For broadband targets like galaxies or star/galaxy-clusters or planets you don't benefit much from a modified DSLR. If you want to shoot nebulae, you will pretty soon feel the need/desire to modify it :D but before you do, just test different targets for a while, because you can achieve absolutely stunning images with stock cameras! And if you have the money to spare or some dedication to do it your own, then absolutely go ahead and modify your camera! It's a game changer if it's a hobby you intend to enjoy for years to come! :) And with modern cmos chips, even the cheapest DSLRs (aka. Canon Rebel T7, which I own and modified myself (full spectrum mod with UV/IR cut filter mounted to the telescope - not that hard really) give you incredible, low noise images, especially on somewhat cooler nights :) Great Video!
Subscribed! This is the channel i looking for. Simple, understandable, good enough for people on budget, and with a lot of recommendations. well done mate!
Thanks, Nick! I'm a professional astronomer, but a total beginner when it comes to astrophotography and amateur astronomy in general. I've just bought my first DSLR, and was considering the astro mod as I do intend on capturing deep sky objects and that H-alpha emission is quite significant - keeping the filter seems like a waste. Still, this video has convinced me to leave it alone for a while. See how I get on with un-modified imaging, then I can re-assess whether I want/need to modify it later on.
Astro-modified Canons, like the 60D, can have a firmware mod to give a daylight mode so you can also use it for ordinary shots without any post processing.
You can use your DSLR for capturing the planets with decent results. Granted a dedicated planetary camera would be better with its faster frame rates. This is the road I went down at the start. Oh and yes I also went unmodified at the beginning. Great video and now subscribed 👍
I am (also) in the early learning stages of AP but it looks like you could get a lot more out of you're unmodified M42 images if you collected more data. You're version of M42 could be way sharper and have more details if you collected more data. Seems like you could stretch that limit of equipment a lot more. I also started out with AP not so long ago.. learning curve is steep but there are a lot of objects, hours of processing skills and imaging skills to improve before you reach the limit of the beginner equipment you're using. Love to see what you can do with that modified DSLR later on.. (tip for the overexposed core of M42. Take some shorter exposures and stack them in with these 2min iso 800 exposures. You will have some room to work with in processing)
Yeah you’re absolutely right I can definitely do more with a lot more exposure time. Unfortunately the weather hasn’t allowed for that and I’ve been limited to 1-2 hours at a time all winter 😔 and I should have clarified by limit of equipment I only meant the DSLR. Not looking to change out any of my equipment yet
I'm considering having my Sony a7iii astro modified but a) not sure which mod is best for me and b) not sure where is a reputable UK based place to have it done. Any suggestions?
I have bought a Canon 1000D full spectrum second hand. How to focus and can I use this for astro photography? Now I use old non auto focus lenses by a adapter. I use it for UV and IR photogtaphy which works very well.
A full spectrum mod removes both filters from the camera, meaning all light can pass to the sensor. You will need a filter which blocks the IR part of the spectrum, otherwise you will get halos around your stars and struggle to focus. Something like this should work but be sure to buy the right size for your equipment: www.firstlightoptics.com/uv-ir-filters/astronomik-ir-blocking-filter/ref/astroexploring/
It depends on the type of camera you want modifying. If you go to the customer modification page you can see that most Canon crop sensor DSLRs are still £75. The statement in the homepage is if you want to buy a modified camera off him directly, rather than send your own camera in.
for the 450D Canon they say £220, where I found a site that does it for £95. Hence being interested at £75 :] Just a thought though. Rather than modifying the DSLR for Hydrogen Alpha emissions, would a filter allowing only that wavelength of light into the camera do near enough the same job, although I suspect due to the filter the signal may not be as intense as the modification? I also own the Sony A7m3, but bought a cheap 450D, [£80] to modify.
@@theviewfromthepanopticon1852 were did you find it for 95 please ?? I'm interested in doing my own but I'm not sure yet, I won't be putting another filter in so it will be exposed but it will only be used for astrophotography......
@@AstroExploring Very nice m8. Looks better to my eye .And by the way like your processing stile , not overdone . Can you tell me you Modified it and used Classical Light Pollution filter only , or additional H alfa and narrow band . Im at the same level i just dont have it modified nor cooled nor filtered so im working on that at the moment . ITs why im asking . Thanks bro .
Just saw your video as this is something iv been toying with doing, would this be fine to do if your only using for astrophotography and leaving it "exposed" ??as its only for astro I'm thinking of just taking it out and 0utting it back together, I use the 450d attached directly to my telescope so autofocus wouldn't really matter right ??
If your thinking seriously about astrophotography the leave it unmodified save your money for a cooled Astro camera , my Nikon D5300 stock has stronger capture of the red channel, than my canon 1000D which I did eventually have ir modded tbh wasted should have kept for the Astro camera funds now using a zwo533mc, that said unless your into nightscapes then have it modded but for Dso then cooled set point👍
For broadband targets like galaxies or star/galaxy-clusters or planets you don't benefit much from a modified DSLR.
If you want to shoot nebulae, you will pretty soon feel the need/desire to modify it :D but before you do, just test different targets for a while, because you can achieve absolutely stunning images with stock cameras!
And if you have the money to spare or some dedication to do it your own, then absolutely go ahead and modify your camera! It's a game changer if it's a hobby you intend to enjoy for years to come! :)
And with modern cmos chips, even the cheapest DSLRs (aka. Canon Rebel T7, which I own and modified myself (full spectrum mod with UV/IR cut filter mounted to the telescope - not that hard really) give you incredible, low noise images, especially on somewhat cooler nights :)
Great Video!
Astrophotography is a very difficult field! It takes a lot of time, money and knowledge. But it gives a lot of satisfaction!!!
Absolutely 😊 it’s so satisfying when it all comes together
Watching this video again, years later - and it's excellent!
¡Gracias!
Subscribed! This is the channel i looking for. Simple, understandable, good enough for people on budget, and with a lot of recommendations. well done mate!
Thank you! Glad you enjoy the content
Thanks, Nick!
I'm a professional astronomer, but a total beginner when it comes to astrophotography and amateur astronomy in general.
I've just bought my first DSLR, and was considering the astro mod as I do intend on capturing deep sky objects and that H-alpha emission is quite significant - keeping the filter seems like a waste.
Still, this video has convinced me to leave it alone for a while. See how I get on with un-modified imaging, then I can re-assess whether I want/need to modify it later on.
Definitely worth the upgrade if you’re wanting to image strong Ha targets
Astro-modified Canons, like the 60D, can have a firmware mod to give a daylight mode so you can also use it for ordinary shots without any post processing.
The VW Microbus Gondola! I want the same shirt!
Thanks Nick! You sold me on doing the astro mod (more accurately; paying someone to do it).
After i taked off the ir filter.
I must use a UV/IR filter??? For astrofotografia??
Got a nikon cool pix p900 would I be able to have that done
Watch next: Astrophotography with the Sky-Watcher 72ED th-cam.com/video/Yu45nijWnFM/w-d-xo.html
You can use your DSLR for capturing the planets with decent results. Granted a dedicated planetary camera would be better with its faster frame rates. This is the road I went down at the start. Oh and yes I also went unmodified at the beginning. Great video and now subscribed 👍
I am (also) in the early learning stages of AP but it looks like you could get a lot more out of you're unmodified M42 images if you collected more data. You're version of M42 could be way sharper and have more details if you collected more data. Seems like you could stretch that limit of equipment a lot more. I also started out with AP not so long ago.. learning curve is steep but there are a lot of objects, hours of processing skills and imaging skills to improve before you reach the limit of the beginner equipment you're using. Love to see what you can do with that modified DSLR later on.. (tip for the overexposed core of M42. Take some shorter exposures and stack them in with these 2min iso 800 exposures. You will have some room to work with in processing)
Yeah you’re absolutely right I can definitely do more with a lot more exposure time. Unfortunately the weather hasn’t allowed for that and I’ve been limited to 1-2 hours at a time all winter 😔 and I should have clarified by limit of equipment I only meant the DSLR. Not looking to change out any of my equipment yet
@@AstroExploring I know the feeling😉 Let's hope for some clear skies!
This is some great advice! Thanks
I'm considering having my Sony a7iii astro modified but a) not sure which mod is best for me and b) not sure where is a reputable UK based place to have it done. Any suggestions?
I have bought a Canon 1000D full spectrum second hand. How to focus and can I use this for astro photography? Now I use old non auto focus lenses by a adapter. I use it for UV and IR photogtaphy which works very well.
A full spectrum mod removes both filters from the camera, meaning all light can pass to the sensor. You will need a filter which blocks the IR part of the spectrum, otherwise you will get halos around your stars and struggle to focus. Something like this should work but be sure to buy the right size for your equipment: www.firstlightoptics.com/uv-ir-filters/astronomik-ir-blocking-filter/ref/astroexploring/
Great video. I just want to ask, did you get just an Ha mod or the one with BCF?
It’s the Ha mod that removes the IR cut filter
£75 you said......£220 they state on the homepage of this site!
It depends on the type of camera you want modifying. If you go to the customer modification page you can see that most Canon crop sensor DSLRs are still £75. The statement in the homepage is if you want to buy a modified camera off him directly, rather than send your own camera in.
for the 450D Canon they say £220, where I found a site that does it for £95. Hence being interested at £75 :] Just a thought though. Rather than modifying the DSLR for Hydrogen Alpha emissions, would a filter allowing only that wavelength of light into the camera do near enough the same job, although I suspect due to the filter the signal may not be as intense as the modification? I also own the Sony A7m3, but bought a cheap 450D, [£80] to modify.
@@theviewfromthepanopticon1852 were did you find it for 95 please ?? I'm interested in doing my own but I'm not sure yet, I won't be putting another filter in so it will be exposed but it will only be used for astrophotography......
Can you show us the results ? Before and after
If you check out the gallery on my website I have an Orion nebula image before modification and one after astroexploring.com/gallery
@@AstroExploring Very nice m8. Looks better to my eye .And by the way like your processing stile , not overdone .
Can you tell me you Modified it and used Classical Light Pollution filter only , or additional H alfa and narrow band .
Im at the same level i just dont have it modified nor cooled nor filtered so im working on that at the moment .
ITs why im asking .
Thanks bro .
Where can I modify my DSLR?
Good tips 👍
Just saw your video as this is something iv been toying with doing, would this be fine to do if your only using for astrophotography and leaving it "exposed" ??as its only for astro I'm thinking of just taking it out and 0utting it back together, I use the 450d attached directly to my telescope so autofocus wouldn't really matter right ??
What you thin about Stellina or Vespera Telescope?
If your thinking seriously about astrophotography the leave it unmodified save your money for a cooled Astro camera , my Nikon D5300 stock has stronger capture of the red channel, than my canon 1000D which I did eventually have ir modded tbh wasted should have kept for the Astro camera funds now using a zwo533mc, that said unless your into nightscapes then have it modded but for Dso then cooled set point👍
Mmmmmm, interesting 📸📸
Brilliant coverage.
I Modded a 1000d and did not use a ground strap and tanked the motherboard. :(
DON'T MAKE THIS MISTAKE.