybe worth a look there.

Terry.

[Ivar]

2 hours ago, happy-kat said:

What mount do you plan to use with your camera?

As I use mine for daylight as well as night I didn't get it modified as I didn't want to faff about with white balance. An articulated screen in handy but read up first on the more newer canons like the 700/750d as I think I'd read that some has caused issues with imaging related to the changes in the focusing.

Explorer 150pds + heq5 

[Ivar]

1 hour ago, TerryJ said:

I got a good second hand EOS450D with a low shutter count from https://www.wexphotovideo.com

Maybe worth a look there.

Terry.

Ok thanks

[GraemeH]

There are currently quite a few 6D mk I bodies available from https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/ for around the £500 mark.

 

[kendg]

My only suggestion is to try to get a model with a flip out screen.

[TerryMcK]

I have a 400D (10 M pixel) that I bought brand new 12 years ago. I had the IR cut filter removed and it is really good. You can pick them up off eBay for a few quid/krone. 

Recently I bought a pre-used 650D (a later one manufactured about 2014/2015) with very low shutter count (2500) off eBay but am not removing the filter from that (yet) as I am using it for general photos/videos. It has a flip out screen and live view works great in APT/BackyardEOS. That one or a more recent replacement model might be a good one as it has 18M pixels 4.29 µm wide pixels in APS-C format.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I first had a modded 450D, but then switched to a 550D and the difference is really big. Both were cheap second-hand cameras. For lunar I have used the 80D I have, and the flip screen makes life far easier, especially if you do not have a laptop handy. The 550D might be quite an oldie, but it can get some really neat results

[tooth_dr]

39 minutes ago, TerryMcK said:

I have a 400D (10 M pixel) that I bought brand new 12 years ago. I had the IR cut filter removed and it is really good. You can pick them up off eBay for a few quid/krone. 

I have a 400d which I bought in 2006.  I still use it everyday at work, but I wouldn't recommend it for AP, it is old, noisy, and doesn't have LiveView makes it hard to focus. 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

The 450D does have live, view, and I would say that is a must-have for AP

[Bobby1970]

I got a 450d, used, and modded for around £150 a year or so ago. Seems like a popular choice. 

[Alien 13]

I would go for a 600D, 60D or a 6D in order of price, as to modification for increased Ha DONT unless you will never use it tor anything other for AP with a reflector.

Alan

[carastro]

Quote

 as to modification for increased Ha DONT unless you will never use it tor anything other for AP with a reflector.

Actually if you want to get decent Astrophotography results, modification is important, if you don't get a modified DSLR you will lose a lot of data and colour will be a problem.  You can always do a custom white balance for day use. 

This is an image I did BEFORE modification with a Canon 450D from a dark location:

This is the same target taken with the same camera at a LP location AFTER modification.  Both taken within a couple of months of each other. 

Carole 

Edited January 12, 2020 by carastro

[almcl]

You can still use an Astro modified Canon DSLR for terrestrial photography (See Juan of Cheap Astrophotography's thoughts here). 

And in support of that, here are a couple of non-astro images I took with my Baader filter modified 700d last summer (apart from cropping and reducing them, the colour balance hasn't been altered) along with one of IC1396 taken with an Ha clip filter.  And to chip away at another myth, I haven't any sign of banding on my 700d in the five years and 33,000+ frames it has been in use:

 

 

Edited January 12, 2020 by almcl

[carastro]

I found with my Modified DSLR if I took day time photos they came out pink, but if I balanced the colours in photoshop, they went back to normal colours.

Carole 

[volcanotop]

Most of the Canons after and including the 450d are great and work with live view and usb tethering.  I used a 450d unmodified  and a modified 500d.    I personally wouldnt worry about a flip screen.   If you tether the camera you wont ever use it.

It not just a camera to think about. 

id suggest backyardEos for the image capture.

astro tortilla to plate solve and sync

phd2 for guiding and the TS eos oag (nice and thin to fit typical 56mm back focus) so you can guide thru the main scope with you dslr and not mess around with guide scopes.

Other folks no doubt will have other suggestions. But this lot works for me.

 

have fun

Edited January 13, 2020 by volcanotop

[alacant]

On 10/01/2020 at 14:11, kendg said:

a flip out screen

Or, perhaps even easier; your 'phone.

Cheers

Edited January 13, 2020 by alacant