Gear | AstroDanniee

Whats In My Bag?

Below is a carefully curated list of the equipment I currently use, along with some of my all-time favourite gear that I’ve either outgrown or no longer use but wholeheartedly recommend. While these are not affiliate links, they represent the tools that have truly made a difference in my astrophotography journey.

Every item here has been chosen with care for quality, performance, and value — intending to share knowledge that can help others on their own path.

Camera's

Sony A7III

I find that a 24-megapixel sensor hits a good middle ground — detailed enough to capture the night sky clearly, but without too much noise during long exposures. This makes it my go-to camera for still shots.

It’s also great for video, with solid color and dynamic range that help capture the atmosphere of a night under the stars.

More than specs, what matters is that this camera fits well with the slow, patient process of astrophotography — it lets me focus on the sky without worrying about gear limitations.

And it’s reasonably priced, so it’s a solid option for anyone starting out or looking to improve without breaking the bank.

Iphone 16

While not my primary camera, I rely on the iPhone 16 Pro as a versatile sidekick for capturing additional footage and quick astro shots. Its advanced sensor and computational photography excel surprisingly well at night and low-light conditions, allowing me to record time-lapses, star trails, and even basic astrophotography images when I’m traveling light or setting up.

Though it can’t replace dedicated gear, it’s an incredibly convenient tool that bridges the gap between spontaneity and quality, letting me share the wonder of the night sky anytime, anywhere.

Samsung A54

I can’t say enough good things about the Samsung A54’s camera—especially considering its price. For what it is, this phone’s sensor and image processing have truly surprised me, capturing incredible detail and color in low-light conditions that you wouldn’t expect.

Some of my favorite images—like the aurora and borealis shots at the bottom of my home page—were taken with this very phone. What makes it even more impressive is that these weren’t carefully staged with a tripod or fancy equipment. I simply rested the phone on a fence, trusted the camera’s night mode, and let it do its magic.

For anyone starting out or looking for a portable, affordable way to capture the night sky, the Samsung A54 is a remarkable tool that proves you don’t always need expensive gear to create stunning astrophotography.

Lense's

Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG DN

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens

This is my main—and currently only—lens, and it’s essential to my astrophotography. The wide f/1.4 aperture lets in plenty of light, perfect for capturing faint stars even under city skies.

At 35mm, it offers a great balance between wide-field views and detailed shots, delivering sharp, clear images with minimal distortion. The lens’s excellent color and contrast make editing easier, while its smooth manual focus helps me nail precise focus in low light.

For now, this lens covers all my needs, from starry landscapes to deep-sky details, and remains the heart of my setup as I grow.

Mounts & Tripods

Victiv 72''/ 182cm Camera Tripod with Monopod

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi

About three years ago, I bought this tripod as my first budget-friendly option, and it has held up really well. It’s lightweight and compact for easy travel but sturdy enough to keep my camera steady during long exposures. The flip leg locks make setup quick, perfect for nights out under the stars.

It also converts to a monopod in seconds, adding versatility without extra gear. The smooth 3-way swivel head helps me frame shots precisely.

One downside is the weight capacity on the pan and tilt head. With my main camera and lens—about 1.5 kilograms—the head can struggle to hold the setup steady, especially when tilted upward. This slow drift can blur long exposures, which is a challenge for detailed astrophotography.

For now, this tripod is great for general use, but I’m planning to add a star tracker soon to capture longer, sharper exposures.

It’s been a solid companion on my journey, and I expect it will continue to serve well alongside future upgrades.

I’m really looking forward to getting the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi in about a month. It’s going to change the way I shoot by letting me track the stars smoothly and capture longer exposures without worrying about star trails.

Up until now, I’ve been working with a simple tripod, which has its limits—especially when it comes to longer shots. This little tracker will let me follow the night sky’s movement more precisely, helping me pull out much more detail from faint galaxies and nebulae.

What I’m most excited about is how easy it will be to control it from my phone. That means less time fiddling with setup and more time actually capturing the sky. It feels like a real step forward for me, helping me grow from just snapping photos to truly mastering astrophotography.

Can’t wait to see how it performs and to share what I’m able to capture with it — it’s the next big step in this journey under the stars.

Filters

K&F Concept 67mm Natural Night Filter Light Pollution

The K&F Concept 67mm Natural Night Light Pollution Filter is a key piece in my astrophotography kit, especially given the bright skies around me. This filter is designed to reduce the harsh glow of artificial city lights—like sodium and mercury vapor lamps—that wash out the stars and deep-sky objects I’m trying to capture.

By selectively blocking these common light pollution wavelengths, it helps improve contrast and brings out the subtle details in nebulae, star clusters, and the Milky Way. The result is clearer, more vibrant images with less post-processing needed to fight glare and haze.

At 67mm, it fits perfectly on my lens, and the optical glass maintains sharpness and color fidelity without introducing any unwanted tints. For someone like me shooting under Bortle 8–9 skies, this filter makes a real difference, turning a challenging environment into something much more manageable.

While it won’t replace the need for dark skies, it’s a practical, affordable way to capture better images right where I live—and keep pushing forward with my astrophotography journey.

Other Bits & Useful Accessories

FEELWORLD FW568 V3 6 inch

Seagate Expansion Desktop 10TB

Red Head Torch Rechargeable, LED Headlamp

Torches LED Super Bright

A compact, bright, and reliable monitor that gives me a clear, detailed view of my shots in real time. Perfect for framing and focusing during astrophotography sessions, especially when working in the dark. It’s a great tool to make sure every frame is just right without relying solely on the camera’s tiny screen.

Astrophotography files, especially raw images and long-exposure videos, quickly add up in size—each shot can be hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes when stacking multiple exposures. Having a large 10TB external hard drive gives me the space and peace of mind to store all my projects, backups, and time-lapse sequences without constantly worrying about running out of room. It’s essential for managing and preserving the growing archive of detailed data my work produces.

Hands-free lighting that’s perfect for adjusting gear in pitch black conditions. It lets me focus on the task without fumbling, and the adjustable brightness keeps my eyes adapted to the night sky while still illuminating what I need to see.

Simple but indispensable. These two bright torches light my setup area and path during night shoots. They’re powerful enough to see clearly without ruining my night vision, helping me stay safe and efficient in the dark.

Samsung Memory Sonic PRO

Memory Card Reader

Reliable storage for capturing high-res photos and videos without worrying about space during shoots.

Fast and easy way to transfer files from my camera’s SD card to my computer for quick editing and backup.

Current Deep Sky Rig

AstroMaster 130EQ

My journey with the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ has been a long and rewarding one. I acquired this telescope second-hand about a year ago, and since then, I’ve invested significant time and effort into understanding every mechanical and optical aspect of it. It wasn’t in great shape when I got it—some parts needed fixing, alignment was off, and the mount required tweaking. But through patience, research, and hands-on work, I’ve rebuilt it into a reliable instrument I deeply understand.

While the AstroMaster isn’t ideal for deep-sky astrophotography—due mainly to its basic equatorial mount and limited tracking capabilities—it performs admirably for lunar and planetary imaging. The 130mm aperture provides a sharp view of the Moon’s craters and surface details, making it perfect for honing my skills and exploring our closest celestial neighbor. It’s been an invaluable learning tool that’s helped me grasp the technicalities of telescope mechanics, optical alignment, and astrophotography fundamentals.

Though I’m planning to upgrade my rig soon, this scope remains a trusted companion for wide-field lunar shots and casual visual observing. It’s a reminder that a hands-on understanding of gear often outweighs having the most expensive equipment.

T-Ring and T-Adapter

Essential tools that let me connect my Sony A7 III camera to the telescope, enabling me to capture direct, high-quality images through the eyepiece or telescope optics. A simple yet critical part of my astrophotography workflow.

2x Barlow Lens

This doubles the effective focal length of my telescope, allowing me to zoom in closer on planets and lunar details. Great for increasing magnification without needing a different eyepiece.