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
Last updated: October 23, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. The Apertura CarbonStar 200 is an 8-inch f/4 Newtonian reflector built with astrophotography in mind. While there are many reflectors available in this size, the CarbonStar 200 stands out with some clever upgrades. I’ve…
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…
Last updated: February 27, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. While I have several videos discussing the topic of deep-sky astrophotography on my YouTube channel, I realized it was time for a thorough walkthrough of my entire current process for capturing deep-sky images with a camera and…
If you’re in the market for a high-performance astrograph with full-frame capabilities and a premium build, the Askar SQA106 is definitely worth a closer look. This impressive quintuplet refractor features a 509mm focal length at f/4.8 and is designed to produce flat, color-accurate images without the need for additional flattening or backfocus adjustments. In this…
I recently tested the William Optics RedCat 91 APO refractor. This is the fourth RedCat I’ve used in the RedCat series—five if you count the two versions of the RedCat 51 (version 1 and version 3). With a healthy aperture, fast optics, and a super flat Peztval design, the William Optics RedCat 91 has a…
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,…
The SVBONY SV555 is a variable aperture prime focus lens/telescope designed for wide-field astrophotography. Many of you have been requesting a review of an SVBONY telescope for years, and today, I’m excited to share my thoughts on this one. The SV555 Petzval lens is an interesting option in the competitive market of wide-field refractor telescopes,…
Last updated: August 8, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. If you’re looking to buy your first telescope (or your first good telescope), this guide is for you. I’ll cover the most important aspects of a telescope, how much you should expect to spend,…
Last updated: March 6, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. The DWARF 3 smart telescope is a compact, ultra-portable device that was designed to make astrophotography easy and fun. While this device is in its third iteration, it is the first DWARFLAB product I’ve…
Last updated: May 11, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. Since I originally published this review, the ZWO Seestar S50 has continued to improve through software updates, making it a more capable smart telescope than it was at launch. It includes newer features such…
Last updated: July 20, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. The Celestron NexStar 8SE computerized telescope is one of the best-selling telescope packages of all time. It features a large aperture optical telescope and a computerized GoTo mount. The NexStar series of SCTs has…
Last updated: October 24, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. Key Takeaways The Askar SQA55 uses high-quality optics to produce astrophotography images that are sharp, flat, and well-corrected. It features an innovative design with a variable aperture, similar to a camera lens with a…