The small a stands for astromodified: This camera is usually equipped with a filter that attenuates the red spectral range so that the sensor comes close to the human perception of color during daytime vision. For use in astronomy, this is a problem because the important H-alpha line, in which astronomical gas nebulae glow, also lies in range. This filter will be removed for the astromodification.
The astromodified version of the DSLR therefore has a higher red sensitivity in the range of H-alpha or SII than the original version. This makes gas nebulae in the sky accessible for photography. Since these regions are often particularly extensive, the astromodified DSLRs can fully exploit their large sensor.
The many advantages of astromodified DSLR for astrophotography:
- Ideal for extended nebulae, thanks to large chip and high sensitivity in the H-alpha range.
- Built-in computer: You don't need a laptop or an external power supply - no cable clutter!
- Lots of accessories and versatile applications.
- Monitor with LiveView
The fold-out monitor (3" LCD with 10x zoom function) allows convenient operation of the camera on the telescope, regardless of whether you are using the camera on a Newtonian optical system or a refractor. This is a huge advantage! Of course, you can also use the included Canon control software and USB cable to control the camera completely via your laptop/PC and save the images directly there. However, one of the attractions of SLR cameras is that they do not require a laptop, making them more mobile and independent of power sources.
Tip: Under "Recommended Accessories" you will find a special filter from Astronomik that allows you to reverse the astro modification of the camera. This allows you to use the camera for astronomy or daylight photography as you wish.
