DSLR for astro

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:47 pm

K-r doesn't have the 30-second DFS limit. and K20D the DFS can be turned off. but a K-r is close to $1000 SGD today (my secondary objective is fast AF for bug-hunting!) and for that price a used 1D Mk II is within reach.

Lots of talk about the improved AF in the K-r / K-5 but nobody's questioned that the Canon 1-series has world-beating AF..

Enterprise · Post by **Enterprise** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 1:40 pm

I want to try the d7000 on prime focus. Reasons for getting it is it has excellent high iso performance (according to dpreview) and it would be great as a daytime camera! Plus it doesnt feel like a toy in your hands unlike some other brand
*cough*canon*cough*

wat do you guys think?

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 1:55 pm

Well D7000 and K-5 have the same Sony EXMOR sensor.. so should be OK. And D7000 can meter with old Nikon Ai / Ai-S lenses (a good thing as you can buy the excellent Nikon 180mm ED lens for astrophotography for $400 USD). Only thing against D7000 is the cost is rather steep.

cloud_cover · Post by **cloud_cover** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:02 pm

Some of the reviews have rated the D7000 high ISO noise performance as being almost similar to the FX D700 and D3 so its definitely worth a look into

Someone on the Nikon astro- DSLR yahoo group reviewed the median blur filter on the D7000 and found that its much reduced in effect although still present.
Of course if I had the cash I'd get a new D700s (when it does come out) and mod my D700....... but then if I had the cash I'd buy a Tak Epsilon astrograph on a Paramount ME with whatever latest CCD at the time housed in an observatory somewhere high on an extinct volcano in indonesia with a live in security guard and my private airfield *grin*
(Whoops..... fantasies showing....)

Enterprise · Post by **Enterprise** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:07 pm

yeah and id be the captain of the enterprise and actually exploring a nebula rather than just photographing eh! =P

andeelym · Post by **andeelym** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:37 pm

AF only works if you are using an EF lens and EF lenses with a telescopic focal length is astronomically expensive. Otherwise its MF and it does not matter if its a 1D or not.

Bergkamp_ · Post by **Bergkamp_** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:40 pm

Wah.. thats alot of info down here. I believe keep your pentax for normal use and get a mod canon like 350,450 or even 300 without cam len for astro use. This way, u save money and can make use of both pentax (and all the lens collection ) and astro mod canon. Don't it sounds good? =)

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:16 pm

andeelym, my other use case is AF for bugs (macro). if i can get one camera that does both astro and bug AF well, that would be best.

i certainly don't plan to get an EF 600/4 for astrophotography...! i could get an EM-400 Temma 2 for that kind of money (which is way too much to spend on a sometime hobby...)

yeah am thinking 20D.. since they are ridiculously cheap on US used-camera dealers like KEH ($200 USD sometimes).

cloud_cover · Post by **cloud_cover** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 6:52 pm

Enterprise wrote:yeah and id be the captain of the enterprise and actually exploring a nebula rather than just photographing eh! =P

But money can actually buy what I was talking about. Now an actual working Enterprise Starship, on the other hand.... :p

andeelym · Post by **andeelym** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:37 am

Orly, 5D Mark II for full frame, low noise goodness. Or 60D for more reach (1.6x) and swivel LCD screen for zenith live view focusing.

1D series, IMHO is too heavy (not good for crayford/R&P focusers and mounts) and its a APS-H sensor unless you get 1Ds (full frame).