Below is a list of gear that I either currently use or have used in the past and still recommend. Most of the links are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. So if you click one of these links and then purchase something (even if it’s not something listed here), I get a small commission on the sale. No extra cost to you, but it goes a long way to support me and my work.
Additionally, I have no affiliation with Roberts Camera or Used Photo Pro but almost all of the cameras and lenses that I own were purchased second hand from UsedPhotoPro.com. I can’t recommend them enough for high quality used gear at great prices.
CAMERAS
Sony A7Rii
My current main body that I shoot all of my daytime photos with. The 42mp sensor makes for stunning high resolution images and prints.
Sony A7ii
The newest addition to my bag. I picked up this very lightly used A7ii and immediately sent it off to be astro-modified for higher sensitivity to H-Alpha emissions. My primary workhorse for astrolandscape photos.
Sony A6000
This was my main camera for a few years before I made the switch to full frame. A great starter camera body, and a solid compact option.
LENSES
Sony 20mm F1.8 G
My go to wide angle lens. Incredibly sharp and great performance when wide open, although even better when stopped down a little. With a build quality that holds up against any GM lens, it’s not hard to see why this is one of the most popular Sony lenses for Milky Way photography.
Rokinon 14mm F2.8
One of the best ultra wide angle budget lenses for astrophotography photography. Rokinon lenses can be a little hit or miss, but if you get a good one they can’t be beat for the price.
Sony Zeiss 55mm F1.8
One of the first full frame prime lenses that Sony launched in 2013 but still holds up really well today. A great mid-price range nifty-fifty(ish) that works well for many styles of photography. I get the most use out of this for imaging full constellations and asterisms.
Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6
This lens is on my camera 90% of the time when I’m shooting during the daytime. A very versatile focal length range and the wide aperture at the short end of the focal length range is a significant improvement over many of the other standard telephoto zooms in this range.
Rokinon 12mm F2.0 (APS-C)
This was my go-to wide angle lens before moving to a full frame camera body. One of the best APS-C Milky Way lenses for the price.
Tokina FiRIN 20mm F2.0
Another great lens for Milky Way and astro-landscape shots. Incredibly sharp and very small and lightweight. I traded this in when I upgraded to the Sony 20mm G lens above, but would highly recommend this for anyone needing a budget friendly Milky Way lens.
Sony 85mm F1.8
Slowly becoming one of my favorite lenses. Great for moderately wide moon photography and high resolution panoramas.
Rokinon 24mm F1.4
This was my favorite Milky Way lens before I picked up the Sony 20mm G, and I still prefer the 24mm focal length in a lot of situations so this still gets plenty of use. Great performance when stopped down to F2 or F2.8. A very versatile focal length for landscape astrophotography.
Rokinon 135mm F2.0
A legendary lens for astrophotography. Good performance wide open, and great performance at F2.8. Would recommend to anyone as a first step into DSO photography.
Telescopes and Astro Gear
Svbony SV503 80ED
A great budget refractor. Perfect focal length for large nebulae and galaxies like Orion and Andromeda.
ZWO ASIair Plus
An incredibly useful device for putting an astro imaging plan on autopilot. Provides power management for your cameras and mount, and also allows you to wirelessly control your imaging rig from an iPad. A lifesaver during those cold winter nights when you can set up your rig and then control it from inside of a nice warm car.
Celestron AVX
A solid entry level telescope mount for fairly short focal lengths.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini (mono)
A solid, budget friendly mono camera for guiding. What more can I say?
Svbony SV106 Guide Scope
I mount this on my SV503 paired with an ASI120 Mini for guiding.
Sky Watcher Star Adventurer 2i
A solid star tracker that long exposures for astrophotography much easier. Only takes a couple of minutes to set up, align, and start imaging. The standard photo package works great for wide angle imaging, but the pro-pack comes with a declination bracket and counter weight to properly balance longer focal lengths.
Other Accessories
Shimoda Explore V2 35L
Hands down the best camera bag out there. Incredibly detailed design with many well thought out features and plenty of customization opportunities. I typically use it with the large mirrorless core unit, but occasionally swap in the medium mirrorless core when I’m traveling and need a little extra space for non-photography gear like a change of clothes or two.
Move Shoot Move Alyn Wallace Z Plate
Smaller and lighter than most other z plates out there, with a little more adjustability. I use this with my move shoot move to make sure I have a level surface after polar aligning the tracker.
NEEWER TP30 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
I’ve always been a big fan of NEEWER gear. They make quite a few budget friendly tripods, ball heads, and other photography accessories and are widely available on Amazon. This new travel tripod was just recently release in August 2023 and shares a very similar design to a certain popular travel tripod at about half the price. Very lightweight and compact while still being very sturdy.
Pixel Wireless Shutter Release
A cheap but solid wireless shutter release and intervalometer. A necessity for astrophotography. I have one of these for each of my cameras.
Giottos Rocket Blower
A very simple accessory that every photographer needs. I have two of these, one large that I keep in my bag all the time unless I am traveling and need to swap it out for the small size to save space.