What camera to buy

[Shaun]

Not sure if this the right place to post this but as i am a beginner thought this was ok.

I need to buy a new digital camera and i would like to use it to take photos with the telescope at a later date if and when i decide to so i would like to buy somthing that i can use as normal now but can use on a scope later.

My price range is below $500 so i am open for ideas?

[Kal (Andrew)]

For $500 you are close to the mark of a second hand Canon 300D digital SLR, which you could use later on for prime focus astrophotography. If you go with a cheaper 'point and shoot' digital camera you will be limited to eyepiece projection photography of the moon and planets, and just about any point and shoot digital camera is capable of this.

[Shaun]

I have done a little reading so i understand what you are sying, i think.

I need a camera that i can remove the lens to fit on the scope otherwise i have to just hold it to the eye piece would that be close to that you say?

[Kal (Andrew)]

Yep, spot on Prime focus = using your telescope as the camera lens, while eyepiece projection uses your camera with it's lens to take an image at the eyepiece of a telescope.

Some digital SLR cameras are better than others though, and the Canon EOS digital SLR's are arguably the best digital camera out there when it comes to using them for astrophotography purposes. Some people do use Nikon digital SLR's though, and I have seen the other brands occasionaly used.

[Shaun]

I was just looking on ebay at some prices....ouch,

It would be nice to get a camera i could use some day for astrophotography but the price makes me think, i can see why you have to be commited to the subject because of the price.

Is there a way to mount the normal digital cameras or do i just have to hild it.

I don't even have the scope for photos yet, using a Dob.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

There are brackets available to hold the point and shoot style cameras

[Shaun]

I have read some posts about the Phillips ToUcam 840 looks ok for a start, only good for planets.

I could then just get a good priced digital cam, will have to do some thinking.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I have read some posts about the Phillips ToUcam 840 looks ok for a start, only good for planets.

I could then just get a good priced digital cam, will have to do some thinking.

The Standard Toucam is only good for Planets and Moon. A modified Toucam does both Planet/Moon and Deep Sky objects That's all I use.

Or if you still want to go down the Digital Camera path, here is one example of a camera bracket. There are others too.

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/produc...asp?id=MAS-238

[Kal (Andrew)]

You can hand hold it, although you will most likely get better results with a bracket. This image was taken by me using hand-held eyepiece projection with a small Pentax Optio S6 point and shoot camera (mosaic of two images)

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

To give you some ideas -

Here is a video of some of my work using a Modified Toucam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwCMCJpW80M

and here is a link about Afocal Astrophotography using Point & Shoot Cameras:
http://www.barrie-tao.com/afocal.html

The results from a DSLR you've seen in this site.

[Shaun]

If that is the sort of stuff you can do with a webcam i will by the wife a $300 ditital and spend the rst on me,i know i needs lots of other equipment but it is a start.

I live in a town with about 900 people we have a few more lights than that but on most nights the stars are bright, we are 50km from the next town and 550km from perth.

[Kal (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

To give you some ideas -

Here is a video of some of my work using a Modified Toucam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwCMCJpW80M

Nice showcase of your work Ken, I enjoyed that

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by Kal

Nice showcase of your work Ken, I enjoyed that

Thanks, I'm putting together another one with my more recent images

Originally Posted by Shaun

If that is the sort of stuff you can do with a webcam i will by the wife a $300 ditital and spend the rst on me,i know i needs lots of other equipment but it is a start.

To go with the Toucam you'll need a lappy or a way to reach a PC, and if you want to go Long Exposure you'll need an Autoguiding control like the 'Shoestring Adaptor'.

The programs to control it all can be downloaded for free.

[asterisk (Geoff)]

Hi Ken
"A modified Toucam does both Planet/Moon and Deep Sky objects" - is the modification difficult?

[Shaun]

Lappy is no problem i have 3 of them here and the rest will come along in time. in regards to the ToUcam i see most forum members use two models,will keep my eye out for one.

[acropolite (Phil)]

If you are intending on using the digital camera for astrophotography, you are better off waiting until you have enough money for a DSLR. The noise performance on DSLR's (and particularly Canon DSLR's) is much better than on compact point and shoot cameras. Ultimately a point and shoot camera will disappoint for astrophotography. As Andrew said $500 will get a second hand 300 or maybe even 350D canon.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by asterisk

Hi Ken
"A modified Toucam does both Planet/Moon and Deep Sky objects" - is the modification difficult?

For me, extremely difficult bordering on impossible.

For someone with a bit of electronics know-how, probably fairly straight forward, but very fiddly.

[oggie doggie]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

To give you some ideas -

Here is a video of some of my work using a Modified Toucam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwCMCJpW80M

That video is fantastic.

[Ingo]

You can probably get a new 350D if you search around, or possibly used. You could also get a Nikon D50. Both of which have very low noise.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by oggie doggie

That video is fantastic.

Thanks Oggie