(Not so) Budget (possibly wireless) astrophotography equipment list. Any suggestions?

[Doktor_KlingeL]

Hello everyone!

I am trying to put together an complete and relatively cheap list of equipment for astrophotography.
This is what I came up with so far with my thoughts why I chose what I chose. I hope we can fine tune this list together to make my first journey into astrophotography less stressful.
I hope I did not forget anything and this list is complete. If not please tell me what you would add to it and why.

    1. Camera
        - Canon 6D (*)
           Why did I choose this camera: I had it lying around and I do day to day photography with it.
            (I also have a cheap intervalometer at my disposal)

    2. Camera Lens / Telescope
        - Canon EF 24-105mm 4.0L IS USM (*)
           Why did I choose this Lens: This is a lens I am using from time to time and I think it could suffice for the first couple of sessions.
        - alternative: 72/420 ED-APO ~445 Euro
               and: 0,85x Reducer for 72/420 APO ~280 Euro
           Why did I include this telescope and reducer: I did not buy them yet because I want to start with as much of equiptment I already have to reduce the overall cost. But I think this telescope would be a great upgrade in the future.
        
    3. Autoguiding
        - RaspberryPi 4 with 8GB RAM ~ 100 Euro (I will use the raspberry for different projects also)
            -> with Astroberry installed
           Why did I choose this autoguiding system: Since I need a RaspberryPi anyway I might as well use it also for that purpose. Astroberry seems to be pretty powerfull with many functions.
        - alternative: ZWO ASIAIR PRO ~ 319 Euro
           Why did I include this autoguiding system: It is an alternative to my idea of using the RaspberryPi.
    4. Autoguiding Camera
        - ZWO ASI120MM mini ~220 Euro
           Why did I include this autoguiding camera: It does not matter if I go with the RaspberryPi or with the ASIAIR autoguider. I would like to have an autoguiding camera to make my life easier to track the sky, to plates solve and to align the goto mount as automatically and easy as possible. I know for most if not all of you polar and star alignment is easy but I am somewhat always pressed for time. Not going to lie, I also am a little bit uneducated in that regard. I would like to have an easy to use system where I have to touch the assembly as less as possible. I hope you understand and dont judge me too much for that.
    
    5. GoTo Mount and Tripod
        - Star Adventurer GTi with steel Tripod ~730 EUR
           Why did I choose this GoTo Mount: It is a battery driven, compact and feature rich platform which supports relatively much weight.
    
    6. Tablet to connect the RaspberryPi to
        - Windows Surface 7 Pro (*)
           Why did I choose this Tablet: I already have that and use it as my daily driver. I would connect the raspberry pi or the ASIAIR over ethernet or via wifi to that tablet and go from there.

Things marked with (*) I have already and do not contribute to the cost

 

Edited August 24, 2023 by Doktor_KlingeL
spelling mistakes

[happy-kat]

Welcome

It's great you can see opportunity to use what you already have to get going.

You don't mention post processing what's been captured.

I could not see a guide telescope mentioned to go with the ASI120MM

If looking to touch as little as possible there's the interesting looking ZWO seestar50 (not yet fully launched I don't think)

Edited August 24, 2023 by happy-kat

[steviebee]

8 minutes ago, happy-kat said:

It's great you can see opportunity to use what you already have to get going. There's a good thread on that mount here. 

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/387014-skywatcher-az-gti-mount-owners-thread

You don't mention post processing what's been captured.

I could not see a guide telescope mentioned to go with the ASI120MM

If looking to touch as little as possible there's the interesting looking ZWO seestar50 (not yet fully launched I don't think)

 I think you will find the Star Adventurer GTi is a different mount to the AZ GTI. I have the SA GTi it's a lovely little mount and full goto. 

[happy-kat]

Good spot I've edited my post as I'd miss read the OPs post

[Doktor_KlingeL]

22 minutes ago, happy-kat said:

Welcome

It's great you can see opportunity to use what you already have to get going.

You don't mention post processing what's been captured.

I could not see a guide telescope mentioned to go with the ASI120MM

If looking to touch as little as possible there's the interesting looking ZWO seestar50 (not yet fully launched I don't think)

Wait a minute. I may have missunderstood something.
I thought the ASI120mm would act like a guide telescope? As in I would put that on top of my lens.
I am a little bit confused now in that regard.

With post processing I am still unsure, but there are a lot of seemingly great free options out there.

[steviebee]

22 minutes ago, happy-kat said:

Good spot I've edited my post as I'd miss read the OPs post

Easy mistake to make. 

[WolfieGlos]

1 hour ago, Doktor_KlingeL said:

Wait a minute. I may have missunderstood something.
I thought the ASI120mm would act like a guide telescope? As in I would put that on top of my lens.
I am a little bit confused now in that regard.

With post processing I am still unsure, but there are a lot of seemingly great free options out there.

Hi and welcome to SGL.

The ASI120mm is the camera, it needs to be attached to a scope. You could buy a bundle like this https://www.firstlightoptics.com/guide-cameras/zwo-mini-finder-guider-asi120mm-bundle.html which has both. It can be fixed onto a ballhead (not ideal but it works) or onto a finder shoe which could be clamped to the dovetail bar https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dovetails-saddles-clamps/astro-essentials-vixen-style-dovetail-clamp-for-finder-shoes.html if you’re using it .

To power the mount, you will need a power supply, either using an external power source or a power pack.

If you’ve not tried astrophotography before, then I would also highly recommend a bahtinov mask, this will ensure you get the correct focus.

The 24-105 lens is not ideal, zoom lenses are generally not the best for AP, but for learning the ropes it should be OK. I have one but haven’t ever used it for AP. Just watch out for zoom creep during the night, that’s one of the issues with them. I’ve heard of people gaffer taping the lens to stop this happening.

Camera will be fine, assume it is a stock DSLR so you will struggle to pick up emission nebulae (red ones) but all other targets are good. 

[Peds]

Remember that the mount is the most important piece of equipment for astro-imaging.

Consider the Samyang/Rokinon 135mm f/2 ED UMC lens, if you're sticking to that mount. This lens is very good, inexpensive, and used extensively in the astro community.

As a result, there are a number of mounting/focusing accessories available for it. If you get the EAF focuser along with it and the Asiair, it will make your life a whole lot easier!

[Doktor_KlingeL]

18 hours ago, WolfieGlos said:

Hi and welcome to SGL.

The ASI120mm is the camera, it needs to be attached to a scope. You could buy a bundle like this https://www.firstlightoptics.com/guide-cameras/zwo-mini-finder-guider-asi120mm-bundle.html which has both. It can be fixed onto a ballhead (not ideal but it works) or onto a finder shoe which could be clamped to the dovetail bar https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dovetails-saddles-clamps/astro-essentials-vixen-style-dovetail-clamp-for-finder-shoes.html if you’re using it .

To power the mount, you will need a power supply, either using an external power source or a power pack.

If you’ve not tried astrophotography before, then I would also highly recommend a bahtinov mask, this will ensure you get the correct focus.

The 24-105 lens is not ideal, zoom lenses are generally not the best for AP, but for learning the ropes it should be OK. I have one but haven’t ever used it for AP. Just watch out for zoom creep during the night, that’s one of the issues with them. I’ve heard of people gaffer taping the lens to stop this happening.

Camera will be fine, assume it is a stock DSLR so you will struggle to pick up emission nebulae (red ones) but all other targets are good. 

I see so this combination would work right?
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM mini ~ 220 Euro
Guide Scope: 32mm Travel GuideScope ~115 Euro

Yes my camera is stock and I dont want to modify it since I do use it as a normal camera too. What do you think about this refractor?
Refractor: TS-Optics Doublet SD-Apo 72 mm f/6 - FPL53 ~ 605 Euro

9 hours ago, Peds said:

Remember that the mount is the most important piece of equipment for astro-imaging.

Consider the Samyang/Rokinon 135mm f/2 ED UMC lens, if you're sticking to that mount. This lens is very good, inexpensive, and used extensively in the astro community.

As a result, there are a number of mounting/focusing accessories available for it. If you get the EAF focuser along with it and the Asiair, it will make your life a whole lot easier!

Thank you for the suggestion I will consider it. What do you think about this refractor?
Refractor: TS-Optics Doublet SD-Apo 72 mm f/6 - FPL53 ~ 605 Euro

[Elp]

The TS photoline apo refractors come highly regarded, I believe they also come in different brands too.

As you already have the camera you'll find the Samyang/Rokinon 135mm F2 lens very capable, I find it's better than a lot of telescopes, you can also use it around F3 so it'll be faster and wider than most scopes too, guiding will also be more forgiving.

Regarding guidescope, get the SVbony version (similar if not the same as the ZWO one), much cheaper.

If you'll want to do planetary at some point with a telescope, get the zwo 224mc instead. Otherwise the 120/220 are capable, if the budget stretches get the mono version as it'll pick up on guide stars easier.