Quick update as I've just received an email from Mark at JTW Astronomy that's worth sharing: "I forgot to mention something in my explanation of the mod, the question of autofocus and sensor repositioning. Sensor spacing (between the lens flange and the sensor surface) used to be fixed and set at the factory. If you modify an older camera without adjusting this spacing the autofocus will stop working correctly. However, just because modern autofocus and compensate for this there will still be some negative effects - 1) The distance reading won't be correct on the lens anymore, it may read 2 meters but you're 5 meters away. 2) Lens that don't have any leeway beyond infinity may not be able to reach infinity at all. Infinity will be 100 meters or so. Not a problem in daytime use but you won't get sharp stars. 3) The worst - The optical design of the lens is optimised for a certain BFD. Back focal distance. While a smart camera and some luck with the lens may still allow you to reach focus at infinity the optical performance will not be per the design. You will get a loss of image quality off the optical axis. More noticeable with full frame sensors and fast lenses. "
I've modified my A7RIII and they replaced the cut filter with clear glass (full spectrum camera) but by inserting an Astronomik OWB clip filter I can return it back to normal or into an IR camera by using other clip filters and there are Multispectra clip filters that reduce the interference from artificial lighting in the city ,and enhance the wave length of Hα, Hβ, OIII and SII - perfect for astrophotography and the beauty is that I can use any lens even the very wide angle ones with fixed hoods (even with a circular fish eye lens) and I have not had any focus problems in either auto or manual modes with any configuration
@@jimmyjohnnsen8511 I had my camera modified by Camera Clinic here in Melbourne Australia but there are others that can do it in other countries Where abouts are you? I got the Astronomik clip filters but STC also make them now It's not cheap, all up just over $1000AUD but worth every cent
@@jimmyjohnnsen8511 you are a lucky man Astronomik is also in Germany All digital cameras have a filter in front of the sensor that blocks IR and UV light allowing only visible light to reach the sensor and create the image Replacing this filter with clear glass makes a full spectrum camera which you can then easily use the Astronomik filters My advice, is for you to contact Gerd Neumann at Astronomik I am certain that he can help you Info@gerdneumann.net I hope that I have been able to help you
Thanks Alyn! I just got a used astro-modified Canon 700D, wondered about the pink color of the images and you explained it perfectly! And glad I just ordered a light pollution filter ...
I'm glad it all worked out for you. The important thing is that you're enjoying it. I bought an already modified full spectrum camera many years ago. I haven't produced anything worthy of being thought if as art, but I did learn a few techy things. You can buy "minus IR" filters (they look slightly blue-green) to screw onto the filter threads of your lenses to basically put a UV/IR filter back into the system if you want a more normal color balance. Most modern lenses absorb most UV anyway but if that concerns you, you can stack a standard UV filter on top of the other one. You would of course have to do a custom while balance. On my particular camera, I find that stacking a UV and IR filter on a lens is better than nothing, but I still get the most accurate color balance with an unmodified camera so I will also carry an unmodified body with me. I've read and have tried out what I think is a good technique for getting a custom white balance for IR and especially UV work which is to use a suitably sized piece of white Teflon instead of a gray/white card. Teflon apparently reflects IR, and especially UV very well. I hope these few ideas can help.
Just modded my D7100... NOT for the amateur lol, but its nice in so far as the sensor position doesn't move in relation to its focal distance so its a simple removal of the filter. Auto focus still works great. Definitely worth doing for serious astro work. Great video!
I have been watching a couple of other astrophotography channels, namely Nico and Delta, but I am glad I found yours. Great channel, I am new subscriber!
I’m definitely going to look into this for my 6d bud! I bought that camera for the sole intention of shooting astro and seems like the mod has far more reasons for than against! Awesome video and explanation! Cheers mate :)
I am fairly new to this hobby and have been following your superb videos for a few months. I currently have a Canon eos rp full frame mirrorless camera and was contemplating getting it astro modified. It's such a scary step though as, if anything goes wrong, I won't be able to afford a replacement.
I modded my A7RIII by having the IR/UV cut filter removed and now can use (Astromik) clip filters, for IR with fast shutter speeds and low ISO on any lens and can see everything through the EVF and they also make a IR/UV clip filter to return the camera back to "normal" in a few seconds I don't use any clip filters when taking Astrophotography and get absolutely amazing results in dark skies the focusing is not affected in any way
@@Light_hunter-gatherer I had it done by a company here in Melbourne (Camera Clinic) and they replace the cut filter with clear glass and then by using: * Astronomik OWB Type 3 clip filter returns the camera back to normal * Astronomik ProPlanet 742 filter allows you to flip the Red and Blue channels in PS and produce "colourised" IR photos (my favourite) * Astronomik ProPlanet 807 filter gives a more black and white feel but still quite eerie I'm trying to decide which astro clip filter to buy (any ideas) STC are now also producing clip filters but I have not used them
Guys I’m about to get my Sony a7r III full spectrum and I would love to use clip ir/uv filters to use it as stock but I don’t know if they make any kind of vignetting, what’s your experience about? Thanks
@@TheMalve70 Congratulation on getting your A7RIII modified, I use clip filters from both Astronomik and STC without any signs of vignetting when they are correctly installed But I do sometimes see it if I don't get the clip filter seated properly, so be careful I have fallen into both the IR and Astro black holes so I rarely have the OWB filter back in the camera - IR during the day and Astro at night
Very interesting explanation of what you have done to your camera Alyn. As a complete novice to astro, having now modified your camera, will you need to change your astro presets for your own personal images?
Hi Alyn. Thank you for taking the time to put this tutorial together. You've explained lots of detail in a very easy to understand way - even a divvy like me can take it in !! Hugely enjoyable and educational - how often do you hear that? Many thanks for sharing.
Great explanation Alyn. I have a Canon 60Da. It comes modified by Canon. It still has the IR cut filter and is molded like yours is. I am thinking of getting a snap in filter with Oiii and ha, and a cls filter. This summer I will take it to Mt Rainier, Washington state to get pictures of the North American nebula and the Lagoon nebula. I think your Sony a7sii being full frame is much better at low light and less noise but I can still get some great pictures. Thanks for your inspiration. Bill.
Have been doing prime focus astrophotography and thought about modifying my Canon T3i. Your videos are a wealth of information on photography as well as processing. Love it!
how did that go if you modded it? i also want to mod my t3i and was wondering if you left the empty space where the ir cut filter was alone or added a plain glass filter to it.
Hi Alyn. Thanks for your inspiring and highly informative videos. I in herited a7r2, ,( bad battery, huge files, one card!) should i swap for an a111 ? Or maybe the beast for Astro they say is the Pentax K1. It’s so frustrating not to know which way to go…i guess best glass is more important too?!
A question about light pollution filters: given the rollout of full spectrum "daylight" LED street lighting now under way, how useful will light pollution filters be in the future, given that they are designed to filter out specific wavelengths (such as the yellow wavelengths of low pressure sodium, or the additional wavelengths of orange high pressure sodium)?
I was going to get a "Special," astro-camera. Opted for the Fuji X-T3, instead. And the Nikon D5300, and even the Fuji XT, series, take awesome night sky images.
As I mentioned, you just need to use a custom white balance. Everything else is fine so long as the mod for your specific camera doesn't affect auto focus
Just stumbled across your channel. you've covered a lot of bases here with modding, very well explained, and your images are superb. I can't believe how nice that Geminids pic is from La Palma! I love that one in particular! I used to full spectrum mod the older canon cameras using the Gary Honis guide. Really worth checking out if you ever fancy doing a Canon camera :) Subbed, looking forward to exploring your channel :)
Hi Alyn, very interesting video! I'm about TO buy a star tracker, what can you gel me about your MSM ? is it a waste of money or is it ok? Which lens i can use? Is The delivery fast?? Thank you so much Clem
Amazing info ! Learned a lot. I just have a few questions. I have a t3i and a7sii which I am planning to astro mod one of them. I am leaning towards the a7sii transformation since it's better in low light.. From my knowledge the difference would be a Ha mod (t3i) vs full spectrum (a7sii). However, I've learned from others , yourself as well that if I add a Ha filter on the a7sii (full spectrum modified) it would behave it as a "regular" astro mod Ha cam (instead of full spectrum) , and also if I add a UV/IR threaded filter I could still use it as a regular camera during the day. Let me know if I am wrong and would extremely appreciate an opinion if it's still worth modifying the a7sii in 2023. Thanks and again , I've watched many videos of yours and they helped me a lot in better understanding how astrophoto works.
I have another video about Ha mod vs full spectrum, you should probably watch that. I've yet to find any decent filters that turn a full spectrum modded camera into a Ha-mod camera
I love the detail you've gone into in this video. Yeah I love trevor's channel too been watching his progress for some years. I had previously modified an old Canon 30D for astro and it did make a big difference especially on Orion although my 7Dmk2 is better even unmodified it has a much better sensor. It was an old camera so not worth much and I thought I would risk removing the bayer CFA filter to make it a totally mono camera. for doing narrow band photography as I live in light polluted Watford. It was going well until I accidently touched one of the gold wires so that was that. I also have an old 5D classic I want to try CFA removal again. I probably end up buying a dedicated cooled mono astro cam in the end. Great channel keep at it love your photo's.
Yeah dude. If you only do mod for H-alpha sensitivity you just need to set a custom white balance and all good. I use a grey card to set the white balance and all is normal. The only time I've had issues is at night when there's security cameras that emit IR light. But if you do full spectrum mod you need a filter to film as normal.
I have one issue with the "infrared photography". Full-on infrared radiation does not pass through glass. Take an infrared camera, and try to look through a window.
With the Sony a7sII have you encountered issues with the star eater problem? Did the last firmware correct the issue somewhat or altogether? Is a full spectrum modification similar to the Astro mod?
crazy modifications,i being seen people using magnets to mod cameras to full spectrum frame,you need to put the magnet close the sensor in the outside camera case
Hi Alyn, I'm living in a Bortle 4 area...will having my camera modified worth it? you mentioned that we need to be in a really dark place in order to see the effects of the modifications? I'm thinking of having my Canon 1300D modified, will this be enough to do the job? Thanks and looking forward to many more informative videos!
OUTSTANDING Video ... Just subscribed to your Channel mate ... I have a Question for You ... in between the Sony A7S and the A7S II which one would you recommend me to Convert to Full Spectrum ? Please ... Thank You ... Awaiting a swift reply from You ... cheers
Hi Alyn, I heard Sony a7s cameras are great for modification, what about a7lll? Any information on that topic? Because some say that after modification “ H alpha “ on a7lll it gets light leaks doing long exposures which I really like on the tracker. I’m planning on modifying mine but a bit hesitant because of misinformation. What is your experience if any? Would appreciate any info you can provide! Thanks in advance!
Great video Alyn. The first camera I saw that was Astro modified was an a7s and now your a7sii. Does something about the a7s make it preferable for Astro? In the video you mentioned that you were considering doing this to your a7iii, have you done it now?
If anything the A7s and A7sii are not best suited for modding. A lot of companies won't touch them but JTW were comfortable doing it and getting around the issue of IR leak inside the camera. And yes I've done my A7iii as well now and yes I love it :)
Great explanation of how and why. Instead of modifying my camera I’ll use that money to just purchase one of Alyn’s prints and own something beautiful and photoshop in the pink hydrogen in my own images! Lol
Hi Alyn, I have a Ha clip filter, do you think I can have similar results in a stock camera by blending a normal exposure with a ha exposure (red channel) in post production?
Ultimately you still have a flter in front of your sensor that's cutting out 75-80% of the Ha light. You're already capturing the same amount of Ha in the images without the filter so I don't think the Ha images are going to help unless your camera has been modified I'm afraid.
Hey, I was just wondering what is a good camera to get for a beginning? For about a year now I've been getting into astronomy, and recently have been taking photos threw my telescope. I am just a normal line cook, and this is a hobby of mine. I would like a decent camera that is not to expensive. Thanks for the help.
alyn im thinking of getting a eos-r so that means I could get my 6D modded just for astro, where can I get it done and do you do it to your 6D back in the day?
I have an astro modified Canon T3i and when taking deep sky images it makes the entire image red. How do you remove the unwanted red in the image? I think I'm missing something... Thank you
So if you get an external filter that goes on your lens which is the same one you got removed inside of the camera (IR/UV cut filter), can you take pictures and videos at day and night as the same as before you got the full spectrum modification? Because thats what scares me, spending all this money then potentially breaking your camera.
Some people have but you need to pull the sensor out of its position and house it in a cooler which is mounted onto the lens mount. Or I saw a 3D printed fan mount that fits under the screen when pulled out but it's probably not that great
I'm hearing too much negative feedback from camera modifiers about the Sony alphas. They say the shutter technology with the Mark 2 and on has a sensor that turns on an IR light that effects exposures longer than 1 second or so. I'd love to mod my a7s2 or a7r2, but if I can't get long exposures... what's the point?
I went this weekend in Kranjska gora in Slovenia to chase milkyway. The conditions were perfect but I just could locate it or I dont have experience :D
In terms of astro-modifying a camera yourself, if we're just talking about a cheap camera you have lying about that you're looking to put to good use - OK, this could be worth considering if you're someone who is confident in the disassembly (and, crucially, reassembly) of small electronic devices. But as soon as you're talking about a professional level camera like the A7S series I think I would categorically advise against any attempt to home-brew the modification. For context, I am an electronics engineer with a degree in this field and my first job out of school - which I had for 8 years - was actually in consumer electronics repair so I am _very_ familiar with the diassembly of complex and small electronic kit. But even with this experience, I elected to get my own A7S II modified by an experienced person and I spent a grand total of zero time considering to do it myself. The reason is, with all the experience and confidence in the world, a lot of things can go wrong when you disassemble a complex device like this - particularly when you are doing it for the first time. And it's simply not worth the risk. Better to employ the skills of someone who has done this work tens or potentially even hundreds of times on your exact model of camera. They will have perfected their disassembly process, they'll know about all the gotchas, and you're much less likely to have something go wrong. Now, I am not saying that someone _can't_ do it themeselves and I am sure there are people out there who have done it successfully. Probably, I would have been one of them if I'd done mine myself. But even so, it's a _risk_, and one that in my view is definitely not worth taking on an expensive camera like the A7S II. For me - if I were to lose my A7S II - I would not be in a position to simply go and buy another one. I would be facing being without that camera for quite a long time, and eventually spending saved money on a new one which I could otherwise have put to use on upgrades in other areas. So if you're in the position described in the above paragraph my advice to you is do not attempt yourself, get someone experienced to do it like Alyn did and I did.
i don't get why those in built filters need to be physical xD can't the camera software just not render those out of spectrum colors in the final raw? shouldn't this be just a software setting?
I've 2 mates that has sent their cameras off to JTW with poor end results... are you absolutely sure that JTW issues a guarantee for leakage? They are unable to go over 20-30s all together due to the leakage. It's an A7SII and an A7RIII... So using a tracker for quality is out the window... Would love an answer on this as I have a strong desire to get a modified A7III or A7RIII and not have to dip into a second system just for this...
Could you please tell your friends to contact us at info@jtwastronomy.com so we can fix this for them? This is caused by differences between models of the camera & internal sources of NIR light. Of course we will resolve any issue they have, this is clearly an error on our part.
@@markwoodward5330 I'll forward your comment Mark and I'll also be in contact with you about modding either an A7RIII and A7III. Thanks for you comment, shows your commitment to quality which is highly appreciated!!
Be aware when you gun for Ha light, you have to dramatically increase exposure time, and this can push your sky watcher/ ioptron portable trackers beyond there capability's
@@AlynWallace Soz for poor explanation, if you put a narrow band filter on (most likely a clip in filter) not aware of any front element filters, would probably cost ridiculous money .. For example a Ha clip in filter you would need to expose for a long time just to allow that very small amount of narrowband of light to reach the sensor. Thus portable trackers may run into tracking issues especially unguided. Spending plenty of £££s over the years if your DSLR is astro modded. Astronomik CLS CCD clip in filter is spot for white balance for the night sky, while giving your photos the extra punch you need. (just DONT buy direct buy from them) thats another story.
@@AlynWallace Apparently they (Atronomik) are realesing soon a new version of the CLS CCD Clip for wide angle. I think it's called XT. I'm waiting for it...
Saw your response to another commenter below re: potential internal IR light leak with astro mod of A7Sii, but a leading US company doing mods specifically recommends modifying only a7S and not A7Sii due to this issues (see www.spencerscamera.com/recommended-cameras-astro.cfm) - can you confirm that you have had no problem with several minute exposures on your modded A7Sii by JTW? Thx
@@AlynWallace Sine you have the S series modified can I ask what lead to you having the 7III one modified? Been dabbling with Astro and have another camera was thinking of selling A7III but now you have me wondering about modifying it instead.
@@AlynWallace lol- thank you for your quick response and your videos. I have learned a lot from you- I read comments in this thread and it saved me from buying the STC clip in filters (for now) because if I read it correctly the narrowband filter unless in a modified camera would have no benefit...
in the UK infraredcameraconversions.com does conversions as well with the IR led modification included. Got my A7II modded by Andy and made an excellent job, I can confidently recommend him.
Quick update as I've just received an email from Mark at JTW Astronomy that's worth sharing:
"I forgot to mention something in my explanation of the mod, the question of autofocus and sensor repositioning.
Sensor spacing (between the lens flange and the sensor surface) used to be fixed and set at the factory. If you modify an older camera without adjusting this spacing the autofocus will stop working correctly.
However, just because modern autofocus and compensate for this there will still be some negative effects -
1) The distance reading won't be correct on the lens anymore, it may read 2 meters but you're 5 meters away.
2) Lens that don't have any leeway beyond infinity may not be able to reach infinity at all. Infinity will be 100 meters or so. Not a problem in daytime use but you won't get sharp stars.
3) The worst - The optical design of the lens is optimised for a certain BFD. Back focal distance. While a smart camera and some luck with the lens may still allow you to reach focus at infinity the optical performance will not be per the design. You will get a loss of image quality off the optical axis. More noticeable with full frame sensors and fast lenses. "
I've modified my A7RIII and they replaced the cut filter with clear glass (full spectrum camera)
but by inserting an Astronomik OWB clip filter I can return it back to normal or into an IR camera by using other clip filters
and there are Multispectra clip filters that reduce the interference from artificial lighting in the city ,and enhance the wave length of Hα, Hβ, OIII and SII - perfect for astrophotography
and the beauty is that I can use any lens even the very wide angle ones with fixed hoods (even with a circular fish eye lens)
and I have not had any focus problems in either auto or manual modes with any configuration
Wow...where can i buy it?
@@jimmyjohnnsen8511 I had my camera modified by Camera Clinic here in Melbourne Australia but there are others that can do it in other countries
Where abouts are you?
I got the Astronomik clip filters but STC also make them now
It's not cheap, all up just over $1000AUD but worth every cent
@@nickt6965 Okay, so...what exacly is this ,,Mod“? Can you explain me first? Sorry im from Germany its a little bit hard to unterstand.
@@jimmyjohnnsen8511 you are a lucky man
Astronomik is also in Germany
All digital cameras have a filter in front of the sensor that blocks IR and UV light allowing only visible light to reach the sensor and create the image
Replacing this filter with clear glass makes a full spectrum camera which you can then easily use the Astronomik filters
My advice, is for you to contact Gerd Neumann at Astronomik I am certain that he can help you
Info@gerdneumann.net
I hope that I have been able to help you
Impressive that you are never reading any of this info from anywhere...a true fountain of knowledge!
When Alyn was a baby his first words were Hydrogen Emission Nebula. 😂😂😂
Nice call out to @astrobackyard. You two are my first & favorite goto channels!
Best layman’s explanation I have seen on Spectrum of Astrophotography. Thanks @Alyn Wallace.
You & Trevor are Truly The Astro Kings ! Great Job Keep Them Coming !
Thanks Alyn! I just got a used astro-modified Canon 700D, wondered about the pink color of the images and you explained it perfectly! And glad I just ordered a light pollution filter ...
I'm glad it all worked out for you. The important thing is that you're enjoying it. I bought an already modified full spectrum camera many years ago. I haven't produced anything worthy of being thought if as art, but I did learn a few techy things. You can buy "minus IR" filters (they look slightly blue-green) to screw onto the filter threads of your lenses to basically put a UV/IR filter back into the system if you want a more normal color balance. Most modern lenses absorb most UV anyway but if that concerns you, you can stack a standard UV filter on top of the other one. You would of course have to do a custom while balance. On my particular camera, I find that stacking a UV and IR filter on a lens is better than nothing, but I still get the most accurate color balance with an unmodified camera so I will also carry an unmodified body with me. I've read and have tried out what I think is a good technique for getting a custom white balance for IR and especially UV work which is to use a suitably sized piece of white Teflon instead of a gray/white card. Teflon apparently reflects IR, and especially UV very well. I hope these few ideas can help.
Great insight on this subject matter for someone just starting AP like myself. To modify or not to modify that is the question resolved 🖖
Thank you for the explanation, learned a lot. Your vlog photos are stunning mate. Clear skies.
Just modded my D7100... NOT for the amateur lol, but its nice in so far as the sensor position doesn't move in relation to its focal distance so its a simple removal of the filter. Auto focus still works great. Definitely worth doing for serious astro work. Great video!
I have been watching a couple of other astrophotography channels, namely Nico and Delta, but I am glad I found yours. Great channel, I am new subscriber!
Omg 2:50 ... explained like a professor..
Thnks for this video ..
Hi Alyn, I am totally new to astronomy and the way that you relayed the information meant that I understood everything. Thank you so much.
Thank you for all the information you’ve given you very helpful and all that information for getting the shots with your cameras
I’m definitely going to look into this for my 6d bud! I bought that camera for the sole intention of shooting astro and seems like the mod has far more reasons for than against!
Awesome video and explanation! Cheers mate :)
Last Friday I decided to remove ir filter from my Eos 550d - easy 30min job . Now joust need clear dark sky to try it out . All the best mate
did you get the pictures?
Can i do It with my D3400?
@@matheusc865did u do the mod to it
interested in how the pics turned out
Very impressive explanation of photoelectric emission done very simply
Alyn, excellent job explaining very technical material in an organized manner. Love your videos/vlogs. Keep up the inspiring work!
I am fairly new to this hobby and have been following your superb videos for a few months. I currently have a Canon eos rp full frame mirrorless camera and was contemplating getting it astro modified. It's such a scary step though as, if anything goes wrong, I won't be able to afford a replacement.
Great explanation of theoretical physics before better learning of what we really doing.
I modded my A7RIII by having the IR/UV cut filter removed and now can use (Astromik) clip filters, for IR with fast shutter speeds and low ISO on any lens and can see everything through the EVF
and they also make a IR/UV clip filter to return the camera back to "normal" in a few seconds
I don't use any clip filters when taking Astrophotography and get absolutely amazing results in dark skies
the focusing is not affected in any way
Hi Nick. I am about to modify my A73. Did you install something on top of the sensor (ie, a clear glass)? Or just the Astronomik clip filter?
@@Light_hunter-gatherer I had it done by a company here in Melbourne (Camera Clinic) and they replace the cut filter with clear glass and then by using:
* Astronomik OWB Type 3 clip filter returns the camera back to normal
* Astronomik ProPlanet 742 filter allows you to flip the Red and Blue channels in PS and produce "colourised" IR photos (my favourite)
* Astronomik ProPlanet 807 filter gives a more black and white feel but still quite eerie
I'm trying to decide which astro clip filter to buy (any ideas)
STC are now also producing clip filters but I have not used them
Guys I’m about to get my Sony a7r III full spectrum and I would love to use clip ir/uv filters to use it as stock but I don’t know if they make any kind of vignetting, what’s your experience about? Thanks
@@TheMalve70 Congratulation on getting your A7RIII modified, I use clip filters from both Astronomik and STC without any signs of vignetting when they are correctly installed
But I do sometimes see it if I don't get the clip filter seated properly, so be careful
I have fallen into both the IR and Astro black holes so I rarely have the OWB filter back in the camera - IR during the day and Astro at night
Very interesting explanation of what you have done to your camera Alyn. As a complete novice to astro, having now modified your camera, will you need to change your astro presets for your own personal images?
Thanks dude. Nope just have to use a custom white balance that's all :)
Hi Alyn. Thank you for taking the time to put this tutorial together. You've explained lots of detail in a very easy to understand way - even a divvy like me can take it in !! Hugely enjoyable and educational - how often do you hear that? Many thanks for sharing.
Thanks a lot Tim!
Alyn thank you so much for all your videos. What white balance do you use on your astro modified camera when you are shooting the sky?
Custom white balance created with a grey card
Great explanation Alyn. I have a Canon 60Da. It comes modified by Canon. It still has the IR cut filter and is molded like yours is. I am thinking of getting a snap in filter with Oiii and ha, and a cls filter. This summer I will take it to Mt Rainier, Washington state to get pictures of the North American nebula and the Lagoon nebula. I think your Sony a7sii being full frame is much better at low light and less noise but I can still get some great pictures. Thanks for your inspiration. Bill.
Have been doing prime focus astrophotography and thought about modifying my Canon T3i. Your videos are a wealth of information on photography as well as processing. Love it!
how did that go if you modded it? i also want to mod my t3i and was wondering if you left the empty space where the ir cut filter was alone or added a plain glass filter to it.
@@MrKenishiwah I haven't done astrophography since the start of pandemic, just being careful where I am spending my money at this point.
Stunning guide as usual, thanks Alyn 👍🏼
Thanks for the great explanation! Definitly worth it to look in to!
Absolutely fascinating. Great teacher Alyn 👍🏻
Hi Alyn. Thanks for your inspiring and highly informative videos. I in herited a7r2, ,( bad battery, huge files, one card!) should i swap for an a111 ? Or maybe the beast for Astro they say is the Pentax K1. It’s so frustrating not to know which way to go…i guess best glass is more important too?!
I am also debating on either the K1 or the A7 III
A question about light pollution filters: given the rollout of full spectrum "daylight" LED street lighting now under way, how useful will light pollution filters be in the future, given that they are designed to filter out specific wavelengths (such as the yellow wavelengths of low pressure sodium, or the additional wavelengths of orange high pressure sodium)?
Great tutorial on why cameras are modified to pick up the hydrogen alpha wavelength for photographing nebula
Insane astrophotography 🤯 plus great informative content 👍🏽
Thanks for the explanation and congrats on 20k subs!
Thanks!
I was going to get a "Special," astro-camera. Opted for the Fuji X-T3, instead. And the Nikon D5300, and even the Fuji XT, series, take awesome night sky images.
Great job on the production.ill subscribe👌🇺🇸
If you had gone down the full mod route, presumably you would need a filter for shooting the foreground even under dark skies?
Very helpful! Thank you
Is it still possible to shoot during the day with an astro mod camera? Or does the photo gets the colour totally wrong?
As I mentioned, you just need to use a custom white balance. Everything else is fine so long as the mod for your specific camera doesn't affect auto focus
Thanks for all the videos. What white balance do you use in your astro-Mod camera?
Just stumbled across your channel. you've covered a lot of bases here with modding, very well explained, and your images are superb. I can't believe how nice that Geminids pic is from La Palma! I love that one in particular! I used to full spectrum mod the older canon cameras using the Gary Honis guide. Really worth checking out if you ever fancy doing a Canon camera :) Subbed, looking forward to exploring your channel :)
Hello. Which type of astromod did you do with your camera? Is it the full spectrum? Or just the increasing Ha ?
Thanks
Hi Alyn, very interesting video! I'm about TO buy a star tracker, what can you gel me about your MSM ? is it a waste of money or is it ok? Which lens i can use? Is The delivery fast?? Thank you so much Clem
Amazing info ! Learned a lot. I just have a few questions. I have a t3i and a7sii which I am planning to astro mod one of them. I am leaning towards the a7sii transformation since it's better in low light.. From my knowledge the difference would be a Ha mod (t3i) vs full spectrum (a7sii). However, I've learned from others , yourself as well that if I add a Ha filter on the a7sii (full spectrum modified) it would behave it as a "regular" astro mod Ha cam (instead of full spectrum) , and also if I add a UV/IR threaded filter I could still use it as a regular camera during the day. Let me know if I am wrong and would extremely appreciate an opinion if it's still worth modifying the a7sii in 2023. Thanks and again , I've watched many videos of yours and they helped me a lot in better understanding how astrophoto works.
I have another video about Ha mod vs full spectrum, you should probably watch that. I've yet to find any decent filters that turn a full spectrum modded camera into a Ha-mod camera
@@AlynWallace Will do. Btw , did you experience any IR light leak for long exposure after you modded your a7sii ? Thanks!
So many questions answered! Thanks ever so much!
I love the detail you've gone into in this video. Yeah I love trevor's channel too been watching his progress for some years. I had previously modified an old Canon 30D for astro and it did make a big difference especially on Orion although my 7Dmk2 is better even unmodified it has a much better sensor. It was an old camera so not worth much and I thought I would risk removing the bayer CFA filter to make it a totally mono camera. for doing narrow band photography as I live in light polluted Watford. It was going well until I accidently touched one of the gold wires so that was that. I also have an old 5D classic I want to try CFA removal again. I probably end up buying a dedicated cooled mono astro cam in the end. Great channel keep at it love your photo's.
Hi Alyn , that camera think12 mp is there any advantage to using high megapixel cameras or is it not so important for Astrophotography, cheers
Hey mate, great video again. How much does this cost? And is it worth the money for someone who does it as a hobby?
Every supplier will charge different prices depending on camera, you'll have to ask around :)
Very nicely done, thanks.
Thanks for the great explanation.
If I'm shooting about 40% nighsky and 60% daytime is it worth astromodifying a Sony a7iii?
def not. I'd pick an old body that you can dedicate to that.
Alyn so can you still use the a7s II for filming in regular lighting conditions (like a studio) after doing the mod?
Yeah dude. If you only do mod for H-alpha sensitivity you just need to set a custom white balance and all good. I use a grey card to set the white balance and all is normal. The only time I've had issues is at night when there's security cameras that emit IR light. But if you do full spectrum mod you need a filter to film as normal.
I have one issue with the "infrared photography". Full-on infrared radiation does not pass through glass. Take an infrared camera, and try to look through a window.
Hi Alyn! Where can I find filters for my Nikon D610? I saw a picture in this video where was a Nikon camera with filter. Thank you!
Excellent and informative thank you very much :)
With the Sony a7sII have you encountered issues with the star eater problem? Did the last firmware correct the issue somewhat or altogether? Is a full spectrum modification similar to the Astro mod?
crazy modifications,i being seen people using magnets to mod cameras to full spectrum frame,you need to put the magnet close the sensor in the outside camera case
So even with this modified camera, do you still need more than one images for creating more detail or just one shot?
Very interesting video, well explained!
I have this on my a7iii and for some reason videos looks much better also . Color are amazing, looks like 10bit
Hi Alyn, I'm living in a Bortle 4 area...will having my camera modified worth it? you mentioned that we need to be in a really dark place in order to see the effects of the modifications? I'm thinking of having my Canon 1300D modified, will this be enough to do the job? Thanks and looking forward to many more informative videos!
What company do you recommend for Astro alpha modification?
OUTSTANDING Video ... Just subscribed to your Channel mate ... I have a Question for You ... in between the Sony A7S and the A7S II which one would you recommend me to Convert to Full Spectrum ? Please ... Thank You ... Awaiting a swift reply from You ... cheers
Alyn, Trevor and Rudy should go on a trip together 😁
Hi Alyn, I heard Sony a7s cameras are great for modification, what about a7lll? Any information on that topic? Because some say that after modification “ H alpha “ on a7lll it gets light leaks doing long exposures which I really like on the tracker. I’m planning on modifying mine but a bit hesitant because of misinformation. What is your experience if any? Would appreciate any info you can provide! Thanks in advance!
Just had mine modded so stay tuned
Alyn Wallace I’m planning on doing that on Monday:)
Great video Alyn. The first camera I saw that was Astro modified was an a7s and now your a7sii. Does something about the a7s make it preferable for Astro? In the video you mentioned that you were considering doing this to your a7iii, have you done it now?
If anything the A7s and A7sii are not best suited for modding. A lot of companies won't touch them but JTW were comfortable doing it and getting around the issue of IR leak inside the camera. And yes I've done my A7iii as well now and yes I love it :)
Nice one 👍 thanks for the time u putvin
Excellent Clear concise Brill
Great explanation of how and why. Instead of modifying my camera I’ll use that money to just purchase one of Alyn’s prints and own something beautiful and photoshop in the pink hydrogen in my own images! Lol
Quality content right here
Hi Alyn, I have a Ha clip filter, do you think I can have similar results in a stock camera by blending a normal exposure with a ha exposure (red channel) in post production?
Ultimately you still have a flter in front of your sensor that's cutting out 75-80% of the Ha light. You're already capturing the same amount of Ha in the images without the filter so I don't think the Ha images are going to help unless your camera has been modified I'm afraid.
@@AlynWallace Makes sense, thanks! All the best, love your work!
Whats is an astro modded camera like to aurora filming and pictures?
Should I mod my camera for landscape astrophotography?
Did you get to know ? Im also wondering but i think so
Hello, I'm really struggling finding a place that I can buy an astro modified dlsr camera. Any advice you can give me? Thanks 👍
Hey, I was just wondering what is a good camera to get for a beginning? For about a year now I've been getting into astronomy, and recently have been taking photos threw my telescope. I am just a normal line cook, and this is a hobby of mine. I would like a decent camera that is not to expensive. Thanks for the help.
alyn im thinking of getting a eos-r so that means I could get my 6D modded just for astro, where can I get it done and do you do it to your 6D back in the day?
Can I use the pollution filter on a normal non modified camera (a7riii)?
I have an astro modified Canon T3i and when taking deep sky images it makes the entire image red. How do you remove the unwanted red in the image? I think I'm missing something... Thank you
I imagine you just need to change the white balance manually
So if you get an external filter that goes on your lens which is the same one you got removed inside of the camera (IR/UV cut filter), can you take pictures and videos at day and night as the same as before you got the full spectrum modification? Because thats what scares me, spending all this money then potentially breaking your camera.
Excellent Thank you Mr Wallace.
Can you add a sensor cooling systems to an a7sii?
Some people have but you need to pull the sensor out of its position and house it in a cooler which is mounted onto the lens mount. Or I saw a 3D printed fan mount that fits under the screen when pulled out but it's probably not that great
@@AlynWallace And how much does it reduce noise? Is it substantial?
Amazing Work 👍
Interesting information 👏🏻👏🏻thanks
I'm hearing too much negative feedback from camera modifiers about the Sony alphas. They say the shutter technology with the Mark 2 and on has a sensor that turns on an IR light that effects exposures longer than 1 second or so. I'd love to mod my a7s2 or a7r2, but if I can't get long exposures... what's the point?
That issue only affects the R series of cameras. This glow is not present in the S series cameras.
I went this weekend in Kranjska gora in Slovenia to chase milkyway. The conditions were perfect but I just could locate it or I dont have experience :D
no sky map app on smartphone? Just used mine the other day to confirm that you can see (I'm at 38º L north) Mercury just after sunset
@@masterxyr which app
@@KV89-b3c I use Star Chart. No issues :)
In terms of astro-modifying a camera yourself, if we're just talking about a cheap camera you have lying about that you're looking to put to good use - OK, this could be worth considering if you're someone who is confident in the disassembly (and, crucially, reassembly) of small electronic devices.
But as soon as you're talking about a professional level camera like the A7S series I think I would categorically advise against any attempt to home-brew the modification.
For context, I am an electronics engineer with a degree in this field and my first job out of school - which I had for 8 years - was actually in consumer electronics repair so I am _very_ familiar with the diassembly of complex and small electronic kit.
But even with this experience, I elected to get my own A7S II modified by an experienced person and I spent a grand total of zero time considering to do it myself. The reason is, with all the experience and confidence in the world, a lot of things can go wrong when you disassemble a complex device like this - particularly when you are doing it for the first time. And it's simply not worth the risk.
Better to employ the skills of someone who has done this work tens or potentially even hundreds of times on your exact model of camera. They will have perfected their disassembly process, they'll know about all the gotchas, and you're much less likely to have something go wrong.
Now, I am not saying that someone _can't_ do it themeselves and I am sure there are people out there who have done it successfully. Probably, I would have been one of them if I'd done mine myself. But even so, it's a _risk_, and one that in my view is definitely not worth taking on an expensive camera like the A7S II.
For me - if I were to lose my A7S II - I would not be in a position to simply go and buy another one. I would be facing being without that camera for quite a long time, and eventually spending saved money on a new one which I could otherwise have put to use on upgrades in other areas.
So if you're in the position described in the above paragraph my advice to you is do not attempt yourself, get someone experienced to do it like Alyn did and I did.
Instead of modifying customer cameras they should offer modified camera bodies for sale as well.
amazing photos!!!
hoooly sheeet, this was educational... bravo, got my subscription :D
Thanks for the information.
i don't get why those in built filters need to be physical xD can't the camera software just not render those out of spectrum colors in the final raw? shouldn't this be just a software setting?
THANKYOU...
Hi Alyn, My light pollution filter from Astronomik, just adds a strong blue tint. Everything will be blue. Am I missing something?
You have to change your white balance
Are you still releasing a Astro filter this year?
Yes, in time:)
Fascinating love it .
I've 2 mates that has sent their cameras off to JTW with poor end results... are you absolutely sure that JTW issues a guarantee for leakage? They are unable to go over 20-30s all together due to the leakage. It's an A7SII and an A7RIII... So using a tracker for quality is out the window...
Would love an answer on this as I have a strong desire to get a modified A7III or A7RIII and not have to dip into a second system just for this...
Could you please tell your friends to contact us at info@jtwastronomy.com so we can fix this for them? This is caused by differences between models of the camera & internal sources of NIR light. Of course we will resolve any issue they have, this is clearly an error on our part.
@@markwoodward5330 I'll forward your comment Mark and I'll also be in contact with you about modding either an A7RIII and A7III. Thanks for you comment, shows your commitment to quality which is highly appreciated!!
@@raiderviking Thanks! Also for the kind words.
Be aware when you gun for Ha light, you have to dramatically increase exposure time, and this can push your sky watcher/ ioptron portable trackers beyond there capability's
For narrowband you mean?
@@AlynWallace Soz for poor explanation, if you put a narrow band filter on (most likely a clip in filter) not aware of any front element filters, would probably cost ridiculous money .. For example a Ha clip in filter you would need to expose for a long time just to allow that very small amount of narrowband of light to reach the sensor. Thus portable trackers may run into tracking issues especially unguided.
Spending plenty of £££s over the years if your DSLR is astro modded. Astronomik CLS CCD clip in filter is spot for white balance for the night sky, while giving your photos the extra punch you need. (just DONT buy direct buy from them) thats another story.
@@AndrewThomas73 have you used the cls ccd for much wide angle landscape astro?
@@AlynWallace Apparently they (Atronomik) are realesing soon a new version of the CLS CCD Clip for wide angle. I think it's called XT. I'm waiting for it...
Saw your response to another commenter below re: potential internal IR light leak with astro mod of A7Sii, but a leading US company doing mods specifically recommends modifying only a7S and not A7Sii due to this issues (see www.spencerscamera.com/recommended-cameras-astro.cfm) - can you confirm that you have had no problem with several minute exposures on your modded A7Sii by JTW? Thx
Zero issues. Even had my A7iii modded afterwards
@@AlynWallace Sine you have the S series modified can I ask what lead to you having the 7III one modified? Been dabbling with Astro and have another camera was thinking of selling A7III but now you have me wondering about modifying it instead.
@@annemarieleone6394 I enjoyed the colours with the S so much I did the iii as well. After getting one modified the other just felt 'blind' haha
@@AlynWallace lol- thank you for your quick response and your videos. I have learned a lot from you- I read comments in this thread and it saved me from buying the STC clip in filters (for now) because if I read it correctly the narrowband filter unless in a modified camera would have no benefit...
Can anyone recommend some incredible light pollution filters? That really help to cut the light from the cities. Thanks in advance
in the UK infraredcameraconversions.com does conversions as well with the IR led modification included. Got my A7II modded by Andy and made an excellent job, I can confidently recommend him.
you're hooked on pink ;)
👍👍