Introduction
Just like every savvy person out there today, having hobbies is an excellent way to make your life enjoyable, and share beautiful moments in time as well. What a better way to share beautiful moments or hobbies than without a powerful camera to match. This is why we recommend the best camera for astrophotography as an excellent place for you to start.
For those who are not aware astrophotography, is taking photographs of objects in space, celestial activities, and specific locations of the night sky. While the first astronomical photo was taken somewhere in 1840, it was not up until the 19th century that quality cameras were developed. Over the years, several reliable brands have come that develop quality cameras with many unique features for photography. We have outlined some of these top cameras for you to consider
Nikon D3400
Take your astrophotography project to the next level by investing in the Nikon D3400 NIKKOR camera. It comes with snap bridge Bluetooth connectivity, thus making it easy to connect to a handheld device. Furthermore, the camera has a powerful 24.2 MP DX-format CMOS sensor, that delivers rich and accurate images. More so, the camera features a unique EXPEED 4 image sensor, that is powerful and reliable for various types of photo taking projects. The D3400 makes photography projects convenient and fun, thus freeing your mind to focus on natural projects. To make things much better, the Snapbridge is also connected with Nikon Image Space. This is a cloud storage and sharing site, that lets you back up your photos, and to create new albums which you can share. Even first time users of the camera will enjoy its exceptional functionality. It comes with a bright optical viewfinder, that will deliver glare-free and a sharp view of the world. The Nikon brand has also done well to include a comfortable grip that allows for convenient handling.
Pros
- Offers snapbridge Bluetooth connectivity functions
- It also has a powerful 24.2 DX CMOS sensor
- The camera feels compact and ergonomic on the hands
- It also has a bright optical viewfinder
Cons
- Connecting to the snap bridge takes a lot of time
- Some users find the handle grip rather small in their hands
Nikon D850
You are one step from becoming one of the best astrophotographers that the world has ever seen. Yes, that`s right – a single step away from your dream with the Nikon D850 FX-Format Camera. The camera comes with a Nikon designed backside illuminated sensor, with a no optical low pass filter. The unique filter provides a glare-free view of the world, thus offering enhanced image quality each time. Capable of delivering as much as 45 megapixels of outstanding resolution, your images with always stand out from the rest. More so, the camera can record up to 8 fps1 continuous shooting at full resolution, and with complete AF performance. The enhanced AF performance means that you shoot quality images, with a great focus on the main subject of the image. You can even record 8K6 and 4k time-lapse movies with exceptional levels of detail.
Pros
- Comes with a Nikon backside full-frame image sensor
- It also a powerful 45-megapixel resolution level
- The camera allows for up to 9 fps1 continuous shooting at full resolution
- Has a tilting touch screen and focus shift shooting mode
Cons
- Adjusting the autofocus of this camera is not easy
- Could use enhanced design ergonomics
Canon EOS REBEL T7i
Discover the excellence of using the CANON EOS Rebel 77i Body. The camera comes with a powerful 24.2 megapixel CMOS sensor that delivers exceptional images each time. More so, the inclusion of the in-built Wi-Fi and NFC will provide reliable connectivity functions. The camera also has high-speed continuous shooting capabilities that average at as much as 60fps. Packed with a powerful image processor, this machine delivers fast processing with image you capture. Its also equipped with a powerful colour filter system and a unique metering range. As one of the best cameras for photography, the Canon EOS Rebel T7i is both compact and powerful at the same time. It also comes with an outstanding LCD, that is right even during the day.
Pros
- Features a powerful 24.2 MP CMOS sensor
- It also has inbuilt Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- The camera also accommodates high-speed continuous shooting
- Has a powerful colour filter system
Cons
- The Wi-Fi range of this unit is somehow short
- Boots up slowly when the memory is fully to capacity
Sony a7R III Mirrorless Camera
You can never go wrong with a good Sony Camera. This is why the Sony a7R III Mirrorless Camera is an excellent recommendation for your needs. It can shoot high-speed subjects at as much as 10fps with continuous and accurate tracking results. Furthermore, the back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor with the gapless on-chip lens does well to collect more light. This way, the camera can capture and record images with precise detail. For faster image processing, the camera features an updated BIONZ X processing engine that can boost speeds to as much as 1.8x. The Sony Alpha 7R three mirrorless camera can also record clear 4k video for viewing and editing purposes. You will also appreciate the several accessories available with this unit, such as the power cord, cable protector, eyepiece cup, and more. The camera even allows for silent shooting at up to 10fps with AF/AE tracking.
Pros
- Can shoot high-speed subjects at 10fps
- Comes with a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor
- The powerful BIONZ X processing engine boosts speeds to 1.8x
- Available with several accessories such as a power cord and eyepiece cup
Cons
- Only compatible with the lens kits of these specific brands
- The power cord port is not well-positioned
Pentax K-S2 20MP DSLR
Are you searching for the perfect camera for astrophotography? Well, the Pentax k-S2 20MP Camera is ideal for your needs. It comes with a 20MP AA filter-less APS-C CMOS sensor with ISO speeds of as much as 51200. Furthermore, the camera also has an in-camera wi-fi with a dedicated connectivity button for convenience. The Pentax K-S2 also has a large high-resolution 3-inch variable angle swing-out LCD monitor. The powerful LCD monitor delivers high-quality image content to let you enjoy unrivaled entertainment each time. More so, the full weather-sealed, dustproof, and cold-proof design will provide body shake reduction. The newly adopted clarity enhancement options also provide enhanced texture impression to the images by improving the spatial frequencies. You can even enjoy exceptional clarity on a screen fit view on various types of monitors as well. The 3.0-inch 921K dots and air gapless LCD provide excellent visibility, also when displaying images outdoors.
Pros
- Comes with a 20MP AA filter-less APS-C CMOS sensor
- Has a large high-resolution 3-inch variable LCD
- The exterior is dust, cold and weatherproof
- Capable of 4 interval movie capture and 1080p HD Video
Cons
- The LCD screen could be bright in low light conditions
- Customizing the system software is complex for some users
Canon EOS Rebel T6
Make a good impression with the quality of your astrophotography images by investing in the Canon EOS Rebel T6 Camera. It comes with a powerful 18 megapixel CMOS image sensor and high-performance processor. Both of these hardwares will provide exceptional image quality and speed performance. More so, the ISO 6400 is ideal for shooting from bright to low light. The camera is also fully compatible with Eye-Fi cards, and various types of multimedia cards. Moreover, the camera has a unique black finish that is durable, and offers several days of reliable astrophotography performance. It also has an inbuilt Wi-Fi and NFC feature, that allows for easy sharing of data to compatible devices. Thanks to the inclusion of the 9 point AF system, you can be sure of outstanding autofocus performance. Even more, the exceptionally high-performance viewfinder helps to improve the quick and accurate focusing of the camera. Designed to be ergonomic and comfortable on the hands, the camera works well for various image taking operations.
Pros
- Comes with a powerful 18 megapixel CMOS ( APS C) image sensor
- Has inbuilt Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity hardware
- Equipped with a high-performance optical viewfinder for enhanced focusing
- Has a 9 point AF system and AI servo to improve the autofocus
Cons
- The autofocus is sometimes inaccurate in low light
- The viewfinder is somewhat small for some users
Conclusion
Ever since the first astrophoto was taken in the 1840s, the quality of images and tools for such projects has experienced immense improvements. Regardless of whether you are a novice or advanced user, getting equipped with the best camera for astrophotography is beneficial. The cameras will make it easy to take photos of the sky or even celestial bodies, and share them with just a simple click. You can even use the camera for conventional photography projects such as get-togethers, events, personal purposes, and more. As such, you have a camera that is both dynamic and powerful enough for your needs.
