Had to pick between a cheap star tracker or a better camera lens for my first deep sky shot

I saved up about $600 and was stuck between a basic star tracker mount or a nicer, used telephoto lens for my old DSLR. I went with the tracker, a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer, figuring I could get longer exposures even with my kit lens. Last weekend, I finally got a clear night out near Flagstaff and managed a 2-minute exposure of the Orion Nebula. It's not perfect, but you can actually see some color and detail. Has anyone else started with just a tracker and a basic lens, and what did you shoot first?

3 comments

3 Comments

emery_craig1mo ago

My first tracked shot was so bad I thought I'd photographed a cosmic potato.

the_blair16d agoMost Upvoted

Wow, how long did you track that cosmic potato for?

ben4861mo ago

Honestly, I was totally in the "better lens first" camp for the longest time. Seeing your result with the tracker really flips that idea on its head. Getting those long, clean subs with even a basic lens opens up so much more than a sharp, short exposure ever could. That Orion shot sounds awesome for a first go. My first tracked target was Andromeda with my old 55-250mm, and it was a blurry mess, but I was hooked.