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19659001 ( Image credit: Getty Images) 19659003 19459544 In order to get those sensational astrophotos you’ve been imagining, a great electronic camera will just presume– you require to match it with the best lens for the task. An excellent astrophotography lens requires to let in great deals of faint starlight, so a wide-angle focal length and quick aperture are a must. 19659004 We’ve assembled our leading choices from each of the most popular electronic camera brand names, so there’s a choice for everybody, no matter what system you utilize. We’ve mainly included wide-angle prime lenses due to their larger apertures and astro-friendly focal length, however we’ve likewise consisted of a zoom lens option if you desire a bit more adaptability or desire a longer focal length to picture the moon, in addition to some more inexpensive alternatives if you’re on a spending plan or are a novice. Paired with among the very best astrophotography electronic cameras, now is the perfect time to record the Milky Way at its peak. And with Prime Day deals still hiding around after recently, now may be the very best time to purchase. 19459545 The fast list 19659007 19659008 Finest Sony Finest Sony WIth a broad 14mm focal length and intense f/1.8 aperture, this is the very best native Sony lens for wide-angle astrophotography.19659011 Find out more listed below Finest Canon Finest Canon Canon’s most recent lens in their’ L’ series, this brilliant 20mm f/1/4 lens is perfect for astro, landscapes, wedding event photography and video work. Learn more listed below 19659018 19659019 Finest Nikon Finest Nikon 19659022 Presently Nikon’s largest prime lens, this 20mm f/1/8 produces sensational images. 19659023 Find out more listed below Finest Fujifilm 19659027 Finest Fujifilm 19659028 Not without its faults, however it’s the very best Fuji choice for astrophotography. Find out more listed below 19659030 19659032 Finest Micro Four-Thirds M.Zuiko ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro 19659034 Finest Micro Four-Thirds An exceptionally intense f/1.2 lens for astrophotography on the OM System lineup. 19659036 Learn more listed below Finest third-party 19659040 Sigma Art 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Finest third-party Hailed as the’ supreme astrophotography lens’, this is the world’s very first 14mm lens with an f/1.4 aperture. 19659043 Learn more listed below The very best lenses for astrophotography we suggest in 2025 Why you can rely on Live Science 19659045 Our specialist customers invest hours screening and comparing product or services so you can pick the very best ones for you. Learn more about how we evaluate. 19459540 Finest Sony
19459534 19659048 The Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM is the very best astro lens you can place on your cam. (Image credit: Kimberley Lane ) Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM 19659050 Hand’s down the very best native astrophotography lens for Sony shooters. Specs 19659052 Format: 19659053 Complete frame Mount: Sony E 19659056 Focal length: 14mm Aperture: 19659059 f/1.8 Measurements: 3.3 x 4-inch/ 83 x 99.8 mm Weight: 16.3 oz./ 460g 19659064 Factors to purchase + 19659066 Great image quality 19659067 + 19659068 Compact and light-weight + Exceptional autofocus 19659071 Factors to prevent – Not suitable with lens filters 19659074 – 19659075 Minor vignetting 19659076- Pricey if you do not do a great deal of astro Purchase it if ✅ You wish to seriously up your astro video game: This lens will produce extremely sharp and tidy astro shots. 19659080 ✅ You do not require wide-angle adaptability: 19459553 The focal length is repaired at 14mm. Do not purchase it if: 19659082 ❌ You’re on a spending plan: 19459553 The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is likewise fantastic for astro, and more affordable. ❌ You desire a larger aperture: 19459553 It’s larger and equivalent in rate, the Sigma Art 14mm f/1.4 DG DN has a larger aperture. The bottom line 19659085 Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM: 19459553 Quick, sharp and the wide-angle focal length is great for fitting big parts of the sky in the frame. Plus, it’s not too broad for landscapes and basic street photography. ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 19659086 To put it just, this is almost the very best native astro lens you can place on your Sony cam. The 14mm focal length blended with the f/1.8 aperture is a dish for sharp, intense pictures of the night sky in a light-weight and relatively compact plan. It’s the lightest full-frame native lens in this guide. We evaluated the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM over at our sis website Space.com and discovered it to be an outright dream to get on shoots.
Optically, this lens is exceptional. The images are sharp, in-depth and have great color performance and very little distortion. There is some vignetting, however that’s to be anticipated with such a broad focal length, and it’s absolutely nothing that can’t be repaired throughout modifying. The round front aspect does forbid using lens filters, which isn’t excessive of a problem as it works with rear lens filters; nevertheless, that sustains additional expense if you do not currently own any. 19659088 We were likewise impressed by the quick and precise autofocus. Clearly, this isn’t an issue for astrophotography, however helpful if you wish to utilize this lens for other photographic categories. The manual focus ring was smooth and allowed us to concentrate on the stars quickly– perfect if you’re utilizing among Sony’s cams that has the Bright Monitoring function. 19459545
19459534data-pin-media=data-pin-nopin=19459003 data-slice-image=> 19659089 The Milky Way over Three Cliffs Bay in South Wales, taken with the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM( and Sony A7R IV).
19459541 (Image credit: Kimberley Lane) 19659090 If you’re searching for a zoom lens rather, we enjoyed the Sony FE 12-24 f/2.8 GM when we evaluated it at our sis website Space.com. There’s a reduction in the largest aperture, f/2.8 is still great for astrophotography, and the 12-24mm zoom variety offers a bit more versatility for shooting landscapes that the 14mm prime does not. If you desire a lot more light, the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens is really competitively priced versus the Sony.
If you require a longer focal length for moon photography
, we ‘d advise the Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3 -8 G OSS, which might end up being approximately an efficient 1400mm with a 2x teleconverter. You might likewise utilize the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS sport lens if you desire to conserve somemoney. 19659092 Swipe to scroll horizontally 19659093
19459544 Qualities 19659095 Notes Style 19659097 Compact and light-weight with round front aspect. Efficiency 19659099 Amazing image quality. 19659100 Performance 19659101 Outstanding autofocus for daytime usage. 19659102 Back to the leading ⤴ 19659103 19459540 Finest Canon 19659104 19459534 The f/1.4 aperture provides this lens an edge over its f/1.8 competitors. 19459541( Image credit: Canon) Canon RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM 19659107 Canon’s very first 20mm lens, and the world’s very first 20mm lens with an f/1.4 aperture. Specs Format: 19659110 Complete frame 19659111 Mount: 19659112 Canon RF Focal length: 19659114 20mm 19659115 Aperture: f/1.4 19659117 Measurements: 3.0 x 3.9-inch( 76.5 x 99.3 mm ) Weight: 1.1 pounds/ 519g 19659121 Factors to purchase + Flexible 20mm focal length 19659124+ 19659125 Super sharp at f/1.4 19659126+ Light-weight and compact 19659128 Factors to prevent – 19659130 Vignetting at f/1.4 – 19659132 Some distortion 19659133 – No image stabilization 19659135 Purchase it if ✅ You shoot a range of topics: It’s terrific for landscapes, wedding events and video work along with astro. ✅ You’re updating from your set lens: This would make a great lens to buy as a step-up from your set lens. Do not purchase it if: 19659139 ❌ You currently own the 24mm f/1.4: Unless you actually desire that additional 4mm and can trade the 24mm in for a great cost, we ‘d wait and see if they launch a 16 or 14mm. 19659140 ❌ You photo wildlife: 19459553 You’ll require a lot longer focal length for this kind of photography. The bottom line Canon RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM: Sharp from edge to edge, gorgeous information and efficient in producing extremely tidy images at a large f/1.4 aperture– we’re amazed. ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 19659143 Back in March, Canon fans will have been enjoyed check out the statement of the latest lens in the L series prime lens lineup– the Canon RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM. Having actually just been on the marketplace for a couple of months, this is among Canon’s the majority of astro-friendly lenses to date. 20mm isn’t the best focal length on this list, it’s still more than functional for landscape astrophotography, and the quick f/1.4 aperture makes it more beneficial in low-light scenes than a broader focal length with f/1.8. 19659144 Previously, the largest prime lens had actually been the 24mm f/1.4, and considered that there’s just 4mm distinction in between the 2, we ‘d have liked them to highlight a 16mm and even a 14mm for devoted wide-angle photography. That stated, the benefit the 20mm has more than the other lenses in this list is that it’s more flexible for other designs of photography. Together with astro, we can see it being utilized for wedding events, interiors and architectural street photography, in addition to being a wonderful wide-angle for video work. 19659145 It’s perfect for catching the Milky Way while still having space for landscape foregrounds in the frame, and although we have not evaluated it ourselves yet, the images we’ve seen are pin-sharp and exceptionally tidy, which is to be gotten out of Canon. There’s some distortion and vignetting, which is normal for this kind of lens, however it can quickly be remedied in modifying software application. The autofocus is quick and peaceful with very little focus breathing, which will show beneficial for more basic designs of picture and video work. It is the heaviest of the native full-frame lenses in this list; nevertheless, at 1.1 pounds (519g), we still do not consider it anywhere near being heavy. As flexible as this lens is, if a prime lens isn’t what you’re trying to find, we enjoy the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM for astrophotography. The 15-35mm is a wonderful wide-angle zoom for landscapes and travel/street photography, and the f/2.8 aperture is still excellent for low light and astro shooting. It is more pricey than the 20mm prime. 19659148 When it pertains to longer lenses for moon photography, unless you have $ 20k lying around for the Canon RF 1200mm F/8 L IS USM, we ‘d recommend the Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM for moon images. The Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5 -6.3 Di VC USD G2 would likewise work and is a little more affordable. Swipe to scroll horizontally 19459545 19659151 Characteristics 19459544 Notes 19659153 19459544 Style Stood out construct quality and light-weight style. Efficiency 19659156 19459544 Sharp, tidy and in-depth images. 19659157 19459544 Performance 19659158 Some anticipated distortion and vignetting, however absolutely nothing that isn’t fixable. Back to the leading ⤴ 19459540 Finest Nikon 19659161 19459534 19659162 It’s not the tiniest lens, it’s image quality is spectacular. 19459541 (Image credit: Nikon) Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S 19659164 The clear winner for astrophotography on a Nikon environment. Specs 19659166 Format: Complete frame 19659168 Mount: Nikon Z Focal length: 19659171 20mm 19659172 Aperture: 19659173 f/1.8 Measurements: 3.4 x 4.3-inch/ 84.5 x. 108.5 mm 19659176 Weight: 17.9 oz./ 505g 19659178 Factors to purchase 19659179 + Incredible image quality + Edge to edge sharpness Factors to prevent – Little bit of coma on brighter stars–
Some vignetting at f/1.8
Purchase it if
✅ You shoot a series of topics: The 20mm is large enough for astro however likewise helpful for more basic designs and video.
✅ It’s your very first astro lens: It’s wonderful worth for cash and optically exceptional.
Do not purchase it if:
❌ You currently own the 14-24mm: It’ll provide you some additional light, think about whether investing $1k on the 20mm is worth it to you.
❌ You require a longer focal length: For wildlife photography or pictures, 20mm will not be long enough.
The bottom line
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S: Nikon’s finest astrophotography lens with a quick f/1.8 aperture and broad 20mm focal length, which is likewise a wonderful all-rounder. ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
The NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S is an excellent choice for Nikon users who wish to dive into astrophotography. With its broad 20mm focal length, it’s best for catching legendary nightscapes in addition to being flexible enough for more basic designs and video work.
The quick f/1.8 aperture is perfect for enabling great deals of light through, leading to intense, tidy and in-depth pictures of the night sky. Plus, Nikon’s optical style does a terrific task at managing problems like coma and chromatic aberration, providing you sharp images all throughout the frame. There’s some vignetting at f/1.8, which is common for such a broad lens, however it’s absolutely nothing that can’t be repaired. In general, image quality is definitely spectacular.
As we’ve concerned get out of Nikon, the construct quality is outstanding, too. It’s weather-sealed and resilient, so it’s an excellent match for cooler nights to avoid dew from entering into the lens. It isn’t the most light-weight lens, however it’s still simple adequate to bring around with you with no problems.
If you desire a more flexible zoom lens for astro and other wide-angle designs, we ‘d suggest the NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S. It’s double the cost, much heavier and takes larger filters, however you get way more flexibility and the capability to get back at broader astro-shots to 14mm.
For lunar photography, theNIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6 -6.3 VR is our leading choice. The Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5 -6.3 Di VC USD G2 provides the very same optimum focal length for less cash.
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Characteristics
Notes
Style
Resilient and weather-sealed.
Efficiency[19659209]
Outstanding Nikon image quality.
Performance
Quick f/1.8 aperture.
Back to the leading ⤴
Finest Fujifilm
Compact and light-weight, it will not weigh your bag down on long shoots at remote places.(Image credit: Fujifilm )
Fujinon XF16mm F1.4 R WR
Fuji’s finest astro lens, however it has one failure.
Specs
Format: APS-C
Mount: Fujifilm X
Focal length: 16mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Measurements: 2.9 x 2.87-inch/ 73.4 x 73.0 mm
Weight: 13.2 oz./ 375g
Factors to purchase
+
Wide f/1.4 aperture
+
Compact and light-weight
+
Sharp images in the center
Factors to prevent
–
Suffers from coma in the corners
–
Some corner softness and vignetting
Purchase it if
✅ You do not shoot loads of astro: If you can overcome the coma concern, it’s still a fantastic lens.
✅ You shoot low light video: It manages low-light shooting for stills and video extremely well.
Do not purchase it if:
❌ You desire best images at f/1.4: You’ll require to buy greater quality glass.
❌ You’re on a budget plan: The Samyang 12mm f/2 is around a quarter of the rate.
The bottom line
Fujinon XF16mm F1.4 R WR: The very best lens for astrophotography on Fuji video cameras, although it does experience considerable coma in the corners at f/1.4. ★ ★ ★ ★
Fujifilm shooters who wish to dive into astrophotography have actually been blessed with the Fujinon XF16mm F1.4 R WR. Its large 16mm focal length, mixed with quick f/1.4 aperture, results, in theory, in a great lens for astro that can turn its hand to any design of wide-angle shooting you can possibly imagine– consisting of macro, thanks so it’s close focusing.
General image quality for daytime shots is, honestly, excellent. How does it carry out in low light? The most significant failure of this lens is that it suffers rather significantly from coma in the leading corners of the image at f/1.4. The very best setting for this lens appears to be f/2 to minimize a great deal of these aberrations, however you do lose a little light in doing so.
Experienced astro shooters would wish to purchase a full-frame system with much better quality glass that
If you wish to go even broader, you’ll need to select the XF 8-16mm F2.8 R LM WR zoom lens.
You lose a little bit of optimum aperture, however it allows you to shoot incredibly wide-angle images to 8mm. For a more affordable alternative devoted to astrophotography, the Samyang 12mm f/2 is an excellent option.
If you wish to photo the moon, theXF150-600mmF5.6 -8 R LM OIS WR is the longest Fuji lens by a long method. The Tamron 150-500mm F/5 -6.7 Di III VC VXD is likewise suitable with Fuji video cameras and is substantially less expensive.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Qualities
Notes
Style
Feels strong and safe.
Efficiency
Normally outstanding image quality.
Performance
Suffers from considerable coma at f/1.4.
Back to the leading ⤴
Finest OM System
As far as native lenses go, the M.Zuiko ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro is tough to beat.(Image credit: Olympus/OM System)
M.Zuiko ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro
A wonderful wide-angle prime for astrophotography on a Micro Four-Thirds system.
Specs
Format: Micro Four-Thirds
Mount: OM System
Focal length: 17mm
Aperture: f/1.2
Measurements: 2.7 x 3.4-inch/ 68.2 x 87mm
Weight: 14 oz/ 390g
Factors to purchase
+
Outstanding develop quality
+
Compact and light-weight
+
Sharp, tidy images
Factors to prevent
–
Really costly
–
Vulnerable to flare
–
Some coma on brighter stars
Purchase it if
✅ You desire a light-weight lens: The benefit of M4/3 equipment is its mobility, with this lens just weighing 14 oz/ 390g.
✅ You desire a very large aperture: The f/1.2 aperture is great for low easy work.
Do not purchase it if:
❌ You do not focus on astro: It’s rather a pricey lens, so devoted astrophotographers would be most likely to invest.
❌ You currently own the 12-40mm: For many functions, the 12-40 will be more flexible if you currently own it, unless you particularly require the f/1.2 aperture of the 17mm.
The bottom line
M.Zuiko ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro:[.OM System’s finest response to astrophotography that produces sharp, tidy pictures of the night sky– however it’s not inexpensive. ★ ★ ★ ★
For OM System users who value a compact and light-weight setup, this little 17mm f/1.2 lens is a great addition to your package when it pertains to astrophotography. It’s compact and light-weight– ideal for appearing your cam bag on a night shoot. It has an actually strong develop quality, and we liked the manual focus clutch to assist in simple and easy changing in between handbook and autofocus.
We utilized it to shoot some astrophotography throughout our OM System OM-1 Mark II evaluation, and integrated with the OM-1 Mark II’s stellar sky AF and live composite functions, we were extremely pleased with how this lens carries out. The stars were sharp all throughout the frame( even with Starry Sky AF switched off ), and manual focusing was smooth and simple. We did observe some coma on the brighter stars, however not an unusable quantity.
The intense f/1.2 aperture is dazzling for letting more light in than the majority of other prime lenses, and this compensates rather for the minimized ‘250 guideline’ when it pertains to shutter speed on an M4/3 lens. We had the ability to shoot the image listed below utilizing a 13-second shutter speed.
The Big Dipper over Glastonbury Tor– revealing exceptional image sharpness even at the edges of the frame.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
For a zoom choice that still works for astro, we have 2 suggestions. Our finest choice is the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II,followed by the M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm F2.8 PRO. For our cash, the 12-40mm is less expensive and will be the more flexible choice.
The very best lens for moon photography utilizing an OM System cam is the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS. Include a 2x teleconverter, and it can end up being an efficient 1200mm lens.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Characteristics
Notes
Style
Exceptional develop quality.
Efficiency
Produces sharp, tidy images.
Performance
Wide f/1.2 aperture is exceptional for astrophotography.
Back to the leading ⤴
Finest Panasonic
The Panasonic 15mm is feather-light at just 4.06 oz/ 115g.(Image credit: James Abbott)
A cost effective astro lens for Micro Four Thirds users who desire fantastic optics without breaking the bank.
Specs
Format: Micro Four-Thirds
Mount: MFT install
Focal length: 15mm
Aperture: f/1.7
Measurements: 1.42 x 2.26-inch/ 36 x 57.5 mm
Weight: 4.06 oz/ 115 g
Factors to purchase
+
Extremely inexpensive
+
Exceptional construct quality
+
Quick f/1.7 aperture
+
Feather-light
Factors to prevent
–
Some distortion exists
–
Vignetting at f/1.7
Purchase it if
✅ You’re on a spending plan: It’s not an ideal lens, we believe it’s exceptional worth for cash.
✅ You desire an extremely light-weight lens: This lens is definitely small and just weighs 4.06 oz/ 115g.
Do not purchase it if:
❌ You desire a quicker aperture: There’s a Panasonic 12mm f/1.4, however it’s unsurprisingly a lot more costly.
❌ You desire complete sharpness when shooting wide open: If you’re pleased to purchase the very best glass, the OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.2 PRO we noted above is sharp right to the edges.
The bottom line
Panasonic 15mm f/1.7 Leica Summilux DG ASPH : A fantastic little lens for nature and astrophotography with its large focal length, quick f/1.7 aperture and terrific image quality in an inexpensive bundle. ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Micro Four Thirds shooters who are trying to find a small and feather-light lens for astrophotography, your prayers have actually been addressed in the type of the Panasonic 15mm f/1.7 Leica Summilux DG ASPH. For such a little lens, it produces exceptional image quality with a quick f/1.7 aperture– a perfect mix for astrophotography.
Throughout our complete Panasonic 15mm f/1.7 Leica Summilux DG ASPH evaluation, we applauded the quick and quiet autofocus, which worked well for both image and video, and we discovered the handbook control ring to be smooth with simply the correct amount of resistance. There’s no image stabilization, however that’s to be anticipated with a prime lens– not just would it increase the size, however it would likewise increase the expense.
In general, the image quality is exceptional, and we discovered the very best efficiency to be in between f/2.8 to f/4, with f/1.7 not being rather as sharp at the edges of the frame. That stated, it’s still a wonderful lens for catching the night sky thanks to its especially remarkable sharpness in the center when shooting wide open. We utilized it to photo the aurora borealis, and the quick aperture permitted us to utilize ISO 800, and night shoots under a moon just needed ISO 400. We observed some distortion and vignetting at broader apertures, however this is quickly repaired in modifying software application.
For the cost, we believe it’s a fantastic lens that would be perfect for M4/3 users who wish to dip their toe into the astrophotography world. It’s not best, however considering its optical efficiency, we believe it’s exceptional worth for cash.
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When shooting the aurora borealis, the quick aperture of the lens suggests we
just required to utilize ISO 800.(Image credit: James Abbott)
If you desire a longer lens for lunar photography, the longest Panasonic lens is the G Series LEICA 100-400mm F4.0-6.3, which will provide good outcomes however might still be a little brief, so you’ll require to utilize a teleconverter or have the ability to crop.
Quick f/1.7 aperture for low light shooting with low ISO.
Back to the leading ⤴
Finest 3rd party
This lens has a tripod collar connected, which is uncommon for wide-angle lenses, and goes to reveal simply how huge this thing is.( Image credit: Sigma)
Sigma ART 14mm F1.4 DG DN
World’s very first 14mm lens with an f/1.4 aperture and called as the’ supreme astrophotography lens’.
Specs
Format: Complete frame
Mount: Leica L/ Sony E
Focal length: 14mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Measurements: Approx 4.0 x 6.0-inch/ 101.4 x 151.9 mm
Weight: Approx 41.3 oz./ 1,170 g
Factors to purchase
+
Virtually best image quality with only small defects
+
Manual focus lock keeps consistent infinity focus
+
Quick f/1.4 aperture
Factors to prevent
–
As costly as native lenses
–
Extremely heavy
Purchase it if
✅ You desire the very best lens out there: It’s probably much better than the Sony 16mm f/1.8.
✅ You’re a major astro shooter: Its cost, broad angle and weight will be finest used by skilled astrophotographers.
Do not purchase it if:
❌ You’re not a Sony or Leica shooter: Presently, this lens is just suitable with Sony or Leica video cameras.
❌ You do not desire a heavy lens: It’s the heaviest on this list by some margin.
The bottom line
Sigma ART 14mm F1.4 DG DN: This appears to be the ideal astro lens if you can manage its plus size and heavy weight. The only factor we have not granted it 5 stars is that we have actually
n’t checked it for ourselves. ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Hailed as the ‘supreme astrophotography lens’, Sigma’s 14mm f/1.4 prime lens is definitely a force to be considered. It’s the fastest 14mm lens ever made, and this lens comes at an individual suggestion from acclaimed astrophotographer Josh Dury.
Suitable with the Sony E install and Leica L install, the very first thing to note is that compared to the native lenses, it’s significantly larger and much heavier. Weighing a substantial 41.3 oz( 1,170 g), it’s not going to be the most enjoyable lens to bring for fars away in contrast. To disperse the heavy weight and plus size, it has a tripod collar on the
lens barrel with an integrated fast release plate, which is uncommon for wide-angle primes. It likewise includes a manual focus lock switch, which is really beneficial for astrophotography.
There’s practically no purple fringing, vignetting is well managed and the stars look like best pin-points with essentially no aberrations, in some way, which is a really welcome sight. There’s an extremely minor drop in sharpness towards the edges of the frame, however that’s just noticeable when you focus.
If you’re trying to find a zoom lens rather, Sigma has actually simply revealed its brand-new 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art lens, which might be an outright dream for astrophotographers who desire the flexibility of
a zoom lens integrated with the broad f/1.8 aperture of a prime lens. C is an excellent choice.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Characteristics
Notes
Style
Huge and heavy.
Efficiency
Extraordinary image quality.
Performance
Fastest 14mm lens ever made.
Back to the leading ⤴
Finest lenses for astrophotography: contrast
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Call
Format
Mount
Focal length
Aperture
Measurements
Weight
Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM
Complete frame
Sony E
14mm
f/1.8
3.3 x 4-inch/ 83 x 99.8 mm
16.3 oz./ 460g
Canon RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM
Complete frame
Canon RF
20mm
f/1.4
3.0 x 3.9-inch/ 76.5 x 99.3 mm
1.1 pounds/ 519g
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S
Complete frame
Nikon Z
20mm
f/1.8
3.4 x 4.3-inch/ 84.5 x. 108.5 mm
17.9 oz./ 505g
Fujifilm fujinon XF16mm F1.4 R WR
APS-C
Fujifilm X
16mm
f/1.4
2.9 x 2.87-inch/ 73.4 x 73.0 mm
13.2 oz./ 375g
M.Zuiko ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro
Micro Four-Thirds
OM System
17mm
f/1.2
2.7 x 3.4-inch/ 68.2 x 87mm
14 oz/ 390g
Panasonic 15mm f/1.7 Leica Summilux DG ASPH
Micro Four-Thirds
MFT install
15mm
f/1.7
1.42 x 2.26-inch/ 36 x 57.5 mm
4.06 oz/ 115 g
Sigma ART 14mm F1.4 DG DN
.
Complete frame
Leica L/ Sony E
14mm
f/1.4
Approx 4.0 x 6.0-inch/ 101.4 x 151.9 mm
Approx 41.3 oz./ 1,170 g
Contributing specialists & item testers
Josh Dury Photo-Media AKA ‘Starman’ is an Award-Winning Landscape Astrophotographer, speaker, speaker and author from the United Kingdom. His images have actually been acknowledged by NASA, APOLLO 11, ESA, TWAN, BBC & CBS among others, and he has actually partnered with Sigma, Benro and NiSi.
His book, “52 Assignments: Night Photography” is out now.
Josh has actually added to our FAQ area.
Frequently asked questions
What makes an excellent astrophotography lens?
The very best lenses for astrophotography require to have a wide-angle focal length( generally 20mm or lower) and a broad optimum aperture (no smaller sized than f/2.8 ). These 2 attributes allow as much light as possible to guarantee you get great information from dim starlight.
What is the 500 guideline for astrophotography?
The 500 guideline assists you exercise what shutter speed you can utilize without seeing star routes. You divide 500 by the focal length you’re utilizing, and the response provides you the suitable shutter speed in seconds.
: 500 divided by 20( mm )=25 seconds.[19659522]If you’re utilizing an APS-C setup, swap 500 for 300, and 250 if you’re shooting on a M4/3.
Are telephoto lenses great for astrophotography?
Usually, wide-angle lenses are utilized for astrophotography, however the exception is lunar and long-exposure, tracked deep sky astrophotography. We asked acclaimed astrophotographer, Josh Dury, if telephoto lenses benefit astrophotography, and he informed Live Science, “Yes — for different subject matter, from the sun, moon to eclipses and deep-field shots of galaxies and star clusters. Some lenses on the market now have a greater light-gathering capability compared to previous models.”
You can consist of the moon in your wide-angle shots utilizing any of the lenses discussed in this list, you’ll require a telephoto lens and be able to rely on cropping your image if you desire to get truly fantastic, in-depth close-up shots of the moon. If you currently own among the very best lenses for wildlife photography, the long focal length will be perfect for lunar photography. (If you wish to go an action even more, you can simply install your electronic camera directly onto your telescope, however that’s another story. )
You can definitely get good moon images with the bigger’ holy trinity’ lens you currently own– we’ve utilized the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II with the Sony A7R V to snap some shots of the moon– although even at 200mm, it’s still rather little in the frame. In order to make the moon appear larger, we ‘d advise a focal length of anywhere in between 500mm all the method as much as 2,000 mm. As anticipated, the longer the lens, the more pricey it’s most likely going to be, so you may wish to think about utilizing a teleconverter for your moon photos if you do not wish to buy an entire brand-new lens.
What is the very best ISO for astropghotography?
This totally depends upon how excellent your electronic camera remains in low light. ISO 2,000 is an excellent beginning point, and you can increase or reduce from there. The very best cams for astrophotography carry out much better at greater ISO levels.
What is the very best aperture for astrophotography?
For astrophotography, you wish to utilize an aperture of f/2.8 or broader to ensure as much light is going through as possible.
Are prime or zoom lenses much better for astrophotography?
Optically, prime lenses are generally much better and can contend larger apertures, so are usually the more preferred lens for astrophotography. Zoom lenses are more flexible and can be utilized for other designs, which is terrific if you do not exclusively shoot astro.
We asked award winning astrophotographer, Josh Dury, who stated, “Ideally, prime lenses are better for greater light gathering capability, although there are zoom lenses out there on the market with a good f/2.8 capability.”
Is 24mm large adequate for astrophotography?
Normally speaking, we ‘d advise lenses with a focal length of 20mm or larger for astrophotography in order to get as much of the sky in the frame as possible. If you currently own a 24mm lens, or you desire to purchase one however aren’t sure if you’ll keep up astrophotography as a pastime, you can definitely utilize a 24mm for astro.
What is the very best lens for recording the galaxy?
Actually any wide-angle prime lens will have the ability to photo the galaxy. Normally, the larger you go, the more of the galaxy you can suit the frame, so a 14mm would be ideal.
Is a moon bad for astrophotography?
Yes and no– everything depends what you wish to picture. If you wish to picture the moon, then fantastic, however if you wish to record the information of the dark sky and galaxy, you’ll wish to shoot throughout a brand-new moon.
Does the lens requirement image stabilization?
Not for astrophotography, as your video camera will currently be supported by your tripod. (You’ll observe the lenses in this guide do not have it). Image stabilization just assists if you’re going to be shooting the moon portable.
Most current updates
This is a brand-new guide. Future updates will be detailed here.
How we evaluate the very best lenses for astrophotographyHow we check the very best lenses for astrophotography
When evaluating the very best lenses for astrophotography, there are a variety of tests we perform to evaluate the lens’s light-gathering power and total quality. We constantly endeavour to utilize them in real-world situations (ie, out in the field), and if this is not possible due to weather and/or time limitations, we intend to replicate a comparable environment to that in which they ‘d usually be utilized in order to make our tests as precise as possible.
All our lens evaluations are carried out either by our professional personnel or well-informed freelance professional photographers. We take the very same image at numerous apertures to examine the sharpness and brightness, and figure out where the lens’s “sweet spot” is. We likewise utilize a comparable approach to evaluate the bokeh shape and smoothness, although this is generally utilized more for more general-purpose photography, where you may desire a blurred background.
We likewise take pictures of vibrant daily items like flowers and crystals, in addition to night sky images, to assess the color recreation, and we photo images consisting of grids or lines to try to find any distortion and vignetting. As wide-angle lenses can likewise be utilized for basic landscape photography, we inspect the production of sunstars by shooting into the sun, and we examine the autofocus by utilizing human or animal topics together with shooting the exact same image with handbook and autofocus to try to find distinctions.
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Kimberley Lane, E-commerce author for Live Science, has actually checked a vast array of optics devices evaluating electronic cameras, lenses and tripods, and getting hands-on observations with field glasses and more. A landscape & & seascape professional photographer living in South Wales, she intends to represent a sensation of calm and tranquil minutes through her images. Her work has actually likewise been included in a variety of nationwide photography publications and she routinely adds to our sis website Space.com.
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19659162 It’s not the tiniest lens, it’s image quality is spectacular. 19459541 (Image credit: Nikon) Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S 19659164 The clear winner for astrophotography on a Nikon environment. Specs 19659166 Format: Complete frame 19659168 Mount: Nikon Z Focal length: 19659171 20mm 19659172 Aperture: 19659173 f/1.8 Measurements: 3.4 x 4.3-inch/ 84.5 x. 108.5 mm 19659176 Weight: 17.9 oz./ 505g 19659178 Factors to purchase 19659179 + Incredible image quality + Edge to edge sharpness Factors to prevent – Little bit of coma on brighter stars–
