Your views on Canon 550D for astrophotography

shirox · Post by **shirox** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:29 pm

Hi guys,

Was looking around for a DSLR and came across this.

Alot of reviews have been promoting this entry level 18mp camera.
comes with 1080P video recording with 3 frame settings...

Anyone already using this DSLR already?

enewmen · Post by **enewmen** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:07 am

I have a 550D, awesome camera in many ways.
But as many pointed out, for any kind of narrowband filtering, you will need to remove the IR filter. I don't suggest you do this with a good brand new camera.

I'm also looking for a LP filter that will work with my unmoddified 550D.

Get the camera without the lens, then get the Tamron 18-270. This will give you a much wider range - better general purpose lens.

shirox · Post by **shirox** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:33 am

icic thanks for the input.
I'm looking around for 2nd hand DSLR since i don't have big budgets for new stuffs haha...

andeelym · Post by **andeelym** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:41 am

Frankly, if you are going to use the camera solely for AP use, you should go for a dedicated astrocam instead. The imaging time can be cut down as the sensors are more sensitive. But you need a PC/notebook for use.

DSLRs does have the convenience of not needing a computer to be attached to the camera though.

enewmen · Post by **enewmen** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:53 pm

Agree with andeelym, the 550D is too good of a camera to be used only for AP. ( I assumed shirox will take normal photos first and AP second).
So, if you are taking mostly normal photos and some AP, then the 550D is great.
If just getting a camera just for AP, then the astro CCD will work better.

shirox · Post by **shirox** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:49 pm

yeah i was thinking of using it for dual purpose haha.
Is the modification permanent?

enewmen · Post by **enewmen** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:51 pm

The modification is very permanent.
However, you can get IR clip-on filters so the camera will be close to working the way it was before,.

shirox · Post by **shirox** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:53 pm

icic thanks! I will keep a look out for 2nd hand deals lol!

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:15 pm

I got a used 40D for just about 600 SGD. Have no plan of modding it though, but definitely will be using it.

Kochu is still selling that modded 300D for $250 was it. If you mod the camera and use the "best" native ISO (which is 800) then a 300D is plenty good enough for AP.

See Christian Buil's long article on the Nikon D3 here:
http://astrosurf.com/buil/nikon_test/test.htm

You may (or may not) agree with his conclusions. The Nikon D3 is very well known for fantastic high ISO performance.. but according to Christian, it is just "at par" with the Canon 40D, a much older camera.

If you don't want to read the whole article, here's one of his whopper conclusions:

Assuming that the quantum efficiency of sensors are equivalent (it is highly probable in first approximation), the displayed sensitivity of 6400 ISO for the Nikon D3 #1 corresponds to a sensitivity of 600 ISO for the Canon 40D, while a sensitivity displayed at 6400 ISO for the Nikon D3 #2, corresponds to a sensitivity of 2400 ISO for the Canon 40D. Analysis shows that the "displayed" ISO announced by Nikon is very over evaluated relative to Canon competitor.

andeelym · Post by **andeelym** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:35 pm

But i read that Nikon raw files have some problems that will cause problems to stars, especially smaller ones. And canon raw files are actually more "raw" than nikon's raws.