What DSLR camera and lenses should I buy???

[ShockinGoku327]

so I'm a beginner at astrophotography and I want to know what camera below 500$$$ should I buy and what lenses should I get . I currently own a telescope and a low quality camera for telescope and I want to expand my knowledge and beauty of the universe.

So if yall can give me some options that would be great

[Waddizzle]

You did not say what type of camera you currently own.  It might be enough.  Astrophotography can be an expensive hobby.  If you do not have a quality tracking mount for your telescope, I think that is probably more important than a camera upgrade.  

You will also want to have image stacking software, too.  There are some quality applications that are free.  I suggest that you start small with wide angle photos of the night sky, and work your way up to long exposures using your telescope.

[ShockinGoku327]

Well its a camera for planetary view it can't get the colors for stars or nebulas.

I got the stacking software aswell but yeah I want a wide field camera so I can build myself up, so you got any ideas you could share???

[ebiggs1]

I doubt $500 will cover it.  But if I were starting from square one today and wanted to do sky photos, I would buy the best Rebel (with no lens) I could afford and the Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 Lens. However, that comes in around $750.  If you don't get at least adequate gear, you will not like it and get frustrated quickly.  Plus the Rebel also makes a great general purpose camera so it will get used a lot more.

BTW, you need Photoshop, not an option.

[ShockinGoku327]

Oh I got photoshop and I only meant the price of the camera only , imma buy the other gear aswell like a electronic tripod and wide field lenses. Do you think a Canon t7 would be ok???

[ebiggs1]

" Do you think a Canon t7 would be ok???"

Probably but I would prefer you get the T7i or the new T8i.  I have a friend, Tom Martinez, that has many photos published in astro magazines that used a T2i for years. I used an XTi for years, too. Another word of advice, go slowly.  Find out just what you need and don't go buy a bunch of stuff until then.  Otherwise you will buy twice or buy stuff you don't want or need.

The Rebel and the Rok will get you going!  ...and Photoshop. 

[ebiggs1]

I have never owned one of the crippled Rebels, T6, T7 or I guess a T8 so I don't know just how crippled they are.

I had several of them in my DSLR 101 class and they seemed to work well for general photo use.

[Waddizzle]

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@ShockinGoku327 wrote:
Oh I got photoshop and I only meant the price of the camera only , imma buy the other gear aswell like a electronic tripod and wide field lenses. Do you think a Canon t7 would be ok???

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A T7 can do an adequate job for wide angle shots of the night sky.  Canon is having a Faather's Day sale on camera bodies in the Online Refurbished Store.  You can pick one up for more than 50% off the regular list price.

A Rebel T7 and the already mentioned Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 full frame lens would be a pretty good combo.  Samyang makes the same lens.  There is a 16mm version for APS-C bodies, so avoid that one.

All you would need to round out a "starter package" would be a fairly robust tripod.  You should expect to spend upwards of $200 for a good one.  You want something that will not wiggle and jiggle in the breeze during a longer exposure.  

Look for a tripod that supports upwards of 17 lbs.  You want something robust enough to support a tracking mount, like those made by SkyTracker.

[Waddizzle]

There are several models that are more than 50% off.  This is just one of the offers for just one model that is on sale.

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/refurbished-eos-rebel-t7-ef-s-18-55-with-ef-75-300mm-4-56... 

You will also need a memory card.  I recommend a SandDisk Extreme 32GB full size memory card.  No micro-SD cards with an adapter, because the adapters are too unreliable.

[ShockinGoku327]

Well i guess t7i should do the work for now .

One last question can this camera take planetary images??