Astrophotography on a budget.

[Brunty12345]

I already have visual setup but i was wondering of a semi decent astrophotography setup with a max budget of £1000? I have a Canon EOS 600d with t-ring already so the camera isn't needed to be purchased. Suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[endless-sky]

Many people - and I am one of them - will tell you that for astrophotography a good mount is the most important thing. Everything rides on top of the mount and the best optics and camera would be useless if the mount wasn't able to handle the weight and track accurately.

I would say HEQ5 Pro or similar is a good starting point. For astrophotography, you don't necessarily need a long focal length / big aperture telescope to get started. If you have any lens available for the Canon 600D, that would be a good starting point.

In the future you can add a guide-scope and guide-camera to get longer exposures, but with short focal lenses (200-300mm or below) it's not really a starting necessity.

[Brunty12345]

10 minutes ago, endlessky said:

Many people - and I am one of them - will tell you that for astrophotography a good mount is the most important thing. Everything rides on top of the mount and the best optics and camera would be useless if the mount wasn't able to handle the weight and track accurately.

I would say HEQ5 Pro or similar is a good starting point. For astrophotography, you don't necessarily need a long focal length / big aperture telescope to get started. If you have any lens available for the Canon 600D, that would be a good starting point.

In the future you can add a guide-scope and guide-camera to get longer exposures, but with short focal lenses (200-300mm or below) it's not really a starting necessity.

Thank you for your response. The HEQ5 Pro is one that I have had my eye on. I do not have any other lenses other than the default one that came with the Canon, the 18-55mm I think it was. If I were to just get the mount and use just my camera, what would I need to mount my Camera properly to the HEQ5 Pro? Thanks.

[endless-sky]

When I use my camera/lens combination, I usually bolt a ball-head on a Vixen or Losmandy dovetail and then I clamp the dovetail on the mount saddle. There are a lot of different adapters that can do the job. Other people even put locking rings around the lens, and bolt the rings on a dovetail.

Edited July 24, 2020 by endlessky

[Brunty12345]

43 minutes ago, endlessky said:

When I use my camera/lens combination, I usually bolt a ball-head on a Vixen or Losmandy dovetail and then I clamp the dovetail on the mount saddle. There are a lot of different adapters that can do the job. Other people even put locking rings around the lens, and bolt the rings on a dovetail.

Ok thank you. I think I will buy the mount first then and then evaluate what scope I would like and just use my camera for the time being  thank you