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Any Low Cost Astrophotography Setup Suggestions For Great Results?

ZWO Seestar S50 Equipment EAA Buying Advice Deep Sky
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John J. DeAlessio III avatar
John J. DeAlessio III avatar
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:
  • Telescope: NAME OF TELESCOPE (LINK) ($ COST)
  • Camera: NAME OF CAMERA (LINK) ($ COST)
  • Mount: NAME OF MOUNT (LINK) ($ COST)

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.
Charles Hagen avatar
Charles Hagen avatar
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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TiffsAndAstro avatar
TiffsAndAstro avatar
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
Sean Mc avatar
Sean Mc avatar
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.
Tharsis82 avatar
Tharsis82 avatar
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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Tim Ray avatar
Tim Ray avatar
Charles Hagen:
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.

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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Tim Ray avatar
Tim Ray avatar
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
Dan Kearl avatar
Dan Kearl avatar
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.
Rick Therrien avatar
Rick Therrien avatar
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
Tom Gray avatar
Tom Gray avatar
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.
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