Re: [APML] digital cameras for strophotography

["Joseph O'Neil" <joneil@multiboard.com>]

At 17:43 10/26/02 -0400, you wrote:
>OK Gregory, how can I subscribe to the group? I have several questions and
>doubts about digital cameras for astrophotography.

-snip-

         I would not buy *any* consumer digital camera strickly for use in 
astro-imaging.  Obviously CCD cameras like the ST6 are a major and notiable 
exception, but then, they are not a "consumer" camera in my mind - not so 
something that is an everyday item at Wal-mart or Best Buy.
         Back to "consumer" cameras, I find none of them are optimized for 
astro-imaging, and also, the specs change on the different models so fast 
it makes your head spin.  Example, my 18 month old Olympus digital camera 
is hopelessly out of date - according to some store clerks, but if i ask 
for advice on this list for my 30 year old Nikon FM, I get lots of help.

         That all being said, if you intend on buying a digital camera for 
personal use anyhow, then by all means, go for it, use the thing on a 
telescope.  it is an amazing amount of fun, and you'll impress yourself at 
what they can (and cannot) do.  For exmaple, i bought my digital camera 
last year strickly to so I could take pictures of stuff I sell on 
ebay.  But once i got it, I tried it out for fun on the moon and it was 
"wow, not bad."  Not nearly good enough to make the front cover of S&T, but 
the "fun and play" factor of any digital camera through a scope is 
immense.  Bluntly said, it is a hellvua lot of fun.

         If you want a digital camera strickly for astro-imaging however, I 
think you are better off watching astromart for a good, used ST4 or save up 
your money for a new ST6.
         if you are not sure exactly what you want to do, stick with film, 
and get yourself a decent slide/negative scanner.  I think one of those 
scanners is the perfect bridge between the best of both the film and 
digital worlds.
good luck
joe




http://www.oneilphoto.on.ca
http://www.multiboard.com/~joneil
"Una salus victus nullam sperare salutem"


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