Why I Bought the Canon EOS Ra
In early May 2020, I decided to purchase a Canon EOS Ra camera from B&H photo. This is Canon's latest astrophotography camera, and it has some seriously impressive specs (like a full-frame 30.3 MP astro-modified sensor). For a complete rundown of the Canon EOS Ra, you can read my full review from January of this year. Essentially, it is a clone of the popular Canon EOS R mirrorless camera, with a specialized IR cut filter optimized for astrophotography. In this article, I want to discuss why I purchased the EOS Ra, and share my results from the backyard. Is the Canon E…
Results Using a $200 DSLR for Astrophotography
In a recent video, I shared my results using a $200 DSLR for astrophotography. In a hobby known for being very expensive, I think it is very interesting that such results can be obtained using an old, inexpensive camera. In this post, I'll prove to you that incredible astrophotography results are possible with an old, used, entry-level DSLR camera. And no, it doesn't need to be modified to achieve impressive results. (I've got plenty of unmodified DSLR astrophotos to prove it). You can pick up a used Canon EOS Rebel T3i (600D) DSLR for under $200 on eBay, and it will likely include a kit…
Canon EOS Ra Review
The Canon EOS Ra camera is Canon's first full-frame mirrorless camera dedicated to astrophotography. It is suitable for deep-sky imaging with a telescope, and night sky photography with a camera lens. Based off of the extremely popular EOS R, the EOS Ra boasts unique features such as 30x magnification (viewfinder and Live View) for precise focusing, and roughly 4x more transmission sensitivity to the hydrogen-alpha (Hα) wavelength. Name: Canon EOS Ra Based on: Canon EOS R Release Date: November 2019 Type: Mirrorless System Resolution: 30.3 MP Sensor size: Full-Frame…
ZWO ASI533MC Pro (First Look)
The ZWO ASI533MC Pro is a one-shot-color (OSC) dedicated astronomy camera designed for deep-sky astrophotography. Over the past 8 years, I have had the pleasure of testing many astrophotography cameras, from entry-level DSLRs to cooled, monochrome CCD's. The camera you choose for astrophotography will determine the types of subjects in the night sky that you will photograph. In the case of the ZWO ASI533MC Pro, the subjects will likely include deep-sky objects including large nebulae. ZWO reached out to me directly with an opportunity to test an early version of the ASi533MC…
The Canon EOS Ra Announced
On November 5, 2019, the Canon EOS Ra was announced and is now available for pre-order at various retailers including B&H. This is a 30.3 MP full-frame mirrorless camera designed specifically for astrophotography. The Canon EOS Ra shares nearly all aspects of the EOS R camera body, with 2 key differences for astrophotography. Increased sensitivity to the 656nm (h-alpha) emission line, and a 30X live view focus mode. For a niche hobby like astrophotography, the Canon EOS Ra has sure attracted a lot of attention from the photography world. I pleaded my case to my contact at Canon…
