M17 Swan Nebula Full Spectrum Mod Test of Sony Nex-3

[wayne anderson (Wayne)]

Last week I decided to do a Full Spectrum Mod to my Sony Nex-3 DSLR, so using screw drivers and tweezers I opened it up removing many screws, control boards and mechanisms then finally I removed the IR/UV filter assembly leaving just the bare CMOS sensor, getting the many ribbon cables to all the circuit boards back in was a little tricky. It was a real relief to see it was still in good working order after the Full Spectrum Mod.

This is a quick test shot of the Swan Nebula, I have noticed a marked improvement in the Camera for Astrophotography.

Swan Nebula M17

4 x 3 minute subs at iso 800 (unguided)

12" Meade LX 200 at f6.3 (alt/az de-rotated setup)
Sony Nex-3 DSLR Full Spectrum Modified

Processed with DSS, Startools, Gimp

[5ash (Philip)]

Looking good wayne , nice images. Your very brave doing that mod , did you get any info on the net to guide you?
Regards philip

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Well done on the mod and piccy!

You will also find the camera to be "faster" in general without the filter.

[RickS (Rick)]

Brave indeed, but a good result!

[multiweb (Marc)]

Excellent shot with a NEX-3. Kudos to you.

[wayne anderson (Wayne)]

Thanks Philip, Kevin, Rick and Marc,

Before trying the mod I did some research about Full Spectrum Modifications and watched a video on youtube of a Sony Nex-5n Full Spectrum Mod I could not find a Nex-3 mod video, although the Nex-3 has less functions and is older than the Nex-5 it is similar to the Nex-5 series so I just needed to keep a straight clear head have nerves of steel and patience to make the Mod.

[Amaranthus (Barry)]

Hah, SWMBO will never let me do that to her NEX-3 (that I borrow, on occasion )

[Rex]

Awesome job Wayne, great work modding your camera, and looking at the result I'd say it was worth the trouble.