Modified my 450D

[SkyHiker]

Last week I destroyed my self-modified Fuji X-a1 after opening it up again trying to fix a light leak. Everything went fine but I had to reopen it a 3rd time to fix some connections and then I noticed a small tear on the LCD ribbon cable. Too bad, it showed a screen a few times but then never again.

Oh well I still have another modified Fuji X-a1, but how about that 450D that has been sitting in a drawer unused for years? Following Gary Honis' instructions I modified it in about 2 hours, and it worked! Pretty cool. This is nice because I can remote control it, which I can't do with my Fuji. Could be useful for online star parties.

So here's my modification scorecard:

- My first Fuji mod destroyed the camera because I did not know how to manage the ribbon cable connectors
- My second Fuji conversion worked but it had a light leak.
- Destroyed that Fuji last week when trying to fix the light leak.
- Successfully modified a Canon 450D

I call that a 2-2 score. Could be worse but I'm getting better at it.

[Gordon]

I've done a couple of Canon 350d cameras. It's not too difficult as long as you have skinny fingers and a lot of patience.

Did you replace the filter or just remove it?

[SkyHiker]

I've done a couple of Canon 350d cameras. It's not too difficult as long as you have skinny fingers and a lot of patience.

Did you replace the filter or just remove it?

I just removed the IR filter without putting a cut filter back in because my favorite scopes are reflectors (6" Mak-Newt and soon to be received 12"Newt). I have not tried it on my APOs but I expect that it won't be ideal because of that.

I found the Canon easier to modify than the Fuji. The difference is that Canon has mostly flip-up connectors whereas Fuji has the ZIF ones (I think if that is the right name). Having to use force to slide the connector in and out is tricky.

The Fuji also gave me a hard time with the screws on the sensor - they were super hard to unscrew. And, getting the IR filter out was harder because it is stuck to the sensor and you have to pry it off with force, resulting in glass shards one of which I found in my images. The Canon one was just attached with double sided tape that was easy to pry off, then just grab the IR filter with your fingers and push it out. Gary Honis pried it off resulting in broken glass, I don't know why that happened but he documented it really well, which is great.

I also have a 350D that had gone unused for 7 years or so. Trouble is, it has a ton of dark noise that the later Canons like my 450D don't have so it's not really worth the trouble.

[JayTee]

Henk,

You are a brave and patient man to even attempt these modifications. Can't wait to see the resultant images of the "new" 450D.

Cheers,
JT

[SkyHiker]

Henk,

You are a brave and patient man to even attempt these modifications. Can't wait to see the resultant images of the "new" 450D.

Cheers,
JT

Thanks JT, the 450D body goes for $100 on EBay. Hardly worth selling, so if I have one that does nothing the risk is pretty low. I'm beginning to like doing it.

The D450 is much noisier than the Fuji based on a low light comparison on dpreview.com so I don't expect miracles. I'll see if I can get it going tonight with the Moon out. Eventually I'll be using my ASI2600MM that I will receive probably by the end of this month. If my 12" Newt finally gets here at the same time I've got my work cut out.

[JayTee]

It's amazing how much CMOS technology has advanced. I can surmise that when the 2600 arrives, the 450D will probably go back into the drawer.

JT

[SkyHiker]

It's amazing how much CMOS technology has advanced. I can surmise that when the 2600 arrives, the 450D will probably go back into the drawer.

JT

It probably will! Though, if I wanted to do some outreach or live YouTube, having a color option for bright objects is nice instead of B&W from an Halpha shot. Anyway to prove that my conversion worked, here are some M42/44 images of about 10 minutes without flats (that's why there is noise at the center).

[BABOafrica]

Been following this from way back. Nice score card so far.

Joe // BABO

[messier 111]

It's amazing how much CMOS technology has advanced. I can surmise that when the 2600 arrives, the 450D will probably go back into the drawer.

JT

It probably will! Though, if I wanted to do some outreach or live YouTube, having a color option for bright objects is nice instead of B&W from an Halpha shot. Anyway to prove that my conversion worked, here are some M42/44 images of about 10 minutes without flats (that's why there is noise at the center).

very nice images , thx .

[Greenman]

It's amazing how much CMOS technology has advanced. I can surmise that when the 2600 arrives, the 450D will probably go back into the drawer.

JT

It probably will! Though, if I wanted to do some outreach or live YouTube, having a color option for bright objects is nice instead of B&W from an Halpha shot. Anyway to prove that my conversion worked, here are some M42/44 images of about 10 minutes without flats (that's why there is noise at the center).

Nice Henk, looks good for purpose!