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Cheap(ish) Canon for astro.

Started 6 months ago | Discussions
cheddarman Senior Member • Posts: 1,616
Cheap(ish) Canon for astro.

Bit of help needed here please for this confused 84yo git living in the UK.

I am looking for a cheapish (£100?) Canon DSLR body, for Milky Way type photography only. (I have my RX10 for my wildlife).

I have identified a Sigma 10-20mm as a good value lens to go on it to give a good, wide angled shot so need a body to go with it.

As it will be used exclusively for stars it need to have good M/F capabilities, MF assist similar to what I have on my Sony RX10 - with peaking levels etc. for accurate focus.

I have looked at dozens and am totally confused ss would appreciate a bit of help in this minefield.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
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Dunlin Senior Member • Posts: 2,611
Re: Cheap(ish) Canon for astro.

cheddarman wrote:

Bit of help needed here please for this confused 84yo git living in the UK.

I am looking for a cheapish (£100?) Canon DSLR body, for Milky Way type photography only. (I have my RX10 for my wildlife).

I have identified a Sigma 10-20mm as a good value lens to go on it to give a good, wide angled shot so need a body to go with it.

As it will be used exclusively for stars it need to have good M/F capabilities, MF assist similar to what I have on my Sony RX10 - with peaking levels etc. for accurate focus.

I have looked at dozens and am totally confused ss would appreciate a bit of help in this minefield.

I'm sorry, I don't really know much about astrophotography.

I do know that you want a fast lens, which your 10-20mm probably isn't.

For the camera I would suggest something like a 1200d or 100d. A more modern camera is ideal (my camera is actually older than these two models).

-

I suggest you ask on the dedicated astrophotography forum:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1059

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Brave Sir Robin
Brave Sir Robin Junior Member • Posts: 25
Re: Cheap(ish) Canon for astro.

Id be looking at a decent tracker first, I tried astro with my 800d and although it did a good job not having a tracker was very limiting.

-- hide signature --

If it moves, shoot it. If it doesnt move, shoot it anyway.

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OP cheddarman Senior Member • Posts: 1,616
Re: Cheap(ish) Canon for astro.

Brave Sir Robin wrote:

Id be looking at a decent tracker first, I tried astro with my 800d and although it did a good job not having a tracker was very limiting.

Done "astro", just sold my tracker. Just after meteors and the like.

Now got a Canon 650D with a Sigma 10-20mm

Brave Sir Robin
Brave Sir Robin Junior Member • Posts: 25
Re: Cheap(ish) Canon for astro.

cheddarman wrote:

Brave Sir Robin wrote:

Id be looking at a decent tracker first, I tried astro with my 800d and although it did a good job not having a tracker was very limiting.

Done "astro", just sold my tracker. Just after meteors and the like.

Now got a Canon 650D with a Sigma 10-20mm

-- hide signature --

How did you find it? Its always looked like a rabbit hole of money to me, Im not in anyway able to afford the gear so couldnt take it too far bvut it looks like a technical nightmare.
If it moves, shoot it. If it doesnt move, shoot it anyway.

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OP cheddarman Senior Member • Posts: 1,616
Re: Cheap(ish) Canon for astro.
1

Brave Sir Robin wrote:

How did you find it? Its always looked like a rabbit hole of money to me, Im not in anyway able to afford the gear so couldnt take it too far bvut it looks like a technical nightmare.

How did I find what, the tracking mount? At 84 I'm having a go at as much as I can, while I can so thought I'd try Astro. I bought a Sky Watcher Star Adventurer combo for £220 on Ebay. After my first attempts I realised its short comings, not good graticule illumination being the biggest problem, so I modified it  and also bought and made some adapters.

Once set up it worked a treat!

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