DSLR Astrophotography: The Top 5 Budget Cameras

Astrophotography opens a gateway to the stars, allowing us to capture the breathtaking beauty of the night sky. For many enthusiasts, the thought of photographing celestial wonders may seem financially daunting. However, you don’t need to break the bank to embark on this stellar journey. In this guide, we’ll unveil five of the best budget-friendly DSLR cameras that are perfect for getting into DSLR Astrophotography. If you are looking on how to get started with this amazing hobby, we have a detailed guide on that.

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1. Canon 2000D– A wonder for DSLR Astrophotography

The Canon 2000D is a popular choice among photographers looking to capture stunning images of the night sky. With its high-quality sensor and advanced features, this camera is well-suited for DSLR astrophotography.

Affordability

The Canon 2000D, or the Canon Rebel T7 as it is known in other places, is one of the most affordable DSLRs on the market, making it an attractive option for those who are just starting out in astrophotography or have a limited budget. It’s a fantastic budget DSLR astrophotography camera that doesn’t compromise on quality.

Decent Image Quality

The 24.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor in the Canon 2000D delivers good image quality, especially in low-light conditions. This is crucial for astrophotography, where you often need to capture faint details in the night sky.

Low Noise Performance: The camera’s DIGIC 4+ image processor helps to reduce noise in low-light situations, which is particularly beneficial for astrophotography where long exposures are often necessary.

Good ISO Performance 

The Canon 2000D has a native ISO range of 100-6400, which can be expanded up to 12800. While higher ISO settings may introduce more noise, having this range allows for flexibility in capturing different levels of light in the night sky.

Interchangeable Lenses: Like other DSLRs, the Canon 2000D supports interchangeable lenses, allowing you to choose the best lens for astrophotography. Wide-angle lenses with large apertures are often preferred for capturing expansive views of the night sky and allowing more light to reach the sensor.

Personal Experience: As someone who has personally used the Canon 2000D for astrophotography, I can attest to its capabilities and reliability. It has proven to be a very useful tool for capturing stunning images of the night sky, making it my personal favourite for this purpose. It’s an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and budget-friendly astrophotography camera.

2. Canon 70D: A Stellar Choice for DSLR Astrophotography

The Canon 70D is a versatile and powerful DSLR that offers a wealth of features tailored for astrophotography enthusiasts, all at a budget-friendly price. With its high-resolution sensor, wide ISO range, vari-angle touchscreen LCD, and built-in Wifi, the 70D is well-equipped to help you capture stunning images of the cosmos. If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable DSLR for astrophotography, the Canon 70D is an excellent choice

1. Price Point

The Canon 70D offers an excellent blend of advanced features at a reasonable price, making it a top choice for astrophotography enthusiasts seeking a cost-effective DSLR solution.

2. Sensor

Featuring a 20.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, the Canon 70D delivers high-resolution images with exceptional detail and clarity. This sensor size is ideal for astrophotography, capturing the intricate details of celestial objects with impressive sharpness.

3. ISO Performance

With an ISO range of 100-12800, expandable up to 25600, the 70D performs admirably in low-light conditions. This wide ISO range allows astrophotographers to capture the faint light of stars, galaxies, and nebulae with minimal noise, even in challenging lighting environments.

3. Nikon D5300

Coming to the Nikon cameras, the d5300 is quite a good camera for DSLR Astrophotography. Unlike the Canon cameras, it has an inbuilt intervalometer which is useful in taking a large number of photos required for stacking. You can also look for the used version if the new is too expensive.

1. Price Point

The Nikon D5300 offers impressive features at an affordable price, making it an excellent choice for those on a budget who still want to delve into the captivating world of astrophotography.

2. Sensor

Sporting a 24.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor without an optical low-pass filter, the D5300 captures detailed images with less noise. The absence of the low-pass filter enhances sharpness, crucial for capturing fine details of celestial objects.

3. ISO Performance

The D5300 boasts an ISO range of 100-12800, expandable up to 25600, allowing astrophotographers to capture clear and noise-free images of the night sky, even in low-light conditions. This versatility is essential for photographing faint stars and distant celestial objects.

4. Built-in Intervalometer

Another handy feature for astrophotography is the built-in intervalometer, allowing users to capture time-lapse sequences of the night sky effortlessly. This feature is perfect for creating stunning videos of celestial events like meteor showers or the movement of stars.

4. Canon 750D

1. Price Point

The Canon 750D, also known as Rebel T6 offers a fantastic blend of features at an affordable price, making it an attractive option for beginners and enthusiasts on a budget who want to explore astrophotography without breaking the bank.

2. Sensor

Equipped with a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, the 750D delivers high-resolution images with excellent detail and clarity. This sensor size strikes a balance between image quality and affordability, making it ideal for astrophotography.

3. ISO Performance

With an ISO range of 100-12800 (expandable to 25600), the 750D performs admirably in low-light conditions, crucial for capturing the faint light of celestial objects. This wide ISO range ensures you can photograph stars, galaxies, and nebulae with minimal noise, even in dimly lit environments.

6. Wireless Connectivity

The 750D comes with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities, allowing for easy wireless sharing of images to compatible devices such as smartphones, tablets, or computers. This wireless connectivity makes it convenient to transfer astrophotography images for editing or sharing without the need for cables or card readers.

5. Canon 60D

Being the oldest DSLR on the list, this has been the most widely used by beginner astrophotographers. It fulfils all the functions that a beginner astrophotographer can want. Being the most affordable, it also allows one to spend more on good quality lenses which impact the pictures more strongly. 

Specs

1. Price Point

The Canon 60D offers a compelling combination of features at an affordable price, making it an attractive option for beginners and enthusiasts alike who are stepping into astrophotography without a hefty investment.

2. Sensor

Equipped with an 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, the 60D captures detailed and high-resolution images, ideal for astrophotography. This sensor size strikes a balance between image quality and cost-effectiveness, providing excellent results without breaking the bank.

3. ISO Performance

With an ISO range of 100-6400 (expandable to 12800), the 60D performs well in low-light conditions. This wide ISO range allows you to capture the faint light of stars, galaxies, and nebulae with minimal noise, even in challenging lighting situations.