Best Lens for Star Photography
With them, a lot fits into the frame, and thanks to the large aperture, they capture more light and enable shorter exposures. This reduces star trails and stars appear as lines instead of dots. Wide-angle lenses distort the frame at the edges, so the stars in the center will always be sharper/shorter than those at the edge.
Standard lenses of 35 and 50 mm provide excellent results, but since it is a longer focal length, more careful planning is necessary. They require a greater distance from the subject because they magnify distant objects – which is useful for, for example, photos of the moon.
About Star Photography
Star photography or astrophotography is the photography of the night sky and celestial bodies such as planets, stars, nebulae and galaxies. Using astrophotography, you can record objects and details on them that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. The term astrophotography usually implies recording in the visible part of the spectrum, but sometimes it is possible to see astrophotographs from other parts of the spectrum – infrared and ultraviolet transferred to the visible part of the spectrum.
With a few exceptions, astrophotography means capturing very dark objects in the night sky. Photosensitive materials (photographic film, CCD chips) can collect the light of celestial objects during a longer time interval (exposure) and thus make distant and/or dark objects visible.
The longer the exposure time, the more light will be recorded on the photosensitive medium. Any optical system capable of collecting and focusing light is sufficient for astrophotography.
It can be an ordinary photographic lens or an astronomical telescope. In today’s text we will talk about shooting such pictures only with a lens, but as we have already said, we will also bring you a list of the best lens for star photography.
Examples of Best Lens for Star Photography
1. Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6
If you’re looking for the perfect lens, this is it. The Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III telephoto zoom lens is designed specifically for long and detailed shots of the moon! This astrophotography lens is a powerful yet affordable optic that will perfectly suit your telephoto needs.
With its high-magnification design, you can capture close-up images of objects in the sky and far away from home with far greater clarity than was ever possible to the untrained eye. Its light but sturdy construction has a standard front element so you can carry this device carefree in all weather conditions. For all your astrophotography needs, this Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III telephoto zoom lens is the one for you!
It’s also great for shooting moonlight landscapes and portraits on cloudy or dim days. By quickly rotating the focus ring from 100 feet to infinity, you can capture beautiful starscapes with perfect clarity. This 75-300mm lens is the perfect lens for shooting distant stars, nebulae and galaxies.
It can be extended up to 4x magnification in telephoto mode without loss of image quality.
Thanks to the ED glass element that blocks reflected light and reduces ghosting when shooting at night. Low dispersion glass elements ensure the creation of sharp images of vivid colors or darkened backgrounds. This results in truly high-quality long exposure photos that show the stars with superb clarity. This lens is designed to provide excellent performance in dark environments and capture the details of the night sky, and that is the reason why this lens is one of the best lens for star photography.
If you already have a Canon camera and plan to buy this Canon lens, then you can find the best tripod for Canon cameras in our text.
2. Nikon 24mm F1.4
The Nikon 24mm F1.4 is the perfect lens for taking deep sky photos of galaxies, nebulae or other celestial objects. This lens is specialized for shooting astrophotography with much more detail and sharper images than standard lenses used for general photography.
This type of astrophotography lens is designed with a large aperture and long focal length to give you hours of enjoyment, patiently waiting through the night sky for that perfect moment when the Milky Way reveals itself in vivid view. With this lens you can capture stunning images of galaxies and stars in their full glory.
This lens produces vivid colors that are true to your eye’s record using a simple point-and-shoot camera. This lens includes all the necessary features, such as two ED glass elements for clarity without optical distortion, even in low light conditions.
While great for moon slides and photos of the Milky Way, this 24mm can give a sense of scale to cloudy shots, which turn out surprisingly well! The wide aperture is perfect for low-light conditions, plus it’s a fantastic all-around lens.
If you are planning to venture into astrophotography with the Nikon brand, then you can certainly find useful tips in our article on Nikon night photography.
This lens has exceptional sharpness in all conditions, significant control over distortion, coma, and field curvature for its design. And wider apertures that offer true stellar views without compromising geometric accuracy or magnification ratio at short focus distances.
ZERO’s lightweight Nano Crystal Coat (ZNCC) suppresses ghosting and flares well for these types of images while also making it extremely abrasion resistant.
With an exceptional sense of sharpness, this is the choice if you’re looking for perfection. The NIKON 24mm is one of the best astrophotography lenses on the market because it has an excellent field of view. If you need a great lens at an affordable price, then this item should be on your next shopping list.
3. Rokinon FE14M-C 14mm F2.8
In the wonderful world of astrophotography, photographers are looking for lenses that will make them feel like they are up there among the stars. With the ROKINON 14MM F2.8 lens, you can take stunning pictures and videos without spending a lot of money, and you get all the benefits of professional optics.
Take breathtaking star photos and more with ease using this lens! This lens is a fantastic option for those who want to capture beautiful shots of the night sky without spending too much money on expensive full-frame camera lenses.
Wide-angle, 14mm aperture and manual focus ring with a twist-and-release knob for ultra-smooth focusing. This AF/MF design provides unparalleled clarity when shooting in low-light conditions while providing excellent autofocus capabilities throughout the zoom range.
This lens also produces excellent images with little or no problems with flare and chromatic aberration due to the multi-coating during the manufacturing process. And 9 additional lenses in 8 groups help eliminate these problems with ease!
The lens is designed specifically for astrophotography, or the art of taking long exposure photos in dark places, such as night skies and deeply shadowed interiors.
The F/2.8 aperture provides a large light-gathering capability for capturing details on moonlit nights or starry evenings at low ISO levels and fast shutter speeds. The compact, lightweight design allows for easy portability and storage with a durable construction that makes it ideal for travel or shooting outdoors when on location.
If you’re looking for the perfect lens to capture rare celestial phenomena, look no further. With this lens, you’ll be ready to take your imagination beyond the Earth’s atmosphere! Be inspired and create amazing images like never before with one of the best lens for star photography in this price range.
4. Sony FE 12-24mm f2.8 G Master Lens
The Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master Lens is designed for excellent edge-to-edge sharpness and low distortion, perfect for astrophotography. Its fast, constant F2.8 aperture makes it easy to capture anything from the moon to nearby terrestrial objects without compromising the detail in any part of the photo – even in total darkness.
This is a multipurpose wide angle lens for your mirrorless camera that can capture the beauty of not only our world but others as well. With a focal length of 12mm, you can capture over 400% more sky detail than the standard 24mm and 28mm kit lenses that were previously thought to be capable enough. This is an ultra-wide zoom lens that is also perfect for landscape and architecture photography.
Built using the latest technology to ensure high quality images at all apertures. This lens allows you to shoot with exceptional clarity, thanks to its innovative design and precise engineering. It features fast autofocus and silent AF performance so your subject is quickly locked on without any distractions, ensuring you never miss a moment.
If you’re looking for a reliable and versatile lens to capture those images of clear night skies or beautifully sharp landscapes, start with the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master, one of the best Lens for Star Photography.
This lens is great for capturing vast galaxies in simple shots of the Milky Way. The waterproof lens helps you capture the unearthly beauty of the cosmic horizon with its high-tech features and wide range of focal lengths.
It has an exquisite design with customized technology that will show you the universe in its full glory.
The lens is ideal for creative astrophotography, Astro portraits and shooting star trails or fast-paced sequences of the Milky Way in three dimensions with your tripod to get vivid bokeh.
This lens captures even more contrast than ever before by minimizing flare and ghosting while also delivering the best optical performance in this focal length range. This makes it great for working with photos and videos, where dark images always need exposure adjustments. This is one of the best lenses available on the market and at a great price too! Quite simply, this lens was created for astrophotography.
5. Samyang SYXP14-C XP 14mm f/2.4
This lens’s 2.4 aperture makes it great for viewing the sky and nightscapes and has little side effect when shooting starlight, which can be perfect for some shots of the Milky Way. This astrophotography lens delivers impressive images of the night sky by injecting all the necessary detail and color.
It was developed specifically for astrophotographers who want to take their compositions to infinity (pun intended) by providing sharp close-up focus. It is an easy-to-use and affordable lens initially intended as a general-purpose wide-angle lens. This ultra-wide angle lens makes it ideal for capturing vast landscapes with its incredible depth of field. It can also be used indoors or in low-light conditions thanks to the f/2.4 aperture.
It has excellent features, including high optical quality and fast shutter speed, to capture the night sky at its best. A maximum aperture of f/2.4 can capture the objects we see in the sky and keep them until you’ve had your fill. If you are looking for pictures of constellations or shooting stars without buying an expensive telescope, this lens should be your first choice!
6. Samyang 10mm F2.8
The Samyang 10mm f/2.8 is a versatile, easy-to-use astrophotography lens. With wide-angle coverage and an ultra-fast f/2.8 aperture, any subject large or small, near or far, will be captured sharply with superb contrast and color.
This is the perfect focal length for capturing and detailing the annual changes in the night sky. One of the other significant features is the large field of view.
It’s a great entry-level lens for anyone who wants to get into astrophotography. Samyang offers photographers a whole new shooting experience that they can’t find anywhere else! Its large maximum aperture will allow users to distinguish the details of a clear, bright starry sky.
The 10mm focal length creates a field of view that covers approximately one quarter of the sky, giving you unprecedented panoramic photos or striking images to capture what’s outside. It also delivers exceptional performance with lower noise and chromatic aberration.
This lens is perfect for your night sky adventures. It is best used for taking night photos – they are naturally much brighter and more accurate than photos taken with the naked eye.
7. Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8
Get the Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8 astrophotography lens and experience stunning detail! This is a well-made glass lens with a fixed f2.8 aperture and precision focusing for astrophotographic imaging. It has features like a sealed construction that can be used even in wet weather and whatever you focus on will have crystal clear sharpness!
Whether you’re in the desert or on an ocean cruise, this lens captures beautiful, breathtaking views of our universe that are difficult to see with your eyes alone. It will allow you to explore this new and exciting world of photography with a powerful lens that meets your needs in size, features, quality, weight and focal length.
Enjoy incredible detail at any cost when using this fantastic piece of equipment. With its f/2.8 aperture, this compact lens provides astrophotographers with an excellent match to the brightness of the celestial objects in the sky they choose. It has an aperture range of ƒ/2.8 – 22, depending on your aperture needs and desired level of light control.
Give your camera and lens a higher ISO with this Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8 astrophotography lens to get beautiful shots even in low light! Tokina Glass is praised for its high quality, and this lens is no exception. With this astrophotography lens, you’ll be able to take some stunning photos of the night sky without sacrificing quality.
Mobile Astrophotography – Importance of Lens
Taking pictures with a mobile phone is the simplest way of astrophotography – you need to put the lens of the mobile phone against the eyepiece and snap the photo. Positioning the lens can be problematic if you are doing it for the first time and without aid. The distance from the eyepiece also plays a role – the image is better if the objective is slightly further from the eyepiece lens. When taking photos, take several consecutive photos and choose the sharpest one.
The objects of the solar system are most often and easily photographed with a mobile phone. Modern mobile phones have better and better optics, and with a little attention, the results could pleasantly surprise you. The moon and planets are bright enough to require no special equipment.
When shooting, use a photo delay or a remote shutter so that the mobile phone does not shake. Headphone buttons can usually serve as a remote trigger.
The method of photographing objects by touching the lens of a mobile phone to the eyepiece is called the afocal method of astrophotography. In addition to mobile phones, you can also take photos in this way with digital cameras that do not have interchangeable lenses. However, this recording method is rarely used in astrophotography. It is easier with mobile phones because they are light and can be mounted on the eyepiece with the help of a holder.
