400D for astrophotography

[R1200C]

My first post, what a great site, can't believe it took me so long to find it. I'm getting ready to buy the 400, my first DSLR, I have literally bags of Canon film SLR's, (F1, A1, AE1) and lenses. I've been over a year trying to decide on which to get, finally decided on the 400 over the 30D & 5D, (still might change my mind again) mainly because of it's smaller/lighter size, I will be using it for astrophotography, prime, eyepiece projection, and piggybacking. I currently have 2 scopes a 10" Meade LX200 and a Stellarvue SV-105 on a Losmandy GM8. Is anyone using the 400D for astro work? It should be a good camera for this.

I am going to get the 16-35 2.8 and the 100-400 for my first 2 lenses, I want to stay away from EF-S lenses because I am sure I will upgrade to a FF within a couple of years. What lens would you recommend for a lens in between these two, not really for astrophotography, but for everyday use. I don't work professionally anymore but I still believe in getting the best glass possible.

Thanks
Frank

[FlyingPete]

First up, welcome on board :D

Looks like you have your lenses well under control, both good glass!

I don't have a 400D, but I do have a 20D which I attach to my 6 inch SkyWatcher, via an eye piece adaptor. The main issue I have is focusing with the camera, I loose a lot of light in the process, and the 20D is quite heavy. I think you may have more luck with the 400D as it is quite a bit lighter. Most people I talk to who are serious about astrophotography now just get a CCD for the eyepiece, for some reason the DSLRs don't seem to perform that well :confused: I actually had far better results by duct taping my old Powershot G3 to an eyepiece!

[Pixel9ine]

I am going to get the 16-35 2.8 and the 100-400 for my first 2 lenses, I want to stay away from EF-S lenses because I am sure I will upgrade to a FF within a couple of years. What lens would you recommend for a lens in between these two, not really for astrophotography, but for everyday use.What about the 24-70 f/2.8L?


(I'd recommend it over the 24-105 f/4L IS... just personal experience)

[R1200C]

Pete
Thanks for the welcome. The 10, 20, 30D, and 5D are all great cameras for astro, very low noise, my concern was if the new sensor on the 400 is just as clean during long exposures? I have software to help in focusing, actually it does all the focusing for you. You set the camera on infinity and the software will automatically focus the scope with a motorized focuser, I have an old Sony DSC-F717 that I have been practicing with. Without software it is difficult to focus, I used a Hartman mask and many test images, also focusing on something bright, near what you want to photograph helps. CCD is too expensive, you can lay out 10K in a hurry, with a steep learning curve and limited uses, basically astro work only, don't have time for that now.

Croesus
I am just trying to maximize the angle on the 400 yet have a lens that will work on the 5D later.

[mrfourcows]

canon does have an eos 20DA for astrophotography.

[R1200C]

20 Da was discontinued but I think you can still find some new ones, it's a great camera for astro. I probably would go with a Hutech modified 20D before the Da. The price of the 20Da is very close to the 5D, I probably would buy the 5D.

Over the past year I have bounced from camera to camera, each my favorite at the time. Now with the rebates and Holiday specials coming out the 30D & 5D are looking nice again.