Gear for Astronomy

Hi all,

I really would like what gear i need to do astronomy of planets or stars or galaxies to have that amazing unbelievable shots? I am not talking about those wide angle shots to have milk way or just star trails, but the detailed galaxies or Nebula or something similar, so can you guide me to the right tool for that beside my DSLR?

Heya,

You need a star tracking device. Something that moves with the planet. Add to that a very long focal length lens with the widest aperture you can get. Or, you can move towards telescopes and attach your dSLR.

What kind of budget do you have?

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #16562789
Heya,

You need a star tracking device. Something that moves with the planet. Add to that a very long focal length lens with the widest aperture you can get. Or, you can move towards telescopes and attach your dSLR.

What kind of budget do you have?

Very best,

I was thinking about telescopes, but which model? quality of the telescope? how to mount to telescope?

About the budget i am not sure, if i will be very interested then i can go with deep budget, but i hope not to spend too much and then i find out there are cheaper solutions good enough or if i will not shoot astronomy much enough, you just give me idea about the budget range and i will see where or what limit i can go with

Heya,

EQ mounts for telescopes, or an equivalent that can take a DSLR, or an astrotrac will do this. Either way it costs money. There are some inexpensive options from Orion Telescopes, around $250 with accessories that will do fairly good. I've thought about trying one of their less expensive autotrackers for a DSLR (not a telescope) to see how it performs for wide angle. Otherwise, a DSLR with a good lens, and an astrotrac will produce crazy good results. Either way it's costly though. A good telescope with big reach and wide aperture costs a lot, and a good heavy EQ mount that tracks will cost a lot too. More than most DSLR setups will cost (unless you get into crazy expensive lenses, but this becomes a problem due to weight).

Again, what budget do you have?

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #16564224
Heya,

EQ mounts for telescopes, or an equivalent that can take a DSLR, or an astrotrac will do this. Either way it costs money. There are some inexpensive options from Orion Telescopes, around $250 with accessories that will do fairly good. I've thought about trying one of their less expensive autotrackers for a DSLR (not a telescope) to see how it performs for wide angle. Otherwise, a DSLR with a good lens, and an astrotrac will produce crazy good results. Either way it's costly though. A good telescope with big reach and wide aperture costs a lot, and a good heavy EQ mount that tracks will cost a lot too. More than most DSLR setups will cost (unless you get into crazy expensive lenses, but this becomes a problem due to weight).

Again, what budget do you have?

Very best,

Ok, i really don't know what the budget i need to spend on that, it can be anywhere from $200 up to $1000 if needed, i wasn't plan to spend more than $1000, but i won in one photography awards, and soon i will submit for another one and hope i can win that too, if that will happen for the second award then i can increase the budget up to say $2000, but how much are you trying to tell me, $10000?

Tareq wrote in post #16564344
Ok, i really don't know what the budget i need to spend on that, it can be anywhere from $200 up to $1000 if needed, i wasn't plan to spend more than $1000, but i won in one photography awards, and soon i will submit for another one and hope i can win that too, if that will happen for the second award then i can increase the budget up to say $2000, but how much are you trying to tell me, $10000?

Heya,

Hard to say, I'm no expert, hopefully one of them can chime in soon.

But I'm going to guess anywhere from $700 to $3k is the range for good trackers and EQ mounts when it comes to doing deep space object photography with a telescope or DSLR. Plus you have to have the reach for the DSO's, which to me, begins in the 400mm+ range, so budget will be limited unless you already have a scope or lens that is capable of this or better.

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #16564436
Heya,

Hard to say, I'm no expert, hopefully one of them can chime in soon.

But I'm going to guess anywhere from $700 to $3k is the range for good trackers and EQ mounts when it comes to doing deep space object photography with a telescope or DSLR. Plus you have to have the reach for the DSO's, which to me, begins in the 400mm+ range, so budget will be limited unless you already have a scope or lens that is capable of this or better.

Very best,

and that is why i asked about the gear, i want you or anyone if will come here to post those gear, telescope, observer, scopes, mounts, whatever it takes to do the task, i still don't know all these things and that is why i don't know what the budget, also i have those normal Canon lenses, i thought with Astronomy i need different lenses or scopes, so i don't know what all tools needs, let's say i have the body only, what else i should think about?

Tareq wrote in post #16564447
and that is why i asked about the gear, i want you or anyone if will come here to post those gear, telescope, observer, scopes, mounts, whatever it takes to do the task, i still don't know all these things and that is why i don't know what the budget, also i have those normal Canon lenses, i thought with Astronomy i need different lenses or scopes, so i don't know what all tools needs, let's say i have the body only, what else i should think about?

IMO you should start small and learn about astro-photography before you spend a significant amount of money. Just having the right gear doesn't assure that you'll get the amazing detailed shots you desire. It takes a lot more then just "gear". In the Astronomy and Celestial photo sharing forum there is a thread titled "You Don't Need a Telescope" full of examples of what can be accomplished with just your camera and a good tripod. Again, this is just my opinion. Not trying to discourage you, but instead offer a way to learn and then move on to better gear as your interests grows.

the jimmy wrote in post #16565030
IMO you should start small and learn about astro-photography before you spend a significant amount of money. Just having the right gear doesn't assure that you'll get the amazing detailed shots you desire. It takes a lot more then just "gear". In the Astronomy and Celestial photo sharing forum there is a thread titled "You Don't Need a Telescope" full of examples of what can be accomplished with just your camera and a good tripod. Again, this is just my opinion. Not trying to discourage you, but instead offer a way to learn and then move on to better gear as your interests grows.

I know this advice, but it is either i didn't know how to explain or ask correctly about what i look for, or it is that i didn't see the examples with the gear used in astronomy/celestial photography.

Well, i started this thread because i was asking about gear to do astronomy specific thing and i was open to all ideas and opinions, until now all what i know is just telescope and long lenses, so which telescope, which long lens? and where are the examples from those long lenses or telescopes that are showing what i look for? Believe me, i know that i can do birding with 70-200 or 100-400 or even 24-70, but i know that those long lenses primes are designed for doing this job, if not then it is a waste of time to make those long lenses when some shorted and cheaper lenses can do the job, it is not always about our skills or abilities, it is mostly about what we can afford, and sure we start with something, but i am now different than before when i started, i better get a right tool that can do it almost perfect than i just buy one gear to another just keep learning and practicing, i wasted enough money on gear i started with to learn and not they are collecting dust, i only use gear that is doing the job right for me and i regret i didn't choose that first place.

Again, i am not looking for stars trails or just wide shot of the sky with full of stars, i was looking about how can i shoot galaxy and those what i see on astronomy sites, i still don't have any telescope, and you said long lenses or what i have, none of my gear i mean glasses could shoot galaxies or at least nebula, yesterday i did shoot Jupiter with my longest prime 300 + TC, and i barely could get closer look of it with its moons after heavy crop, how the damn i can shoot one galaxy then?

Tareq wrote in post #16565151
I know this advice, but it is either i didn't know how to explain or ask correctly about what i look for, or it is that i didn't see the examples with the gear used in astronomy/celestial photography.

Well, i started this thread because i was asking about gear to do astronomy specific thing and i was open to all ideas and opinions, until now all what i know is just telescope and long lenses, so which telescope, which long lens? and where are the examples from those long lenses or telescopes that are showing what i look for? Believe me, i know that i can do birding with 70-200 or 100-400 or even 24-70, but i know that those long lenses primes are designed for doing this job, if not then it is a waste of time to make those long lenses when some shorted and cheaper lenses can do the job, it is not always about our skills or abilities, it is mostly about what we can afford, and sure we start with something, but i am now different than before when i started, i better get a right tool that can do it almost perfect than i just buy one gear to another just keep learning and practicing, i wasted enough money on gear i started with to learn and not they are collecting dust, i only use gear that is doing the job right for me and i regret i didn't choose that first place.

Again, i am not looking for stars trails or just wide shot of the sky with full of stars, i was looking about how can i shoot galaxy and those what i see on astronomy sites, i still don't have any telescope, and you said long lenses or what i have, none of my gear i mean glasses could shoot galaxies or at least nebula, yesterday i did shoot Jupiter with my longest prime 300 + TC, and i barely could get closer look of it with its moons after heavy crop, how the damn i can shoot one galaxy then?

Go to the Astronomy and Celestial photo sharing forum and look for threads from members Toxic Coolaid and ScenicCityPhoto, check out their gear list and do a search for threads started by them. I believe they are shooting the kind of deep space images you want to do.

the jimmy wrote in post #16565467
Go to the Astronomy and Celestial photo sharing forum and look for threads from members Toxic Coolaid and ScenicCityPhoto, check out their gear list and do a search for threads started by them. I believe they are shooting the kind of deep space images you want to do.

Cool, this is a good start, believe me, i don't know them and may not find them for days, you just cut the time for me and helped a lot, i will check them out and see if they stuff i look for as you said.

And sorry for my post previously.

Tareq wrote in post #16565980
Cool, this is a good start, believe me, i don't know them and may not find them for days, you just cut the time for me and helped a lot, i will check them out and see if they stuff i look for as you said.

Use the Advanced Search feature, see attached.

Tareq wrote in post #16562128
Hi all,

I really would like what gear i need to do astronomy of planets or stars or galaxies to have that amazing unbelievable shots? I am not talking about those wide angle shots to have milk way or just star trails, but the detailed galaxies or Nebula or something similar, so can you guide me to the right tool for that beside my DSLR?

I don't know where you live, but I'd search out local astronomy clubs. They almost always have a group of astrophotography of varying experience who could show you the ropes and the equipment in use,

Hath,
B.

MalVeauX wrote in post #16564224
Heya,

Again, what budget do you have?

Very best,

Have you seen their gear list? Pretty sure they can afford almost anything

https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=1525814&pos​tcount=110

First question: do you know your way around the night sky? Can you visually (with a telescope) spot as many of the Messier objects as you can? If the answer is no, then I would suggest starting with planets and widefield milky way shots while you build up your deep sky expertise. Get an inexpensive Orion Dobsonian reflector and a copy of Turn Left at Orion and spend a few months observing the sky. Once you know how to get to deep space objects by dead reckoning using other stars, you can think about photographing DSOs. Otherwise, you are setting yourself up for frustration. Maybe not what you want to hear, but I've been stargazing for 40 years, trust me on this.