My Astrophotography Kit: Cameras, Mounts, and Accessories
Last updated January 2026
Intro
This list contains pretty much all of the kit I use to take the images on this website. I aim to make data acquisition as straightforward as it can be, while also allowing for advanced imaging techniques. In other words, simple but not basic.
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Telescope: Askar 130PHQ Flatfield Astrograph
My main imaging telescope since September 2022 is the fantastic Askar 130PHQ. It has an aperture of 130mm and a focal length of 1000mm.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Mount: StellarDrive X 6R PRO
In early 2026 I sent my EQ6-R PRO to DarkFrame Optics for a rebuild. It’s now a StellarDrive X 6R PRO.
I keep my mount permanently installed on a DIY pier. I use a Cygnus Astro Cover for protection against the rain. I keep my telescope in the shed when not in use, so the cover just goes over the mount. When the telescope is outside and not under the cover, I use an app called Rain Alarm on my phone. If it starts raining nearby, the app beeps (waking me up if I’m asleep).
For more details about how I power this system and connect everything together, check out my article on How to Use Mains Power For Your ASIAIR Plus.
Read my review
Stock EQ6-6 PRO:
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MC-PRO
This is a brilliant bit of kit and a big step up from the venerable 1600-series.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Filter: Optolong L-Ultimate
This is a top-tier dualband filter for OSC cameras, and allows me to capture Hα and OIII wavelengths.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Filter: Askar E2
A recent addition to my collection of, the Askar E2 is an SII / OIII dualband filter. Used in conjunction with my Optolong L-Ultimate, it allows me to create SHO images using my OSC camera.
Filter: Optolong L-Quad Enhance
This is a broadband light pollution filter, and the only one I’ve found that’s actually worth using!
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
ZWO Filter Drawer
I don’t use a filter wheel, instead opting for this simpler (and cheaper!) alternative.
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Guiding: Askar M54 Off-Axis Guider
Newly acquired, and I’m now a convert to OAGs!
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Guidecam: ZWO ASI 220MM Mini
A solid guidecam, highly recommended.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Control: ZWO ASIAIR Plus
This little device controls all my devices (camera, mount, etc.) automates imaging runs. I control it using an app on my phone.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Focus: ZWO EAF
This little electronic autofocusser (EAF) gadget takes the frustration out of focussing. No more fiddling with a Bahtinov mask or similar device, twiddling the telescope’s focus knob to get everything just right. The push of a button on the ASIAIR Plus’ app is all that’s needed to set this off on an autofocus routine. Mine is the first generation, and now there are two newer versions available.
Buy from Astroshop.eu, EAF N, EAF Pro.
Buy from High Point Scientific, EAF N, EAF Pro.
Flats Panel
I use a tracing light available on Amazon (click here for an example) as an effective but cheap Flats panel.
Software: PixInsight, Lightroom
About 95% of my processing work is done using PixInsight. This is fantastic software designed from the ground-up with astrophotography in mind. Click here for my full review..
The second piece of software I use is Lightroom. I’m a dab hand at this having used it for many years as a professional photographer. It’s not suitable for every stage of processing an astroimage, but I bring it in at the end, making minor adjustments to make the picture pop.
Retired kit: Askar FRA400
This is a really wonderful telescope that I recommend for wide-field imaging of deep sky objects. Beginner friendly, but capable of excellent results.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Retired kit: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO mount
My EQ6-R PRO is a beast of a mount that served me well for three years. In early 2026 I sent it to DarkFrame Optics optics, who essentially rebuilt it. Hence, I consider the stock EQ6-R Pro to be retired kit, and its new iteration, a StellarDrive X 6R PRO, to be a new mount.
Stock EQ6-R PRO:
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Retired kit: Optolong L-eXtreme filter
This is a good Hα / OIII filter. I only sold it after upgrading to an Optolong L-Ultimate.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Retired kit: Askar D2 filter
A solid SII / OIII filter, this served me well until I upgraded to the newer Askar E2.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Retired kit: Orion Sirius EQ-G mount
My old Orion Sirius EQ-G (similar in specifications to the much more common Sky-Watcher HEQ5 PRO) was a real workhorse. I bought it many years ago second-hand from a very nice chap that had done a lot of work tuning it. Credit where it’s due, he’d done a brilliant job and I got a bargain as a result. Unfortunately it did eventually die, and I decided to upgrade to an EQR-6 PRO to allow for a heavier telescope.
Retired kit: William Optics 50mm Guidescope with 1.25″ ROTO Lock
This is a good choice of guidescope for mid-focal length telescopes.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Retired kit: William Optics 32mm Slide-Base Uniguide
A very neat guidescope for wide-field telescopes.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Retired kit: ZWO ASI 120MM Mini
Compact, lightweight, affordable.
Read my review
Buy from Astroshop.eu
Buy from High Point Scientific
Retired kit: Sky-Watcher Evostar 80ED DS-Pro and ZWO ASI 1600 Mono plus filters
I got into astroimaging many years ago, but started taking it more seriously after buying a Sky-Watcher Evostar 80ED DS-Pro and ASI1600 Mono camera plus filters. I got a lot of use out of them, but the arrival of a new baby took most of my time (and energy!) so I sold almost everything and had an astroimaging break of nearly a year.
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Hi,
Just a quick note to say how fantastic your website is.
I am a member of SGL and came across your site whilst looking for reviews on the Askar FRA400 telescope. I have had much enjoyment from browsing these pages and have now saved your website as a favourite.
Widefield imaging really interests me, and I am now very keen to get an Askar FRA400 as an upgrade to my old Orion ED80.
Regards,
Steve
Hi Steve, thanks for the lovely comment. It’s coming up to my Askar FRA400 one year anniversary, and I still think it’s great! Lots more website content on the way, including more equipment reviews 🙂
Hi Lee – I have just purchased pretty much the same set up as yours and look forward to using it.
One question – do you get any balance issues with the EAF on the left and nothing hanging off the rights side of the scope?
I’ve got the ASIAIR + in the same position as yours but I’m considering mounting it on the right side as my rig won’t balance.
Cheers
Doug
Hi Doug, I found the same issue as you, but decided not to mount the AAP+ on the right side as that would make the whole rig quite wide. Instead, I fixed the dovetail slightly off-centre, which works perfectly. More details, and a photo, are in my full Askar FRA400 review.
Your setup is my inspiration! Your website is so informative, and I wish to thank you for sharing all this information! I have a question for you regarding how you mounted your ASIAir to that dove plate. Did the correct screws/bolts come with the ASIAir to do that or did you have to buy them somewhere else? Thanks again!
Thanks for your kind comment! I mounted my ASIAIR to the dovetail using a single bolt that I *think* came with the ASIAIR, but I don’t quite recall. It’s a common enough thread so not hard to find the right bolt.