Best Astrophotography Telescopes for a Beginner

Searching for the best astrophotography telescopes for a beginner can be a little daunting, so here are the best entry-level telescopes for those with little astronomy experience.

 

Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope

The ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor is a true apochromatic telescope that reveals celestial wonders like the desolate beauty of the lunar terrain, the serene structure of Saturn’s rings, or the brightest deep sky treasures of the Messier series.

• Focal Length 480mm
• Focal Ratio f/6
• Limiting Magnitude 12
• Resolution 1.45 arcsec
• Tube Length w/ Dew Shield 18.5″; 475mm
• Tube Length w/o Dew Shield 15″; 381mm
• Diameter 85mm
• Weight 5.95 lb; 2.7 kg
• Dovetail Vixen

 

Recommended Field Flattener/Reducer:

StarField 0.8X Reducer/Flattener

The ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor is a true apochromatic telescope that reveals celestial wonders like the desolate beauty of the lunar terrain, the serene structure of Saturn’s ring,s or the brightest deep sky treasures of the Messier series.

The unique optical accessory is a must for anyone imaging with a DSLR or dedicated astronomy camera. What makes this reducer different from all the others? The M42 connection is removable and can be replaced with an optional M48 threaded adapter for Full Frame cameras.

Providing pinpoint stars across the field of view, the Starfield 0.8x reducer/flattener decreases the focal length of your imaging refractor. Designed to be used with any refractor, f/5.5 and longer, with a 2″ focuser, and requires 55mm of back focus. Perfect for any DSLR imager. No additional extension rings are needed. With 38 mm of clear aperture, the chance of vignetting is removed and is well suited for APS-C-sized and smaller sensors—a 42mm clear aperture when the optional 48mm T-Ring adapter is used. Your imaging sessions will benefit from shorter exposure times and a larger field of view. A standard 10mm T-Ring is required.

Multi-coated optics housed in high polish and hard anodized finished aluminum body to help reduce weight. Its all-metal constructed accessory will look like jewelry for your telescope.

Includes standard M42 T thread for camera connection and 48mm filter thread to add your favorite light pollution filter.

 

The Explore Scientific ED80 is an excellent telescope for astrophotography

The ES ED80 is an affordable option for beginners with a high-value return. Offering true diffraction-limited optics with genuine HOYA FCD1 ED glass, the ED80 is the perfect size to encourage spontaneous stargazing sessions, this high-quality telescope is a perfect grab-and-go instrument for exploring the skies.

This scope’s small size and weight means that it will get plenty of use both visually and photographically. Entry-level mounts such as the Celestron AVX or the Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro can carry this telescope and all necessary astrophotography gear.

Explore Scientific also offers a carbon fiber version of the ED80. The CF version has identical specs other than the fact that it is lighter and better at adapting to temperature.

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Orion ED80T CF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor Telescope

The 80mm apochromatic triplet Orion ED80T CF refractor telescope. With an 80mm aperture triplet objective featuring FPL-53 extra-low dispersion glass, views,s and captured images come through true to color and exhibit tack-sharp resolution.

Apochromatic refractor telescopes have a devoted following amongst amateur astronomers, for good reason. The crisp view offered by a high-quality apo refractor is truly a wonder to behold and share.

Popular with astrophotography enthusiasts, the 80mm apochromatic triplet Orion ED80T CF refractor telescope. With an 80mm aperture triplet objective featuring FPL-53 extra-low dispersion glass, views and captured images come through true to color and exhibit tack-sharp resolution.

Recommended Field Flattener/Reducer:

Orion 80mm ED F/6 CF Triplet APO Refractor Telescope is a favorite amongst astrophotography enthusiasts delivering amazing images. This 80mm aperture triplet objective features FPL-53 extra-low dispersion glass that provides tack-sharp resolution as the views and captured images come true to color. Apochromatic refractor telescopes are very popular amongst amateur astronomers because of the crisp views given off during observation. An APO refractor telescope significantly reduces chromatic aberration or false color, due to the use of the ED (Extra-low Dispersion) optical glass and the use of the three optical elements. Real-time observers and imaging experts have found the apochromatic refractor telescopes to be a preferred choice in instruments considering the visual and imaging benefits it gives off.

A versatile power performer telescope well-suited for multiple applications, the Orion Orion 80mm ED F/6 CF Triplet APO Refractor Telescope is an excellent instrument for astrophotography when used with an imaging-capable equatorial mount and CCD and DSLR camera.

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William Optics Zenithstar 73 APO

73mm ZenithStar Doublet APO Refractor from William Optics boasts Ohara FPL-53 glass from Japan and a saddle handlebar that accepts Synta-style dovetails, such as the UniGuideguide scope or the Slide base guiding rings (not included). The ZenithStar 73 also comes with a 2.5″ Rack & Pinion focuser and Dual Sided dovetail bar. The William Optics DSD 210 Plate has both a Vixen and Arca Swiss size at each end of the plate. The plate has two 1/4-20 threaded holes.

It works great with most cameras, camera lenses, and small scopes on either a Vixen-style mount or an Arca Swiss saddle.

• Diameter: 73mm
• Focal Length: 430mm
• Focal Ratio: f/5.9
• Weight: 5.5 lbs
• Glass: FPL-53
• T-Mounts Supported Canon EF, RF Nikon F, Z Sony E Pentax K Micro Four Thirds (M4/3) FUJI

 

Recommended Field Flattener/Reducer:

Flat73A field flattener or the Flat73R 0.8x reducer

The William Optics ZenithStar 73 III is an atwo-elementt apochromatic refractor with a focal ratio of f/5.9 and an afocal length of 430mm. Utilizing FPL-53 synthetic fluorite glass, this telescope provides excellent aberration correction.

The 2.5″ 10:1 rack & pinion focuser is smooth, stable,e and reliable, providing no slippage over long imaging sessions. The new CNC-machined and anodizedhandlebarr with the finder-style saddle is perfect for attaching a guide scope or other accessories. The ZenithStar 73 III also includes William Optics’ innovative clear Bahtinov mask integrated into the lens cap.

For best imaging results, it is recommended to pair the ZenithStar 73 III with its matching Flat73A field flattener or the Flat73R 0.8x reducer.

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Sky-Watcher Evostar 80ED

The Skywatcher Evostar 80ED is an apochromatic doublet refractor that offers high performance for visual observers and astrophotographers. The objective lens features an element similar in performance to FPL-53, extra-low dispersion glass (ED) that minimizes the chromatic aberration for the best color correction. As a result, planets and the moon are sharp at high magnification and in astrophotography, images have a high contrast as stars are not surrounded by the purple halo due to chromatic aberration.

• Diameter: 80mm
• Focal Length: 600mm
• Focal Ratio: f/7.5
• Weight: 12.6 lbs
• Glass: Schott BK-7 and FPL-53 ED

Recommended Field Flattener/Reducer:

Sky-Watcher 0.85X focal reducer and corrector for Pro ED80

The Evostar 80 ED is an excellent telescope for astrophotography. Its chromatic correction is the highest of all the other Evostar telescopes and its small dimension and affordable price makes this telescope the best entry-level apochromatic refractor for astrophotographers.

Its sharpness and color correction makes this telescope ideal for sun and moon eclipses and sun observations (with a full aperture filter,), especially with a Barlow lens to increase the focal length.

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William Optics RedCat 51

The 51 mm RedCat is a perfect scope for the beginner or advanced astrophotographer looking to shoot expansive deep-sky images while increasing the portability of their astrophotography setup. This RedCat refractor has a 51 mm objective lens with 250 mm of focal length, resulting in a fast f/4.9 focal ratio. High-quality Ohara FPL53 glass comprises the lenses of this quadruplet refractor and provides a flat field, even for full-frame camera sensors. The RedCat 51 sports 48mm threads for compatibility with most digital and mirrorless cameras from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Penta,x, and others, as well as dedicated astrophotography cameras from most brands, including QHY and ZWO. In addition, this refractor comes with a camera sensor tilt adjuster to provide the perfect camera orientation for your setup and the objects you wish to photograph.

• Diameter: 51mm
• Focal Length: 250mm
• Focal Ratio: f/4.9
• Weight: 3.2 lbs
• Glass: FPL-53

Recommended Field Flattener/Reducer:

None (Petzval Lens Design)

The William Optics RedCat 51 Version II is a fast apochromatic petzval refractor optimized for widefield astrophotography. Affordable, small,l and lightweight, the RedCat is perfect for traveling and on-the-go imaging.

With a fast focal ratio of f/4.9 and a focal length of 250mm, the RedCat 51 is perfect for capturing large deep space objects such as the Rosette nebula, the Pleiades, Eta Carin, and more. The RedCat also excels as a telephoto wildlife lens.

Beginner-level Deep-Sky Targets

These are the recommended beginner-level deep-sky targets, which can all be captured right now and into the winter season.

Pleiades Star Cluster: a cluster of super-bright stars with a fantastic glow of wispy blue reflection nebulosity.

• It’s one of the easiest targets to get started on, but the bright stars can also be tricky to get right in the processing.
• Orion Nebula: as one of the most famous deep-sky targets, It’s easy to find, and there are plenty of nearby bright stars to help you find it and focus your camera. The intense luminosity of Orion makes it easier to capture; however, capturing the full dynamic range will keep you busy well into the intermediate and advanced stages of your astrophotography journey.
• Rosette Nebula: this target isn’t located too far from Orion but is a little harder to find. This object involves a beautiful cluster of stars with a symmetrical ‘flower’ of nebulosity.

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Astrophotography Telescopes for a Beginner

These five of the best astrophotography telescopes for a beginner, budding astronomers, and astrophotographers — easy setups and pleasing views on affordable budgets.

There are three main types of telescopes: reflector, refractor,r, and catadioptric, all more or less suitable depending on the desired night sky subjects. Typically, reflectors are better for viewing faint, deep-sky objects like nebulae and galaxies, whereas refractors are popular for observing objects like planets or moons. Catadioptrics combine refractive and reflective technology, allowing for long focal lengths and wide apertures in smaller telescope bodies. Catadioptric telescopes can give you the best of both worlds and can be a happy middle ground.

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