Which Canon DSLRs are best for astro modding?

[Astrophotographer 10]

I am interested in getting a modded camera to try out for nightscaping mainly. Perhaps some deep sky as well but more nightscaping to pick up more of the Ha areas.

60Da would be one. Modded 60Ds I assume are similar but I don't know if Canon modified other aspects of the 60D to make the 60Da. I remember the original 20Da had more changes to it than just a different sensor filter.

A variangle screen would be essential as I don't intend kneeling to look at the screen.

so 60D, 600D, 700D, 70D and 80D.

Not sure between what the differences are between a 600D and a 60D.

Perhaps also a modded 6D may be good.

I am looking for advice from those who have used them.

Greg.

 

[kewlguy]

If you want to do nightscapes - 6D or 6D2 is your best choice. At high isos, 6D2 is as good as competing dslrs. I personally still use 6Da and use it mostly with my 200/2.8L or 105 AIS. For nightscapes I use my Sonys more now due to better lens choices (WA).

The APS is good for deep sky shoots with telescope/tele lens. Not that they're not good for nightscapes but the noise, particularly in the shadow areas is just too much at iso3200/6400. I've only used 600D mod, but I read somewhere that current canon aps dslrs have PDAF that might cause banding or something. So 700D is probably the best bet for now.

 

[NancyP]

Hey, kewlguy, thanks for jogging my memory. I haven't done a lot of > 35 mm astro, but I do have an old Nikkor 105 f/2.5 AIS, I will have to give it a try.

 

[kewlguy]

You're welcome

I'm currently distracted by my new Tamron 85/1.8 VC, but the 105/2.5 still is my most compact tele. It's hard to beat!

 

[Astrophotographer 10]

If you want to do nightscapes - 6D or 6D2 is your best choice. At high isos, 6D2 is as good as competing dslrs. I personally still use 6Da and use it mostly with my 200/2.8L or 105 AIS. For nightscapes I use my Sonys more now due to better lens choices (WA).

The APS is good for deep sky shoots with telescope/tele lens. Not that they're not good for nightscapes but the noise, particularly in the shadow areas is just too much at iso3200/6400. I've only used 600D mod, but I read somewhere that current canon aps dslrs have PDAF that might cause banding or something. So 700D is probably the best bet for now.

Good advice - thanks. As far as PDAF banding goes so do Nikon Z6/Z7 and also less so on A7iii (backlit scenes which are unlikely in a nightscape). PDAF banding I think is unlikely to be an issue in real life nightscapes unless you have seriously underexposed your image. My EOS R also had banding in shadows when lifted yet I have only seen it mildly twice and both were very underexposed nightscape images that were discarded for being underexposed. The banding only showed when the image was pushed heavily.

So you are using a modded 6D and a modded 600D?

Do you have any images you can show?

Greg.

 

[Astrophotographer 10]

Hey, kewlguy, thanks for jogging my memory. I haven't done a lot of > 35 mm astro, but I do have an old Nikkor 105 f/2.5 AIS, I will have to give it a try.

I have that lens as well and have used it. Its very good.

Greg.

 

[Astrophotographer 10]

You're welcome

I'm currently distracted by my new Tamron 85/1.8 VC, but the 105/2.5 still is my most compact tele. It's hard to beat!

Yes its a classic Nikon portrait lens that has a lot of favourable reviews on the net.

105/2.5 is 42mm of aperture so its a kind of miniature telescope.

Greg.

 

[kewlguy]

I have 6Da only right now.

I don't have any galleries except for my IG under the name winst0n_tan

There are some photos taken with the 6D and 6Da there

 

[Andy01]

If you want to do nightscapes - 6D or 6D2 is your best choice. At high isos, 6D2 is as good as competing dslrs. I personally still use 6Da and use it mostly with my 200/2.8L or 105 AIS. For nightscapes I use my Sonys more now due to better lens choices (WA).

The APS is good for deep sky shoots with telescope/tele lens. Not that they're not good for nightscapes but the noise, particularly in the shadow areas is just too much at iso3200/6400. I've only used 600D mod, but I read somewhere that current canon aps dslrs have PDAF that might cause banding or something. So 700D is probably the best bet for now.

I agree about the FF. AFAIK the recent Canon APS-C (since 70D) have DPAF (dual pixel), which is different from PDAF (phase detection) - not to be confused. DPAF (I think includes PDAF as well) and dramatically improved Live View AF. Not that AF is particularly important for astro.

I am not certain, but I don't think banding is strongly linked with DPAF - the earlier 5D bodies suffered from banding, and they were not DPAF. The 6D ii (and 70D, 80D, M5 etc) is not known for banding and it does have DPAF.

Colin

 

[kewlguy]

Thanks for the correction, should have been DPAF, not PDAF.

 

[mermaidkiller]

Modding is not needed anymore for modern DSLRs like 6D(mk1 or mk2), R or RP.
It makes all photos far too red, even astrophotos.

Read this:

Are Modified Digital Astro Cameras Really Needed?, Clarkvision.com

And here a few examples I have made with my unmodded 6D mouted on a 110mm ED (f=600mm) telescope.


Heart nebula IC1805 17x4min + UHC filter




Running Chicken IC2944 20x4min no filters




Horsehead IC443 40x1min no filters



--
Ricoh KR-5 ... Pentax ME Super ... Canon T90 ... ... ... 40d ... 7d ... 6d

 

[Astrophotographer 10]

Modding is not needed anymore for modern DSLRs like 6D(mk1 or mk2), R or RP.
It makes all photos far too red, even astrophotos.

Read this:

http://www.clarkvision.com/articles/do_you_need_a_modified_camera_for_astrophotography/

And here a few examples I have made with my unmodded 6D mouted on a 110mm ED (f=600mm) telescope.


Heart nebula IC1805 17x4min + UHC filter


Running Chicken IC2944 20x4min no filters


Horsehead IC443 40x1min no filters

I've used them before so I know how they go. The above show weak Ha images and whilst good for a non modded camera that is really a daytime camera its not what I am after.

As far as too red you need to correct for the excess red bias. Easily done, its a processing step.

Here is one I took maybe 15 years ago with a lowly modded 20D. Its not particularly good Ha either but way more than the above:

https://amazingsky.net/2017/08/09/testing-the-canon-6d-mark-ii-for-nightscapes/

To get it in perspective about how much Ha there is the Horsehead region see this:

https://pbase.com/gregbradley/image/92757065/large

https://pbase.com/gregbradley/image/133257168/large

https://pbase.com/gregbradley/image/93698947/large

So you see there are lots and there are degrees of showing the Ha regions. For simple nightscape images I am more after the little bands of Ha regions that are around the edges of the Milky Way that do not show up in regular nightscapes like shown here:

https://pbase.com/gregbradley/image/158657074/large

Ha images are a kind of specialty image that requires the right type of gear.

The good news is Ha filtered modded DSLRs work in light polluted areas. Get a decent Ha filter and you are good to go except perhaps on a full moon if the scope is pointing near the moon.

Greg.

 

[Astrophotographer 10]

I am interested in getting a modded camera to try out for nightscaping mainly. Perhaps some deep sky as well but more nightscaping to pick up more of the Ha areas.

60Da would be one. Modded 60Ds I assume are similar but I don't know if Canon modified other aspects of the 60D to make the 60Da. I remember the original 20Da had more changes to it than just a different sensor filter.

A variangle screen would be essential as I don't intend kneeling to look at the screen.

so 60D, 600D, 700D, 70D and 80D.

Not sure between what the differences are between a 600D and a 60D.

Perhaps also a modded 6D may be good.

I am looking for advice from those who have used them.

Greg.

I just read on Cloudynights someone saying their 70Da has banding issues.

That's the sort of thing I would like to find out.

Greg.