What do I need to start astrophotography on a budget?
Basic gear for wide-field
The cheapest way to start is with a DSLR or mirrorless camera you may already own, a sturdy tripod, and a fast wide-angle lens (like 18-55mm kit lens). You can capture star trails, constellations, and the Milky Way. Use manual mode, ISO 1600–3200, aperture wide open, and exposures of 10–20 seconds to avoid star trails.
A remote shutter release or the camera's self-timer prevents shake. Free stacking software like DeepSkyStacker or Sequator can combine multiple exposures to reduce noise and bring out detail.
- DSLR or mirrorless camera.
- Sturdy tripod.
- Fast wide-angle lens.
- Remote shutter or self-timer.
- Free stacking software.
Adding tracking and telescopes
For longer exposures and deep-sky objects, you need a tracking mount that follows the stars. A star tracker like the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer or iOptron SkyGuider Pro costs around $300–$500 and works with a camera and lens. This lets you take exposures of several minutes.
If you want to use a telescope, a small apochromatic refractor (60–80mm) on a tracking mount is a good start. You will also need a way to guide the mount, such as a guide scope and camera, but many beginners start unguided with short exposures. Budget setups often use a used DSLR and a star tracker.
- Star tracker mount (e.g., Star Adventurer).
- Small APO refractor for telescope imaging.
- Intervalometer for timed exposures.
- Processing software like Siril or Photoshop.
Common mistakes
- Buying a cheap telescope on a flimsy mount; the mount is more important than the telescope for astrophotography.
- Skipping the tripod and trying to hand-hold the camera, which causes blurry images.
- Not learning to stack and process images; single exposures are noisy and lack detail.
