Canon DSLR's

I have a Canon 300D, quite bulky camera, but a few years ago was rated
excellent for astro photography.
How about the Canon newer models, like the Rebel XT or the others ,
since they uses different CCD chip now days?
How they work for astro imaging?
Thx, Julius

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 08:51:28 -0600, "S. Caro" wrote:

All Canon DSLR cameras use CMOS sensors, not CCD. The megapixels
have changed, but the sensor design remains pretty well the same.

The newer cameras have a bit better high ISO performace because
better noise reduction algorithms.

Minor quibble: unlike most digital cameras, the low noise performance of
the Canon CMOS sensors is intrinsic to the sensor design, and isn't a
product of any algorithm. AFAIK the Canon cameras are the only ones
where the raw images are truly raw- no processing has been applied
except for a scaled dark frame subtraction. Nikon and other cameras
apply noise reduction techniques in the process flow _before_ a raw
frame is saved. As is always the case with noise reduction filters, this
means that actual information is destroyed as well. IMO this makes the
Canons the best digicam choice for astronomical imaging.

_________________________________________________

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

Protagonist wrote:
I have a Canon 300D, quite bulky camera, but a few years ago was rated
excellent for astro photography.
How about the Canon newer models, like the Rebel XT or the others ,
since they uses different CCD chip now days?
How they work for astro imaging?
Thx, Julius

Good sensors, rotten ergonomics. Get a 20D or 30D instead, or a Nikon
D80.

Originally Posted by Protagonist

I have a Canon 300D, quite bulky camera, but a few years ago was rated
excellent for astro photography.
How about the Canon newer models, like the Rebel XT or the others ,
since they uses different CCD chip now days?
How they work for astro imaging?
Thx, Julius

I believe all Canon DSLR sensor are CMOS not CCD - DSLR Nikon/Pentax/Minolta=Sony/ all use Sony CCDs but each tweaked with their own processing engines.

I'll be sticking with my 300D - there are few advantages using smaller pixels via 8Mp/10Mp sensors except potentially more noise and you have to ask if your current imaging optics and guidance are 'up to it'. Now the full frame 5D....