Please help, Whts the best DSLR for astro?

I need the forums help here,
I'm getting a digital SLR for Christmas. I need to know your opinion of the best DSLR for astrophotography. I already own one of the older parrellel driven ST-237's and have a Celestar DX topped off with a 70mm TAK (attached to main tube) Guess I could use the 237 to guide for a DSLR maybe? Whats a DSLR capable of anyway? I'd assume the best ones have some type of option to keep the shutter open for longer durations then most? Or some kind of HAD CCD (sony?) Was looking at a PENTAX K100D that proports to be able to use ANY PENTAX SLR PENTAX lens ever made and there for would attach easily to my scopes?. and I read somthing about it using a APS-C size CCD...wht dat? dhhhaaaa My cousin told me to buy a Cannon Rebel XTI? but that thing use's somthing new called CMOS? what ever DSLR I get it has to cost no more then 850.00 COULD YOU PLEASE HELP WITH SOME ADVICE ? I DON"T HAVE MUCH TIME.

Bryan762

Bryan,
I received a Nikon D50 forChristmas/Anniversary gift.
Nikon body $500-$600
Body + 2 ED lenses $850
IR shutter release $17
AC adapter power supply $35???

At 6MP the images can be enlarged to 11x14 and possibly 16x20 with very little loss of image sharpness.

I have not had it modified to be more sensitive to the longer red wavelengths.

Any Nikon lense will attach to the standard Nikon Bayonet mount although the automatic functions may not be available on older lenses (auto exposure, auto focus). They will function very well in the "manual" mode.

For a good, all around camera it fills the bill.

Enjoy!!
Gary Caldwell
[email protected]

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There is tons of fairly scientific stuff on compareing DSLR for deep sky imageing, see at the end.

My 2 cents would be: There is little difference.
The (older) Nikon D70/D200 were a bit worse in noise and sensitivity than Canon 20D/30D and RebelXT/XTi. The new Nikon D50 seems to do better now, I haven't read anything scientific on the K100, yet. That's about where the differences for astro photography end.
All above cameras have the same size of sensor, for all there are t-mount adapter rings to mount it to a scope. The Nikon's and Canon's all have a "bulb" mode to take any long exposure you want, Pentax very likely, too. All the Nikons take all Nikon lense ever made, the Canon take all Canon EF lenses ever made, the Pentax ...

From experience, if you already own certain lenses or have friends to swap lenses with, that's a factor to consider, too.

Michael

http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/
http://www.astrosurf.org/buil/20d/20dvs10d.htm
http://www.pbase.com/terrylovejoy/dslr_tech&view=tree

I own a Canon 350D (I think it's called Rebel XT in america) and I'm very happy with it.
It has all the capabilities of an old film based SLR, the weight of the body is low and it can easily be controlled using a computer (if one would want this).
With the 350D I use both my old Canon FD lenses and M42 threaded lenses with adapters and of course I also use the camera on the telescopes with a wireless control.
The M42 adapter is cheap. I payed about $20 for mine. The FD adapter was more expensive, around $150. This is because it's more complex.

Regards

Jonas

Canon seems to be more popular in the astrophotography market.

Both Nikon and Canon offer high quality products, but Nikon appears to be a little more difficult (not difficult, just a little more complicated) to interface with the astro-software.

(My friends who own both use the Canon stuff more.)

However, other factors may have a bigger influence. The best cameras for astrophotography are modified to admit more reds. This makes them limited (and more complicated) to use during the day.

If you already have a set of lenses, and plan to use your new camera with them, then you may want to invest in a new body that is compatible with them.

Are you looking for entry-level or top of the line?

At any rate, you won't go wrong with the latest version of the entry-level Canon DSLR, in my opinion.

ALex

Bryan, I use a Canon 350xt modified and really like it! Check out this image. I have found it's techniques in the processing. Chris

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