Astro Photons | Backyard Astrophotography

Astronomy Equipment — Astrophotography and Stargazing Gear Reviews

Welcome to our Astronomy Equipment Buyer's Guides!

Looking for some astronomy, astrophotography, and stargazing equipment? Here you will find reviews and guides on buying astronomical gear — for both visual observations and astro-imaging:

  • Telescopes (refractors, reflectors/Newtonians, Dobsonians, Schmidt-Cassegrains) - the very basic "eye" of every visual astronomer and astrophotographer out there. Choosing a proper beginner astrophotography telescope is crucial for fantastic pictures.
  • Astronomy/astrophotography cameras (DSLR/CCD/CMOS) - if you want to photograph the night sky (nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, Moon, Sun, planets), you need a proper camera.
  • Photography lenses - often used in astrophotography (telephoto lenses especially). When choosing your astrophotography targets, use 8-24mm focal lengths for photographing the whole Milky Way, 35mm-50mm for single constellations (like the Orion Constellation), and from 100mm and up you can photograph single nebulae (like the North America Nebula), galaxies (like the Andromeda Galaxy), and star clusters (like the Pleiades).
  • Equatorial mounts (German) - devices that "freeze" the night sky. They are used to compensate the Earth rotation by having one rotational axis parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation.
  • Filters (light pollution, narrowband) - highly useful when you don't have access to a truly dark sky (e.g. when you live in the strict center of a light-polluted city like Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York).
  • Binoculars - a good pair of astronomy binoculars is a necessary item for every stargazing fan out there.
  • Accessories (batteries, guiders, adapters, headlamps, dew heaters, PCs, laptops, astrophotography books)

If you are wondering what and where to buy astronomy equipment (especially as a beginner astrophotographer or astronomer) — you are in the right place! No matter if you are from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, or the rest of the world — you are covered. Happy exploring, and clear skies!