Modding a DSLR

I'm having trouble deciding whether to get my 1500D ( bottom of the line EOS DSLR modded for astro. It's not that I don't have another camera, its that it's at least $495 to have it modded here and I believe I paid $499 for the camera brand new. As a small review, other than the lack of a movable screen, the camera rocks and I've had no issue with it whatsoever (100% astro use).

The issue is I feel that the $500 could be put towards a dedicated astro camera (ZWO/QHY etc) and I keep the DSLR as is, so who has a modded DSLR and a dedicated astro camera and what would their choice be?

As someone who agonized for years over the same thing (right up to a couple of months ago), I’d say get dedicated astro camera. You will still have your DSLR for wide field astro shots and everything else.
I’m sure you’ve done your homework on what camera you would like/afford, and mono or color, so all you need to do is pick it out and never look back. If anything like me, you’ll wonder what took so long to make the jump. There is much new lingo and stuff to learn, but that’s part of the journey. Right!?ߘ

I"m in my later 70’s and we live now in a heavy light pollution area, so I wanted my first dedicated astro camera to be mono, as it is easier than color and more sensitive (no color filters yet). Anyway, I wanted to keep it simple to start. I picked the ASI290MM. Price was right and got good reviews. I’ve just barely got my feet wet, but so happy with my decision to NOT mod my eos 60d.
And I’m looking and reading about color cameras already.

No technical answers I know, but sometimes it really is mostly about faith part.
Good luck!

Thank Park Ranger, I'm leaning towards the dedicated camera as my DSLR is extremely cheap and I feel like I am over investing.... if it had of been a 6D or similar I;d have sacked up and done it as the mods represent a fraction of the value ....

I am leaning towards mono but the lure of OSC is strong

Mono or color, I’m sure you will be pleased and blown away with how it performs. I’m Really happy with my choice, but in hindsight kinda wish I’d gotten the asi533mc-p when it was on sale.

Happy deciding!

I struggled with the same decision a few years ago. Got a cooled mono astro cam (ZWO ASI178MM-Cool) and paired it with Canon lenses. Nice and compact, lightweight, and the photos are clearly better.

However, it's a pretty big leap in terms of guiding, software, processing, cooling, etc. but the learning was fun!

I did miss my modded DSLR, though - so I bought an old 350D, modded it, used it like once, and un-modded it for my daughter to use because it just wasn't worth the crappy images, haha.

dkeith995 wrote in post #19193617
I struggled with the same decision a few years ago. Got a cooled mono astro cam (ZWO ASI178MM-Cool) and paired it with Canon lenses. Nice and compact, lightweight, and the photos are clearly better.

However, it's a pretty big leap in terms of guiding, software, processing, cooling, etc. but the learning was fun!

I did miss my modded DSLR, though - so I bought an old 350D, modded it, used it like once, and un-modded it for my daughter to use because it just wasn't worth the crappy images, haha.

It seems like that's a common thread....

I did my own modification on my Canon 60D and it was such a great tool for me to learn the hobby. I think my ability to pull out the HA data approaches that of a dedicated astro camera... The thermal performance however, well that's nowhere near a dedicated cooled astro camera.

But as an inexpensive, easy to use, and fantastic learning tool for a beginner? I highly recommend people going with the astromodification route on their spare cameras.