The best astrophotography camera for you depends on the subjects you intend to capture with it. For example, a DSLR or Mirrorless camera is great for wide-angle nightscapes and Milky Way photography, while a dedicated astronomy camera is better suited for deep-sky imaging of galaxies and nebulae.
If you are interested in photographing planets, a dedicated astronomy camera that is capable of capturing high frame-rate videos is best. These cameras can be surprisingly affordable due to their smaller sensor size.
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In this article, I’ll discuss why modern astrophotography cameras and processing have changed what the best astrophotography exposure time should be, and when a 5-minute exposure still makes sense. My Quick Answer No, you do not need five-minute exposures for most broadband projects with a modern CMOS camera. Use the shortest exposure that gets the…
Recently, I captured the same deep-sky object using three very different camera systems. A full-frame mirrorless DSLR-style astrophotography setup. A dedicated astronomy camera rig with autoguiding. And a smart telescope that handled almost everything on its own. The target was the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula, a beautiful emission nebula in the constellation Cepheus. Each setup collected…
Last updated: July 16, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. The ZWO ASI585MC Air is a compact, self-contained smart astrophotography camera that replaces the usual laptop, controller, and cable mess with a single, lightweight unit you control from your phone or tablet. This is…
Last Updated September 28, 2025 I recently assembled a budget astrophotography rig to capture deep-sky objects in my backyard. While I knew this system would be very capable, I was astonished by the quality of the pictures I took with it. Astrophotography (and photography in general) can be an expensive hobby, with high-end equipment often…
The best way to reduce noise in astrophotography is to improve your signal-to-noise ratio by taking more pictures. By taking multiple exposures and stacking your images to average out random noise, you can dramatically improve your astrophotography images. You can further improve your final image data by taking calibration frames to remove sensor artifacts and…
The ZWO ASI585MM Pro is ZWO’s most affordable cooled monochrome astronomy camera, and after two months of backyard imaging with it, I’ve come away pretty impressed. This little camera offers a lot of versatility—ideal for both planetary imaging and deep-sky astrophotography—thanks to its high frame rate and cooling capability. But like any gear, it has…
If you want to start taking incredible photos of the night sky, I highly recommend investing in a small star tracker. You can attach your existing camera and lens to a star tracker to take amazing photos of large nebulae and galaxies. Over the years, I have used many different star trackers, but the Sky-Watcher…
Last updated: October 8, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. Key Findings / Verdict The ZWO ASI2600MM Pro remains one of the most capable and well-balanced monochrome astrophotography cameras available in 2025. Its APS-C Sony IMX571 sensor delivers exceptional dynamic range, low read noise,…
If you have ever tried to hold your phone up to the night sky to take pictures of stars, the Milky Way, or even a full moon, you’ll know that astrophotography with a smartphone has its challenges. While modern smartphones are capable of impressive photos of the stars (the Google Pixel even has an ‘astrophotography…
Last updated: July 20, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. Key Takeaways The ASI2600MC Air is a 3-in-1 ‘smart camera’ that combines a dedicated astronomy camera with a guide camera and a WiFi controller that runs on the ASIAIR mobile app. The design dramatically…
Here are the exact camera settings I use to take pictures of stars with a DSLR camera and lens. The following steps will help ensure that your photos are clear and sharp and include plenty of stars in the night sky. Mount your DSLR to a tripod to avoid camera shake Set the aperture (f-stop)…
There’s a new camera in town, and it’s one of the most affordable cooled astronomy cameras ever made. The ZWO ASI585MC Pro may have a tiny sensor, but that doesn’t mean it can’t do what the big boys can. If you’re currently shooting with a DSLR camera, a dedicated astronomy camera may be on your wish…