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Astrophotography Equipment and Cameras

 

What is an Astrophotography Camera?

An astrophotography camera is any camera that can be used to take pictures of the night sky. While some people use standard DSLR cameras for astrophotography, dedicated deep-sky astrophotography cameras require a telescope and software to run properly. This allows the astrophotographer to capture deep-sky images of galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and other objects. There are two main types of dedicated astrophotography cameras: CCD and CMOS, both capable of capturing photos in high resolution.

How to Choose an Astrophotography Camera

Choosing an astrophotography camera ultimately depends on the type of experience you want and what features you're looking for. While dedicated astrophotography cameras do not have screens or controls like standard DSLRs, they produce better high-resolution images with less noise, so the trade-off is worth it. These cameras are made for imaging deep-sky objects and can handle a wide variety of applications for deep-sky astrophotography. Planetary imaging may require additional components, though capturing the planets with a telescope and simple CMOS camera is possible. Ultimately, picking an astrophotography camera comes down to two main factors:

  • CCD or CMOS Imaging Sensors
  • Monochrome or Color Imaging

CCD vs. CMOS Imaging Sensors

CCD (charge-coupled device) and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) are sensors used in astrophotography cameras to convert light from the night sky into electrons. Essentially, they're the "eyes" of the camera. Initially, CCD imaging sensors were considered superior to inexpensive CMOS options, offering a higher level of controllable sensitivity and longer exposure times that resulted in high-quality, low-noise photos. However, CMOS technology started to catch up over time, and now, CMOS imaging sensors tend to have faster data rates while also being more affordable and energy-efficient. There are quality options in both categories.

The main factors to consider for imaging sensors are cost and the telescope you have. When it comes to size, large sensors allow for a larger viewing field but are significantly more expensive. Your telescope's focal length must be able to support the imaging sensor you choose, as well.

Monochrome vs. Color Imaging

This factor for choosing an astrophotography camera comes down to preference. Monochrome cameras default to shooting in greyscale, whereas color cameras pick up colors of all kinds. However, there is one thing to keep in mind: while color astrophotography cameras will only shoot in color, you can use a filter wheel and LRGB filters with monochrome cameras to produce color images. A mono camera with color filters added tends to produce images with less noise than those from a color-only camera.

What is the Best Astrophotography Camera?

There are so many high-quality options available in such a wide price range that it's difficult to choose the best camera for astrophotography. That said, here are some of our favorites and best sellers:

These are only a few examples, and the best astrophotography camera for you will come down to the kind of experience you want, your preference, your needs and your budget.

Find an Astrophotography Camera for Sale at High Point Scientific

Here at High Point Scientific, we want to help budding astronomers everywhere get started. That's why we have a fantastic selection of Dobsonian telescopes available. From Dobsonian telescope kits to collapsible Dobsonian telescopes, you'll find it all in our online store. Contact us if you'd like to know more — our non-commissioned experts can't wait to hear from you!