New Equipment Announcement

Jan 13, 2004

Seems like I get something new every month, so this month I bought…

The Canon 300D Digital Rebel…WOOHOO!

I can tell you already that I like this camera!  It came with the 18-55mm EF-S lens, battery, cables and software.  I took a picture of…my CAT!

I outputted the file to computer and blew up the 2.86 mb JPG (fine mode) using the zoom function in Photoshop.  I made my cat’s eye as big as the computer screen without pixellation!  And that’s not even using the RAW mode that this camera offers, which is the full 6.3 megapixels without any compression or data lost.  That outputs a 7mb file.

Images are saved on the camera with a compact flash card, which the camera didn’t come with.  Luckily, I had a 256mb laying around from my old, broken HP Jornada (PDAs don’t get along well with my BUTT). I’ll be able to get around 30 images at full data resolution with this camera on that 256mb CF.  Very nice!

There are just too many features to list with this digital SLR.  But I like the PC software that allows you to remote control the camera.  You can set up a series of timed exposures up to 30 seconds each.  Unfortunately, bulb mode will not work in this setting.  Likewise, as with any SLR, you need a cable release to give you bulb exposures.  That means you must purchase the optional Remote Switch RS-60E3.  This way, you can lock down the shutter for exposure as long as you want.

I also need an EOS T-Mount so I can hook the camera to my scopes.  I’ll have to find one tomorrow, or else have one sent to me online, along with the Remote Switch.  Thus, I can’t give you a preliminary test right now.

I will say that I took a test dark frame with the camera at 30 seconds and 800 ISO.  Didn’t see a flaw on the chip nor a glimpse of a hot pixel…impressive.

I’m intrigued with the removal of the IR filter covering the chip.  I’d love for a mod to get posted on the Internet for safe removal of this filter.  The difference without it on astrophotos is said to be incredible.  I know that Hutech will be offering a modified version of this camera (www.hutech.com), but since I already have the camera I’d like to have it done.  It has been said that terrestrial work can still be done after the modification with a screw-on UV-IR filter (which I already have), but the auto-focus isn’t always accurate.  Nevertheless, I can see me keeping this camera as is for terrestrial work and then getting another one from Hutech with the modification.

Anyway, this is quite an extraordinary camera for the price ($999.99). It also means that my film days are most likely over.  I guess I need to sell all my Nikon F2 stuff!

I’ll soon post a more thorough review of the camera for astrophotography, hopefully with examples.