A basic deep-sky astrophotography equipment setup typically includes an equatorial tracking mount, a camera, and a telescope or lens. Additional accessories may be added to improve tracking (autoguiding) and automate the imaging session throughout the night.
On this website, I provide reviews based on my experiences with the different pieces of equipment and gear I use so you can make informed decisions about what might work best for you.
I have reviewed many astrophotography telescopes over the years, and even a few visual observing instruments as well. One of the most common questions I get is ‘what’s the best beginner telescope?’, and my answer is always an 8″ Dobsonian telescope.
My astrophotography telescope in 2023 on a ZWO AM5 mount.
Last updated: November 26, 2025. 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: November 21, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. Over the past few months, I have been testing the DWARF mini smart telescope from the backyard and at a dark-sky site. This smart telescope is currently the world’s smallest, weighing just 840 grams. …
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…
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…
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…
Last updated: November 17, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. The ZWO Seestar S30 is a 30mm f/5 all-in-one smart telescope that automatically aligns, tracks, and live-stacks images using a built-in camera and mobile app. It’s a smaller version of the extremely popular Seestar…
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’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: November 22, 2025. 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…