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Home » Astrophotography

Petzl ACTIK CORE Headlamp Astrophotography Review

Published: Dec 5, 2018 · Last update: Jan 27, 2023 · Author: Paweł Białecki · Leave a Comment

Doing astrophotography in the field, you are looking for complete darkness. As it's perfect for the quality of your final pictures, it's not entirely comfortable to set up your astrophotography equipment without being able to see it. The solution is simple: a flashlight. Better yet, a one that you don't have to hold in your hands. Don't know which one to choose? Fear no more: I will show you why the Petzl Actik CORE is the perfect headlamp for astrophotography in this review.

Jump to:
  • Overview
  • What I like in Petzl ACTIK CORE as an astrophotographer
  • What could have been done better
  • Verdict
  • 💬 Comments

Overview

Petzl ACTIC CORE red light
Petzl ACTIC CORE white light

Petzl Actik Core is a headlamp designed and built for general night outdoor usage. You can use it for night running, camping, or cave exploring. As it's great to have that additional use cases, it's not why you are reading this article. Instead, let's look at the headlamp from the astrophotographer's perspective.

What I like in Petzl ACTIK CORE as an astrophotographer

Customizable lightning - color, intensity, and mode

Petzl ACTIK CORE has customizable lighting options:

  • Color - it can be white or red. White is useful to setup astrophotography equipment; red is better to preserve your night vision.
  • Intensity - three levels when glowing white, one when red.
  • Mode - when lightning red, it can glow normally or flash.
Brightening my astrophotography setup by Petzl ACTIC CORE by different light colors.
I am brightening my astrophotography setup by ACTIK CORE with different light colors.

Replaceable and rechargeable battery

Charging Petzl ACTIC CORE from an external powerbank (my Celestron PowerTank Lithium)

Every Petzl ACTIK CORE comes with a CORE battery. The battery is easily rechargeable via a micro USB port. You can charge it straight from your computer's USB port, or if you are in the field, you can easily use an external power bank. When I'm out and need to load some energy into the CORE battery, I often use my Celestron PowerTank Lithium to do that.

Forgot to get or load the CORE battery? Use three AAA batteries instead

Petzl ACTIC CORE powered by three AAA batteries

The battery holder in the Petzl ACTIK CORE headlamp is compatible with AAA batteries. Throw a few into your astrophotography backpack and never be surprised in the field.

It pivots down to aim lower

Petzl ACTIC CORE pivoting

Depending on your needs, you can easily customize the glowing angle to aim lower or higher.

It fits to your head size

Petzl ACTIC CORE adjustable strap

The strap is customizable/adjustable, so no worries if you have a non-standard circuit of the head. It will fit.

What could have been done better

Sometimes (especially in the Winter), I have to click a few times to find the right spot to turn the headlight on.

When it's cold, it's a little harder to turn this lamp on. The switch is on the strict center of the rubber button, and you have to push it ideally in the middle to make it work. But after a few uses, you will learn it.

Verdict

Petzl ACTIK CORE headlight is the essential item in your astrophotography equipment bag. It gives you enough light to perform a whole-night astrophotography session. It will preserve your night vision by using the red light. Also, you can charge it in the field or power up it with AAA batteries in case of not have access to other sources of electricity. I highly recommend this headlamp for astrophotography.

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Paweł Białecki, the author behind Astro Photons
Paweł Białecki

I’m Paweł Białecki — an astrophotographer and indie app developer who’s been exploring the night sky for over a decade. Here on Astro Photons, I share practical guides, cosmic insights, and deep-sky photos to help you enjoy and understand our universe — no telescope degree required.

This blog is part of my personal mission to make astronomy more approachable. I write for beginners, hobbyists, and curious stargazers who want real, useful advice — not just textbook definitions. All guides are based on hands-on experience, actual night sky photography, and a genuine love for the cosmos.

I also build simple, helpful tools for fellow science enthusiasts — like UnitToolbox, a universal unit converter made to work beautifully on any device.

More about me →

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