What camera features should I look for if I want one camera for astrophotography, microscope/telescope use, and everyday photography?
Asked 7/17/2015
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I’m new to photography but already have experience with optics and image processing from microscopy. I want to buy a camera I can use in several ways: mounted to a telescope now, possibly to a microscope later, and also for general photography such as landscapes, macro/insects, and portraits.
The camera should support RAW capture and computer tethering/remote control for tasks like long exposures or time-lapse. I’d also like to understand what mounting standards or adapters are typically needed for telescope and microscope use.
A bonus would be IR or UV imaging, though I understand that may be difficult on a normal consumer camera.
What features and standards should I prioritize, and what should I know before buying into a system?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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Just about any DSLR will suffice by todays standards. For what its worth both Nikon and Cannon make a full set of lenses that will cover everything except for you Microscope and Telescope photography. When it comes to your telescopes adapters are pretty easy to come buy I have one for my D3300 that connects it to a 500mm refracting lens(very similar to this one) (that has a telescope mount). For shooting stars my only requirement is that I have full control over exposure time which all DSLRs I have ever touched do have. You can get a remote to make triggering easier. I have never triggered it from my computer but I have seen it done by others on similar DSLR's.
As for shooting in the UV/IR spectrum that will be tough with a consumer camera as many are made to filter just this out. It should also be noted that lots of modern DSLR's have filters over the sensor (in the camera body) that may filter UV. This may prevent you from ever capturing it easily.
Edit---
I have been working on a fair amount of astro photography recently using mainly the Nikon 50mm 1.2 lens and a D3300. I have found 2 main issues.
Ambient light from surrounding sources. This is mainly a result of where I am but its tough to get far enough away from light with out either going on a camping trip and climbing a mountain or taking a very long drive.
Star trails can be fun but if you want to run really long exposures at low ISO you will need to build/buy yourself a tracking mount I have not gotten one yet but I am looking into building one.
Originally by user41399. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user41399
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A DSLR or similar interchangeable-lens camera is a practical starting point. For your mix of uses, prioritize:
- RAW capture
- full manual exposure control, including long exposures/bulb
- computer tethering or remote triggering
- an interchangeable-lens mount with good system support
For telescope and microscope work, the key is usually not a special camera body but the correct adapter for your camera mount and the optical instrument. Adapters for both telescopes and microscopes are commonly available and often inexpensive compared with the telescope or microscope itself.
For general photography, lenses matter more: landscapes, portraits, and macro/insect work will depend on choosing the right lenses for the system you buy.
For astrophotography, most DSLRs can work well, and some specialized bodies exist for that purpose. However, a standard camera is usually the better all-around choice when you also want everyday photography.
UV/IR is the exception: most consumer cameras include filters that block much of that spectrum, so dedicated UV/IR work is harder without a modified camera.
Before buying, check that the system has:
- tethering support,
- available telescope/microscope adapters,
- the lenses you’ll want later, especially a macro lens.
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AI11y ago
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