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Best DSLR for astrophotography in $600/700 range? Anonymous
Looking to have a slight upgrade in cameras, primarily for astrophotography. Currently looking at the Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200, as it is within my affordability, is of a decent megapixel range, and can do 30 second exposures.

But I was looking at some pics on flickr of the moon taken with this camera, http://flickr.com/photos/dhedwards/288910796/ , and was not too impressed with physical size that the moon takes up on the image, considering it was taken at full telephoto with 2x magnification... Attached is the best image I've taken of the moon with my Nikon Coolpix 4800, at 8.3x optical zoom.

So, I ask you /p/ folks, what's my best option, probably camera and lens wise, for taking nice astrophotography shots within a $600 to $700 USD range?

For ever $150 or so over that, it's going to take me an extra month or so to save up... and there's a nice occultation of Venus and the Moon in mid June that I'd really like to photograph (which will also occur around 9 to 10 AM EST).
EXIF data available. Clickhereto show/hide.
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKONCamera ModelE4800Camera SoftwareE4800v1.2Maximum Lens Aperturef/2.7Focal Length (35mm Equiv)303 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2006:10:08 09:02:16Exposure Time10/1363 secF-Numberf/4.4Exposure ProgramNormal ProgramISO Speed Rating50Exposure Bias-2 EVMetering ModePartialLight SourceUnknownFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length50.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width271Image Height271RenderingCustomExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknownColor ModeB & WImage QualityFINEWhite BalanceAUTOImage SharpeningAUTOFocus ModeAF-SISO SelectionAUTOImage AdjustmentAUTOLens AdapterOFFAuto FocusCenterSaturationNormalNoise ReductionOFF
>> Anonymous
>>44396
Sorry to break it to you, but I don't think you'll find a good dSLR with a lens for $600-700 for your purposes. In order to take good shots of the moon you need a ridiculous telephoto lens. As an equivalent, you'd probably be looking for a lens that's at least 300mm.

I personally don't have any experience with super telephoto lenses, but in general, they're crazy expensive. You can get a dSLR body inside your budget. As for the lens, it could be questionable. I just browsed through the B&H catalog I have and it's not looking too good.
>> ac
Unclear from your post whether or not you realize this, but in case you're confused, the DiMAGE A200 is not a DSLR, it's just a big point & shoot. I used to have one. It wasn't bad, but I sold it as soon as I got a real DSLR. The fact that my Rebel XTi's ISO800 noise level is about the same as the A200's ISO100 noise level made me go "You know, I'm never going to use my A200 again..."

The DSLRs in your price range are basically:
1. Something old and used
2. A new Canon EOS Rebel XT or Nikon D40

I can't speak for Nikon lenses, but you can get the cheapest of Canon's 75-300 zooms for about $160 from Adorama. So, Rebel XT + kit lens + 75-300 is about $755. You can shave about a hundred off of that by skipping the kit lens, but that means you basically can't use the camera for anything *but* astrophotography, since 75-300mm is some pretty serious telephoto on a 1.6x crop. That'll give you a 120-480mm equivalent lens range, which pwn3s the A200 (which maxes out at a 200mm equivalent, and can never be changed). And if you really want to push things, you can get a third-party 2x telephoto extender widget for another $100 or so, which'll give you an equivalent of a 960mm lens. And a shitty, barely usable maximum aperture of about f/11. :)

You can also shave a lot off of that price by going used. Adorama.com has a good selection of used equipment, and there's always eBay if you're feeling lucky.
>> Anonymous
>>44398
$760 for the Rebel XT + kit lens, and Canoon's 75-300mm lens? That's very doable.

Thanks for pointing out the noise level with the Rebel vs A200... If the Rebel's (XTi at least) ISO800 is equal to the A200's ISO100, that's BITCHIN. I can only hope the Rebel's ISO800 is compairable to the XTI's ISO800 then.

The Canon EOS 350D (Rebel XT) is now my goal...
>> ac
>>44401
The XT's better, if anything. The XT crams fewer pixels into the same size as the XTi, and physical size of pixels is one of the main things that determines noise levels. Bigger photosites = less noise, all other things being equal.

The reviews I've read suggest that the XT and XTi's sensors are about equal. What the XTi lacks in clearness, it makes up for in resolution, so things even out.

And yeah, high ISO ability is the best thing about digital SLRs. I shoot at ISO400 almost all of the time, and the ISO400 on my point & shoot digital cameras ranged from bad (the A200) to unusable (my Canon PowerShot A95).
>> Anonymous
>>44405
Well, as gut-wrenching as it is, I have 4 coins in my collection that I could sell that could possibly get me $800 on the spot. Since the XTi and XT are about the same price wise (that I'm seeing on e-bay, anyways), which then would you suggest?

A used XT with kit lens and 75-300mm lens, or save another payday and get this: http://cgi.ebay.com/CANON-EOS-Digital-REBEL-XTi-2-PRO-CANON-LENS-2GB-XT-i_W0QQitemZ110121047258QQihZ
001QQcategoryZ147173QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
>> ac
>>44408
Go with the XT.
>> Macheath
You can definitely do it at around $700. Buy the Tamron 75-300mm (70-300mm if you have some left over), but $700 with the rebel XT is definitely doable.
>> ac
>>44409
Oh, wait, if you can get 'em for the same price (I missed that), go with the XTi. The XTi's a little bit more convenient to shoot with--you can change settings faster, and it has a full color histogram instead of just a luminance histogram, and I believe it has more autofocus points available.

And also, having a 10 megapixel sensor instead of an 8 megapixel sensor, even if they produce basically the same image quality, means that you have a bigger penis.
>> Anonymous
Do you have an Equitorial tracking mount Tripod? Because good luck taking star pics without one!

Also Canon's 20D or a version of it is renowned for its Astrophotography, Not exactly sure why but check it out.
>> Anonymous
>>44443
Canon EOS 20Da. Modified filter + live preview.
>> ac
>>44454
Yeah, that'd be great if he had a budget of $2500-3000. Not so much with a $600-$700 budget.