Orion DSLR Camera Cooler

Anyone have any experience with this? I didn't see anything about using different size lens, although the photo showing the back of the unit open with the camera inside seems to be a fair amount of room.

Improve your DSLR astrophotography results with this "cold box" for your camera
Chills your DSLR camera's imaging sensor to significantly reduce unwanted thermal noise, resulting in all-around better images
Insulated and thermoelectrically cooled chamber chills your camera up to -43°F from the ambient temperature
Requires no camera modification - use your DSLR to take pictures of the family during the day, and of the cosmos at night!

Website

I don't know about this specific one, but many astrophotographers swear by cooling boxes for their DSLRs, especially in the summer.

archer1960 wrote in post #15607551
I don't know about this specific one, but many astrophotographers swear by cooling boxes for their DSLRs, especially in the summer.

This is the first I have ever seen such a thing, they state that it will cool the camera about 35° cooler then ambient temperature. Given current software available to reduce noise in post, I wonder how helpful this would be. I have never read any posts on this fourm about such a product, so I was surprised to find this.

the jimmy wrote in post #15607617
This is the first I have ever seen such a thing, they state that it will cool the camera about 35° cooler then ambient temperature. Given current software available to reduce noise in post, I wonder how helpful this would be. I have never read any posts on this fourm about such a product, so I was surprised to find this.

Very helpful, IMO. When you're shooting a dense star field like the Milky Way, a lot of the stars look like noise to noise-reduction software. I don't have a cooler box, but I get MUCH better shots in the winter than in the summer no matter what I do with NR.

Go to a dedicated astronomy forum like CloudyNights.com, and you'll see plenty of discussion of cooling your camera.

interesting.

i've heard about this type of thing on cloudynights, but they were called peltier boxes and as the description stated, many, if not all, required modifications to the camera.

this sounds like a cool idea (no pun intended), but unfortunately, it's small and only works with rebel cameras. would be nice to have one that works with the 60Da, or full frame cameras (6D, 5dmkIII).

archer1960 wrote in post #15608843
I don't have a cooler box, but I get MUCH better shots in the winter than in the summer no matter what I do with NR.

I wonder if the reason for this is because the atmosphere is clearer in winter than in summer? The air is generally dryer in winter, and less moisture would mean clearer skies and better pictures.

No need for a cooler in winter unless you're in tropical areas, but may make some difference in summer.

StillCrazy wrote in post #15608934
I wonder if the reason for this is because the atmosphere is clearer in winter than in summer? The air is generally dryer in winter, and less moisture would mean clearer skies and better pictures.

No need for a cooler in winter unless you're in tropical areas, but may make some difference in summer.

I was referring specifically to the noise in my shots. The seeing is usually better in the summer around here, while the transparency is better in the winter, so those parts seem to cancel out most of the time.

archer1960 wrote in post #15608997
The seeing is usually better in the summer around here

What do you mean by this? Do you mean what objects are in the sky (during the summer) to see and photograph?

the jimmy wrote in post #15610716
What do you mean by this? Do you mean what objects are in the sky (during the summer) to see and photograph?

For astronomers and astropohtographers, "seeing" refers to how stable the earth's atmosphere is. When seeing is good, the atmosphere is calm, which means the stars don't twinkle and the planets look clear. When the seeing is bad, the turbulence makes it difficult to see any detail, and the more magnification you use, the worse things look. On really bad nights, it looks like you're looking at things through a pan of boiling water, and you might as well forget about seeing things like details on the surface of Mars, or Jupiter's red spot.

Hope this helps!

archer1960 wrote in post #15610965
For astronomers and astropohtographers, "seeing" refers to how stable the earth's atmosphere is. When seeing is good, the atmosphere is calm, which means the stars don't twinkle and the planets look clear. When the seeing is bad, the turbulence makes it difficult to see any detail, and the more magnification you use, the worse things look. On really bad nights, it looks like you're looking at things through a pan of boiling water, and you might as well forget about seeing things like details on the surface of Mars, or Jupiter's red spot.

Hope this helps!

Yes I knew that, I guess I was unsure of your statement because you refered to the summer as being better viewing. I don't know where you're located, cetainly here in Fl the winter is the better "seeing" season.

the jimmy wrote in post #15611117
Yes I knew that, I guess I was unsure of your statement because you refered to the summer as being better viewing. I don't know where you're located, cetainly here in Fl the winter is the better "seeing" season.

Yes, I know it varies from place to place as to when the seeing is better. Around here (southern New England), the winter typically has a lot of turbulence and wind from the big temperature differences between the ocean and the land. The summer, especially late summer once temperatures start coming down a bit, tends to be calmer. Of course we can get good days and bad days in any season, but those are the general tendencies around here.

only downside is that it is heavy and causes flexure and it is a little overpriced for what it does. However, under ideal conditions I would like to try one out

calypsob wrote in post #15615434
only downside is that it is heavy and causes flexure and it is a little overpriced for what it does. However, under ideal conditions I would like to try one out

Yep, I agree with all those points. I believe Orion's is a rebranded version of somebody else's cooler box, which can be found somewhat cheaper elsewhere.