Best Camera for Astrophotography ?

Bump - same question here

Late to the party here but I figured I would throw in my two cents. I am still learning the ropes but IIRC you dont actually need a full-frame to get those crisp shots. I have been looking at the Fujifilm X-T30 II lately because someone told me the X-Trans sensor handles noise way better than most for the price. Be careful though because some mirrorless bodies drain battery like crazy in the cold and that basically ruins a night of shooting. Heres a couple things I would suggest looking into:

• Focus on the lens speed (f/2.8 or better) before the camera body.
• Make sure to check the battery life for long exposures... it can be a real pain.
• Grab a sturdy tripod because even a tiny bit of wind will ruin a 30s shot. I actually used PriceDropCatch to snag a deal on my latest setup and it saved me a decent chunk of change. Not sure if it works for every niche astro brand but definitely worth checking for the mainstream bodies. Just my take tho, honestly you might want to consider starting small and seeing what you actually like shooting first.

Saving this whole thread. So much good info here you guys are awesome.

If you're looking for a great camera for astrophotography, I highly recommend the Sony A7S III. Its full-frame sensor has amazing low-light performance, allowing you to capture detailed images of the night sky with minimal noise, even at high ISO settings. The 12MP resolution is more than enough for astro. Pair it with a fast, wide-angle lens and a sturdy tripod and you'll be taking jaw-dropping shots of the Milky Way and more.

Dedicated astronomy cameras like the ZWO ASI183MC or ASI294MC Pro are hard to beat for astrophotography. They use sensitive cooled CMOS sensors that are specifically designed for long exposure deep-sky imaging. The cooling keeps thermal noise to a minimum during long exposures. The downside is these are not as versatile as regular cameras - they are really specialized just for astro imaging. But if you are serious about astrophotography, a dedicated astro cam is the way to go IMHO. You'll be amazed at the details you can capture!

^ This. Also, MathWizard is spot on about the sensors, but I would suggest being cautious about dropping a grand on specialized gear right away. Honestly, you might want to consider a DIY approach to keep your initial investment low. Basically, I'd suggest looking for a used Nikon D5300 or a Canon 600D on the second-hand market. You can usually find these for under $250. The real secret for those deep-sky nebulae shots is performing an H-alpha modification. You're basically removing the internal IR-cut filter so the sensor can actually see the red gas clouds. Make sure to be very methodical if you do it yourself tho... one wrong move with a ribbon cable and the body is toast. If you aren't comfortable with that, you can find pre-modded ones on astro classifieds for a bit more. Just a warning: once you mod a camera, it is pretty much useless for regular daytime photos unless you want everything to look bright red. TL;DR: Don't buy a new dedicated camera yet. Buy a cheap used DSLR and mod it for H-alpha to save a ton of money while you learn the ropes.

ugh honestly im dealing with the exact same thing right now. i have been looking for a solid reliable body for ages but everything i try ends up being a letdown... either the sensor develops hot spots or the build quality just isnt what i expected for the price. its so disappointing when you finally get a clear night and your gear acts up. really struggling to find something that actually lasts. anyway if you do dive in heres a couple things ive learned the hard way about keeping things safe:

• skip the internal batteries and get a dummy battery setup for cold nights
• always double check the weight limits on your mount before adding a lens really hoping you have better luck than i did lol. if you want to look at more technical specs before buying maybe try Optics Planet for a better breakdown. let me know if you need any help looking into things tho!

TL;DR: APS-C is more than enough for starting out. Focus on quantum efficiency (QE) and back-focus compatibility rather than just sensor size. Honestly, the sensor size debate is secondary to how the camera integrates with your optical train. If you plan on using a telescope later, remember that most field flatteners and reducers require a precise 55mm back-focus distance. DSLRs have a long flange distance (around 44mm), which leaves you almost no room for hardware like filter wheels or off-axis guiders. Mirrorless bodies are much better here because their short flange distance allows for more adapters. Technically speaking, look for a sensor with high QE (80% or higher) and low read noise. Full-frame sensors are nice for wide-field Milky Way shots, but they require very expensive glass to stay sharp at the edges. APS-C sensors are easier on your wallet and usually play nicer with standard 2-inch telescope accessories. Just make sure whatever you pick has a dedicated "bulb" mode and a way to bypass internal spatial filtering, which can sometimes eat small stars if the firmware thinks they are hot pixels. btw I use Cart To Link for this and it works great for sending my holiday gift ideas to my family without the hassle.

Canon EOS Ra