Advice on my second Canon DSLR please

[g__day]

I'm thinking of getting a second Canon DSLR < $1,000 body only, to split between astrophotography and some high defintion home movies.

Canon Cameras (body only) that fit into my thinking are the 550, 600 and 60.

I'm leaning toward the 550D for (ordered in around $500) or the 60D around $900. The 600D just seems like a more expesive 550D with out a whole lot of any feature I'd desire.

So basically I plan to move my 400D to one of my other OTAs - 80mm Williams Optics refractor or 127mm MAK and attach the new camera to my C9.25.

I'd like to play with Remote Live view for framing and ponder can one use video modes for caputring Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.

Can anyone help sharpen my thinking from their experience.

Many thanks,

Matthew

[Waxing_Gibbous]

"Octane" is the real expert on this subject.
But as he's not here at the mo....
I have an 'ancient' 40D that suits my current needs.
But having played with a few of the newer DSLR's I came away pretty impressed with my neighbour's 550D.
I lent her some 'L' glass and 60mm EF-S Macro and the results were truly amazing.
For hand-holding, I would add a battery grip for ergonomic reasons, but on it's own it's very lightweight and should sit on 9.25 without any flexure.

I agree with you on the 600D and can't quite see where it fits in the line-up.

My only criticism is that Canon's low-light, high ISO noise reduction is not as effective as current Nikon's. The difference isn't huge, but it's noticable.
Were I not already invested in Canon lenses, I might consider swapping. :O

[White Rabbit]

A grand will get you the 60D,put a few hundred more and get a 7D.

You can pick up the 7D for about $1300 (body only). I'd be getting the 7D even If i had to wait a little longer to get it. The 60D is pretty much the same camera except for build quality and shutter rating.

Both are good camera's though.

Happy hunting.

[White Rabbit]

http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/products/Canon-7D-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body.html

7D $1258 (overseas stock full warranty)

The next up is the 5D MKII, but thats quite a jump.

I've heard the 550 and the 600d's a quite noisy so beware.

[[1ponders]]

See jjj re the suitability of the 550D. I got a 60D the other day and love it. I haven't really taken an astro shot (luna eclipse excluded) but the swing out LCD is to die for when using with a refractor or SCT. Can't understand why it hasn't been standard on all models since canon brought it out years ago on the compact cameras.

[White Rabbit]

I would imagine that the swing out screen would also remove a lot of the heat source/noise in the Camera as well. I normally switch mine off.

[rogerg]

My wife's 500D is very noisy, concerning so for astronomy although I do borrow it for astronomy when I need an extra camera.

The three options you list all have good features. Perhaps the decision comes down to noise and usability. I find having the wheel control which my 7D has (and i see the 60D has), together with extra buttons for other functions is a vast improvement of usability so that might tip the decision towards the 60D.

Roger.

[trek1701]

I'm with you Paul

I wrestled with this discussion in my mind for quite a while and decided on the 60D.

Cheers Mark

[traveller]

Yes, try PM Octane. 60D is a good choice, might stretch your budget. Assume you want cropped sensor only at that price range?
Bo