DSLR Recommendations....

[Iddon]

Working on a long term plan here.
Eyepieces, laptop upgrades, DSI, digital SLR.
No rush, but doing my research in each area to set up some priorities and timelines.

Opinions on DSLR apprciated.
$1400, even for an entry level device seems steep, but that is where the market is at the moment ??? Down to $1000 by year end ?
Is the Canon the pick of the bunch?

[h0ughy]

:D


Don't tell Tornado33, but yes! I'll never live this down. I own a Pentax *istDS, but it doesn't have the legs like the canon. good camera though!

[[1ponders]]

The canons seem to be the favourites atm, though the nikon and pentax are no slouches either. All start at around the $1300+ mark for the lower end cameras (300D) and go up from there. If you're looking to go the DSI way then what few reports I've read put the new DSI Pro ahead of the standard DSI for quality of image.

Couple of things you might want to consider along the way are a weight set (important to get a 3D setup rather than the Meade one unless you want to modify it) a piggyback bracket and a guidescope or Off Axis Guider. Your LPI would be more suitable for the OAG than a ToUcam as its able to capture fainter stars through longer exposure times. OAG with a ToUcam I found to be a pain in the proverbial.

Cheers

[Iddon]

thanks Paul.
I have a Fuji Z602 - nice camera - would get perhaps $400 on ebay. Thus an extra $1000 to find for a Canon.
Or I could just go the DSI (or DSI-Pro) for a few hundred less.

Where do these competing options - DSLR vs DSI stand in terms of total flexibility and functionality ?

[[1ponders]]

DSLR can be used as a DSLR as well as for astro shots, DSI is for DSOs only. Not even really suitable for planetary. But you have the LPI for that anyway.

[Robby]

Price stays the same for entry level DSLR's it seems. $1500 is about as low as they go. What happens is that as soon as it looks like the price might drop further they introduce a new model... Price & Features go up! Very much like PC's.
2nd hand is your best bet for DSLR. You can pick up 300D's for under a grand on ebay/astromart these days
Cheers

[tornado33]

Howdy
If u can, the next higher Canon model the 20D may be worth considering, as it turns off its sensor amplifiers during exposures, eliminating "Amp Glow" on edges of images.
This website is excellent for showign what amp glow is
http://www.tcann.com/
See the 20D dark frame, totally even across it. Mind you, using Gradient Xterminator photoshop plugin is good for removing amp glow, of if the object being imaged is smaller, just crop it out.
I wish I could own a 20Da, its a new model with a different IR cut filter that allows mugh more H Alpha red night from nebulae, its actually the only DSLR marketed as an astro camera, not yet available in Australia.
Scott