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The best astrophotography cameras will provide you the ability to appreciate and explore the cosmos above in ways that your telescope simply can’t compete with when you’re sick of just staring at the stars.
You can capture the universe for artistic expression or scientific record-keeping rather of merely staring at the stars. You can’t take high-quality photos of space with any old equipment because the best astrophotography cameras are meticulously honed imaging systems with incredibly specialized characteristics.
Thanks to specialized sensors designed to withstand solar radiation and unique GPS capabilities that track the path of the stars, the greatest astrophotography cameras unveil the secrets to taking magnificent images with the type of clarity and detail that others are simply not able to do.
| Image | Product Name | Editor's Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Sony Alpha 7S III | Check Price | |
 | Pentax K-1 Mark II | Check Price | |
 | Nikon D850 | Check Price | |
 | OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1 | Check Price | |
 | Sony a7 III | Check Price |
5 Best Camera for Astrophotography Reviews
We’ve got you covered in our guide, and everything is divided up into sections so you’ll know exactly what you’re looking at. Whether you’re looking for a conventional camera, a CCD camera that mounts to your telescope, or even just the best smartphone for astrophotography, we’ve got you covered. We believe our guides to the finest telescopes to construct your stargazing kit and the best binoculars for stargazing will be helpful if you’re starting from scratch and want more than just a camera.
1. Sony Alpha 7S III
Thanks to its absurd native ISO range of 80-102,400 (which can be expanded to 409,600, but you’ll never ever shoot that high) and dual native ISO, the Sony A7S III provides performance that is nearly equivalent to night vision. The A7S III has two native ISOs, one at ISO640 and one at ISO16000 (though this varies in video modes), whereas the majority of cameras only have one native ISO (the level at which performance is clearest).
It should not be surprising that this camera is the best for Astro videography since it has a body that is primarily intended for video. The A7S III only has a 12.1MP sensor, which is a compromise. Since there are fewer pixels, each one is larger and able to gather more light, which improves the camera’s low-light performance, but there is less detail if you wish to print your photos.
Although this is the best camera for filming stars, there is one catch: when shooting video with sharp wide-angle lenses, the “star eater” phenomenon that afflicted earlier Sony cameras can occasionally be seen. In this phenomenon, overactive noise reduction would mistake stars for noise. Furthermore, the Sony only has a meager 4x magnification compared to the EOS Ra’s enormous 30x magnification, which can make focusing difficult, particularly for those with weak vision.
2. Pentax K-1 Mark II
While DSLRs are still some of the greatest astrophotography cameras, mirrorless bodies are fantastic for capturing the stars. weather sealing, in-body image stabilization (IBIS), and intelligently created variable angle back screen, the Pentax K-1 Mark II is the best of the group. And when you consider everything else it has to offer, the K-1 Mark II might be the best all-around astro camera, even though it can’t compete with the EOS Ra or A7S III for specialized features.
Pentax’s Astrotracer technology is key to this. Astrotracer uses the stabilization in conjunction with the built-in GPS to correct for the movement of the stars rather than utilizing the stabilization (which makes minute adjustments to the image sensor) to correct for camera shake. When the camera is mounted to a tripod, it moves the sensor using GPS data to prevent undesired star trails so you may take long exposure photos without obtaining star trails.
With external illumination that illuminates the underside of the rear screen as well as the camera mount (for changing lenses in the pitch-black of night), Night Vision mode that turns the LCD screen red to optimize it (and your eyes) for shooting in the dark, and other features, this camera is made specifically for amazing astrophotography.
3. Nikon D850
The Nikon D850 lacks any astronomy-specific functions, in contrast to other cameras on this list. Instead, it is just a terrific DSLR with features that are ideal for taking pictures of the night sky.
Its 45.7MP picture sensor is rear side illuminated, which implies that it has higher light-gathering ability, less noise, and overall better image quality (the circuitry is on the underside, not the front). This contributes to enviable low light performance together with a reasonable, if not extraordinary, ISO range. The D850 also features dual native ISO, although only at the less advantageous ISO64 and ISO400 sensitivities, similar to the Sony A7S III.
The large DSLR is a delight to hold, with weather sealing, and an optical viewfinder curtain system to block stray light during long exposure photography.
Additionally, it has two card slots, one each for XQD/CFexpress and SD. We’d love to have all the buttons light up, but being able to see crucial controls in the dark is a really welcome addition. Another significant plus is the inclusion of illuminated buttons, but just on the left-hand side of the camera.
4. OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1
In order to make the bodies (and lenses) much smaller, lighter, and less expensive, Micro Four Thirds sensors are around half the size of full frame sensors. As a result, your gear is portable enough to take anyplace. The sensor has less surface area to absorb light, though, due to its relatively smaller size.
However, as the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III demonstrates, there are other factors to take into account when it comes to astrophotography besides just sensor size.
A special Starry Sky AF algorithm on the E-M1 III allows for precise autofocus on even the tiny stars. When using a tripod, the Accuracy Priority mode will help you achieve sharp focus, but the Speed Priority mode (which makes advantage of the effective image stabilization, capable of up to 7.5 stops of adjustment) allows you to take wide-angle astrophotos while holding the camera in your hand!
Capturing light trails is made incredibly simple by the Live Time and upgraded Live Composite modes, which let you to keep the shutter open for six hours and only adjust exposure as lighting changes to keep your shots clear and uniformly lighted. Even while taking pictures, you may charge the camera using a USB device like a power bank.
The E-M1 Mark III delivers strong tools that make it a formidable choice despite the smaller sensor if size, weight, and cost are factors.
5. Sony a7 III
The Sony A7 III is a darn fine mirrorless camera that is excellent for shooting the stars; unlike the Nikon D850, it is not a dedicated astrophotography camera. The A7 III has a rear side illuminated full frame sensor (with a lesser 24.2MP resolution), just like the D850, and an extremely high ISO range that reaches an incredible 51,200 natively and is extendable all the way to 204,800.
Using two memory card slots plus the option to use USB power while shooting, such as a power bank, will allow you to take long exposures all night without any issues. To make the most of the camera, you’ll need to be able to overlook a few Sony-specific oddities, though.
When taking still photos, the main issue is the notorious “star eater” phenomenon, in which strong noise reduction can cause stars to vanish during lengthy exposures. Although it’s not as terrible as older Sony bodies, the issue does occasionally resurface. The other problems are with the rear screen, which merely tilts, has a very poor resolution (less than a million pixels), and has extremely limited touch functionality.
Final Verdict
Imaging tools called astrophotography cameras allow you to take clear, long-exposure pictures of the night sky. This is accomplished mostly by depressing the shutter release for a long enough period of time (often 30 seconds) to allow the faint starlight to be seen clearly through the darkness of night.
You’ll obviously need a camera with excellent image quality for this, but one of the most difficult tasks that any camera can complete is taking amazing pictures in low light.
The top astrophotography cameras therefore need to have a number of essential features, including outstanding ISO performance (the sensitivity of the camera’s image sensor), the capacity to record low noise and high dynamic range, and a competent image processor to translate all of this technology into the best image.
Some cameras even have a specially modified IR filter on the sensor that is intended to let infrared radiation from deep space pass through (instead of blocking them, as they do on stock sensors in 99% of cameras), allowing the camera to record them.
There are two types of cameras: DSLRs and mirrorless. DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras have a larger body and a conventional mirror mechanism inside that flips out of the way when it’s time to take a picture. These are frequently more affordable and robust but utilize outdated engineering. Mirrorless cameras are more compact and lightweight than traditional cameras and do away with the mirror, allowing you to see your final image both through the viewfinder and on the back screen in real time.