Camera advice - Astrophotography

[scooterscot]

If starting out - just go out there and start snapping. Make your own tracker, point it at the north star with a compact camera and you'll produce some amazing results without spending much.

[NotAllThere]

Yes I looked at the CCD option but not ready to commit to a telescope yet. I'll keep looking at DSLR specs and get more familiar before jumping in.

Well, if you do go that way, get a telescope with a motorised mount. That way, with the CCD, you can stargaze in the warm.

[Platypus]

If you're a successful contractor you can afford to go Nikon. Only permies and struggling contractors need to use Canon

Humm. You're clearly unsuccessful and delusional, hence Nikon.

Oh well

[Whorty]

If you're a successful contractor you can afford to go Nikon. Only permies and struggling contractors need to use Canon

As someone said, pick a system that will meet your needs long term. Lenses last forever (unless you break them!), it's the bodies that become obsolete.

[Jog On]

Since it seems that the camera beeds to be modified, I'd buy 2nd hand. The Canon 20d mentioned on that page can easily be bought for less than £100 on eBay.

And here you go, exactly what you're looking for, one modded for astro:
Canon 20D IR Converted Full Spectrum UV Cu IR, 2 extra batteries, 16g CF Card | eBay

[Platypus]

Since it seems that the camera beeds to be modified, I'd buy 2nd hand. The Canon 20d mentioned on that page can easily be bought for less than £100 on eBay.

And here you go, exactly what you're looking for, one modded for astro:
Canon 20D IR Converted Full Spectrum UV Cu IR, 2 extra batteries, 16g CF Card | eBay

[MicrosoftBob]

Don't know much about Astro as I haven't tried it yet, but with DSLRs to start with you need to pick a system you want to use long term, do you want an APS-C camera, a full frame camera, or mirrorless camera all have their pros and cons in terms of cost, weight, performance, sensor quality

Then there's the question of what lenses do you want to use and which Brand meets that the best

It's not just about which camera is the best, it depends long term on what you want to get out of them

Often the camera body itself is only the start of your expenditure

[Jog On]

We bought an old CCD webcam and connected it to our telescope. Got some great results. My son now uses some kind of DSLR (don't know what kind) >£1000.

Yes I looked at the CCD option but not ready to commit to a telescope yet. I'll keep looking at DSLR specs and get more familiar before jumping in.

[NotAllThere]

We bought an old CCD webcam and connected it to our telescope. Got some great results. My son now uses some kind of DSLR (don't know what kind) >£1000.

[Jog On]

Did you read the article or just gawk at the photos?

Kit recommendations appear at the end of the page. Note that the camera needs to be modified to capture those reds.

Didn't read all of it but did look at the recommendations along with a few other pages on DSLR cameras for astrophotography.

Just wondered if anyone here had any first hand knowledge. Also it's not easy to tell how old that page is so the recommendations could be out of date?

[Platypus]

Did you read the article or just gawk at the photos?

Kit recommendations appear at the end of the page. Note that the camera needs to be modified to capture those reds.

[Jog On]

Any photography experts able to recommend a good DSLR camera?

having been very inspired by the likes of this page of DSLR space photos I thought I'd dip my toe in and invest in a decent camera that if I give up on the astro part of it will still do as a good camera anyway.

Can spend ~£5-600 maybe more for quality and not including bits & bobs (tripods/lenses/software etc).

Anyone?