Should You Modify a DSLR? 

Watching this video again, years later - and it's excellent!

For broadband targets like galaxies or star/galaxy-clusters or planets you don't benefit much from a modified DSLR. If you want to shoot nebulae, you will pretty soon feel the need/desire to modify it :D but before you do, just test different targets for a while, because you can achieve absolutely stunning images with stock cameras! And if you have the money to spare or some dedication to do it your own, then absolutely go ahead and modify your camera! It's a game changer if it's a hobby you intend to enjoy for years to come! :) And with modern cmos chips, even the cheapest DSLRs (aka. Canon Rebel T7, which I own and modified myself (full spectrum mod with UV/IR cut filter mounted to the telescope - not that hard really) give you incredible, low noise images, especially on somewhat cooler nights :) Great Video!

Astrophotography is a very difficult field! It takes a lot of time, money and knowledge. But it gives a lot of satisfaction!!!

Subscribed! This is the channel i looking for. Simple, understandable, good enough for people on budget, and with a lot of recommendations. well done mate!

This is some great advice! Thanks

Watch next: Astrophotography with the Sky-Watcher 72ED ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Yu45nijWnFM.html

The VW Microbus Gondola! I want the same shirt!

Thanks Nick! You sold me on doing the astro mod (more accurately; paying someone to do it).

¡Gracias!

Thanks, Nick! I'm a professional astronomer, but a total beginner when it comes to astrophotography and amateur astronomy in general. I've just bought my first DSLR, and was considering the astro mod as I do intend on capturing deep sky objects and that H-alpha emission is quite significant - keeping the filter seems like a waste. Still, this video has convinced me to leave it alone for a while. See how I get on with un-modified imaging, then I can re-assess whether I want/need to modify it later on.

Good tips 👍

Astro-modified Canons, like the 60D, can have a firmware mod to give a daylight mode so you can also use it for ordinary shots without any post processing.

Hi, thanks for this very usefull and good video. I have a Canon 600D unmodified. At 2.49 in your video you talk about the filter that is behind the mirror. I presume that's the one I need to remove. What kind of filter is that?

You can use your DSLR for capturing the planets with decent results. Granted a dedicated planetary camera would be better with its faster frame rates. This is the road I went down at the start. Oh and yes I also went unmodified at the beginning. Great video and now subscribed 👍

Got a nikon cool pix p900 would I be able to have that done

After i taked off the ir filter. I must use a UV/IR filter??? For astrofotografia??

I'm considering having my Sony a7iii astro modified but a) not sure which mod is best for me and b) not sure where is a reputable UK based place to have it done. Any suggestions?

Mmmmmm, interesting 📸📸

Great video. I just want to ask, did you get just an Ha mod or the one with BCF?

I am (also) in the early learning stages of AP but it looks like you could get a lot more out of you're unmodified M42 images if you collected more data. You're version of M42 could be way sharper and have more details if you collected more data. Seems like you could stretch that limit of equipment a lot more. I also started out with AP not so long ago.. learning curve is steep but there are a lot of objects, hours of processing skills and imaging skills to improve before you reach the limit of the beginner equipment you're using. Love to see what you can do with that modified DSLR later on.. (tip for the overexposed core of M42. Take some shorter exposures and stack them in with these 2min iso 800 exposures. You will have some room to work with in processing)

I have bought a Canon 1000D full spectrum second hand. How to focus and can I use this for astro photography? Now I use old non auto focus lenses by a adapter. I use it for UV and IR photogtaphy which works very well.

Where can I modify my DSLR?

What you thin about Stellina or Vespera Telescope?

£75 you said......£220 they state on the homepage of this site!

Can you show us the results ? Before and after

Just saw your video as this is something iv been toying with doing, would this be fine to do if your only using for astrophotography and leaving it "exposed" ??as its only for astro I'm thinking of just taking it out and 0utting it back together, I use the 450d attached directly to my telescope so autofocus wouldn't really matter right ??

If your thinking seriously about astrophotography the leave it unmodified save your money for a cooled Astro camera , my Nikon D5300 stock has stronger capture of the red channel, than my canon 1000D which I did eventually have ir modded tbh wasted should have kept for the Astro camera funds now using a zwo533mc, that said unless your into nightscapes then have it modded but for Dso then cooled set point👍

Brilliant coverage. I Modded a 1000d and did not use a ground strap and tanked the motherboard. :( DON'T MAKE THIS MISTAKE.