How much does astrophotography cost?
$1106 buys all 4 essentials. $52 of that is the half that has to fit you, and the rest can wait.
4 priced items · checked 10 Sept 2026 · retailer prices, we earn a commission
Everything essential, cheapest sensible pick
$1106
4 items, nothing rented
Cheapest real way in
$52
The half that has to fit you. Borrow or rent the rest.
Against 247 hobbies
Top 1%
Dearer than 99% of them. Median hobby: $84.
What each thing costs
Every essential item, cheapest sensible option first. Mid-range and top picks alongside.
Buy this first
$52The cheap half of the kit, and the half that has to fit you. You keep all of it whatever you decide about the rest, so this is where the first money should go.
The main buy
$1054The expensive part, and the part worth deferring. Rent, borrow or buy used until you have done astrophotography enough times to know you are staying.
Later, if you stay
Not needed to start. These are the upgrades that matter once the habit has stuck.
Astrophotography costs more to start than 99% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median is $84.
Cost questions
How much does Astrophotography cost to start?
About $1106 for the 4 essential items, taking the cheapest sensible option for each. $52 of that is the cheap half, and the remaining $1054 can wait until you know you are staying.
What does each thing cost for Astrophotography?
Camera: from $829. Star Tracker: from $225. Telescope: from $28. Adaptors and Accessories: from $24.
Is Astrophotography an expensive hobby?
Astrophotography costs about $1066 to start, dearer than 99% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median hobby costs $84, so this is one of the pricier ones to get into.
What should I buy first for Astrophotography?
telescope, adaptors and accessories — $52 together. They are the cheap half of the kit and the half you keep whatever you decide about the rest.
Hobbies that cost about the same
The 5 nearest to astrophotography by startup cost, out of 247.