To the delight of amateur astronomers everywhere, Canon just introduced a DSLR optimized for astroimaging. The EOS 60Da is the long-awaited successor to the EOS 20Da, the company’s former astronomy enhanced model. The 60Da offers a modified infrared filter and a low-noise sensor with heightened Hydrogen-alpha (Hα) sensitivity. These modifications allow the camera to capture magnificent photographs of emission nebulae and other cosmic phenomena that glow with a characteristic red color.
“The EOS 60Da is a testament to the constant desire to meet the needs of every customer, including those in specialized fields,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, Canon’s executive vice president and general manager of the company’s Imaging Technologies & Communications Group.
Canon’s new entry into the astroimaging field is the EOS 60Da. The camera features enhanced sensitivity to the red end of the spectrum. Canon photo
The Canon EOS 60Da camera boasts an 18-megapixel CMOS sensor that produces high-contrast images of astronomical objects. The chip is a major enhancement over the EOS 20Da’s 8.2-megapixel sensor. The company also improved the camera’s infrared-blocking filter, allowing imagers to achieve an Hα sensitivity approximately three times higher than that of a normal Canon DSLR camera, leading to a 20-percent higher transmission of Hα wavelength.
Users can view crisp images of celestial objects on the EOS 60Da’s 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen, which contains 1,040,000 dots for detailed focusing. The flip-out Vari-angle screen allows photographers to adjust it for easy viewing even with the camera mounted to a telescope via a third-party T-ring adapter.
When stargazing with friends or in an educational setting, users can connect the camera to a television with the provided AVC-DC400ST Stereo AV Video Cable and enlarge what’s on the camera’s screen in Live View mode. Live View mode also features “Silent Shooting,” which eliminates shutter-induced vibration.
Enhanced noise reduction built into the EOS 60Da sensor lets photographers experiment with the camera’s wide array of ISO settings — up to 6400 (expandable to 12800). Other features include an intelligent nine-point autofocus system, full manual controls, and RAW, JPEG, and RAW+JPEG image recording capabilities.
The EOS 60Da comes with Canon’s RA-E3 Remote Controller Adapter, letting users connect a Canon Timer Remote Control such as the TC-80N3 (optional), which is ideal for controlling time exposures longer than 30 seconds. It also can capture a series of consecutive time exposures that photographers can stack during post-processing for improved image quality.
Canon also includes an AC adapter kit with the EOS 60Da. This powers the camera through an AC wall outlet or a battery-powered inverter. Such a setup is necessary for those capturing long exposures at home or in the field.
Initially, the EOS 60Da will be available by order only from select dealers. The estimated retail price is $1,499.00. Canon expects to make it available this month. And we at
Astronomy already have a request in so we can review this great new product in a future issue.