DSLR Imaging Question

[John K]

Just a quick question, when imaging with a DSLR, do most people add something like a 2" UV/IR filter in front of the camera to protect the CCD sensor from dust?

I have always simply attached the camera to the telescope focuser but now wondering about the dust element into the camera CCD when whether I should get a clear filter to thread onto my nose piece/camera t-adaptor.

John K.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

John,
I've been using a "bare" (Both filters removed) Canon1000D for spectroscopy for the last year or so. No added filters etc.
No real issues.....

[h0ughy (David)]

yes i do

[LAW (Murphy)]

I didn't think of that. I will now, thanks.

[Octane (Humayun)]

By adding a filter into the optical path, you're introducing the potential for more aberrations, artifacts and defects.

If you use a cheap quality filter (of any kind), you also run the risk of further diminishing the quality of your telescope's optics. If you do want to use a filter, get the best that money can buy. Don't skimp.

Otherwise, there's nothing that the in-built dust cleaning mechanism or a quick blow from a dust blower that can't be fixed.

H

[2stroke (Jay)]

As above, you could use something like a astronomik mc clear, if you used a general ir/uv for astro work then you need serious help hahah If you got one which cut the wavelengths that you don't wish to use then its all good. http://www.astronomik.com/en/clip-filter-system.html these filter are what you want though grab a mc clear unless you camera has both the ircut and lp removed and you do not want ir, in that case get the ir cut/uv. A blower works just as well and means there's one less piece of glass in the way of your sensor.

also these http://www.astronomik.com/en/photographic-filters.html

These guys even do custom jobs

[rcheshire (Rowland)]

I don't use one. I don't think it matters all that much, unless you are changing lenses regularly.