The story of eifelcam – Astrocameras by thedolphin.shop

I am Jan Bubela – entrepreneurial in IT and camera technology for over 42 years.

What began as a passion has become my profession: the modification and repair of cameras for astrophotography.

Nearly a thousand enthusiastic customers – from the Eifel region to observatories in Tenerife – trust in my modified astro cameras.

🛠️ From Computer Pioneer to Camera Specialist

My technical journey began in 1985: together with Günther Jilg, I developed the floppyspeeder DolphinDOS for the Commodore C64 – a milestone in home computing history that shaped my path.

With the rise of the IT industry, I moved into the international distribution of UPS systems for data centers. Manual work took a back seat – until the turn of the millennium.

In the year 2000, I held my first digital camera in my hands in New York: a Minolta DIMAGE E201. Later came an Olympus SP500UZ and, in 2008, my first DSLR – the silver Canon 400D, followed by a Canon 60D. But my true return to hands-on work came in 2012 – during my parental leave.

🔧 The Rebirth of an Idea

Back then, I bought a completely disassembled Canon 300D on eBay – for 25 euros. My goal: to bring it back to life. After several attempts, I succeeded. The moment it saved its first image was magical – a key experience.

From then on, I started seeking out defective or inexpensive cameras that I restored with growing expertise – with a success rate of around 90%. What began as a hobby turned into a small eBay shop: eifelcam was born.

🌌 A Step into Astrophotography

In 2013, astrophotographer Michael Auster visited my workshop. He brought along a Canon 300D modified for H-alpha and asked me to convert a Canon 1000D with LiveView for more precise focusing. The result was convincing – and his testimonial opened new doors for me.

Since then, I have specialized in astro modifications for Canon cameras – for ambitious beginners and seasoned astrophotographers alike.

⚙️ Technology with Soul

What fascinates me is the combination of mechanics, electronics, optics, and software. When the manufacturer no longer provides support, reverse engineering begins – a playground for tinkerers like me.

And every camera tells its own story: sometimes I find fine Saharan sand inside the housing, sometimes salt traces from Caribbean nights. Occasionally, customers share stories about special moments captured with their camera.

🌱 Sustainability by Conviction

Repairing cameras also means taking responsibility. Every device contains resources, often extracted under questionable conditions. So why throw it away if a DSLR that’s five or ten years old can still produce brilliant images?

I often ask children and parents: “Did you know that many hours of child labor go into every one of your devices – for example, to mine rare earths?” The answer: appreciate instead of discard.

❤️ Cameras with a Past – for a Future Among the Stars

During the pandemic, it was the stories behind the cameras that gave me strength: memories, places, images. Every camera I repair gets a second chance – and maybe its best photo is still ahead of it.