DSLRs Vs Dedicated Astro Cameras

DSLRs or astro dedicated cameras? Astrophotographers use both to capture the night sky, and while many have their preferences, those looking to get started might wonder which type is better? We break it all down for you here! Enjoy!

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[allnamesaretaken]

Not a fair comparison. Both have vastly different price tags which is the biggest deciding factor for most people in this hobby. You can buy a cheap second hand DSLR which has a larger sensor that can give superior images than a brand new small censor ZWO camera. DSLRs are perfectly fine at doing astrophotography, this isn't the 90s, tech has come a long way. Anyone struggling with a 500 gram DSLR has bigger issues with their focuser and mount.

[famendes]

OPT is just an outstanding retailer and organization! Your image tutors and tutorials are the best! Thank you!

[richardleslie]

Thanks, guys. Thinking of getting into astrophotography and this video (watching 3 years later) is one of the best I've seen so far. Short, but has a lot of info packed into it.

[dougiesmart]

A great video there, but I didn't notice anything about cost difference. In the UK, I can purchase a used astro-modified DSLR for less than £250, cheaper if I was brave enough to do this myself, but cooled dedicated astrocams are generally much more expensive. I would also say that in my experience, I need to take flat frames for each session, but if there is not much temperature variance between imaging nights, then darks and bias frames are not really required for every night ( just use previous night's calibration frames). Dedicated cooled astro cams will always require flat frames same as DSLR's. Keep the great videos coming guys 👍

[brianfulda]

Great comparison between DSLRs and astronomy cameras...personally for me, the jump up to an astronomy camera took my astrophotography to a brand new level!

[GinnyStLawrence]

Another VERY helpful video. Thank you! Both are great cameras, and you did a great job of explaining the differences between the two.

[astrofordummies]

How does someone thumbs down this? It was informative!

[elijahlwh]

Good comparison with DSLR & dedicated astrophotography camera, my personal point of view is DSLR you can use it as a stand-alone camera for astrophotography, the downside is of caused been explained in the video, but using an dedicated astrophotography camera you will required a full set of supporting equipment liked laptops, power supplies and filter wheels etc. The whole set up is not only very complicated and only meant to be used by season astrophotographers, and is not very user friendly comp[ares to DSLR. I personally would prefer modified DSLR body with infrared filter removed, because DSLR is a stand alone camera.
But nevertheless, if we astronomers will be able to create an astrophotography camera with stand alone features like the DSLR, I believed this will be a welcomed sign for all of us, may be I should go to the drawing board and start to design my own stand alone astrophotography camera with WIFI control by smartphone or laptop instead of laptop which is heavier and not too easy to carry around.

[Kyle_Hubbard]

Something you don't mention is that you CAN use an astro modified DSLR, so long as the modification is "full" spectrum and not Ha. All you simply need to do is use a UV/IR filter, either screw or clip in. I got my camera modded to "full" because the idea of IR photography interested me and I could simply use a UV filter and take those images.

[jonrobinson]

Lots of information for me as a newbie. Seen a guy somewhere on YouTube using his DSLR hooked up to a laptop for an imaging session. Not sure how to do it .Many thanks for the video.

[scuttlebum]

I do already have a DSLR and will probably stick with it for multi-use convenience. Just gonna have to deal with the extra processing required. Thanks for the tips!

[Mantooth]

Great video. Simple, quick, and informative.

[dct]

You could just use different software than LR that can handle noise better and use automation like zapier and literally just click 1 button. Processing takes slightly longer than straight out of camera however if you're accounting for storage, filing and backup automation is way faster.

Connect Memory Card - Zapier (1 time automation setup) - Photoshop/Topaz Ai (1 time setup action) - Done.

At the Zapier level you can run an alternate path simultaneously to backup files upon download. Basically save to PC, Google drive, Google photo, LR and Dropbox at the same time with 1 click while it runs your editing software for Denoise and custom Astro Action, save low res for web, save hi res for backup and store to multiple cloud or hard storage locations even down to folder allocations while you sip coffee and read a book. You're basically off-loading your custom workflow to automation.

[vpsjdon]

Thank you for this video. It was very informative. I have a potentially stupid question: If you DON'T have a Telescope or even a tracking mount, is the Astro camera completely useless? Asking because I currently use my DSLR on a tripod and with a 300mm telephoto lens, taking short exposures and adjusting every few minutes. It's hard work and I do get good results, but not too great. I was wondering if an Astro camera work WITHOUT a telescope. Even for some widefield shots.

[ngockhanhdang]

thanks for the video. how do we focus the image with dedicated astro camera? thank you.

[crateer]

The cooling, and especially mono astro dedicated cameras are great.
BUT, what many people don't mention is: You can get extremely similar results in quality with a modded DSLR vs astro dedicated OSC. The difference is way smaller than many seem to believe.
If you are starting out and want to save some money - 100% go with a DSLR and modify it, you will be surprised. Especially as a beginner you won't be limited by the camera, but rather your tracking and skills to edit your images.
Don't be fooled to think you NEED to go astro-dedicated for amazing deep sky imaging. The only thing you need is proper calibration frames and enough integration time with proper settings, as well as the most important one: Have your DSLR modified to remove the stock uv/ir-cut filter.

[gewglesux]

What did i get myself into this time...

[anulearntech]

Are astro camera sensors as small as MFT? Are there any apsc or ff size equivalent. And is their aspect ratio 3:2?

[badmatt]

2:39 How does a person connect a DSLR to a Losmandy & Vixen dual dovetail saddle?
For example to the ZWO AM5.

[egarcia]

Very informational for us newbies, thanks!