Astro version of Canon 20D

From www.dpreview.com:

Canon Japan has this morning sprung a surprise on everyone with the
announcement
(in Japan only so far) of the EOS 20Da. This specialized version of the
EOS 20D appears to be identical except for the removal of the 'hot mirror',
the filter in most digital camera's which removes the InfraRed part of the
spectrum. This camera would be especialy suited to astrophotography as well
as InfraRed photography, in use as a 'normal camera' it would probably
require
an external IR cut filter on the lens. In addition the camera has a
partially
transmissive mirror which enables live focusing on the LCD monitor.

Seems interesting, who knows if it will be availanle also outside Japan and
which will be the cost...

clear skies,

--
--
Beta Persei
45° 35' N
08° 51' E

Remove "_nospam" to reply

Think I will go down to my local camera store this weekend and see what they
will charge for it. That is assuming I can make myself understood since I
don't read or speak Japanese yet. In reality I would only be interested in
one if it had the option of English menus. The other problem is the regular
20D (and most Japanese astro equipment) is cheaper in the US than it is here
in Japan, at least from the places I have visited.

"Beta Persei" wrote:

From www.dpreview.com:

Canon Japan has this morning sprung a surprise on everyone with the
announcement
(in Japan only so far) of the EOS 20Da.

Aaaaaargh! Damn me for buying my 20D as soon as they came out. Well, I
can't complain really, it is an awesome bit of kit.

If they offered a mono version too they could put a serious dent in
the business of the likes of SBIG.

One thing I have thought of looking at my 20D is that it has an image
stabilized lens. I've often wondered if the IS part could form the
heart of a fast-guider (think AO-7). I bet Canon could make an 8MP
astro camera with in-built adaptive optics for $3000 if they put their
minds to it. They have all the technology.


Tim
--
This is not my signature.

On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 20:14:47 +0000, Tim Auton
wrote:

One thing I have thought of looking at my 20D is that it has an image
stabilized lens. I've often wondered if the IS part could form the
heart of a fast-guider (think AO-7). I bet Canon could make an 8MP
astro camera with in-built adaptive optics for $3000 if they put their
minds to it. They have all the technology.

Do the IS lenses use the same type of variable prism that Canon uses in
their binoculars? If so, that will work great for a tip/tilt corrector.
I built one using just such an element. Of course, the control mechanism
would have to be changed considerably.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

According to the Canon Japan's site, the price of the 20Da in Japan is
"open" and a retail price has not been set by Canon. Canon is estimating an
approximate 3 month wait for the camera after placing an order for delivery.
There appears to be a production period between the time of order and
delivery. It would be a more promising sign if a price was quoted, but we
should know in time from sales in Japan. The US price of the Canon 20D is
now around $1400.



The options seem to be to wait for the camera to be introduced in the US,
move to Japan, order a Hutech modified 20D for which there has been a
delay in production, or modify the 20D yourself.



An alternative is to buy a Canon 300D rebel at about $700 and do the mod
yourself. Detailed directions for modifying a Canon Rebel he



http://ghonis2.ho8.com/rebelmodnew.html



Gary Honis

"Beta Persei" wrote in message
...

snip

Seems interesting, who knows if it will be availanle also outside Japan
and which will be the cost...

clear skies,

--
--
Beta Persei
45° 35' N
08° 51' E

Remove "_nospam" to reply

Chris L Peterson wrote in message ...
On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 20:14:47 +0000, Tim Auton
wrote:

One thing I have thought of looking at my 20D is that it has an image
stabilized lens. I've often wondered if the IS part could form the
heart of a fast-guider (think AO-7). I bet Canon could make an 8MP
astro camera with in-built adaptive optics for $3000 if they put their
minds to it. They have all the technology.

Do the IS lenses use the same type of variable prism that Canon uses in
their binoculars? If so, that will work great for a tip/tilt corrector.
I built one using just such an element. Of course, the control mechanism
would have to be changed considerably.

_______________________________________________ __

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

not sure which IS Canon binos you're referring to . I opened a couple of
them and they have a moving lens not prism. One of the objective lenses
moves in some sort of yoke arrangement , with 2 degrees of freedom. Both
eyes are moved simultaneously by the same linear voice coil type actuator.
The control electronics have nothing to do with optics (no image motion
sensing per se) and derive their feedback signal from an Analog Devices
piezo accelerometer .

best regards,
matt tudor

Gary Honis wrote:

An alternative is to buy a Canon 300D rebel at about $700 and do the mod
yourself. Detailed directions for modifying a Canon Rebel he

http://ghonis2.ho8.com/rebelmodnew.html

Hi Gary... great site.

Can you tell me where to get the replacement glass, once you remove the
IR Cut filter?

Thanks!!
Stephen Paul
Shirley, MA

On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 18:25:30 -0500, "matt"
wrote:

not sure which IS Canon binos you're referring to . I opened a couple of
them and they have a moving lens not prism. One of the objective lenses
moves in some sort of yoke arrangement , with 2 degrees of freedom. Both
eyes are moved simultaneously by the same linear voice coil type actuator.
The control electronics have nothing to do with optics (no image motion
sensing per se) and derive their feedback signal from an Analog Devices
piezo accelerometer .

I don't know if Canon uses different approaches, or if it has changed
recently. A few years ago I examined a corrector that was essentially a
variable prism- two flats with a flexible bellows between them, filled
with oil, and driven by a pair of actuators. This is the type of
mechanism I used for my tip/tilt corrector. The other approach would
work too- it looks like what SBIG has adopted for its new large format
tip/tilt device.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

I and a few others have used a coated clear glass window from Edmunds
Scientific Optics. (Part No. 32741):
http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlineca...productID=2402

It has worked out well. The glass would need to be cut as explained on my
site.

I have heard from Andrew Lutley who has ordered a higher spec glass from
Edmunds for his modification, the B270 optical window - Stock No: T45-57:
http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlineca...productID=1755

Hutech has decided not to sell already cut glass to those doing the
modification.

The advantage of a clear glass window is that the CMOS imaging chip is open
to all wavelengths for imaging. Cut and pass filters can be used in the
optical train as needed and a color correcting filter can be used for normal
daylight photography.

Gary Honis
http://ghonis2.ho8.com/

"Stephen Paul" wrote in message
...
Gary Honis wrote:

An alternative is to buy a Canon 300D rebel at about $700 and do the mod
yourself. Detailed directions for modifying a Canon Rebel he

http://ghonis2.ho8.com/rebelmodnew.html

Hi Gary... great site.

Can you tell me where to get the replacement glass, once you remove the IR
Cut filter?

Thanks!!
Stephen Paul
Shirley, MA

Thanks Gary....

I've just bought a camera with the Mod already done, and ordered the
XNite CC-1 for daytime photography. My brother is planning to do this
mod himself. He's the chronic "tweaker" in the family. :-)

Apreciate the resources.

Stephen

Gary Honis wrote:
I and a few others have used a coated clear glass window from Edmunds
Scientific Optics. (Part No. 32741):
http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlineca...productID=2402

It has worked out well. The glass would need to be cut as explained on my
site.

I have heard from Andrew Lutley who has ordered a higher spec glass from
Edmunds for his modification, the B270 optical window - Stock No: T45-57:
http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlineca...productID=1755

Hutech has decided not to sell already cut glass to those doing the
modification.

The advantage of a clear glass window is that the CMOS imaging chip is open
to all wavelengths for imaging. Cut and pass filters can be used in the
optical train as needed and a color correcting filter can be used for normal
daylight photography.

Gary Honis
http://ghonis2.ho8.com/

"Stephen Paul" wrote in message
...

Gary Honis wrote:

An alternative is to buy a Canon 300D rebel at about $700 and do the mod
yourself. Detailed directions for modifying a Canon Rebel he

http://ghonis2.ho8.com/rebelmodnew.html

Hi Gary... great site.

Can you tell me where to get the replacement glass, once you remove the IR
Cut filter?

Thanks!!
Stephen Paul
Shirley, MA