3 replies to this topic

[UP4014Fan]

OK, I'm "Mr. Stock" when it comes to things like cars, cameras, and airplanes.  In fact, I'm the most liberal when it comes to modifying airplanes (within certification limits, of course!) because well-maintained airframes don't age, but things like avionics and lighting do.

The fact that I'm even considering modifying a camera and posting a question shows you how hooked I've gotten.  So having said that, we're* getting ready to modify one of my Canon bodies for AP, either one of the 200Ds or my old Xsi.  The R6 is off limits.  We're leaning towards one of the 200Ds because the firmware is newer and there's a bit of concern that NINA and others will give up on the legacy Canon firmware.   

 

At present, I'm leaning towards the folks up in Utah - it says a lot when my local, highly regarded brick and mortar store says that's where they send their AP cameras. 

 

One of the menu choices on the order form is whether or not to remove the AA filter.  I get what the filter does and why Canon installed it in that vintage camera, but is it worth the extra $75 to pull it?  

BTW, before someone says "Well, then get a dedicated camera like a ZWO," or some such, I want the flexibility to use my Canon-mount lenses to do wide field with the camera.**

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*Wife-approved expenditure.  This took almost no convincing.  And I'm still a bit stunned.

**I know, in about a year I'll probably be asking advice about those, but humor me.

[DeepSky Di]

I'll be one of these people recommending an astro camera :-). One of the harder things to assimilate when moving from terrestrial photography to astrophotography is that lenses that you love for one may not be as useful for the other.

 

Example: Canon 70-300 "focus by wire" zoom. I lost hours and my best shot at comet Neowise to this thing. Shoot, evaluate, twist focus ring, rinse and repeat. Works with a normal lens. With this lens, twisting the focus ring during playback mode does nothing. So the image remains equally out of focus.

 

Example: Samyang / Rokinon F2 135mm and 50mm. Manual aperture, manual focus. Bewildering to try to use in daylight after decades of autofocus. Can be attached to ZWO camera using a special ZWO filter drawer; can be attached to a ZWO EFW with a different ZWO adapter; the 135 can be attached to EAF using 3rd party kits. 

 

My modded Canon requires a UV/IR clip filter to focus to infiniity, due to the IR filter being removed. This works with EF lenses but not EF-S lenses, since the rear element protrudes into the camera body and will come into contact with the clip filter. Sorry I can't answer the question about the anti-alias filter.

[EGregerson]

I'd ask Spencer camera what they think on the AA ; might also check out Life Pixel. 

[michael8554]

Most Canon cameras have two filters:

 

The LPF2, which is the one closest to the sensor.

This is the one that attenuates Ha and is removed to give a "Ha Mod"

 

The other filter is the LPF1 which is an IR/UV, an AA , and a "dust shaker" filter.

Removing both filters opens up the spectral response into IR and is the "Full Spectrum Mod".

This requires you to always use some kind of narrow-band filter, SII, Ha, OIII etc,

An IR/UV at the very least, to avoid IR star bloat.

 

Prices will depend on whether filters are replaced with clear glass, to preserve Autofocus.