Selecting the right camera for astrophotography is a tale of two halves; on the one hand, it can be a minefield, and on the other, you can choose almost any camera these days, and chances are it will do a great job. The thing is, great may not be the best, so we’re going to delve into the intricacies of the main camera systems in this guide.
Astrophotography requires cameras with low read noise and strong high ISO performance, as high as ISO 6400. Modern sensors, particularly those with ISO invariance, where underexposing at base ISO and pushing shadows in post matches high-ISO in-camera results with lower noise, have revolutionized exposure flexibility for deep-sky imaging.
We think the Nikon Z8 is the best camera for astrophotography you can get. It has “Starlight View” which drops the autofocus detection range down to -9EV and specialised “Night Vision” mode.
Pairing strong low-light performance with a solid build and moistured-sealed body, the Canon EOS R6 II is a camera that will suit a photographer looking to upgrade their gear from a beginner model.
Although a few years old now, the A7 III still packs a punch with high dynamic range, excellent noise handling and a great battery life.
What astrophotographers need
Astrophotography requires a robust lens ecosystem featuring fast, low-distortion prime and wide zoom lenses with maximum apertures between f/1.2 and f/2.8. Primes are typically faster than zooms, but the latter still provide excellent image quality and all-important flexibility.
Fast lenses of either persuasion are essential for light gathering and sharp star rendition. This is essential for light gathering and helping to keep ISO levels low. Other useful features include low-light autofocus modes (OM System’s Starry Sky AF down to -8EV, Panasonic’s Starlight AF), enhanced EVF brightness modes (Nikon’s Starlight View) and built-in intervalometers. A handful of cameras even have illuminated buttons, but these are few and far between.
Full-frame sensors excel at light-gathering and low noise; APS-C offers portability with reasonable performance; Micro Four Thirds maximizes portability but requires longer exposures to compensate for the narrower maximum apertures of wide-angle Micro Four Thirds lenses. As we said, it can be a minefield.
Cameras for astrophotography: Canon EOS
Canon EOS R mirrorless cameras, including the R6 Mark II, R8, R5, R5 Mark II, are perfect for astrophotography thanks to full-frame sensors that deliver excellent high-ISO performance in low-light conditions.
Useful features include bright live-view EVFs for real-time framing and precise manual focus in darkness and an electronic shutter for vibration-free exposures. A couple of models have illuminated buttons, but this is only the flagship EOS R1 and the high-performance EOS R3.
Thanks to strong ISO-invariant behavior, especially the R5/R6 series, these cameras offer effective shadow recovery, which is crucial for extracting faint deep-sky details and nightscape foregrounds without introducing excessive noise.
The discontinued EOS Ra enhanced H-alpha transmission 4× for nebula imaging, but current R-series bodies still deliver strong performance for both wide-field nightscapes and tracked deep-sky work through excellent dynamic range and noise control.
Take a look at our guide to the best Canon cameras
Read our guide to the best Canon lenses
Cameras for astrophotography: Sony
Sony mirrorless cameras such as the A7 V, A7R V, A7S III and A1 II excel at astrophotography thanks to their full-frame, back-illuminated Exmor sensors. These deliver exceptional low-light sensitivity, minimal read noise and excellent high-ISO performance, with the A7S III being the undisputed king in this area.
These impressive sensors provide superb dynamic range for extracting faint nebulae, galaxies and Milky Way details, while preserving color fidelity in the scene. Thermal noise is also managed well during longer exposures.
High-resolution models like the 61MP A7R V offer cropping capability for deep-sky imaging, while the 12MP A7S III offers extreme low-light capabilities. Sony’s E-mount ecosystem features fast, well-corrected primes, including the 14mm f/1.8 GM, 20mm f/1.8 G and the 24mm f/1.4 GM, all of which deliver sharp, low-coma images. However, the 14mm shows more corner aberrations than the 20mm and 24mm lenses.
Take a look at our guide to the best Sony cameras
Read our guide to the best lenses for Sony, Canon and Sigma
Cameras for astrophotography: Nikon
Nikon full-frame Z-series cameras, including the Z6 III, Z8, Zf and Z9, are fantastic cameras on the whole. All perform incredibly well at ISO settings as high as ISO 6400-12800.
The Z6 III features a partially stacked sensor, while the Z8 and Z9 use fully stacked sensors. All models are highly ISO-invariant above ISO 800, thanks to a dual gain switch, which enables flexible shadow recovery without noise penalties. This is critical for extracting detail from faint nebulae and nightscape foregrounds.
Features, including Starlight View, which is an amplified EVF display for manual focusing and illuminated buttons on the Z8 and Z9, enhance shooting in darkness. Nikon’s Z-mount provides excellent primes; the 20mm f/1.8 S is fantastic but shows visible corner coma at f/1.8, while the 14-24mm f/2.8 S delivers exceptional corner-to-edge star quality at 14mm. This makes these lenses ideal for wide-field nightscapes and Milky Way capture.
Take a look at our guide to the best Nikon cameras
Read our guide to the best Nikon lenses
Cameras for astrophotography: Fujifilm
Fujifilm cameras, whether the APS-C X-series, which is made up of models including the X-T5, X-H2 and X-H2S, or the GFX medium format series, all feature a vintage-inspired charm. They feature retro-style tactile manual controls on the outside and the latest technologies on the inside.
The X-series cameras use X-Trans sensors while the GFX series cameras use Bayer sensors. The dynamic range of the latter is impressive, while the former maintains impressive ISO handling. X-Trans sensors reduce moiré without optical low-pass filters. Film Simulations enhance in-camera JPEGs and RAW files in Lightroom with film-inspired looks, but these are largely irrelevant for astrophotography.
The GFX 100S and 100S II have high-resolution 102MP sensors for extreme cropping and large-print nightscapes. These have larger pixels than full-frame sensors, which means excellent dynamic range. GFX, as with all medium format prime lenses, aren’t as fast as APS-C or full-frame primes, so you may have to shoot at higher ISOs. However, this isn’t an issue at all thanks to strong ISO handling and the ability to capture the night sky.
Take a look at our guide to the best Fujifilm cameras
Read our guide to the best Fujifilm lenses
Cameras for astrophotography: OM-System (Olympus)
OM System (Olympus) cameras aren’t the most obvious choice for astrophotography with their small Micro Four Thirds sensors, but these compact, lightweight and weather-sealed retro-inspired cameras do have some impressive and useful astrophotography features. The 20.4MP stacked sensors manage moderate ISOs reasonably, although they’re not as good as full-frame cameras.
Models such as the OM-1 Mark II and the specialised OM-3 ASTRO are worth considering. The OM-3 ASTRO features 100% H-alpha transmission for vivid red nebulae alongside capturing stars, galaxies and nightscapes. Computational modes like Starry Sky AF (autofocus down to -8EV), Live Composite for star trails, and Night Vision mode aid in capturing the night sky.
The M.Zuiko 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye PRO offers fast light gathering with sharp corner performance, although it’s said to be less sharp wide-open than other PRO lenses. With the 2x crop factor of Micro Four Thirds, this lens only comes in at an equivalent focal length of 16mm.
Take a look at our guide to the cameras for astrophotography
Read our guide to the best lenses for astrophotography
Cameras for astrophotography: Pentax
Pentax has remained stoically dedicated to DSLRs in a photography world that has ‘gone mirrorless’. Models including the K-3 Mark III, K-1 Mark II remain relevant for astrophotography thanks to the unique Astrotracer modes that use In-Body Image Stabilization to track stars.
Type 3 of this feature was introduced in 2022 and works GPS-free by calibrating from preliminary star exposures, enabling 30-second to 5-minute tracked shots depending on the focal length of the lens used. So, in a nutshell, you get in-camera star tracking without needing an external tracker.
The 26MP K-3 III delivers good high-ISO performance with excellent dynamic range, while the 36MP K-1 II offers strong shadow recovery with reasonable ISO-invariance above ISO 200. These cameras are rugged and weather-sealed, making them ideal for location-based photography. Their optical viewfinders, however, are less convenient for focusing on stars than electronic viewfinders on mirrorless cameras.
Take a look at our guide to the cameras for astrophotography
Read our guide to the best lenses for astrophotography
Cameras for astrophotography: Panasonic Lumix
Panasonic Lumix S series cameras S5II, S5IIX and the S1II have a strong video focus, but they remain perfectly usable for astrophotography. With 24MP full-frame sensors featuring dual native ISO (100/640 for stills), which significantly reduces read noise at ISO 640+, enabling cleaner high-ISO results.
This provides strong dynamic range for deep-sky shadow recovery. Phase-detection AF with Starlight View (focusing down to -9EV) aids composition and capture. There are also Micro Four Thirds Panasonic Lumix cameras, but these full-frame models offer superior low-light performance.
The L-mount alliance provides excellent fast primes, including the Sigma 14mm f/1.8, Panasonic 18mm f/1.8 and 24mm f/1.8, which are ideal for sharp wide-field Milky Way captures. Weather-sealing makes these cameras great for outdoor night work, despite the lack of astro-centric features.
Take a look at our guide to the cameras for astrophotography
Read our guide to the best lenses for astrophotography
