Canon EOS 10D/20D/300D

Hi all, just a quick question for anybody that can help. Have any of you used Canon's EOS digitals yet for astrophotography?, I've seen many pics taken by these and lots of info is available on the yahoo digital astro e-mail forum at digital_astro@yahoogroups.com

Prices are still quite high for these here in Ireland - up to €2000!!!
Is there a good site for purchase across the border? in the uk? What about equipment for attachment to the telescope?

Thanks, Keith.

Hi Keith,

if you want to think about mail order in the EU, try this German site:

www.ny-camera.com

They have all sorts of digital slr cameras, and almost the complete Canon EOS range too.

Might be good for comparison, just to check it out.

Seanie.

Seanie, Thanks for the link!!
Keith.

Several of use here (myself, Dave Lillis, Michael Scully and Jouke de Ruiter) are using the 300D and I think it's fair to say we all find it very good. It's the cheapest of the three. I got mine in Canada so avoided the VAT and money-grabbng here in this country, otherwise there's no way I could afford it.
The 300D and the 10D both have the same chip in them. There are two extra features in the 10D; one is mirror lockup and the other one is ISO 3200. However, you can modify the software on the 300D so as to provide these two features. I didn't bother as I didn't see the point to be honest. The mirror doesn't cause any vibration in the 300D and as for ISO 3200 - how often will you really be able to use that over ISO 1600??? So, the way I looked at it was "If it ain't broken..."
Also worth noting is that the 300D is lighter - may make a difference if your putting it on a scope.
As for the 20D, I don't know much about it. However, I had a v. quick look through the spec of it on the website Seanie suggested. Other than a higher resolution (8.2 Vs 6.3 MP), I didn't see any other major benefit that would justfy the extra cost. (The chip is roughly the same size as the 300D BTW) However, mabey someone else knows more about this camera and can share their thoughts. I'd be interested to hear.

Thanks Michael!, I've just been having a look again at some sites gathering info & such, I see that the camera's don't have a thread for a cable release / or is the time exposure you want to set automatic i.e there is no need for a cable release with these cameras? What's can maximum exposure time that can be set on yours? Ok - simple question, but you gotta start somewhere
Keith.

Irish prices are completely off the mark. UK prices aren't much better. The best option by far, as mentioned previously is to mail order from Germany. The best price I've found so far is at

www.lagu.de/

In this case it's almost more benficial than buying in the US, since you have an EU warranty and there's no potential problem with customs. But for buying lenses, memory cards etc., get someone who skips across the pond regularly to bring them back, if at all possible.

The main differences between the 300D, 10D and 20D are mainly photojournalistic- faster writing times, larger buffer, greater continuous shooting, more AF points. Many of these won't be applicable to astrophography.

The main advantages of the 20D (no point getting the 10D now, I don't think) is the metal body, longer lasting shutter life, excellent results at ISO1600 and the true RAW format (gives you lots of room to fix under/over exposure etc.).

But all in all, you'll have to decide if the upgrade (from 300D to 20D) is necessary. I'd say, for €400, probably not, unless you like general photography too, or one of the above improvements is significant to you.