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Hello. I am looking for astrophotography setup suggestions/ideas for $2000 or less in total that would be able to deliver great imaging results, such as of Deep Sky objects like galaxies in a natural color and also objects like comets as well. I currently have a Seestar S50, and while the results I've been getting from that are fine, I would like a setup that can deliever better results and bring out more detail in DSOs that I would image with it. And the setup idea should also include EAA features, since I would prefer being able to see a live output on my computer or mobile device. The setup idea should be laid out like this:
Total: $??? I'm looking forward to seeing what suggestions I receive, and hopefully this budget isn't too cheap to get decent results in astrophotography. I also prefer doing minimal processing, so that should be taken into account with the suggestion as well. |
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With that budget you will be limited primarily to camera lenses and very small mounts / trackers. My suggestion would be the following: -Rokinon 135mm f/2 lens -ASI533mc pro -Star Adventurer Gti mount Should be about $2140 for those things. I would recommend using NINA as the control software - you'd need to use a laptop or mini-PC to interface with it of course. Ideally you already have a laptop. |
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im very much a beginner and went from tripod + dslr + kit lens then sw gti + dslr + kit lens + nina then sw gti + dslr + crap vintage lenses + nina then sw gti + dslr + sw evostar 72ed + zwo12mm + f4/120 guide scope + nina getting about roughly 0.2 (1.6") auto guiding hope that helps. sw gti https://www.firstlightoptics.com/equatorial-astronomy-mounts/sky-watcher-star-adventurer-gti.html £460 canon 600d / t3i used £200 sw 72ed https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescopes-in-stock/sky-watcher-evostar-72ed-ds-pro-ota.html £330 (probably need the flatener for £80 too) guidescope and cam bundle https://www.firstlightoptics.com/guide-cameras/zwo-mini-finder-guider-asi120mm-bundle.html £230 |
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| For $2k, it’s not going to be easy. I’m going to suggest browsing an online marketplace for a controllable eq mount that’ll handle some payload, and maybe even a used newtonian. You can then use a cheap mirrorless camera, and control it with nina or if you’re really a masochist, astroberry. |
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Telescope: Skywatcher Quattro 150p https://www.astroshop.eu/telescopes/skywatcher-telescope-n-150-600-quattro-150p-ota/p,75973 Cost: $746. Camera: ZWO ASI585MC https://www.astroshop.eu/astronomical-cameras/zwo-camera-asi-585-mc-color/p,75716 Cost: $550. Mount: Skywatcher EQ5 + OnStep mount kit https://www.astroshop.eu/equatorial-without-goto/skywatcher-mount-eq5/p,16081 https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_EzjOffd Cost: $512 + $180 Total: $1988. I'm with the same setup, and my latest graph with PHD2 was with 0.47" RMS...over 5 min subs without any problems. Unguided it holds easely up to 70-80 sec subs.  |
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Charles Hagen: I agree with Charles. I have a Samyang 135 f/2 lens klt (Same lens) as above with a Sirius mounting. The nice thing is that there is always something to image with this rig. A 2/3/4 band NB filter along with the 533mcPro is a nice solution for a variety of targets. Add a ZWO EAF and a SBony 30mm finder with a 120mmMini guide camera later for autoguiding. There are less expensive cameras with the 533 color sensor to save some money. If you want something larger. A Celestron AVX mounting with a GSO 150mm f/5 newtonian and a 533mc would be a nice rig. It is really hard to make a great F/4 mirror. I think the F/6 Newtonian mirror is the best. For astrophotography, a nice F/5 is a great compromise. Update the focuser/EAF and add a 30 to 50mm guide scope later after you reload some funds... |
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Highpoint Scientific Celestron AVX 1200.00 Apertura 150mm F5 Newtonian OTA 320.00 120mmMini 150.00 ToupTek camera less EAF 200.00 Gemini EAF 100.00 533mcPro 800.00 ToupTek cameras less Ali Express is a source for cost saving accessories CS Tim |
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If you look used its not that hard to do as most stuff is 50% of new. I will sell you a Williams 71gt scope with reducer flattener and a 294mc camera for $1000. Get a Star Adventurer GTi new for $600 and a camera/guidescope for $400 and you will have a very nice 672mm effective focal length setup for $2000. You need a filter for $199 on top of that. Run it with Nina. |
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I've got a few setups. The one I seem to use the most (perhaps not coincidentally, is the lightest, most portable and least expensive setup I've got) iOptron ieq30 pro Evolux 62 apo with flattener ZWO ASI533 MC pro ZWO 30mm guider and ASI120mm ZWO ASI air Setup is a breeze - tracking always consistant - goto's and plate solving easy With some shopping around the telescope buy sell sites you should be able to put together this system around your target price Having said that, the offer from Dan is a good one and a good suggestion Rick |
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| Like others, my budget set up consists of a 183 colour CMOS camera. Samyang 135mm f2 lens, 3D printed cradle, on a Skywatcher Star Adventurer 2i pro mount, controlled with RPi4 running Stellarmate OS - in total £1200-£1500. You can get most of this second hand, and very versatile. |
