Project:
Nikon D800 for astrophotography ?

Contents:

1. Nikon D800 overview
2. Adapter Nikon to Pentax 645
3. Lid, Dove tail, Tube ring
4. Focuser mechanism, driver
5. Off-axis guide camera
6. Main bracket
7. Wiring & USB-HUB
8. Test with Windows and APT
9. First Light
10. Balance system
11. Nikon vs Canon, Pentax FA vs Pentax
12. Tilt adjuster
13. KStars/INDI setup for Nikon
14. Correction of tilt
15. To be continued

Note:
I take no responsibility or liability for what are written here, you use the information on your own risk!

Related projects:

• KStars / Setup GPS Raspberry
• KStars / Setup WIFI Hotspot Raspberry
• KStars / Linux commands and udev rules
• KStars / Raspberry Power
• Setup astroserver with Raspberry Pi3
• Setup astroserver with Raspberry Pi4
• Setup astroserver with Raspberry Pi5

1: Nikon D800 overview

I recently bought a Nikon D800 DSLR camera. My idea is to replace my Canon 6D DSLR with this.

Some examples where this Nikon D800 has been used in astrophotography:

• https://adamdeserio.com/ nikon-d810a-vs-d800-night-photography/ (Adam Deserio)
• https://www.dpreview.com/ forums/ thread/ 4638592 (DP Review)
• https://photographylife.com/ astrophotography-tutorial (Photographylife)
• https://app.astrobin.com/ equipment/ explorer/ camera/179/ nikon-d800 (Astrobin, Nikon D800)

This project will also include all other things I need to built with a new setup. The two main components is this Nikon full frame camera and a medium format Pentax 645 FA 300 mm ED f/4 lens.

The Nikon D800 has 36 Mpix and my Canon 6D has 20 Mpix but the Nikon is heavier and bigger, both cameras are of full frame. The noise behave a little bit different between the cameras. The Nikon has ISO invariant sensor and Canon has a pre amplifier to boost the signal before the A/D converter.

After I have managed to do the first test and if it convince me that this camera is good for astrophotography, I will remove the filter in front of the sensor.

Links with information about Nikon D800 and instructions how to remove the filters:

• ../../../links/links-astronomy-camerareview.html (My collection of camera links)

Weight and dimensions:

Other than get better optical quality I want to reduce the weight and its dimension.

Both the Nikon camera and the new lens is heavier still I save 1.7 kg. With this I can reduce the counter balance weight from 5 kg to 2.5 kg. All this achieved because use of off-axis guiding, metal replaced by plastic. My total weight of the equipment was 24 kg before inclusive the HEQ5 mount, computers and the main battery. Now it will only weight 20 kg and that is a big difference. With these small dimension I can now have both the camera and the main battery in the same box.

Much more will come later about this camera project. Most important, I own one now !