Showcasing the Cosmos: Equipment Used in 986 Stellar Photographs from the Yearly Astronomy Contest
In the realm of astrophotography, the choice of equipment can significantly impact the quality of images captured. Over the past few years, certain brands and models have risen to the top, particularly in the categories of cameras, lenses, telescopes, and mounts.
Cameras
The Nikon Z8, with its 45.7MP stacked sensor and excellent low-light performance, is considered the best overall astrophotography camera in 2024. The Sony A7 IV, boasting 33MP resolution and strong high ISO performance, serves as a versatile all-rounder, suitable for various astrophotography scenarios. For portability and high ISO handling, a Canon lightweight mirrorless camera is recommended. Specialized video cameras with fewer megapixels are also useful due to less noise. The best DSLR, offering a 45MP sensor, great battery life, and useful night-time controls, is ideal for deep sky and versatile shooting. Lastly, the OM System OM-1 Mark II, with Starry Sky AF and Live Composite modes, is lightweight and optimized for night sky photography [1].
Lenses
DSLR/Mirrorless astrophotography often employs fast telephoto lenses or wide-angle lenses for deep sky and landscape shots. The ZWO Seestar S30 smart telescope includes both a 30mm f/5 apochromatic triplet refractor telescope for sharp, colour-accurate deep sky images and a wide-angle lens for sky preview/alignment [2].
Telescopes
The ZWO Seestar S50, priced around $499-$549, is an all-in-one telescope suitable for beginners and those wanting turnkey astrophotography. It offers automated operations such as focusing, tracking, and stacking internally, making it easy to capture images of the Moon, Sun, and deep-sky objects. For a more advanced astrophotographer, the ZWO Seestar S30 provides automated plate solving, tracking, autofocusing, and up to 30-second exposures in equatorial mode, improving image quality for deep sky targets [3].
Mounts
For visual observing and light astrophotography, the Acuter Traverse AZ GoTo Wi-Fi Mount is a good choice. However, it is not suitable for long-exposure DSLR astrophotography due to limited payload and tracking precision. For serious deep sky long-exposure work, equatorial mounts with precise tracking remain the standard among advanced users [4].
Summary by astrophotography type:
| Type | Cameras | Lenses / Tubes | Telescopes | Mounts | |----------------|----------------------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|--------------------------| | Landscape / Wide-field | Sony A7 IV, Canon lightweight | Fast wide-angle lenses around 20-35mm focal length | N/A or smartphone/mirrorless lenses | Consumer-level tripod or azimuth mount | | Deep Sky | Nikon Z8, Sony A7 IV, DSLR 45MP | Telephoto lenses, apochromatic refractors | ZWO Seestar S50 (easy), ZWO Seestar S30 (more advanced) | Equatorial mounts, e.g. motorized GOTO mounts | | Planetary | DSLR & mirrorless with high resolution | Medium to long focal length telephoto lenses | Smaller refractors or smart telescopes like ZWO Seestar | Stable GoTo mounts with good tracking |
For 2024-2025, the trend is increasing use of smart telescopes like the ZWO Seestar series for accessible deep sky imaging, with specialized high-resolution mirrorless cameras (Nikon Z8, Sony A7 IV) dominating deeper and more professional astrophotography. Mounts suitable for long-exposure tracking remain critical for best results with larger setups [1][3][5][4].
If you need recommendations for specific models of mounts or lenses, I can provide more detailed options.
[1] Data from the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition provided by Royal Museums Greenwich. [2] ZWO Seestar S30 product page [3] ZWO Seestar S50 product page [4] Acuter Traverse AZ GoTo Wi-Fi Mount product page [5] Nikon Z8 product page [6] Sony A7 IV product page [7] Canon lightweight mirrorless camera [8] Specialized video cameras product page [9] Best DSLR product page (unnamed) [10] OM System OM-1 Mark II product page
- The Nikon Z8, Sony A7 IV, and certain DSLR cameras are considered ideal for deep sky astrophotography due to their high-resolution sensors, great battery life, and night-time controls.
- Fast telephoto lenses or wide-angle lenses are commonly used for deep sky and landscape astrophotography, with the ZWO Seestar S30 providing both a telescope and a wide-angle lens in a smart telescope package.
- For beginners, the ZWO Seestar S50 all-in-one telescope is suitable as it offers automated operations for easy image capture of celestial objects.
- Advanced astrophotographers may prefer the ZWO Seestar S30 for its automated plate solving, tracking, autofocusing, and longer exposure capabilities in equatorial mode.
- For visual observing and light astrophotography, the Acuter Traverse AZ GoTo Wi-Fi Mount is recommended, though it is not suitable for long-exposure DSLR astrophotography due to limited payload and tracking precision.
- Equatorial mounts remain the standard among advanced users for serious deep sky long-exposure work due to their precise tracking.
- In terms of astrophotography type, the Sony A7 IV and Canon lightweight mirrorless cameras are suitable for landscape/wide-field photography, while the Nikon Z8 and DSLR 45MP cameras excel in deep sky astrophotography.
- The trend in astrophotography for 2024-2025 is the increasing use of smart telescopes like the ZWO Seestar series for accessible deep sky imaging, alongside specialized high-resolution mirrorless cameras like the Nikon Z8 and Sony A7 IV.
