The astrophotography equipment category is a useful resource for beginners who want a better understanding of the gear needed for astrophotography.
The type of astrophotography equipment needed for each area of interest can change dramatically, but in general, a tracking mount, a camera, and a telescope/camera lens are the bare minimum.
For those that like to remain portable, and take nightscapes from dark sky locations, a star tracker is recommended. They allow you to maximize the amount of light collected through your camera and lens, and present new creative opportunities.
If you are hoping to collect detailed pictures of nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters, a more robust tracking mount and a telescope are better options.
My primary interest lies in deep-sky astrophotography of galaxies and nebulae, using a refractor telescope on a tracking equatorial telescope mount. If you’re looking for a fantastic astrophotography telescope to get started, you can’t go wrong with the William Optics RedCat 51.
I typically use wide-field instruments to capture large nebulae in the night sky using specialized filters. Still, you may be interested in other types of astrophotography, including being able to photograph a planet up close.
For this type of imaging (planetary astrophotography) the equipment profile changes quite dramatically from a wide-field nebula setup. A telescope with much more focal length is recommended (2000mm) and a dedicated astronomy camera with a high frame rate.
A popular camera for solar system photography is the ZWO ASI290mm Mini, thanks to its 2.1 MP monochrome sensor. This is the camera I used to photograph Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Useful Equipment Links
I used the Sky-Watcher HEQ5-R Pro for about six months, with everything from compact refractors to a fully loaded 8-inch Newtonian. During that time, I collected a lot of deep-sky images with it and, more importantly, I had very few problems. In this Sky-Watcher HEQ5-R Pro review, I’ll show you how I used the mount,…
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 makes shot…
Last updated: June 29, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. The Askar SQA130 is the largest telescope in Askar’s SQA (super quintuplet astrograph) series, and one I was especially excited to test. As a refractor fan, getting to test one with a healthy 130mm…
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…
The ToupTek StellaVita is a control box that can run an entire astrophotography setup from your phone or tablet. It supports a wide range of cameras and accessories, so you’re not locked into a single ecosystem, and that alone makes it one of the more interesting alternatives to systems like the ASIAIR. After…
The ZWO AM7 is the largest and most capable harmonic drive mount in the AM lineup. It’s designed for astrophotographers running heavier telescopes who still want the convenience and portability these compact red mounts are known for. If you’ve been pushing the limits of the AM5, or simply want more room to grow without jumping…
Last updated: February 20, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. Over the years, I’ve spent countless nights under the stars chasing crisp, deep-sky images from my backyard. But this fall, I added something new to my telescope that completely changed the way I capture…
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…
Last updated: October 23, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. If you’ve been looking at entry-level refractor telescopes for astrophotography and wondering whether it’s worth stepping up to a triplet APO, the SVBONY SV550 deserves a close look. Available in both 80mm and 122mm…
Last updated: July 18, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. A star tracker is a portable tracking camera mount designed for astrophotography. The device ‘tracks’ the motion of the stars to allow you to take long exposure images of space without star-trailing. These devices…
Last updated: December 1, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. I am often asked for my opinion on the best route to take when building a deep-sky astrophotography kit for the first time. You need three main items: a camera, a telescope, and a…
Sky-Watcher has added a dedicated Hydrogen-alpha (Hα) solar telescope to their lineup, and if you’ve never seen the Sun in H-alpha before, you’re in for a treat. Unlike basic white light filters, H-alpha lets you dive into the details on the surface of our star. Things like solar prominences, active sunspot regions, and plasma filaments…