Canon PowerShot SX50 HS for photographing stars

[Kedar_the_Photographer]

Hi

I've spent a frustrating couple of weeks discovering that my Canon PowerShot SX50 HS basically cannot photograph stars in any meaningful way.

I've documented my experience here for those who are interested.

Astrophotography failure with Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

In Case You Need To Know covers things that I learn that I find interesting and useful.

icyntk.blogspot.ca

Cheers

Kedar

 

[Mark B.]

Not surprised. A tiny sensor cam is really not well suited to photographing the night sky, other than as you mention shots of the moon. It really calls for a much larger sensor to both keep the ISO down as well as a fast lens to keep the shutter speed lower.

Mark

 

[KCBlue78]

Reading your blog entry, it seems maybe you didn't use CHDK to override the SX50's 1-second limit with higher ISO's?

I haven't tried it myself on star shots - but I have gotten some pleasing (for me, anyway) pix of Saturn that way. Maybe worth a try?

 

[Kedar_the_Photographer]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the comment.

Do you have a recommendation for a camera that would take decent shots of the stars without costing a fortune?

What do you think of the Canon Digital Rebel XT EOS?

Cheers,

Kedar

 

[MelloImages1]

Hi just wondering how you use CHDK to override the 1" so that I can set the shutter speed to 15 and ISO to 3200 or 6400 for an aurora? Or Milky Way even would be great. Cheers

 

[Sue Anne Rush]

Hello...

Thank you for this link.

Hi

I've spent a frustrating couple of weeks discovering that my Canon PowerShot SX50 HS basically cannot photograph stars in any meaningful way.

I've documented my experience here for those who are interested.

http://icyntk.blogspot.ca/2017/07/astrophotography-with-deepskystacker.html

Cheers

Kedar

 

[RotBart]

Marco Nero has shared his experience in AstroPhotography with his EOS M cameras:

I think that a reading of his extensive post may be worth it.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61750739

 

[Mark B.]

Marco Nero has shared his experience in AstroPhotography with his EOS M cameras:

I think that a reading of his extensive post may be worth it.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61750739

Aside from this being a 4-year old post, the OP is using a compact superzoom with a 1/2.3" sensor. The post you are referring to talks about using an ILC with an APS-C sensor, so apples & oranges when talking about astrophotography.

 

[RotBart]

Marco Nero has shared his experience in AstroPhotography with his EOS M cameras:

I think that a reading of his extensive post may be worth it.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61750739

Aside from this being a 4-year old post, the OP is using a compact superzoom with a 1/2.3" sensor. The post you are referring to talks about using an ILC with an APS-C sensor, so apples & oranges when talking about astrophotography.

Ok, Mark

But the OP asked you the following question:

"Do you have a recommendation for a camera that would take decent pictures of the stars without costing a fortune?"

I don't know if you have a recommendation for the OP.

I contributed with following recommendation: an original EOS M (obviously used) + the cheapest (and second best) M lens, the EOSM 22mm f2 lens + a link to a post with instructions on how to use them in star photography.

You will surely agree that this EOSM setup will not "cost a fortune" and the results you can see in Marco Nero's post.

 

[Mark B.]

Marco Nero has shared his experience in AstroPhotography with his EOS M cameras:

I think that a reading of his extensive post may be worth it.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61750739

Aside from this being a 4-year old post, the OP is using a compact superzoom with a 1/2.3" sensor. The post you are referring to talks about using an ILC with an APS-C sensor, so apples & oranges when talking about astrophotography.

Ok, Mark

But the OP asked you the following question:

"Do you have a recommendation for a camera that would take decent pictures of the stars without costing a fortune?"

I don't know if you have a recommendation for the OP.

I contributed with following recommendation: an original EOS M (obviously used) + the cheapest (and second best) M lens, the EOSM 22mm f2 lens + a link to a post with instructions on how to use them in star photography.

You will surely agree that this EOSM setup will not "cost a fortune" and the results you can see in Marco Nero's post.

Ok, that's fine. But the OP has not posted anything since 2017, so no I do not have any reason to recommend anything at this point. The Rebel XT the OP asked about may have been ok, depending on the lens and what the OP meant by not costing a fortune; I must have missed the reply but it doesn't matter now. The OP either gave up or found a solution in the 4 years that have passed.

 

[MelloImages1]

Hi just wondering if you guys might comment on how to override the CHDK?

 

[InkedMarie]

Hi just wondering if you guys might comment on how to override the CHDK?

I suggest starting your own post. This one is old.

Marie