20D-A finally to be released outside Japan

[CyberDyneSystems]

The 20Da,
essentailly a 20D with some modifications that make it particularly usefull for astro photogrphy,

Will now be available to the rest of the world.

Of interst to non astro photographers is it's enhanced Infra Red capablilty as well.

More here;
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0506/05060101canon20da.asp

[crc_408]

"This camera is best suited to astrophotography as well as infrared photography. It would be possible to use it as a normal camera but would require an external IR cut filter. In addition the camera has a partially transmissive mirror, which enables live focusing on the LCD monitor (this can only be done for short times and requires the mirror to be locked up)."

Interesting. I guess there's a big enough market for a "specialized" 20D

[willg]

why would having a partially transmissive mirror matter if you had to have it locked up anyway?

[GyRob]

so you can see if its locked up ;)
Rob.

[felix21685]

This camera is best suited to astrophotography as well as InfraRed photography (not according to Canon USA)

interesting.

[PhotoManMike]

why would having a partially transmissive mirror matter if you had to have it locked up anyway?

It allows the rear-panel LCD to be active in real time so you can achieve focus before you take the exposure. This is extremely useful for astrophotography. The mirror doesn't lock up until you trip the shutter release to make the exposure.

Mike

[Longwatcher]

This camera is best suited to astrophotography as well as InfraRed photography (not according to Canon USA)

interesting.

Until I read some Comments from Chuck Westfall, I was looking forward to this camera for doing IR (my other option being trust some one to work on my D60), but I found it still has a 700nm cutoff filter in front of the CMOS sensor. very annoying. Thus very good for astrography, not as good as it could be for IR.

The fact they said 700nm indicates that given the Hoya R72 has a 720nm, 750nm is probably the highest portion of the spectrum that is being captured when taking IR photography with the Canon cameras. and I was thinking it was looking a bit towards 780nm. Then again they may have been generalizing and not so accurate with the 700nm statement.

In fairness, the odds of me buying a camera just for IR photography would be closely related to price versus my budget at the time. But I am no longer interested in getting the 20Da, because it won't do what I want. I am not likely to buy a pure BW camera either as to meet my requirements it would need to have at least the resolution of the 1DsMkII, which means the price would be similiar. I can do good enough BW with software conversion at this time.

Just my opinion and what I read,

[Jon]

IIRC, the 20Da replaces the normal IR-cutoff filter with one that selectively passes Hα band, so not a lot of IR will get through. Your best IR is still going to come from modding an existing camera by removing the IR-cutoff filter.

[Tom W]

"This camera is best suited to astrophotography as well as infrared photography. It would be possible to use it as a normal camera but would require an external IR cut filter. In addition the camera has a partially transmissive mirror, which enables live focusing on the LCD monitor (this can only be done for short times and requires the mirror to be locked up)."

Interesting. I guess there's a big enough market for a "specialized" 20D

I'm not certain that the requirement of an external IR cut filter is necessary. I'd like a second opinion on that particular issue.

[CoolToolGuy]

Here's the press release for the 20Da on the Canon USA site:
http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20050602_eos20da.html

Have Fun,

[Tom W]

Here's the press release for the 20Da on the Canon USA site:
http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20050602_eos20da.html

Have Fun,

Thanks, Rick. I see the part about the "optional" infrared filter. Too bad it's not user-changeable right on the camera.