Best Camera Lens for Milky Way Photography

[@judgesteve6798]

Kristine - I've just listened to this again, having previously listened and bought the 11-16 for my D7500, and love it, as much for landscape as for astro. I've now gotten a Z6iii with a Z24-200 F4-6.3. I did but the FTZII adapter so I can use my Tamron 150-600 G2, especially for birding (DSO maybe someday). I need now an astro lens, which I'd like to double as a landscape lens. The Rokinon 14 is $370. I can get a 'like new' used Nikon 14-24F2.8 for $609 from MPB (a HUGE discount to the $1500 +/- new), so unless you've learned anything new since recording this video the used is the direction I'm leading. Thanks as always for all you do to lead and educate us! Steve Feller

[@scottrogers9193]

I recently got myself the Sigma 85mm 1.4 DG HSM Art. Absolutely love it.

[@KristineRosePhotography]

Sigma art are such nice lenses!! That's fantastic. In terms of night photography that will be best used on a tracker for sure since it's such a long focal length.

[@brucemcclelland904]

For Canon mirrorless users, third-party lenses don't really exist yet because of the RF mount restrictions (though rumors are that Canon is going to allow other lens makers to make RF lenses). However, Sigma - which is so good it doesn't really qualify as a "third-party lens" IMO - makes the fantastic Art series (which Kristine refers to). I used the 14 mm f/1.8 (not the f/1.4) with an EF mount and adapter for aurora photography in Iceland. It's an amazing lens, and much more affordable than the equivalent Canon would surely be.

[@robgerety]

Love your approach to these youtube videos. You cut right to the chase. Much appreciated. I am retiring soon and one of my plans is to return to photography. I only really know 35mm film. But, I have the resources now and so I have gradually assembled what I think/hope will be a good kit for me to go forward, including a number of lenses. I'm on the digital learning curve and I love it. The power and flexibility of these good digital bodies these days is amazing. I expect to do some astro stuff but I have not gotten started yet on that. Have to wait until I have a bit more time! I do not have any astro specific lenses. But, I do have a high quality 15-35 2.8 and a 70-200 2.8. Am a wrong to understand that these lenses will be adequate to at least get me started in astro? I am shooting a Canon R5. My though is to see how I do and then, if I feel the need, look to pic up one or two fast primes specifically for astro.

[@rbtree]

The RF 15-35 would be fine. The 70-200 would require a tracker. (I did just use my cheap 85 f/1.8 for astro. Iwas able to get v good single shot results at 4 seconds and ISO 10,000!! I did shoot about 70 for processing stacks... which I need to study up on and implement into my workflow--Sequator is the go to program for PC.

[@johncrotty9188]

I’m planning to use a Sony a7III with my Tokina 11-16 f2.8. I haven’t put this combination together before. I was shooting this lens on a Sony a77II which has a crop frame so I’m hoping for better results this time out. For a third party lens, I really do like this particular model. Fingers crossed.

[@KristineRosePhotography]

I have a lot of students who have used the tokina and had good results so I think you are set for gear to get started!! Awesome :)

[@PaulWiest-f9u]

Great Video. So I am just starting out wanting to shoot night shots which include the Milky Way etc but also other famous view points. In September I will be going to the Arches and Canyonlands and will want to try to capture some of the Arches at night along with sky. I am currently shooting with a Nikon D7500 and I have a Nikon 16-80mm F2.8/4 lense which I am hoping will work for me as a beginner. Your thoughts?

[@rbtree]

Look for cheap Rokinons (Samyang--same product). My quiver for MW: Rok 14 f/2.8, 24 f/1.4, Sigma: 28 and 35 f.1/4 Fast is best... and, as you can afford it, find a full frame older Nikon... less noise issues as you need to be shooting at ISO 3200 on up

[@hughharper6018]

This terrific!! I have a canon 16-35 2.8. So any where 16 to 24 should be good, right?

[@renatabrzezinska4845]

I have Olympus OM-1 and following lenses 20mm 1.4, 12-40mm 2.8, 45mm 1.2, and 40-150mm 2.8. Which one would you recommend for night photography.

[@TheMickebostrom]

Very useful information!

[@Vulcanrider58]

I've been able to get some decent shots with the kit lens that came with my Canon, but I couldn't stand it anymore so I ordered a 24mm f2.8. Hopefully it will show up this week as the viewing has been awesome! Hope y'all enjoyed your trip!

[@KristineRosePhotography]

Oh that is so exciting!!! 24mm is a lovely focal length with the Milky way!

[@rbtree]

@@KristineRosePhotography Yes, but I love my Siggy Art 28 and just added an Art 35, both the 1.4 Excited to use it on a planning stage Washington/Oregon coast Milky way trip next cycle. I also have three Rok/Samyangs: 8mm fisheye, 14 2.8, 24 1.4, the full manual ones.... And successfully captured the MW with my cheap EF 85 1.8--- R5, 4 seconds, ISO 10,000! Still need a tracker--two actually, one being for deep space, which I have not done anything with (can't without a tracker) I'm liking the less wide focal lengths, and I shoot multiples and stitch--which allows me to increase the size of the foreground objects that I've visited (Washington/Oregon mountains and sea stacks etc!! Soon to travel to is the desert southwest

[@alexabadi7458]

Hi, I am new to astrophotography, I just go a Sky-Watcher 2i kit, will it be able to support a D850 (with battery grip) + Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art ? Or should I start with a lighter D7200+AF-S 50mm f/1.4 and get a better tracker later ?

[@KristineRosePhotography]

Oh the 2i with definitely support the 850 with a 135mm, easily. It would hold the 850 and the nikon 200-500mm. Just make sure you are using the counterweight with it!

[@alexabadi7458]

Thanks !@@KristineRosePhotography

[@robinc-k7162]

What is the larger Nikon lens you were holding up (not the zoom)? I have a Nikon 20mm f1.8 and have been thinking about the Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art. Should my next lens be a 24mm or a 35mm for Astro? Great video!

[@KristineRosePhotography]

It all depends how you want your Milky Way to look. I tend to use my 35mm tracked, but the 24mm looks good un-tracked. I'm not a fan of the Nikon 20mm 1.8, it has pretty bad aberrations. I held up a Nikon 300mm f4 with the 70-200. They are all linked on this site: kristinerosephotography.com/nikonlenses

[@robinc-k7162]

@@KristineRosePhotography any thoughts on the Sigma 24mm f1.4 Art for Nikon lens? That Rokinon is not easy to get here and with many quality issues, it would be a pain to return it to the US.

[@angelogarciajr5356]

I some how decided I would get the Sigma 24mm f1.4 art lens for canon. Then I looked at your list and this lens is not even on your list? You skip from 14mm to 35mm on Sigma and passed up the 24mm. Now I am stuck again. I was going to get the Rokinon but the deal with them having lemons scares me. My eyes are so bad, I might get a bad one and not even realize it. lol

[@KristineRosePhotography]

I use the Rokinon 24mm f1.4, but I'm going to be testing the Sigma 24mm f 1.4 soon too. I was using it with a student last week and was impressed with it!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

@@KristineRosePhotography Thank you. I read that the Rokinon has a lot of lemons and I did not want to figure out if I got a good one or not and deal with returns. Then decided on the newest Sigma but remembered the newer ones were not for Canon. My only choice was the 2015 Sigma 24mm f1.4 and decided not to get that old of a lens, so back to undecided. Im using the rf 16mm f2.8 on my R6 for now. Thanks

[@saturnianali8r]

With the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8- With AE chip or without AE chip?

[@KristineRosePhotography]

It depends on your camera. To my knowledge some even with the AE chip won't give exposure data to the camera, but some will. I've linked on my site to the one with the chip.

[@dodrain]

What lens is best to shoot planets with my Nikon D3400?

[@KristineRosePhotography]

Planets are probably the hardest thing out there because they are so small. You need a very very long focal length. I don't do planetary work, but if I did I would get a scope as opposed to a lens. Even a 500mm lens is going to have the planet show up as a tiny dot in your screen.

[@eddieblack971]

All the lenses #kristinetheenabler will get you there.

[@KristineRosePhotography]

LOL! Yes, I will enable you to purchase exactly the right lens for you ;)

[@terencemorrissey4413]

So the obvious question is, what monitor do you use?

[@KristineRosePhotography]

Ah, that's answered here!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqO9m2hph8RpjaM :)