Most people think you need an expensive camera to photograph the milky way. But the photos in the video below were all captured with smartphones.
These were some of the entrants to the Smartphone Astrophotographer of the Year competition.
In this video, I talk through how these photos were taken – what phones used, what apps, what techniques etc:
Do you even need a camera for night sky photography?
Previously, I did an analysis of over 1000 photos taken with “regular” cameras that were shortlisted for the top astrophotography award in the world and found that the most used camera was a Sony A7R V that costs more than $3k – and that’s without a lens.
The cost of gear has always been a barrier to entry for astrophotography, as you’d need some pretty sizeable disposable income to get into it
That’s why these smartphone astro images are so exciting, and seeing what’s possible with phones that aren’t even the latest and greatest models. Just regular smartphones, some of which are pretty old.
You also don’t need extra accessories to use with it. The lenses are in-built, you don’t need to buy them separately like you do with a DSLR or mirrorless camera
The only thing you really need is a tripod, but phones are so small and light this can be something really budget – for not much more than $10. Or if you already have a regular tripod you can use that. Just add a smartphone clamp for $5.
If you want to see how the experts are capturing the Milky Way with their smartphones, check out the video above or head over to Smartphone Astrophotographer of the Year.