With so many photographers seeking creative ways to get out and explore, it’s not surprising that crowd-free, natural environments are in the spotlight. More and more photographers are expanding their scope, and recently, that includes experimenting with astrophotography. But between choosing the best cameras and the best lenses for astrophotography, you’ll need the right gear to make it happen.
What is astrophotography?
Astrophotography is photography of objects in the night sky, including the moon, constellations, star trailing, and even the Milky Way.
What do I need to do astrophotography?
You can get started with a basic kit including a camera, tripod, shutter release, and the right lens. Many photographers prefer specialized equipment and accessories, but choosing the right lens is an important first step toward capturing great photographs of the night sky. Ideally you should have a fairly wide-angle lens and shoot at a wide aperture.
What to look for in a lens for astrophotography
As you probably work mostly with manual camera settings, the lens’ features are essential for astrophotography. So check the following characteristics before purchasing your next lens.
Focal Length
You have to decide between a wide-angle lens and a telephoto one, and that depends on your artistic purpose and astronomy knowledge. Regardless of your decision, a prime lens provides better image quality than a zoom one.
Maximum Aperture
The wider the aperture is, the better the performance in low lighting conditions. And with astrophotography, you only get low lighting conditions. Maximum apertures for astrophotography lenses vary between f/1.4 and f/2.8.
High Precision Focus
Whether it has manual or autofocus, the lens should be able to focus with high precision. The slightest blur is easily noticeable in this type of photograph. Often in astrophotography, you will not only shoot in manual mode, but you will also focus manually.
Optical Design
Optical design includes glass quality and coatings that reduce vignetting, flares, reflections, and distortions, such as coma, chromatic, and spherical aberrations. The lens should be able to provide sharpness and clarity throughout the entire image frame.
Here are some of the best camera lenses for astrophotography. Note that our picks are for lenses that are compatible with DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
Best Lenses for Astrophotography
Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM
The Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8GM is a fantastic, high-tech, ultra-wide angle lens. Unlike many other ultra-wides, the maximum aperture of f/2.8 is constant throughout the zoom range, allowing you greater flexibility of use and a consistent look at any focal length.
Three XA elements help improve resolution from edge to edge of the image, while carefully crafted extra-low dispersion glass elements minimize chromatic aberration and increase sharpness. A revolutionary Nano AR Coating II helps minimize ghosting and flare to combat the top frustrations of night photography. If your goal is to create impressively rich and detailed images of the night sky with your Sony mirrorless camera, this is the lens for you.
Key Features:
- Full-frame zoom lens compatible with Leica L and Sony E lens mount cameras
- Focal length range: 12-24mm
- Aperture: f/2.8-f/22
- Angle of view: 107-75.4 deg.
- Lens construction: 16 elements in 11 groups
- Weight: 15.9 oz (450g)
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
The Canon EF16-35mm f/2.8L boasts many similar features and benefits to the Sony FE 12-24mm. As a member of the L series, this lens offers the upper echelon of glass elements and quality coatings in a durable, weather-sealed case.
With a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, you can achieve fast shutter speeds in low light at any focal length. Astrophotographers will especially appreciate the subwavelength coating and air sphere coating which combat reflections, aberration, and ghosting. No matter how bright your celestial subject is, this lens will help produce clean images.
Key Features:
- Full-frame zoom lens compatible with Canon EF lens mount cameras
- Focal length range: 16-35mm
- Aperture range: f/2.8-f/22
- Angle of view: 108 – 63 deg.
- Lens construction: 16 elements in 11 groups
- Weight: 27.9oz (790g)
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM ART Lens
The 14mm F1.8 Art is the world’s first 1.8 wide-angle lens and features the largest glass mold (80mm) in the industry for no distortions, flare, or ghosting. Three “F” Low Dispersion lens elements reduce chromatic aberrations. It has a fast and precise autofocus system and aims to provide exquisite image quality throughout the entire frame.
Key Features:
- Full-frame prime lens compatible with Canon EF, Leica L, Nikon F, Sigma SA, Sony E lens mount cameras
- Fixed focal length: 14mm
- Aperture range: f/1.8 – f/16
- Angle of view: 114.2 deg.
- Lens construction: 16 elements in 11 groups
- Weight: 41.3 oz. (1170g)
Panasonic LUMIX S 24mm f/1.8 L Mount Lens
Compact and lightweight, the LUMIX S 24mm F1.8 is a versatile wide-angle lens. The optical design includes 3 aspherical lenses, 3 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) lenses, and 1 UED lens that reduce chromatic aberrations. The aperture camera setting can reach f/1.8, making the lens optimal for shooting in low light conditions.
Key Features:
- Full-frame prime lens compatible with L-Mount cameras
- Fixed focal length: 24mm
- Aperture range: f/1.8 – f/16
- Angle of view: 84 deg.
- Lens construction: 12 elements in 11 groups
- Weight: 10.93 oz. (310g)
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED-IF
Not to be outdone by competitors, Nikon’s 14-24mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S Zoom lens by Nikkor offers equally excellent design, build quality, and implementation in this high-end ultra-wide lens. The maximum aperture of f/2.8 remains constant throughout the zoom range, and thanks to extra-low dispersion and PGM aspherical elements, every shot is optimized for edge-to-edge sharpness.
With an ultra-quiet silent wave motor internal auto-focus system, this lens quickly and accurately adapts to your needs to assure tack-sharp focus from 10.8 inches to infinity. The 14-24mm f/2.8 works seamlessly with full-frame and crop sensor cameras, so even if you’re not quite ready to upgrade your camera body, you can benefit from this fantastic lens.
Key Features:
- Full-frame zoom lens compatible with Nikon EF cameras
- Focal length range: 14-24mm
- Aperture: f/2.8-f/22
- Angle of view: 114 – 84 deg.
- Lens construction: 14 elements in 11 groups
- Weight: 35.3oz (1000g)
Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens
The Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN is an ultra-wide zoom lens that works perfectly with a manual camera. It is compact, lightweight, and easy to handle. The lens features a constant wide aperture throughout the zoom range, optical design for minimizing ghosting and lens flare, fast and silent autofocus, and a solid weather-resistant body.
Key Features:
- Full-frame zoom lens compatible with Leica L and Sony E lens mount cameras
- Focal length range: 16-28mm
- Aperture range: f/2.8-f/22
- Angle of view: 107-75.4 deg.
- Lens construction: 16 elements in 11 groups
- Weight: 15.9 oz. (450g)
Pentax HD Pentax-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW Lens
If you have a manual camera, a lens with effortless manual-focus operation is a big help. The HD PENTAX-DA 16-50mm F2.8 features a large maximum aperture, fast and low-noise autofocus, good operability in manual-focus operation, and an optical design for reducing chromatic aberrations, and a dust and weather-proof construction.
Key Features:
- Full-frame zoom lens compatible with KAF4 mount cameras
- Focal length range: 16-50mm
- Aperture range: f/2.8-f/22
- Angle of view: 83-31.5 deg.
- Lens construction: 16 elements in 10 groups
- Weight: 26.5 oz. (750g)
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
The Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM lens provides high-quality images in low light conditions, optical image stabilization, and a programmable control ring for making manual camera settings easier. In addition, it maintains the maximum aperture throughout the zoom range, allowing you to take sharp photographs at night, dusk, or in inclement weather.
Key Features:
- Full-frame zoom lens compatible with Canon RF lens mount cameras
- Focal length range: 15-35mm
- Maximum aperture: f/2.8
- Lens construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
- Image stabilization
- Weight: 29.63 oz. (840g)
Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Lens
The NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S provides an ultra-wide perspective, perfect for photographing the night sky. As the aperture is the most important camera setting for astrophotography, the lens maintains an f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range. It features optical image stabilization and vibration reduction, optical design for minimizing distortions, autofocus, and dust, and a weather-resistant body.
Key Features:
- Full-frame zoom lens compatible with Nikon Z lens mount cameras
- Focal length range: 14-24mm
- Aperture range: f/2.8-f/22
- Angle of view in FX-format: 114-84 deg.
- Lens construction: 16 elements in 11 groups
- Weight: 23 oz. (650g)
Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR Lens
With 4 aspherical, 6 ED, and 3 super ED lens elements, the XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens keeps distortions and spherical and lateral chromatic aberrations under control. The lens features a focal length range equivalent to 12-24mm in the 35mm format and maintains a large maximum aperture throughout its zoom range. It has silent and fast autofocus and dust, moisture, and freeze-resistant body.
Key Features:
- APS-C zoom lens compatible with Fujifilm X lens mount cameras
- Focal length range: 8-16mm
- Aperture range: f/2.8-f/22
- Angle of view in FX-format: 121 – 83.2 deg.
- Lens construction: 20 elements in 13 groups
- Weight: 28.39 oz. (805g)
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 Telephoto Lens
For deep-sky photography, you need a powerful telephoto lens. The SP 150-600mm G2 features an optical design for minimizing chromatic aberrations, ghosting, and reflections, autofocus, image stabilization, a new zoom lock mechanism, and a moisture-resistant body. But its best feature is the ultra-telephoto zoom range that will bring the stars closer to you.
Key Features:
- Full-frame zoom lens compatible with Canon EF and Nikon F lens mount cameras
- Focal length range: 150-600mm
- Maximum aperture: f/5-6.3
- Image stabilization
- Lens construction: 21 elements in 13 groups
- Weight: 70.2oz. (1990g)
Wide-Angle vs. Telephoto for Astrophotography: Which One is Best?
Wide-angle lenses are the most popular lenses for astrophotography but not necessarily the best. They are perfect for photographing the Milky Way and capturing nightscapes because they provide a wide-angle of view and allow you to include as much as possible into the frame. They also have larger maximum apertures than telephoto lenses.
However, telephoto lenses provide a closer perspective of the stars in astrophotography. They are suitable for deep-sky photography and allow you to capture wide-angle star-field views, comets and asteroids, the Andromeda galaxy, large emission nebulae, and more. With a 300mm lens, you get to see the sky almost like through a telescope.
Summary
So, what are the best lenses for astrophotography? The answer will vary from one photographer to the next. In fact, it depends on two key factors: your budget and your preferred camera. But with some help from our list, hopefully you can find the right lens for you to capture the beauty of the night sky.
