We've partnered with Astro Gear to give you the best of both worlds: a place to shop for your new camera and an easy way to get it modified for astrophotography.  

Canon EOS R50 Cameras modified for astrophotography will be physically changed, which does void the original manufacturer warranty. However, Astro Gear provides a 1-year warranty on their work and will alert Woodland Hills to any issues with the camera immediately, ensuring that work is not done on a faulty camera. Any kind of physical damage, water damage, abuse, or misuse of your Astrophotography-converted Canon EOS R50 Camera will void this warranty.  

As these are custom-ordered items, once processed for payment they are non-refundable and non-returnable.  Your order will be processed on shipment to Astro Gear which will be within 1-2 business days for all in-stock cameras. If the camera model you would like is on backorder, we will be in touch for a projected delivery time.  

Types of Modification

Modifying this Canon EOS R50 camera for astrophotography increases the transmission of Hydrogen Alpha (656nm) and Sulfur II (671.7nm and 673nm) wavelengths. Stock cameras transmit only about 25% of H-alpha and 15% of Sulfur II emissions. An astro-converted camera is 4 to 6 times more sensitive to these emissions, enhancing the visibility of deep reddish nebulae. Hydrogen Alpha emissions, present in galaxies beyond the Milky Way and across the universe, are key to capturing detailed images of emission nebulae in the night sky.

To significantly increase Hydrogen Alpha and Sulfur II emissions, the UV/IR blocking filter must be removed from the sensor. This process, known as Astro-Conversion, enhances light transmission in the red wavelength spectrum beyond 500nm. The original UV/IR filter also called the color limiting filter, suppresses most H-alpha and Sulfur II emissions to maintain a natural color balance, mimicking human vision.

Known as LPF1, the Anti-Aliasing filter, or Dust Removal filter, it blocks UV and infrared light and uses a piezoelectric device to shake off dust. Its main purpose is to eliminate the moiré effect, though it slightly reduces sharpness and color noise. In digital cameras without a low pass filter, the piezoelectric self-cleaning device is attached directly to the UV/IR blocking filter.

Modification Option 1A: Enhanced Spectrum: Visible + H-Alpha + Sulfur II

This is the most cost-effective conversion and retains the Low Pass Anti-Aliasing filter with self-cleaning on cameras that have it, enhancing the sensor's sensitivity to Hydrogen Alpha and Sulfur II emissions while still blocking UV/IR light. With only the Low Pass Filter preserved, the sensor distance to the lens bayonet can be adjusted to ensure perfect infinity focus with lenses. This adjustment is confirmed during disassembly. Closer focus is always achievable in Live View Mode, while options 2A (guaranteed for all models) and 2B/3 (for most models) ensure infinity focus with autofocus for DSLR cameras. Telescopes will always achieve infinity focus without issues.

Modification Option 1B: Full Spectrum: Ultraviolet + Visible + H-Alpha + Sulfur II + Infrared

This is the most inexpensive conversion. Cameras without an LPF, or with it removed, become Full Spectrum (see option 3 for details).

Without any glass above the sensor, there are no internal reflections from replacement filters. When the stock UV/IR blocking filter is removed, the sensor still has a protective glass layer over the micro-lenses and Bayer filters on the pixels.

Modification Option 2A:  Enhanced Spectrum conversion with Baader or Optolong Luminance Filter and LPF 

This conversion permanently installs a non-detachable Baader or Optolong UV/IR Cut Anti-Reflective filter with enhanced H-alpha and Sulfur II sensitivity, while preserving the Low Pass Anti-Aliasing filter with self-cleaning. It is ideal for wide-field astrophotography with lenses, guaranteeing autofocus and infinity focus on all Canon models. The sensor configuration matches the Canon EOS 60Da and EOS Ra, eliminating the need for an external UV/IR Cut filter.

For daylight photography, custom white balance can be set using a gray card or Adobe Camera Raw presets without additional filters.

Note: With the Enhanced Spectrum modification, some imagers might see slightly bloated stars due to near-infrared light, especially if the optical system lacks an ED element. This can be corrected in post-processing.

Modification 2B: Enhanced Spectrum Conversion with Baader or Optolong Luminance Filter Only

This conversion removes both the Low Pass Anti-Aliasing filter and the UV/IR blocking bluish filter, replacing them with a non-detachable Baader or Optolong UV/IR Cut Anti-Reflective filter (depending on availability). Autofocus and infinity focus are ensured for most camera models, except for some like the Full Frame Mirrorless Canon EOS R Series. Telescopes will always reach infinity focus. For daylight photography, custom white balance can be set with a gray card or Adobe Camera Raw presets. The removed Low Pass Anti-Aliasing filter allows the camera sensor to achieve maximum sharpness, beneficial for solar and planetary astrophotography. Note: Some imagers may experience slightly bloated stars due to out-of-focus near-infrared light, which can be corrected in post-processing.

Modification Option 3: Full Spectrum conversion with Astronomik Anti-Reflective Clear Glass Only

The Full Spectrum modification is ideal for planetary astrophotography, allowing the use of infrared filters like the Astronomik ProPlanet 742 and 807 IR-pass. Infrared wavelengths are less affected by atmospheric turbulence, resulting in sharper images. Expert planetary photographers often use single-line infrared filters as a luminance channel in their image processing. This versatile conversion is ideal for UV/IR photography, regular photography, and astrophotography. The camera will capture the full visible spectrum, including Hydrogen Alpha and Sulfur II emissions, plus UV and infrared light. It guarantees perfect infinity focus with lenses and autofocus for most camera models, except some full-frame mirrorless models like the Canon EOS R series. Telescopes will always achieve infinity focus. The Low Pass Filter and original UV/IR blocking filter are replaced by a non-detachable Astronomik Multicoated Anti-reflective Clear filter. Removing the Low Pass Anti-Aliasing Filter allows the camera sensor to perform at maximum sharpness.

The Canon R50 is a great camera that makes photography simple and fun. It features a variety of features that make it easy to use, such as a built-in 4K 30p capture function and a Dual Pixel AF II. It also comes with a variety of video functions that can be used for recording videos. The 24.2 megapixel sensor and the DIGIC X image processor are ideal for high-quality images. 

The R50 camera's Dual Pixel CMOS AF II feature is designed to help you keep track of your subject and provide you with the best possible shot. It features a responsive system that can cover up to 100% of the image area and automatically select up to 651 AF zones. This allows you to get the perfect shot every time. 

The R50 camera can also detect objects in the image and automatically select them to keep them in focus. This feature is based on deep learning technology, and it can detect subjects such as animals, cars, and people. You can capture those special moments with the R50 camera's Electronic First Curtain mode, which can shoot up to 12 frames per second. It features a built-in electronic shutter that can automatically set up and focus on one subject at a time.

The R50 camera has an expanded range of auto-compatible features that allow you to create beautiful images. Its Advanced A+ Assist feature is designed to assist you in shooting in challenging situations such as night views. It also helps you capture vibrant portraits and dynamic scenes.
 

• 24.2 Megapixel
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
• 651 AF zones
• 4K Video 
• APS-C Sensor
• DIGIX X Image Processing 

The R50 camera also comes with a variety of video recording features that allow you to take 4K ultra-high-definition videos. It can record up to 30 frames per second in 6K oversampling and up to 120 frames per second in Full-HD. Its Dual Pixel AF tracking and Movie for Close-Up Demo Mode make it easy to create videos and audio content.

With the R50 camera, you can keep your projects rolling by recording videos for up to an hour. This feature is ideal for creating audio and video content for your YouTube channel or other online platforms. The R50 camera comes with a Movie for Close-Up Demos Mode that can help you capture the ideal subject in focus. This mode automatically focuses on an object that's positioned towards the camera's lens. It's ideal for creating videos that show a product to the viewers, such as cooking demonstrations or makeup tutorials.

When recording videos, the R50 camera can set the movie rotation feature to automatically play videos in vertical composition. It can also display various visual markers to help you create the ideal balance between the various aspects of the image. The Aspect Ratio function is additionally useful when you're planning on sharing the same file to social media platforms.

The R50 camera can also be used as a web camera to stream live video to different online platforms, such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Skype. It requires no additional software or additional computer hardware to operate.

Canon EOS R50 Camera comes with a variety of accessories such as a battery, charging cable, carrying strap, and body cap.

1 Year Canon Warranty