Astrophotography is a photographic self-discipline that’s accessible to virtually everybody with a digital camera and equipment lens. Whereas equipment lenses are helpful, most astrophotographers discover that quickly after getting began they need to improve. So to get first rate outcomes you may have to spend money on a quick, vibrant lens with good optical readability.Â
When you’re prepared for a brand new lens, apertures of f2.8 and wider are what you’re searching for, to let as a lot gentle attain your digital camera’s sensor as attainable. If you happen to’re severe concerning the interest, investing in one of many best cameras for astrophotography can also be a no brainer — while you’re arrange with an excellent physique and a stable lens, you may see some severe enhancements in your pictures.
There are many different astro equipment price throwing in your equipment bag too, from small issues like lens heaters and intervalometers to bigger bits of equipment like star trackers. Nonetheless, you’ll discover an enormous distinction when you improve to high-quality glass, so that is the very best place to start out.
Third-party lens producers similar to Sigma come into their very own while you’re searching for astrophotography lenses, as not solely are their lenses usually cheaper, however they have an inclination to create lenses that fill niches missed by the digital camera producers. Whether or not primes or zoom lenses, there’s an astro lens to suit each form of finances. In actual fact, a number of the cheaper manual-focus lenses can outclass their extra refined competitors, as you don’t essentially want AF when specializing in the celebrities.
The very first thing we seen throughout our Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art review was simply how heavy it’s. At 2.58 lbs it is on the weightier aspect, however with heft within the hand comes heft when it comes to optical high quality, too. The construct high quality is phenomenal and the lens can also be weather-sealed, however this is not a lot of a priority for the astrophotographer as a result of inclement climate means unhealthy night time sky imaging. The fastened focal size and extra-wide area of view are additionally ideally suited for capturing expansive vistas of the panorama and night time sky.
Efficiency within the area is nothing in need of beautiful. Stars seem pin-sharp, even when the aperture is opened as much as its spectacular f/1.8 most, though stopping down the aperture a bit of will enhance the coma that seems in the direction of the corners of the picture body at its widest opening. Chromatic aberration (coloration fringing) is nicely managed when taking pictures at broad apertures and picture distortion is dealt with equally nicely — not one thing you’ll find with all ultra-wide lenses.
It’s price noting that the lens doesn’t have a filter thread as a result of bulbous nature of its entrance component. This might not be a deal-breaker for astrophotography, but it surely’s a consideration to bear in mind when you additionally plan to make use of this lens for daytime shoots. For an ultra-wide lens, the efficiency of the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Artwork is prime class.
The Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM is one other lens from Sigma’s ‘Artwork’ vary, well-known for its optical high quality and high-class engineering. After we reviewed the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM we could not assist however discover greater than a passing resemblance to the fastened 14mm focal size of Sigma’s 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Artwork. However the f/2.8 has the additional benefit of boasting a zoom vary from 14mm by to 24mm. There’s all the time a trade-off when utilizing zoom lenses for astrophotography and it comes within the form of a lowered most aperture measurement of f/2.8.Â
Positive, at f/2.8 it will not soak in as many photons as its 14mm f/1.8 cousin, however the good thing about taking pictures with a zoom lens is the flexibility it offers for composing at a number of focal lengths, lowering the necessity to transfer the digital camera as a lot.
The lens is optimized for full-frame cameras and has a sometimes stable Sigma development. Zoom and focus rings function easily and the lens has speedy and virtually silent autofocus – helpful when you want to use the lens for daytime use. Picture distortion is minimal and stars seem sharp all through a lot of the picture body with little to no chromatic aberration, even on the widest aperture setting. This lens is accessible in Canon and Nikon mount choices however the Canon model will also be used on the Sony E-Mount system when utilizing Sigma’s MC-11 mount converter.
This lens is sort of merely probably the greatest lenses available on the market at present for astrophotography.
Astrophotography may be an costly interest, not least as a result of this style of pictures calls for the usage of costly lenses which have broad most apertures. Fortuitously, there are some wonderful budget-friendly choices accessible, too, just like the Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8. Though this South Korean-made lens is likely one of the most cost-effective fashions on this round-up, we gave it 4/5 stars in our Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 review and really feel it deserves to be listed as probably the greatest lenses for astrophotography.
There are the explanation why this lens is cheaper than different ultra-wide lenses and that’s primarily as a result of this lens is absolutely guide – each the main target and aperture are managed manually. As the main target is normally set manually in astrophotography anyway, this doesn’t current an issue. Equally, setting the aperture utilizing the guide adjustment ring close to the bottom of the lens shouldn’t be an enormous subject. It does, nonetheless, imply that there’s no digital connection between the lens and the digital camera hooked up to it, so no picture information will likely be relayed together with your pictures. The development of the lens physique, though plastic, is pretty stable and light-weight.
Star sharpness is mostly excellent on the Rokinon/Samyang however there’s deteriorating sharpness in the direction of the corners at f/2.8, with some proof of coma and chromatic aberrations. The distortion and vignetting are heavy with this lens however each of those may be corrected in post-processing.
In abstract, this can be a very succesful and reasonably priced ultra-wide lens that’s ideally suited for newcomers to astrophotography or these with a smaller finances.
Launched in 2015, the Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 AF Professional DX has now been changed by the Tokina atx-i 11-20mm f/2.8 CF, however the older AF Professional DX listed right here continues to be worthy of a spot within the digital camera bag.Â
Regardless of its retro aesthetics, Tokina has constructed a troublesome, sharp lens with a quick aperture of f/2.8 which is fixed all through the zoom vary; good for astrophotography. The Tokina has been particularly manufactured for crop sensor cameras which have an APS-C sensor and presents mount choices for each Canon and Nikon customers.
Each Canon and Nikon have competing ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses for APS-C cameras, nonetheless, solely the Tokina presents a continuing f/2.8 aperture all through the zoom vary. The lens is supplied with a detachable lens hood, which is a helpful addition and helps to maintain dew from forming on the glass component throughout humid nights beneath the celebrities. When the hood is eliminated, there’s an choice of utilizing the 82mm thread to connect filters similar to noise air pollution or star glow filter to reinforce your night time pictures. Auto-focus is a bit of gradual and noisy on the Tokina, though that is unlikely to be of concern when taking pictures the night time sky as a result of guide focusing is the order of the day.
Optically, the Tokina produces wonderful outcomes with sharp pictures even when shot broad open at an aperture of f/2.8. Coma is nicely managed. General, this lens represents incredible worth for cash and might be the very best ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for photographers utilizing a crop sensor, APS-C Canon or Nikon digital camera.
The Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM is from Sony’s line of best-quality lenses, the ‘G-Grasp’ vary, and is the costliest lens on the listing. This lens has a stable construct, is compact and comparatively gentle at simply 1.87 lbs — fairly a feat for an f/2.8 aperture lens with such a large viewing angle. The mix of a big aperture and extra-wide viewing angle signifies that the entrance glass component is massive and bulbous by design. A petal-shaped built-in hood protects the glass, nonetheless, this additionally means there’s no choice to make use of a entrance filter with out investing in an tailored filter system. The excellent news is that there’s a slot within the rear of the lens for gel filters.
Picture high quality is nothing lower than spectacular. Stars seem extraordinarily sharp within the heart of the picture and nonetheless very sharp within the corners all through the total focal size vary, even on the widest aperture of f/2.8. The shortest focal size of 12mm offers a whopping viewing angle of 122 levels — good for capturing large parts of the Milky Way and panorama, which may solely be achieved by taking panoramas with many different lenses.
This stylish lens is good for astrophotography when you’re a Sony shooter and need solely the highest quality astro pictures. Positive, this lens is pricey but it surely’s additionally of the very best caliber and it might simply be the one wide-field astro lens you ever want.
This vibrant, ultra-wide 14mm prime lens is Sony’s reply to Sigma’s 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Artwork lens. Each lenses supply the identical fastened focal size and most aperture however there’s a marked distinction between the 2. The Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM has been designed particularly for its mirrorless system, which implies Sony have been capable of engineer a a lot smaller and lighter lens. For comparability, the Sony weighs in at 1.02 lbs and the Sigma ideas the scales at a chunky 2.6 lbs. This interprets right into a significantly better stability when the native Sony lens is fitted to a Sony digital camera.
The Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM is the widest Sony prime lens and it has the same old high-resolution, climate seals and clean focusing like all of the lenses in Sony’s G-Grasp vary. The lens additionally incorporates a devoted aperture management ring for guide management, which is a helpful function for fast publicity adjustments. The entrance component is fluorine-coated to repel moisture and is protected by an built-in lens hood. With minimal distortion and vignetting, star sharpness is maintained all through the body and in the direction of the corners.
At an identical value to the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM, it is exhausting to see why a Sony person would select one thing else for an ultra-wide astrophotography lens.
Touted by Nikon because the world’s shortest full-frame f/2.8 ultra-wide-angle zoom, this absolutely sealed lens slots into the trinity of Nikon’s skilled mirrorless zoom lenses. At simply 1 lb 7oz in weight the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S has a compact and light-weight development, regardless of its broad aperture and ultra-wide viewing angle on the shortest finish of the focal vary. Construct high quality is great and the entrance component is noticeably much less bulbous than related lenses from different manufacturers. This enables the choice of attaching 112mm filters to the entrance of the lens utilizing the equipped lens hood. Nonetheless, that is of restricted attraction for astrophotography and 112mm threaded filters are pricey. The inclusion of a customizable Lens Operate (L-fn) button offers the person the flexibility to additional modify settings immediately with out having to scroll by menus.
The Nikkor has distinctive picture high quality with little distortion and vignetting. Extra importantly, coma and different aberrations are largely absent from the far corners of the picture body. The lens sports activities a programmable lens management ring which, though not very helpful for astrophotography, could also be useful for daytime pictures. Nonetheless, astrophotographers will in all probability be extra within the helpful LCD show on the lens which lets them see and make adjustments at the hours of darkness with out having to modify on a headlamp.
In abstract, this is a perfect astrophotography lens for the Nikon mirrorless system, even when it is a bit of dear.
The Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED has been round since 2008 and is part of the ‘holy trinity’ of Nikon FX lenses, together with the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8. A favourite amongst astrophotographers, we gave it a hair’s breadth off full marks on our Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED review.
No lens is bomb-proof however the development of this lens means it’s constructed to final and it offers with no matter situations are thrown at it, together with the occasional knock. Its easy however efficient design means the lens is straightforward to deal with, even on chilly nights whereas sporting gloves. The integral petal-shaped lens hood defending the entrance component signifies that a pricey third-party filter adapter is required to connect filters, though that is solely more likely to be a problem when you plan to make use of the lens in the course of the daytime. The main target ring is snug to grip and the motion is clean.
At f/2.8, the lens delivers crisp, clear pictures with small pinpoint stars, a attribute of such a lens. There’s a slight quantity of barrel distortion, however it’s simply corrected with a easy click on within the lens profile part in post-processing software program.
Full body Nikon customers will love the flexibility and high quality of pictures this lens delivers however now there are newer alternate options available on the market, such because the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art, which presents full climate sealing and fluorine-coated optics. That being stated, the Nikorr is a superlative ultra-wide zoom for astrophotography, supplied you might be comfortable to hold across the further weight.
The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM makes use of Canon’s highest high quality L-series glass and is superbly crafted, with a clear uncluttered design. Publicity controls may be assigned to the customizable management ring by way of an RF digital camera physique and the lens has clean, silent focus and zoom rings. The lens boasts 5 stops of optical stabilization which, though not related in astrophotography, is a large bonus when taking pictures handheld in different low gentle conditions. When reviewing the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM we related it to a suitable RF physique to spice up IS to a powerful 8 stops.
At 15mm, the lens has a 1mm wider viewing angle than the prevailing 16-35mm incarnations from Canon’s DSLR vary of lenses and the design of the entrance lens component is such that filters may be hooked up by way of the 82mm thread when the removable hood is eliminated. Photos are razor sharp all through however there’s some edge sharpness drop-off when taking pictures broad open at f/2.8. A lower in edge sharpness is exhibited in lots of lenses however then the Canon isn’t low cost, which is mildly disappointing, however definitely not a deal-breaker.
Compared to different ultra-wide zoom lenses featured on this listing, the 15-35mm covers a broader and extra helpful focal vary, enabling you to crop pictures extra tightly, which is solely not attainable with different lenses. The Milky Way core may be seen at 35mm in superb element.
This lens is a superb, high-performing instrument for astrophotography and intensely succesful. However that is extra than simply an astrophotography lens — its versatility means the lens can also be good for panorama and structure pictures. Positive, it is an costly lens, however the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM probably the greatest lenses Canon has made and is extremely really helpful for EOS R-series house owners.Â
Canon 16-35mm L lenses have a repute for high quality so it’s unsurprising that amateurs and professionals use them so broadly. A very talked-about lens, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM replaces the earlier Mk II and in doing so addresses the failings of its predecessor.Â
Upon reviewing the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM, the most recent iteration of this lens builds upon the standard of the Mkii and introduces enhancements to the autofocus system, diaphragm and optics, resulting in sharper pictures on the picture periphery when taking pictures at its widest aperture settings and focal vary. Picture stabilization was sadly dropped from this newest model, however this could should be switched off for lengthy exposures at night time anyway.
The helpful fixed aperture of f/2.8 is good for astrophotography, as is the focal vary, permitting the person 20mm of flexibility to play throughout the area. The lens handles properly with stable construct high quality and the high-speed USM autofocus system is speedy and correct. Focusing manually is the norm when taking pictures pictures of the night time sky however this can be a helpful function to have on a flexible lens that will also be used for extra functions than simply nightscapes. The lens can also be suitable with filters as a result of inclusion of an 82mm thread.
The lens has been designed to right chromatic aberration and distortion, though there’s some very slight distortion on the corners at shut examination. Nonetheless, this distortion solely turns into obvious when inspecting your entire picture at very excessive magnification.
Though costly, this lens produces wonderful outcomes in terms of taking pictures wide-field pictures of the night time sky.
How we check the very best lenses for astrophotography
To be able to assure you’re getting trustworthy, up-to-date suggestions on the very best lenses to purchase right here at House.com we be sure that to place each digital camera lens by a rigorous overview to completely check every product. Every lens is reviewed primarily based on a mess of points, from its development and design, to how nicely it capabilities as an optical instrument and its efficiency within the area.
Every lens is fastidiously examined by both our skilled employees or educated freelance contributors who know their topic areas in depth. This ensures truthful reviewing is backed by private, hands-on expertise with every lens and is judged primarily based on its value level, class and destined use. For instance, evaluating a 150-600mm superzoom telephoto lens appropriate for a full-frame digital camera to a glossy little wide-angle prime destined for a crop sensor wouldn’t be acceptable, although every lens may be the very best performing product in its personal class.
We take a look at how simple every lens is to function, whether or not it accommodates the most recent up-to-date imaging know-how and take a look at its weight and portability. We’ll additionally make options if a specific lens would profit from any further equipment to provide the greatest viewing expertise attainable.
With full editorial independence, House.com are right here to make sure you get the very best shopping for recommendation on digital camera lenses, whether or not you should buy one or not, making our purchasing guides and opinions dependable and clear.
Prime lenses vs Zoom lenses for astrophotography
Some photographers desire utilizing fastened focal size prime lenses for astrophotography and others desire zoom lenses, however which lens is the best astrophotography lens for you? It’ll come right down to a stability between versatility, value, private desire and which digital camera system you utilize.
On the whole, prime lenses exhibit much less distortion and carry out higher in low gentle. Alternatively, zoom lenses are extra versatile and supply a bigger vary of focal lengths, however on the expense of a barely smaller most aperture and lowered light-gathering capability.
If you happen to’re searching for one lens to do the job, a wide-angle zoom choice is a good alternative because it lets you work throughout a spread of focal lengths in a single handy package deal. If, however, your precedence is most gentle assortment and also you don’t thoughts a set focal size, go together with one of many vibrant and intensely quick f/1.8 choices we’ve listed right here. These are wonderful for photographers with out star trackers, when publicity instances are restricted. Alternatively, when you’re simply beginning out in your astrophotography journey and don’t need to lay our a fortune simply but, it’s exhausting to look previous the very reasonably priced Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 which is great worth for cash.
