BEST Telescopes For Astrophotography (Beginner and Advanced)

I've gone through a lot of telescopes (armature and professional) for my astronomy hobby and these are the best of the bunch that I've settled on. They are all affordable for home users who want to get into astrophotography, the Celestron NexStar 8SE is the one I started with as a beginner. The other setups are a little more advanced.
Please subscribe to this KZbin Channel and follow me on Instagram at: / chucksastrophotography
These are my astrophotography rigs:
Rig #1: (Advanced)
Imaging Telescope:
Explore Scientific ED127
Imaging Camera:
ZWO ASI1600MM
Mount:
Celestron CGX
Guide Scope:
Orion ST80
Guide Camera:
LodeStar X2
__________________________
Rig #2: (Advanced)
Imaging Telescope:
Celestron RASA 8-inch
Imaging Camera:
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
Mount:
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Guide Scope:
ZWO 60mm Guide Scope
Guide Camera:
ZWO ASI224MC
__________________________
Rig #3: (Advanced)
Imaging Telescope:
Explore Scientific AR102
DayStar Solar Scout SS60-ds
Solar Filter:
DayStar Quark
Imaging Camera:
ZWO ASI183MM
Mount:
Celestron AVX
__________________________
Rig #4: (Beginner)
Imaging Telescope:
Celestron NexStar 8SE
Imaging Camera:
ZWO ASI183MM or
ZWS ASI224MC
Mount:
Single Fork Arm Alt-Az

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Please SUBSCRIBE to this KZbin Channel for more videos like this, thanks!

[@sgtreynolds3946]

Subbed & thanks for sharing the video. If you don't mind answering how much would a set-up like the 1st one cost?

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

@@sgtreynolds3946 Close to $8K.

[@JesusIsaFlatEarther]

@@ChucksAstrophotography now I know why many motionless flat Earther's are using the Cannon P-1000, it's much cheaper.

[@ttrestle]

I subscribed to your channel and I’m in the market for a new telescope, my first, right now. I was really hoping you would have prices listed alongside your rigs. My budget is $2,000 - $2,500 and my goal is to see objects within the solar system first, but would absolutely love to see objects outside the solar system as well. I recognize I might not have the amount of money needed to do that. If I only could buy one telescope, what do you recommend? I really respect your opinion and eagerly await your reply.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

@@ttrestle I actually do list prices in my TikTok video. But a telescope, mount, camera, guide scope, guide camera all adds up. You can start in this hobby for less than $1K with just a DSLR camera and Star Tracker: www.tiktok.com/@chucksastrophotography/video/6918741876300451078?lang=en&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v2

[@adeelanwar1.0]

It will be interesting to point these rigs at the same time towards a single target and compare their image quality in the same environmental conditions.

[@frankv7068]

I went from sneaker collection to watch collection, don’t know how I ended up in telescope collection 😂

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

That sums me up too, lol.

[@aasifkamaal4507]

Lol

[@PetraKann]

I collect the stickers used on bananas. Only been at it for 8 months so my album only has 237 stickers in it. The total value of my album is about $7.84 - maybe even more depending on demand for bananas and cyclonic activity in the tropics

[@lukasenegacnik7246]

Damn, crazy ride 🤣

[@Adinanibs]

Exactly the same with my haha

[@dirtydogg06]

Where I live I just need to drive 40 minutes out to a state forest and I’m into the blue!! 0 light pollution, and what you see with just your eyes is amazing.

[@brucenunn3268]

Love the outtakes.. lol You Def have some nice rigs Chuck..!! 👊😷

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Bruce!

[@MissPinaii]

Hi Chuck! I’ve been looking to get into astrophotography this year. Glad to have come across your channel.

[@RaysAstrophotography]

Great tour Chuck! Love all the scopes!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Ray!

[@jakedevries1455]

Impressive sir, I'm here from Reddit and just want to say thanks 👍 I love looking at you pictures on Reddit and Instagram. Thanks again!

[@jeffinjoe]

Just like all of your followers I was really waiting for this, thanks a million

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Jeffin Joe!

[@trey4857]

love the gear and info, love the bloopers, and i love Cain. You have a new subscriber

[@AndreaGirones]

Oh my goodness I’ve just started watching your “outtakes” and they are hysterical and a great part of your videos Chuck 😂😂

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

lol, thanks!

[@rosevan5485]

Thanks for the tour. Enjoyed this, especially during these difficult times. Take care Chuck and be safe... Cheers.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Rosevan , same to you.

[@h0ll0wm9n]

The images that your are able to capture and process -- esp. given your urban, humid , often overcast location (I'm originally from NW Ohio) --- are quite remarkable. Nice work, Chuck!

[@stunner216badboy]

Awesome vid I plan to buy my first scope ever in February thanks again for the information and happy holidays

[@tamrich7762]

Thanks Chuck!,for sharing your rigs,lovely setups.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Tam!

[@MrMelville100]

Love your big rig chuck! Clear skies!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Melly!

[@andyweeks2216]

Chuck! It IS the perfect shape! Enjoyed the video as usual.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

lol, thanks Andy!

[@Banditooro]

Thanks I watched several of your vid’s before I made my first purchase. Your vid’s are very helpful thanks.

[@banukadimuthu4070]

One of most wanted video. Stay safe chuck 💪👍✌️

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Banuka, same to you.

[@carloberg8772]

Thanks. It's always fun to watch folks get excited talking about their cool stuff, especially when the stuff is actually way cool, as this is. The night sky in Dexter is a little darker I think from where you are and I always thought how fun it would be... but I did a little running total of the cost of youre driveway line up. You know, you could buy a boat for that kind of $$.

[@SCAerialsSteveCarpenter]

Wow, Chuck, very nice set of rigs! I think you’re covered for just about everything except having one of the Keck scopes in your backpack, LOL! Thanks for the fun tour, stay safe and well.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

lol, thanks Steve - you stay safe as well.

[@axford696969]

Excellent video as always Chuck, stay safe Sir......

[@jesseurrea9566]

Crazy cool the passion and love you have for your telescope great job

[@steppen57]

Wow! Thank you for sharing your rig set up. It makes me feel a bit better. I have 4 telescopes, and 3 mounts. 2 alt-az go-to great as you said for planetary and lunar and one GEM for DSO imaging. I see how they fit different purposes. I started with a Celestron CST thinking that it could do it all, and it can but under ideal conditions. But, I also live 20 mins from the city center of one of the largest cities in the US. Amazing the current technology that allows to image from such poor conditions. But between the scopes, the filters, the cameras and all the paraphernalia, it can work!

[@Astro49flyer]

Hello Chuck. Thanks for posting a tour of your rigs. I really enjoy your your videos.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Don!

[@scottwilliams895]

Great summary video, thanks!!

[@roybatty2680]

Love the comments about the 8 SE. Reminds me to do the same with my older equip.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Yeah, it's still a use rig.

[@joeneely301]

Thank you for this... I'm trying to dive into DSO photography, this is all new to me

[@johnroxburgh4087]

Cain at the end was a great touch

[@bobhider7178]

Hey chuck, Wyoming Bob here. Loved the video on your rig's gave me food for thought. My sister lives in Elba so my thoughts and prayers are with you guys. Be safe and open skies

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Bob, glad you found the video useful.

[@tanginamo69]

I learned alot from you my guy! Appreciate it! 💯

[@benhawkes9050]

Great video as always Chuck, once all this madness is over I'll certainly be switching my 6se to something bigger and better. Stay safe man 👍

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Ben, stay safe!

[@terrygarbut1442]

Thanks for your contribution to the astro community. Dylan and AstroBackyard led me here. I live 'up the road' from AstroBackyard! I had relatives that used to live in your neighborhood. Stay safe.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Cool, thanks for stopping by, Terry.

[@scottadams5858]

Awesome Chuck, thanks for the tour man

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks for watching, Scott!

[@elmikol2443]

Thanks for sharing Chuck! Nice star fleet!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Mike!

[@dadduorp]

Jeebuz. And here I thought I’d gone overboard when I [just] purchased an Orion BT-100 with Monster Parallelogram mount. I need to show this video to my wife to prove I’ve only just begun. Nice rigs!!

[@spllthatwine]

Glad to find your channel man I love your setups they're awesome! I am also 20 minutes from Detroit and about 20 minutes from the airport so who knows we probably live in the same area lol anyway love your videos dude glad I found this channel

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

Great collection Chuck ! Interesting information about the focus stability. With my Skywatcher Ed80/600 I can image all night without changing focus, only one time i lost focus when I photographed at zenith. Stay safe and Clear Sky !

[@OliverBerresford]

Great tour of the scopes, Love the outtakes👍

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Oliver :-)

[@justiny2215]

Nice setup! Love your pasion!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Justin!

[@superman2j3]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing!

[@astrofotoperu]

Nice rigs Chuck! Nice to see you are good! Stay safe! Cheers from Perú!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks astrofotoperu , I hope Perú is staying safe as well.

[@timrichey1162]

Fantastic, really like the bloopers.....do you have a video of you carrying around those scopes

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Tim, here is a video of my startup process: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zmilh2mmn7iNoqM

[@stans6582]

Chuck Always good stuff........ stay safe................. and keep them coming

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Stan - you stay safe too!

[@victorthomas8432]

Chuck your awesome I absolutely love what your doing.

[@evastronomy8048]

What a video, thanks for sharing, and good to see my nexstar 8se on the list again...!!!👍, and nice all the stakes at rhe end of the vid...you made my laugh....😁👍

[@sgtokie]

GREAT INFORMATION, THANKS FOR THE VIDEO!

[@AstroForumSpace]

Another lovely video Chuck ft. DJ Cane! I also don't know what to say about the situation except, take care and stay healthy.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Astroforum!

[@patrickugorcak]

Hi Chuck. Wow! It was inspiring to see the great Astro images you can capture in the city. I’m originally from Detroit (currently in Allen Park). I always thought the city light pollution was a limiting factor. Looking into buying my first decent telescope and trying to decide which way to go. Interested in photography and would like to try Astro. Do you have any advice on the best way to get started.

[@AbdullahADFpoint]

0:35 I started to believe you right after this moment 😂

[@nathanwhorf452]

great video! really good info and made me smile at the end. :)

[@hooper365]

Nasa astronomy picture of the day woo I'm honored to hear that

[@BehindEarthTamil]

I subscribed Sir fantastic explanation and great presentation 😊😊😊💐💐

[@chrismartin8381]

Thanks for showing your rigs... just started to learn astrophotography. Watching your videos has really helped in getting nuggets of info.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Glad to hear it, thanks Chris!

[@chrismartin8381]

@@ChucksAstrophotography Any words of wisdom as I begin this endeavor? Thnx....

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

@@chrismartin8381 Just remember to have fun, even when you get frustrated if things don't work.

[@77BlackKnight]

Chuck the living astro legend and deep sky servy. Totaly cool. 😀

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

lol, thanks Andreas!

[@LOL_Addicts]

Thank you so much for the clear videos, you show us telescope and it's photo, best clear and understanding video I've ever watched, I hope you tell me if you did a new collection video about it.

[@lukesastro2380]

Great collection Chuck!!!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Luke!

[@Exointegra353]

Keep up the good vids 🙏🏻

[@john6100]

awesome video! Very helpful for beginners

[@philippefenain4405]

Great informative video as usual. Take care !

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Philippe!

[@drfritz142]

Hi Chuck, I so enjoy watching your videos. Thank you so much. Very enlightening and entertaining! I still have some more to watch, so I am not sure if you already covered a question that I have, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. My question is, actually, there are two: #1: why not take an equatorial wedge on a alt-az mount to turn that into an equatorial mount and not have to worry about the meridian flip? The german equ. mount seems to be the way to go, but why not do it with a wedge? And #2: do you have to rotate your camera by 180 degrees after the flip? Or is this done by the image processing afterwards? How does plate solving or auto centering work after the flip? Isn't everything upside down then? Thanks again and clear skies! :-)

[@fatduck9593]

Thank you so much, I'm getting into astronomy and astrophysics right now. This video really helped. Unfortunately due to my age I have a low budget and I live in a city centre

[@agermangineer]

Love that vid!!! Way cool and thanx! 😃👍🏻

[@ACEOFSPACE2000]

Thanks for the tour Chuck

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

No prob, thanks Ace!

[@Drakester1971]

Nice scope family Chuck. I have the Meade 127ED and love it to bits as well. Stay safe. Cheers.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Matt, I've never tried Meade before, but I see people taking really nice images with them.

[@davidryle]

Nice scopes. I used a Tak TOA 150 f/4 on deep sky for a few years and a TMB 203 f/9 for planetary shots. Fond memories.

[@LEXPIX]

Great setups. I too am considering the orange scope there as my first.

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

amazing set ups there Chuck! Lots of options for imaging! Bless Kane the Dog! lol Hey i been wanting you to include Kane in a vid for so long! So thanks for including the infamous Kane in the vid! I am always happy when i see a notification for a new vid on your channel! Great vid as always Chuck. Best Wishes from Liverpool, England! Wes ( Bortle 8 )

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Wes, Kane was being a brat today, lol.

[@savtheastroguy]

Sorry to bother you guys but are you guys neighbours

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

@@savtheastroguy Hi. I never seen this comment until now!?? 7 months later!?? lol. No sir, myself and Chuck are not neighbours, i reside in Liverpool, UK, he resides in Detroit, USA! Why you ask sir ? Thanks, Wes.

[@cutterdog655]

Excellent! Thank you very much

[@jamesdougan8789]

g`day chuck thanks for the tour of the toy/tool box very impressive.. due to whats happening in the world i think my plans for the CGX are fading fast.. oh well stuff happens...mate i hope you and your family are safe and well...looking forward to the next video always a highlight of my day cheers james D

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks James, stay safe!

[@brianlipsey9883]

Great video, thank for the tour.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks for watching, Brian!

[@ManishFrenchStudio]

Superb cool telescope 🔭❤️ dear, thank you for informational video... Fully enjoyed 😀💖🎁🎁🎁🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@TheUrbanAstronomer]

Awesome gear Chuck!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks UA!

[@BKBees]

You make me jealous, Chuck. I bought a new 115mm apo last October, and since then I've had my 80mm sitting in the case, because I don't have an extra mount for it. Someday I'll turn that into a complete second rig like you.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Yeah, once you get a complete 2nd rig, then you can start thinking about a 3rd, lol.

[@BKBees]

lol, yes, absolutely.

[@tmrdarkstar85]

I have the same thing with my c8 "non edge" I focus at the beginning of a session an the celestron focus motor holds focus all night.

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Excellent!

[@stellarprogression8505]

Good stuff man 😂 appreciate the help!

[@evanr648]

Fantastic video, and thanks SO much for the details in the description! You said whatever you need to do, that can do it. The 1st pic you showed was incredible, exactly the kind of photos I want to see. My only concern is, to get that photo, do I NEED one of those ZWO ASI cameras, or can I get that with a DSLR? Because those cameras are so expensive 😢And with no camera attached, just my eye, I could see that? (seeing your other videos, maybe not?) Also, why no Dobsonian? lol Sorry for all the questions, I'm just really curious, and really looking to get into this. Anyway, thanks for sharing!

[@MoBachh]

Love the video!

[@VolcanoTimeLapse]

Outstanding!! WooHoo! Come on, Atlas! :)

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Yeah, come on, Atlas!

[@parva777]

Perfect display. We where waiting for this tour. Nice !

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Pierre!

[@yuchenko8732]

0:34 Detroit sound effects right on cue lol

[@CaptainOnePocket]

Great video! Thanks. You even included a sweet doggo!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks, yeah - Cain is a cool dog. He's a rare albino Pit Bull.

[@veeretsy7528]

And of course your new setup of the red cat 51 apo and eq 6r mount.

[@josephlipseyiii8960]

Enjoyed!

[@stargazingforeveryone493]

Chuck....Great video as always....stargazing and backyard astrophotography is a great social distancing technique. I love your videos...what camera set-up do you use for these videos??

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks. I use the ASI1600MM, ASI183MM, and ASI224MC with these scopes. Did you have a particular question on any of them?

[@mrballoonpimp]

I'd love to see a recommendation on the best scope for a beginner on a budget... Love the out takes at the end! The pitty is beautiful too!

[@Kingeptacon]

Apertura AD8 8" Dobsonian for around $550

[@trev6751]

I’ve always loved outer space and all my electives for school are photography

[@yellowlynx]

My set contains on do-all refractor (William Optics FLT-98 with a cooled DSLR. Another set is for small wide field scopes (William Optics ZW66, William Optics Star-71) with a very light mount and a small DSLR to go. I am going to configure a rig with my F4 Newtonion.

[@trevorhulings-pnwskywatching]

Those are nice set ups I have a Celestron Astro master 130, I’m really thinking about getting the Celestron nexstar 6se, would you recommend that for better images of planets and nebulas?

[@stevemountford3707]

Hi, I’ve just bought the 8SE as my first scope along with an ASI224. Looking forward to doing some captures of the solar system. Would I be able to use that setup (maybe with a wedge) to capture some nebula? I’m not going to invest in anything bigger for a few years but am interested in what I might be able to do with what I have?

[@dinomonaco2665]

Excellent run through of your rigs, Chuck. I’m particularly curious about your cabling of the ZWO 60mm guide scope / ASI224 on your RASA. Are you connected via the camera ST4 port, directly to the mount, or are you connecting to the main imaging camera via USB only? I’m having a heck of a time getting lock on to a guide star. Thanks in advance for your “guidance”. Dino

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

I didn't notice that the camera even had an ST4 port, lol, so no. I use USB only, but it's connected to a USB hub below because I didn't want to run another cable in front of my scope where the imaging camera is. I never had an issue finding and locking onto a guide star.

[@mxquattro]

This was awesome, thank you. Id love to have a beer with you and talk AP someday!

[@BigGuyPrime]

Bula from Fiji bro, very informative and thank you

[@NildoScoop]

Impressive rigs 🤓

[@csilt]

Great video, I just used my first scope yesterday to view the great Jupiter Saturn conjunction. I'm not far away in Fort Wayne. Would love to meet up if you ever wanted to. I'd love to learn from someone as experienced as you. Either way, great video and can't wait to see your images. Also, you should put in sponsor links so you can make a little extra money if people click on the links to buy. I liked and subscribed. Cheers

[@AstroQuest1]

I love this video Chuck, Cain just wants to help. I was planing doing something like this soon as well but I am wimpy and waiting for it to get a little warmer. Also, I am teaching remotely (schools closed) and it seems like am actually busier than before. Do you have to collimate (or do anything) that RASA often?

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Thanks Kurt! Glad you are still keeping busy. So many people are unemployed now. The RASA was almost perfect when it arrived. I noticed on the first night that the stars were blurry in one corner, but I heard a trick that if I turn the focus knob way out of focus, then bring the focus back in, it would correct it - and it did. I never had any issue since that first night and it has nod needed collimation despite me rolling it in and out of the garage all the time.

[@1957TAH]

Hey Chuck, I have watched most all of your videos and they have helped me allot. I am looking at the purchase of an Explore Scientific 127mm maybe... or something in that range. I have a Edgehd 8 and would like something a little wider view. I need your opinion, which would you buy? FCD100 or FPL53 glass. I know they come in different sizes. I also would purchase a reducer later. Is the FPL53 glass worth it? I only would use it for astrophotography with the ASI2600mm Pro. I live in bortle 4 viewing.. Thanks. Keep the viedos coming.

[@xanderunderwoods3363]

this is great stuff

[@tkermi]

Nice assemblies! Thanks for the video and info. I'm not familiar with astrophotography or telescope gear but know "normal" photography gear, other tech instrumentation and machining equipment quite well. So when I searched the pricing info I was really surprised (positively). I presumed these cost at least 5x more. (Not saying that I could afford this all though 😅).

[@ondrejmasek6265]

Nice video, and a very nice kit. Have you used the ASI183mm on the RASA? How does it compare to the ASI1600?