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When you are looking for the best tiro television camera for astrophotography , it ’s crucial to get a television camera with a good sensing element and reliable ISO performance before anything else . Astrophotography can be a daunting photographic musical genre to subside your tooth into , so it ’s good to keep thing elementary while you’relearning the basics of astrophotographyand honing your skills before you move up to an average photographic camera that can do a few more tricks .
That said , you ca n’t rely on machine mode for astrophotography as shooting and focus are fully manual , which is why you wo n’t find many true " beginner " distributor point - and - shoot photographic camera on this list We ’ve also taken crystalline lens compatibility into account , ensure you ’ll be able to find an appropriate astro lens system for every single one of these cameras .
The Nikon Zf is the best beginner camera for astrophotography overall.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
We ’re maneuver into peakMilky Wayseason , so now ’s the fourth dimension to buy if that ’s what you desire to start out with . The full flower moonshine on May 12 is also a great mark for tiro , alongside the Eta Aquariid meteor shower peak on May 5 - 6 .
you’re able to easily pass upward of $ 2,000 on thebest television camera for astrophotography , but most beginners do n’t require to make that much of a financial commitment right off the cricket bat , so we ’ve provided options for every budget , including some older DSLR model under $ 500 . likewise , if you ’re a keen stargazer just looking for a simple and low-priced tv camera to climb onto one of thebest telescopes , you ’ll feel some nifty options here .
The quick list
Best overall
If you ’re looking for a camera that can bring about exceptional astrophotos and function as a true all - rounder at a tiro level , the Nikon Zf is the best on the market .
record more below
The Nikon Zf is the best beginner camera for astrophotography overall.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
well lightweight television camera
lightness as a feather , the Canon EOS R8 is ideal for hiking or journey to dark - sky locations — and a pleasure to use in downhearted light .
Best for growth
Great for beginners who want to invest in a camera they wo n’t outgrow easy , the Sony A7 III may be sometime , but it should n’t be overlooked .
Best astro feature
cop your focus with Starry Sky AF and produce effortless star track with Live Composite . It ’s not chintzy , but it ’s deserving it .
well under $ 750
A very able mirrorless APS - C camera for those on a budget , and there are a number of good compatible lens for astrophotography .
well under $ 500
For total beginners on a budget or users who just want an low-cost photographic camera to attach to their scope , this sure-enough DSLR is a firm favorite .
The best astrophotography cameras for beginners we recommend in 2025
Why you’re able to commit Live ScienceOur expert reviewers spend hours testing and compare products and services so you’re able to choose the best ones for you . observe out more about how we test .
Nikon Zf
Our expert review :
✅ You need to use it for all types of picture taking : It has accurate autofocus with Deep Learning and can shoot 14FPS , making it corking for portraits and wildlife picture taking as well . ✅ You do n’t desire to upgrade in a class : It ’s at the high-pitched end of the beginner market , so you are n’t potential to outgrow it as quickly as some of the older or more low-cost options in this tilt .
❌ You do n’t want to spend over $ 1,000 : Beginners do n’t always have a huge budget to play with , and the Nikon Zf is one of the more expensive cameras in this list . TheNikon Z fcis the APS - C interpretation of this camera and is just under $ 1,000 . ❌ You know piddling about picture taking : This camera has a lot of buttons and dials that make out with a bit of a encyclopaedism curvature . TheCanon EOS R8would be easier for entire beginners to get to grips with .
🔎 Nikon Zf : If you want a camera you wo n’t outgrow in a hurry as your acquisition improve , the Nikon Zf is a fantastic pick if you could give it . It has incredible low - light public presentation and can turn its hand to any type of photography , so you wo n’t be at all confine in your photographic pursuits . ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
If you ’re a tiro buying a television camera for astrophotography and you desire to go straight for the best choice , we call up the Nikon Zf is pretty hard to beat . There ’s nothing stopping you from splurging on one of thebest astrophotography camerasif you want to skip over in at the cryptical end ( and can afford it ) , but if you want big bang for your buck in an entry - grade full - skeletal system camera with impressive low - lightness performance for capturing the night sky , we wholeheartedly commend the Nikon Zf .
In fact , when it comes to miserable - Inner Light carrying into action , the Nikon Zf can focus down to-10EV , which is safe than any other Nikon model . Their flagship Z9 can center down to -7EV , and the Z8 , which we named as the best tv camera overall for astrophotography , can arrive at -9EV in starlight modality . That does n’t necessarily mean the Zf will yield good results , but it does show just how subject it is when shooting in the darkness .
During ourNikon Fc review , we try out the autofocus at night and it had no problems focalise on a silhouetted suburban horizon . It latched on instantly and accurately with no hunting back and forward , which is not only utile for landscape painting astrophotography but will also prove utilitarian for wildlife picture taking at evenfall or dawn . Our managing editor , Jase Parnell - Brookes , reviewed the Nikon Zf and is very well verse with Nikon cameras , and they state they found the Zf hard to blame and give it 4.5/5 stars .
In term of astro features , it has separation shooting , which is great for timelapses or for capturing multiple frames to pile together , plus its boring shutter speed is 900 irregular — that ’s 15 minutes ! Once you get more positive with astrophotography , you could make use of those 15 minutes with one of the best star trackers to get topnotch - longsighted exposure without the risk of star trail .
One caveat Charles Frederick Worth noting if you ’re view the Nikon Zf as a beginner photographic camera is that it comes with a slight acquisition curve , specially if you are totally new to camera and photography . We love that there ’s a button or dial for everything we could possibly wish for , but that could be consuming if you ’re newfangled to the workmanship and are looking for more of a " move around it on and press a button " setup .
You ’re also hop-skip Micro Four Thirds and APS - C camera , blend straight into full frame , hence the high cost . This is advantageous in the long campaign if you contrive on becoming serious about picture taking , as it means you wo n’t need to put back any mismated lenses down the route when you desire to upgrade the camera body . However , the downside of going straight to full - frame is that the bodies and lenses are typically more expensive than the APS - C and MFT I .
We retrieve the Nikon Zf is a fantastic photographic camera that will acquire with you as your skill levels grow and you ’ll make practiced use of it for age to hail . But if you ’re looking for a cheaper alternative , the harvest - sensorNikon zed fcis under $ 1,000 and the primary difference is few Megapixels and the Z fc can only focus down to -4.5EV . The Z fc is also 240 g lighter than the Zf . If , however , you desire to vex to full - shape but ca n’t dilute your budget , theCanon EOS R8is worth considering and is next on this list .
Attributes
The Nikon Zf is the best beginner camera for astrophotography overall.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Notes
conception
Amount of button and telephone dial could overwhelm initiate .
Its articulating screen is useful for shooting at awkward angles.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Performance
Impressive low - light source functioning .
Functionality
Its design is reminiscent of old-style film cameras.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
900 - instant shutter speed is expectant for very long exposures .
Canon EOS R8
✅ You go a great deal : If you find yourself traveling near or far and want to save on weight unit , the Canon EOS R8 is perfect . ✅ You want to go directly to full - frame of reference : It ’s Canon ’s 2d most affordable full - skeletal frame tv camera , so would be a great starting point for beginners .
❌ You want paradigm stabilization : It is n’t needed for astrophotography , but if you need IS for other photographic genres , consider another alternative . ❌ You do n’t require full - shape : If you ’d rather save money and go for a crop - sensing element camera , go for something like theCanon EOS R7orSony A6400 .
🔎 Canon EOS R8 : A dream to employ in low - light and a beginner - friendly surgical process , Canon ’s lightest full - frame television camera is fantastical for travel photographer who enjoy capturing the night sky in remote fix all around the world . ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
The dials and buttons are very intuitve.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
If the weight of your tv camera is an important factor for you , the Canon EOS R8 is a great competitor for your first photographic camera . Weighing just 1.02 lb / 461 thou , it ’s Canon ’s lightest full - frame model , and it ’s the second lightest full - frame camera on the market , only being beaten by theSigma Fp L , which is two-fold the cost .
" But why does weightiness matter when you shoot down astrophotography on a tripod ? ' " we discover you ask . weighting only becomes a major consideration if you journey with your television camera or hike to remote dark sky locations and want to deliver weight unit in your camera udder . Plus , a lightweight television camera can be friendly if you shoot other photographic style besides astrophotography , such as landscape or wildlife photography .
Not only is it compact and light as a feather , but in ourCanon EOS R8 reviewwe thought it was intuitive with a simple button layout and was a pleasure to use . If you ’re a ended beginner , the layout wo n’t be too overwhelming and you ’ll get to grips with its user - friendly nature in no clip .
For astrophotography, the Nikon Zf is hard to fault.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
With its -6.5EV focusing , it ’s a dreaming to use in small luminousness . We were capable to push it to around ISO 5,000 before we saw any detrimental noise in our image , and we also found the automatic white residue did a large line of work of eliminating any yellow or orangish tinge when photograph in an urban surroundings .
Two of the most mutual complaints with the R8 are that it does n’t have simulacrum stabilization and that it is n’t fully weather - sealed — however , these point are redundant for astrophotography as you ’ll be using a tripod and in all likelihood wo n’t be out dash in inclement weather condition . These two drawback only potentially become a job if you plan on doing other , more general styles of photography .
One small niggle we had was that the Coyote State card time slot is in with the battery , so to change cards , you postulate to remove the camera from the tripod to access it . This is far from a dealbreaker , though — just check that you have enough room on your SD circuit card beforehand .
If you desire to gravel with full - form but would rather go into the Sony system , theSony A7C IIis only 1.87 oz / 53 g heavy than the Canon EOS R8 , although it is around $ 1,000 more expensive . If you do n’t need full - flesh and need to write a piece of money but still keep thing lightweight , theNikon Z30is a cheap APS - C alternative and is Nikon ’s lightest mirrorless camera at 0.89 lbs / 405 g.
TheCanon EOS R7is also a wild APS - C tv camera , although the Canon harvest - detector genus Lens lineup is n’t idealistic for astrophotography — you ’ll have to utilise a third - company electron lens from Sigma or Rokinon .
Canon ’s lightest full - physical body photographic camera .
A aspiration to use in abject light .
deficiency IS , but this is n’t needed for astrophotography .
Sony A7 III
✅ You need an all - rounder : This camera is very capable in various photographic stylus . ✅ You require to go straight to full - framing : It ’s a great camera to get you endow in the full - frame system .
❌ You desire new tech : Try one of the Sony A6 APS - C mannequin , or perhaps the Sony A7C II . ❌ You want a more compact and lightweight photographic camera : In that case , theCanon EOS R8or orNikon Z30are both nifty choice .
🔎 Sony A7 III : Although it ’s showing its age and being eclipse by New model , the Sony A7 III is a fantastic tv camera for astrophotography for beginners who want to jump straight into full - frame and can open to do so . ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
After its release in 2018 , the Sony A7 III was long considered the weapon of choice for many Sony shooter — it ’s fantastic in broken light and produces stunning images all around . While it was once perhaps a little out of reach for beginners , as the damage has come down over the years , it ’s become increasingly accessible , and you ’ll be capable to obtain some bargains on the secondhand grocery for this particular photographic camera . There is an arguing that Sony ’s A6 scope ( for example , the Sony A6400 ) is better suited to beginners , but for father who want to jump straight to full - frame and have the budget to do so , we ’d say go for the A7 III .
It ’s a fairly lightweight camera ( compare to other full - frame models ) with plenty of customizable controls , although the perplexing carte du jour system is potential to try moderately of a hurdle for beginners , as we mentioned in ourSony A7 III followup . Astro shot is very intuitive on the A7 III as there are enough control dials on the body to operate on the aperture , shutter speed and ISO separately — which many APS - C television camera do n’t have .
In terms of ISO capabilities , it ’s one of the best Sony models we ’ve used , and at the time of its release , there was nothing else like it . We managed to get 13 stops of dynamic range out of the A7 III and were able to use ISO as downcast as 100 and still get an incredible amount of detail . We did note it was a victim of the " star - eater " phenomenon , where the noise reduction system err fainter lead for disturbance or red-hot pixels and " eats " them , but this should n’t be much of a wad - breaker for beginners .
For beginners who want to advance their skills and experimentation with calibration frames and stack their astro images , the Sony A7 III has built - in interval shooting to make these frames easier to capture .
Another reason we ’ve recommended a full - frame theoretical account here is the excellent lens lineup compatible with Sony cameras . The aboriginal Sony lense can be pricey , but they do a grand range of wide - angle primes that are amazing for astrophotography . However , if you ’re on a budget , Sigma and Tamron do some more affordable lenses that are also very capable .
Intuitive to use , but confuse menu .
Excellent interference - handling , but pocket-size " star eater " progeny .
Interval shooting for figure of speech stacking .
OM System OM-1 Mark II
✅ You struggle to get your stars astute : With Starry Sky AF , the OM-1 Mark II check pin - sharp stars every time . ✅ You fool away a spate of superstar trails : Live Composite displays your image in literal - metre on the LCD screen , so you could see exactly what your last image will look like .
❌ You want a swelled sensor : We were very pleased with the image we took , but the 20.4MP resolution on a Micro Four Thirds sensor may not be enough for some users . ❌ You do n’t have a big budget : This is another manakin at the higher end of the market for beginners .
🔎 OM System OM-1 Mark II : With splendid astro - specific feature and beginner - well-disposed operation , the OM-1 Mark II is fantastic for beginners who need a television camera packed full of feature and have a higher than average budget . ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
The Canon EOS R8 is a very compact and lightweight full-frame camera, ideal for taking to remote dark sky sites.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
We were not expecting to be as impressed as we were with theOM-1 Mark II when we brush up it . If you have the budget , it has some unbelievable astrophotography sport that make it soft for beginners to get to grips with .
The first of these is Live Composite . When shooting star lead images in the traditional way , deciding how recollective to shoot for and how many images to conquer was down to guesswork and trial - and - error , and you never knew how your image would front until after you ’d sew all the photos together on your data processor . But Live Composite mode shew you precisely how your image looks in substantial meter on the LCD screen as you ’re shoot , so you know exactly when to finish the shutter . Plus , it stitches all the images together into one individual image in - camera .
Starry Sky AF is another useful feature film for father , as nailing sharp manual focus on the star takes time to master . When we attempt it out , we could n’t consider how precise it was — it ’s a total game - record changer for novice astrophotography . It effortlessly locked onto the stars every individual time , even in an urban backyard next to a street lamp .
THe flip-out screen is great for shooting at awkward angles.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
We also really liked the menu system on the OM-1 Mark II . It was well labeled and easy to navigate , and there ’s a short account in every mount describing what each setting does , a nice touch that arrive at it seem much less intimidating .
While the OM-1 Mark II is beginner - favorable in terminal figure of its feature and informality of use , it ’s not so founder - friendly in full term of price . While we think it ’s great note value for money when compared to some of the more expensive full - physique models , it is perhaps a second pricy for a circumstances of beginners , particularly if you only see picture taking as a part - time hobby and do n’t want to spend much . If this is the case , consider going for theOM-5 — it also has Starry Sky AF and alive Composite and ( at the time of writing ) costs under $ 1,000 . It does , however , have a 50MP declaration , which will probably produce more disturbance than the 20.4MP OM-1 Mark II . Alternatively , theOM - D E - M10 Mark IVis under $ 700 and has Live Composite and a 20MP sensor , but it does n’t have Starry Sky AF .
Some buttons are hard to squeeze in the dark .
The design is intuitive and user friendly.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Excellent images all - round , although it scramble at general low - light without haphazardness reduction .
Live Composite and Starry Sky AF make for easy astrophotography .
Best under $1,000
Nikon Z50 II
✅ You want to shoot down farseeing exposure : The Z50 II can shoot exposure of up to 15 bit . ✅ You want a great all - rounder : While it does n’t surpass at any particular style , it ’s nifty for most photographic genres .
❌ You want more lense options : Nikon ’s astro - favorable APS - C lens lineup is somewhat modified . ❌ You want to go straight to full - frame : In that case , you ’ll likely call for to go for an quondam mannequin if you do n’t need to spend over $ 1,000 .
🔎 Nikon Z50 II : For a neat little APS - C camera under $ 1,000 , the Z50 II can practically see in the benighted and shoot long exposure of up to 15 mo . ★ ★ ★ ★
The R8 is great for multiple photographic styles.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
We ’d say $ 1,000 is a moderately good for you budget for a beginner television camera — enough to buy yourself something adequate without snuff it overboard . For our money , we ’d recommend the new kid on the city block , the Nikon Z50 II , as a wild camera for founding father astrophotographers . We have n’t reviewed it yet , but looking at its glasses on newspaper publisher and how they liken to the competitor , we cogitate it would be a solid choice . Plus , if you may extend your budget ateenybit further , you may get the outfit genus Lens parcel for just over $ 1,000 .
Nikon ’s newer poser in particular are bonk for their ability to see in the darkness , and the Z50 II can autofocus down to -9EV , which is one of their best ( only beaten by theNikon Zfat the top of this list ) , micturate it an ideal camera for landscape painting astrophotography . And if you may see yourself progressing to star trackers and telescope climb up down the line , the Z50 II is open of shutter speeds down to 900 seconds , which is perfect for getting those top-notch - long tracked exposures .
The 20.9MP resolve might seem a little low to many users , but for beginners , and peculiarly for astrophotography , we cerebrate it ’s fine for what you ’ll be using it for . It ’s only when you want to upgrade to the more intermediate and professional models that you ’ll be looking for a more detailed detector . In fact , the lower resolution is actually a asset for astrophotography , as it means there ’s less noise creeping into your look-alike . mate that with an expanded ISO ambit of 100 - 204,800 and you ’re onto a winner .
The stars are clearly visible even when shooting under light pollution.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Its main rival , and the camera we would have recommend here before the Z50 II was released , is theCanon EOS R10 . That ’s still a fantastic camera , and if you favour Canon over Nikon , then the R10 is the one to go for . But for astro , the Z50 II has a wider ISO kitchen stove , is weather - seal ( in shell you get catch out in the pelting or shoot at a sandlike beach ) and the R10 can only autofocus down to -4EV . The Z50 II would make a estimable all - rounder , but for travelers who desire to save on space and exercising weight , the Canon EOS R10 might be more appealing .
A important downside to this framework , however , is the limited APS - C lens lineup . There are some third - party lense from Samyang and Viltrox available that would be suited for astro , but if you plan on centre only on astrophotography , we ’d recommend locomote full - physical body .
If you do require to pass over APS - C and go straight to a full - skeletal frame camera to focus ( no wordplay intended ) on indue in your lens lineup , you might want to consider going for the olderSony A7 II . It was released all the way back in 2014 , so it does n’t have a lot of the technical school that the newer model have , but it ’s the only full - frame Sony camera you’re able to buy new for under $ 1,000 , and Sony ’s wide - angle , zoom and prime electron lens batting order for full frames is fantastic .
With -6.5EV focusing, it’s a dream for low light photography.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Flip - out vari - angle screen is great for embarrassing shooting angles .
Lower answer means less figure of speech randomness .
Can focus down to -9EV .
Sony A6400
✅ You need an all - debauchee : The Sony A6400 can blast multiple vogue alongside astro . ✅ You want a travel - friendly tv camera : The Sony A6400 is minuscule and lightweight .
❌ You require full - frame : This model has an APS - C sensor . ❌ You want new tech : Some of the newer and more expensive options , like theA6700 , have advance lineament like Army Intelligence - powered autofocus .
🔎 Sony A6400 : Small , lightweight and easy to travel with , the Sony A6400 is a neat little APS - C that can shoot many dissimilar styles and will grow gracious outcome for casual novice astrophotography . ★ ★ ★ ★
Another APS - C good example here , which comes with the district in this Mary Leontyne Price square bracket , but the Sony A6400 is a very capable little television camera which will take perfectly good astrophotos that beginner will be thrilled with . It ’s actually a neat option if you ’re looking for an all - rounder that can fritter multiple styles in addition to astro , as well as being small , lightweight and easygoing to move with .
Its 24.2MP sensing element wo n’t farm lading of unsightly stochasticity in your nighttime images . Even though intermediate and pro user would want a minute more resolution , 24.2MP is absolutely fine for founding father . A major vantage Sony has over the competition is that its APS - C lens batting order is actually middling sound for astrophotography . TheSony E 16 - 55 mm f/2.8 G lensis one of the beneficial lenses you’re able to put on a crop - sensor Sony , and they also do aSony E 11 mm f/1.8 prime lensfor extra wide - angle shot — and that lense is under $ 500 .
You ca n’t adjust all three exposure configurations on the body as there are only two custom dials , which means you ’ll need to delve into the carte du jour to exchange the third one . It ’s not the death of the world , but it does add an special step to the whole process and could potentially make it more perplexing and less intuitive for tyro .
The Sony A7 III was groundbreaking when it was released, and it’s still fantastic for astro.(Image credit: James Artaius)
It does , however , have built - in separation shooting , which is smashing for an APS - C camera .
Small and lightweight .
nifty all - round carrying out .
While there’s a minor “star eater” issue, it’s still fantastic for astrophotography.(Image credit: James Artaius)
Good crystalline lens compatibility .
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
✅ You need to focus on get wind the BASIC : Modern cameras are so sound that they end up doing half the work for you . An older DSLR postulate a fleck more learning and substance abuser fundamental interaction . ✅ You want a cheap tv camera to mount onto your scope : The Rebel T3i is an idealistic telescope familiar .
❌ You want something futureproof : DSLR cameras and lens are largely not being produced any more . ❌ You ’re a tech buff : For AI autofocus and newer tech that will lend itself to other photographic manner , deliberate a new camera .
🔎 Canon EOS Rebel T3i : If it ai n’t broke , do n’t fix it — this camera may be old , but it ’s still a firm dearie among astrophotographers , particularly when mounting it to a scope . ★ ★ ★ ★
Paired with a telephoto lens, it’s fantastic for moon photography.(Image credit: James Artaius)
If you ’re on a tops - tight budget or are a cracking stargazer and want an low-priced television camera to attach to your telescope , many astrophotographers still spout about the Canon EOS Rebel T3i ( also known as the 600D ) . Yes , it ’s an honest-to-god camera ( release in 2011 ) . Yes , you ’ll have to buy a used one as it has been discontinued . And no , it does n’t have as many feature of speech as the newer mirrorless cameras . But if you want a reliable DSLR that still produces fantastic , broken - dissonance effigy for a match hundred bucks , it ’s still one of the good selection out there .
It ’s an absolute workhorse of a photographic camera , specially when used alongside a champion tracker and telephoto lens system ( or even a telescope ) to photograph those tracked long vulnerability images of recondite sky objects . With the Rebel T3i , you ’re altogether back to basics with this DSLR frame-up , but this makes it tremendous for beginners who want to concentrate on watch the basic ( rather than have the camera do it for you ) . You ’ll potentially start the risk of infection of outgrowing it as your skills improve and want something with a second more power and detail , but as it ’s so low-priced , any money spend for sure wo n’t be waste .
It ’s an APS - C camera which typically mean a more limited lens lineup , but for the toll , this should n’t deter you . For deep sky astrophotography , the 1.6x crop constituent could actually be a plus when using a full - frame lens . The 18.7MP sensor will still produce eminent quality images without the noise of a high resolution camera .
distinctive for a DSLR .
Great for astrophotography .
18.7MP resolution produce little noise .
Comparison
Product case
Type
detector size
The OM System OM-1 Mark II is compact and lightweight.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
Resolution
Monitor type
ISO range
The layout is good, but we found some of the buttons fiddly to press in the dark.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
dumb shutter speed
Autofocus detective work range
Weight
Starry Sky AF and Live Composite are both fantastic astro features.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
Dimensions
Specific astro feature of speech
Mirrorless
Live Composite makes shooting star trails easy as pie.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
Full - frame
24.5 Megapixels
Vari - slant TFT touch - sensible LCD
(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
100 - 64,000 ( expandable to 204,800 )
900 seconds
-10 to +19EV
(Image credit: Kimberley)
1.39 lbs / 630 g
5.7 x 4.1 x 2 in ( 144 x 103 x 49 mm (
time interval timekeeper shooting , 900 - 2d lower limit shutter focal ratio
24.2 Megapixels
Fully articulating 3 - inch LCD with touch capabilities
100 – 102,400 ( expansible to 204,800 )
For under $1,000, you can’t go wrong with the Nikon Z50 II.(Image credit: Nikon)
30 seconds
-6.5 to +21EV
1.02 pound / 461 constant of gravitation
5.24 x 3.39 x 2.76 in ( 133 x 86 x 70 mm )
musical interval timekeeper , gamy ISO speed noise reduction
3 - inch touch screen , wobble only
The Sony A6400 is a fantastic APS-C camera under $750.(Image credit: Sony)
100 - 51,200 ( expandable to 50 - 204,800 )
-3 to +20EV
1.43 lbs / 650 gibibyte
5 x 3.78 x 2.91 in ( 127 x 96 x 74 mm )
time interval shooting
Micro Four Thirds
20.4 Megapixels
3 - inch vari - slant LCD touch screen
80 - 102,400 ( expandable to 256,00 )
60 moment
-8 to +19EV
1.32 lb / 599 g
The Canon EOS Rebel T3i is a bargain, and fantastic for newbie astrophotographers.(Image credit: Canon)
5.46 x 3.61 x 2.86 in ( 138.8 x 91.6 x 72.7 mm )
Starry Sky AF , Live Composite
APS - C
20.9 Megapixels
3.2 - inch flip - out vari - angle touch screen
100 - 51,200 ( Expandable to 204,800 )
Our reviews are conducted in real-world scenarios by our expert staff and freelance contributors.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
-9 to +19EV
1.09 lbs / 495 g
5 x 3.8 x 2.6 in ( 127 x 96.8 x 66.5 millimeter )
15 - minute dull shutter stop number
3 - inch touch screen , flick up and careen only
100 – 32,000 ( expandable to 102,400 )
-2 to +20 EV
0.89 lbs / 403 g
4.72 x 2.64 x 2.36 in ( 120 x 67 x 60 mm )
Canon EOS Rebel T3i ( 600D )
DSLR
18.7 Megapixels
3 - inch articulating
100 - 6,400 ( expansible to approx 12,800 )
30 seconds ( longer with bulb musical mode )
-0.5 to +18EV
1.26 lbs / 570 gee
5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in ( 133.1 x 99.5 x 79.7 mm )
N / A
Our expert consultants
His book , " 52 appointment : Night Photography " is useable from April 29 , 2025 .
FAQs
What do I need to look for in an astrophotography camera?
Astrophotography cameras need to be capable to plow dreary conditions without producing too much dissonance . We asked award - bring home the bacon astrophotographer Josh Dury , who tell us :
" If you have existing camera equipment , there is no need to vouch for the latest photographic equipment . I am an pleader of inspiring others to have a go at taking photo of the stars with the equipment that is promptly available to them . If you wish to take this to the next storey , then there are dissimilar options . Low - light adapted cameras are heavy examples for deal with low-pitched ISO values , coupled with the latest camera - lens engineering , such as the SIgma 14 mm F/1.4 DG DN Art and 15 mm F/1.4 Art DG DN Diagonal Fisheye , they are game changers for light gathering capacity , to boost the signal to noise proportion of images . "
What is the “500 rule”?
The " 500 rule " is what astrophotographers utilize to check what shutter speed to practice when flash image of the night sky . The shutter pep pill needed depend on the size of it of your tv camera ’s sensor , and the focal length of your lens . If your shutter stop number is too obtuse , then the stars wo n’t be sharp and they ’ll start to trail .
Full - framecameras use the 500 rule , whereasAPS - C ( harvest sensors)use 300 andMicro Four Thirdsuse 250 .
For representative , say you ’re using a full - frame camera with a 20 millimetre genus Lens . Take 500 and divide it by the focal length ( 20 mm ) and that give you a shutter speed of 25 endorsement before the stars start to drop behind .
What is the easiest astrophotography target?
Most tyro start bytaking photograph of the moon . Josh Dury enjoin us :
" The most obvious prey for beginners would be the moon . Our celestial neighbor is continually exchange in appearance . From the crescent to fuller phase , there are always new airfoil feature to look out for . "
If you ’re lucky enough to subsist in the right domain , you could also tryphotographing the northern lights .
What ISO is best for astrophotography?
Josh Dury recount Live Science :
" There is no respectable ISO . It depends on the theme you are photographing and the clock time within the calendar month , weak contamination and weather . Depending on how dark the sky is , anywhere from ISO 1000 to 2000 is appropriate , but can motley to lower ISO if the shooting fix is at the mercy of artificial luminosity . "
If you ’re unsure which ISO to use , take a few run guessing and adjust your ISO levels as necessary . You ’ll before long learn what ISO values your camera can handle and where the interference levels get down to become too much .
What are the advantages of full-frame over APS-C?
We asked Josh Dury , award - winning astrophotographer , who told us :
" Resolution . harvest sensors — yes , they are more affordable , but we require result when taking range of a function at Nox , as with any other photographic medium . I would advocate for full - frame but understand this is only qualified on lensman ' aspirations and budget . "
Should astrophotography be JPEG or RAW?
Astrophotography should always be shot in birthday suit format . altogether images capture more data than JPEG and you ’re able to edit birthday suit images non - destructively , which is essential for astrophotography .
What lens do I need for astrophotography?
Wide - angle prime lenses are the good for astrophotography , but you could use zoom lens depending on their focal distance and aperture .
For wide - angle landscapes and milky room shots , the unforesightful the focal length , the honest . This get more light into the detector and gives you more foreground and sky in your final image . For moon picture taking or deep sky picture with a wiz tracker , longer telephoto crystalline lens can be used .
Whatever electron lens you utilize , it need to be capable of apertures of f/2.8 or lower . Prime Lens are often around f/1.8 , which is fantastic . Typically , the kit lenses that come with photographic camera do n’t even have an aperture of around f/3.5 , so we ’d recommend receive the tv camera consistence and lens separately to ensure your crystalline lens can dart astrophotography .
What does ‘-9EV’ mean?
Josh Dury said:“Exposure Value ( EV ) is a numeral figure that think over the indicant of a television camera shutter speed and aperture . It ’s a combination of camera setting that obtain the same note value , or figure . "
fundamentally , the lower the EV number a tv camera is up to of , the better it is when shooting in the dark .
Do I need to stack my astrophotography images?
Seasoned astrophotographers often stack their astro images , using anywhere from five to 500 frames ! But beginners do n’t want to worry about that when first starting out .
Josh Dury said:“Stacking is a form of composite image . As long as this is justified in the description of the image , stack can concede a riches of persona data . As discussed above , higher ISO ’s are used and our ' hurry ' can appear ' grainy ' . stack boosts the signaling - to - noise ratio ( SNR ) of our images and light frames are only require — 5 or so to find adequate results . "
What settings are best for astrophotography?
Your camera needs to be in manual mode , often mark as ' M ' on the mode dial , so you’re able to aline your ISO , shutter speeding and aperture severally .
Your crystalline lens also necessitate to be set to manual focus using the switch on the crystalline lens barrel , so you’re able to manually focus on the star or moon .
How we tested the best beginner cameras for astrophotography
When test the near astrophotography tv camera for beginners , we focus on key factors such as low - light sensitivity , ISO performance and randomness , active kitchen stove , sensor quality and comfort of use .
Best astrophotography camerasBest telescopesBest binocularsBest binoculars for stargazingBest field glasses for kidsBest star projectorsBest power banksBest camera for wildlife photography
Although our reviewers are advanced photographers , we always assess each photographic camera from a beginner ’s linear perspective ( after all , we were all beginners once ! ) in regards to customization , usability and how drug user - friendly the camera is for someone starting from scratch .
