1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall
3. Best Sony lens
4. Best Nikon Z-mount lens
5. Best widely compatible prime
6. Best Canon RF lens
7. Best Sony prime lens
8. Best for versatility
9. Best Canon EF lens
10. Best APS-C Sony lens
11. Best APS-C DSLR lens
12. Best Nikon DSLR lens
13. Best budget lens
14. Lenses for astro FAQs
15. How we test
Getting your hands on one of the best lenses for astrophotography will allow you to capture some incredible shots of the night sky, taking you far beyond the realm of anything you can achieve with a smartphone camera or basic digital camera. These lenses are specifically designed with wide maximum apertures to enable the image sensor on your camera to absorb more light while still maintaining a clear and sharp image.
The best lenses for astrophotography often come with increased size and weight, so it's important to think about what fits well with your particular setup. While they can be a substantial investment, we'll also highlight some more budget-friendly options. It's worth taking a moment to read the reviews from our experts who have thoroughly tested each lens on this list to ensure we're presenting you with the very best choices.
Newcomers to astrophotography can find lots of useful tips and advice on our astrophotography for beginners page. We also have a guide to the best cameras for astrophotography that will pair perfectly with some of the lenses here, and you may also want to invest in a reliable tripod or travel tripod to mount all of your kit on.
The quick list
Below we've summarized the most important information about our top picks among lenses for astrophotography, including their main characteristics and who they might be best for. If you want to know more about a product before you make a purchase, click 'Read more below' and you'll find more in-depth specs and performance reviews.
The best lens for astrophotography overall
As far as ultra-wide lenses go, the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is close to unbeatable in terms of its performance and quality.
Best Sony lens
If you're looking for the very best quality in your astrophotography images and can afford to splash out, then this Sony lens is a sure winner.
Best Nikon Z-mount lens
The Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S is a lightweight and compact lens that provides exceptional image quality, with little distortion and vignetting.
The best widely compatible prime lens
As far as ultra-wide lenses go, the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art is close to unbeatable in terms of its performance and quality.
Best Canon RF lens
The RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is Canon’s best ultra-wide zoom lens which makes it a sound investment for photographers, but it's quite pricey.
Best Sony prime lens
This lens is ideal for seasoned astrophotographers or photographers who need a wide field of view combined with sharp optics and a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture.
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Best for versatility
The Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM ART easily holds its own against other high-end, wide-angle, big-aperture lenses and does so for a pretty impressive amount of money.
Best Canon EF lens
For more experienced photographers, this lens is certainly worthy of serious consideration if wide-field photography is one of your prime areas of interest. That said, it comes with a high price tag.
Best APS-C Sony lens
This lens is what APS-C Sony users have been waiting for. It's lightweight, compact and produces fantastic results. It's great for astrophotography thanks to it's ultra-wide focal length and fast f/1.8 aperture.
Best APS-C DSLR lens
For anyone seeking a fast, ultra-wide zoom lens for APS-C cameras, the Tokina atx-i 11-20mm f/2.8 CF is our top recommendation. It’s sleek, slim, lightweight, and brilliantly sharp.
Best Nikon DSLR lens
The Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED is still a go-to for many professionals and amateurs alike. It provides sharp, clean, straight lines for landscape or interior photography but also works well in low light.
Best budget lens
If you’re looking for an inexpensive ultrawide lens for astrophotography or landscape/architecture use, then there's very little else on the market to touch the Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 lens.
Best lenses for astrophotography we recommend in 2023
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The best lens for astrophotography overall
✅ You want the best: Optically, we think this might be the best lens for astrophotography out there.
✅ Maximum aperture is a deal-breaker: A maximum of f/1.4 is ideal for astro.
✅ Build quality is important: We feel like this lens is built to last.
❌ You need something lightweight: This lens is quite heavy and best used with a tripod.
❌ Zoom is important: The fixed 14mm focal length can be restrictive for some.
🔎 The Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens is staggeringly good for astrophotography. Better yet, its speedy autofocusing and ability to declick the aperture ring for video makes it useful for hybrid shooting as well. ★★★★★
Design: The lens is a remarkable achievement in lens design and optical performance. It’s also well designed, sturdy, well constructed and feels ergonomically pleasing to use. If you’re committed to a style of photography that uses a tripod, we wholeheartedly recommend it, but the relatively heavy weight of this lens would lead us to suggest that it’d be worth looking at in person and actually holding one before you decide to purchase.
Performance: The excellent low-light performance and sharp image quality make this lens an absolute joy for astrophotographers. It's versatile enough for various other photography genres, like architecture, portraiture or live events. We even found that the impressive f/1.4 aperture allows handheld shooting in some low-light conditions. Color rendition within the lens is excellent, as is distortion control.
Functionality: When we reviewed the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens, we were impressed at the wide range of features included on the lens, again making it suitable for a number more types of photographers than you’d first imagine. There is a good approach to aperture control, and there is a manual ring with detents at every third of a stop, or there's an auto mode and even a switch to declick the control for videographers.
- Read our full Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sturdy but bulky. |
| Performance | Incredible sharpness and no noticeable distortion. |
| Functionality | Fast aperture for night sky shooting. |
Best Sony lens
✅ You want exceptional image quality: this lens has incredible optical clarity.
✅ You want a large viewing angle: the shortest focal length gives an angle of 122 degrees.
❌ You're on a budget: this lens is one of the most expensive on this list.
❌ You use front filters: they are not supported on this lens due to the domed glass.
🔎 The Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM is great if you don't want to commit to one photography niche. It is versatile enough to have the option to use the wider 12mm for nighttime shots, while also being able to zoom in for daytime landscapes. ★★★★
Design: The Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM comes from Sony's elite 'G-Master' line of lenses, making it one of the best-quality lenses in this guide, but also the most expensive. Despite its compact size and lightweight design, this lens delivers exceptional performance with an f/2.8 aperture and an impressively wide field of view, all while weighing only 1.87 lbs.
This lens is a very attractive option for anyone looking for an ultra-wide-angle lens without the added weight, all while preserving excellent build quality. However, due to its large aperture and extremely wide field of view, it's worth noting that the front glass element is quite large and bulbous, which means you can't use traditional lens filters on it.
The glass is shielded by a petal-shaped integrated hood, although using a front filter isn't an option without spending money on an adapted filter system. The good news is that there's a slot on the back of the lens for gel filters.
Performance: The image quality from this lens is nothing less than spectacular. When we reviewed the Sony FE 12-24 f/2.8 GM lens stars appeared extremely sharp in the center of the image and still very sharp in the corners throughout the full focal length range, even at the widest aperture of f/2.8. Even for wide-angle landscape photography, this lens produced stunning images and we loved shooting with it.
Functionality: The shortest focal length of 12mm gives a whopping viewing angle of 122 degrees — this is perfect for capturing huge portions of the Milky Way and night sky landscape, which can only be achieved by taking panoramas with many other lenses.
If you want top-notch quality in your astrophotography and have the budget for it, this Sony lens is a winner. While the price is undoubtedly high, its versatility makes it a potential all-in-one wide-field astro lens. If your budget is tighter but you still want an ultra-wide-angle lens for astro, the next one on this list might be a better fit for you.
- Read our full Sony FE 12-24 f/2.8 GM lens review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Very sturdy and well-built, light for its size. |
| Performance | Incredibly sharp. |
| Functionality | Fixed f/2.8 aperture. |
Best Nikon Z-mount
✅ You want a lightweight lens: at just 1.4 lbs, this is one of the lighter picks on this list.
✅ You use filters a lot: both front and rear filters are supported.
✅ You want to reduce post-processing: this lens creates minimal aberrations.
❌ You're on a budget: this lens is one of the more expensive ones on this list.
❌ You already own filters: this lens requires large 112mm filters.
🔎 The Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S combines a lightweight and compact design with exceptional image quality. It creates very few aberrations and has a handy LCD display. ★★★★½
Design: This Nikon zoom lens is fully weather-sealed for protection against the elements and it stands out as the shortest among full-frame f/2.8 ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses available. It's lightweight at 1.7 lbs, compact and maintains a wide aperture with a broad viewing angle at the shorter end of its focal range.
The customizable Lens Function (L-fn) button also allows users to quickly change exposure and adjust settings without having to flick through endless menus, which is useful when you need to act fast to avoid missing a shot.
Compared to similar models from other brands, the front element of this lens is far less bulbous, which allows you the option to attach 112mm filters to the front of the lens using the provided lens hood, further opening this lens up for daytime use as well as astro. It's worth noting that the cost of these filters may be a little out of reach, but having the option to do so is a nice feature.
Performance: The Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S provides outstanding image quality, minimal distortion, vignetting and aberrations. The LCD display on the lens barrel is especially helpful for astrophotographers, allowing adjustments in the dark without the need for a headlamp.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Lightweight and compact. |
| Performance | No noticeable coma or aberrations. |
| Functionality | Fast f/2.8 constant aperture. |
Best widely compatible prime
✅ You want exceptional image quality: you can't get much better results than with this lens.
✅ You want a large maximum aperture: with a range of f/1.8 - f/16, this lens is hard to beat.
✅ You want a sturdy lens: this high-quality build means this lens will last.
❌ You want a lightweight lens: at 2.58 lbs, this isn't the lightest lens on this list.
❌ You want a versatile focal length: at 14mm fixed, this lens is a bit niche.
❌ You use filters a lot: this lens isn't equipped with a filter thread.
🔎 The Sigma 14mm F1.8 DG HSM ART lens really is a phenomenal lens for night-sky photography. If you’re after a lens that will get you long shutter speeds without a star tracker, with technically excellent results throughout its aperture range, this is a piece of kit that will serve you well. ★★★★★
Design: The weight was one of the very first things we noticed when conducting our Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art review. Coming in at 2.58 lbs, it's definitely on the heavier side for a lens, but with heft in the hand comes heft in terms of optical quality too.
Not only is this lens exceptionally well-built, but it comes with the added advantage of being weather-sealed. Astrophotographers typically don't shoot in adverse weather conditions at night, but this feature can be handy if you intend to use the lens during daytime outings. When it comes to nighttime shooting, the lens's fixed focal length and exceptionally wide field of view make it perfect for capturing vast landscapes of the night sky.
It's worth mentioning that the lens lacks a filter thread because of its bulbous front element. While it's not a deal-breaker for astrophotography, it's something to consider if you intend to use the lens in the daytime and want to protect the glass better.
Performance: The lens excels in optical performance, providing exceptional quality all-round. Even at its widest f/1.8 aperture, the stars remain sharp and clear. However, closing the aperture slightly can help minimize distortion in the corners of the image frame when you're shooting wide open.
The chromatic aberration (color fringing) is minimal even when shooting at wide apertures and you also won't encounter any significant issue with image distortion — something which certainly cannot be said for all ultra-wide lenses.
As far as ultra-wide lenses go, the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art is close to unbeatable in terms of its performance and quality.
- Read our full Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Well built, but can feel heavy. |
| Performance | Outstanding image quality. |
| Functionality | Wide maximum f/1.8 aperture. |
Best Canon RF lens
✅ You want excellent image quality: this lens uses the highest quality L-series glass to guarantee stellar results.
✅ You want a portable lens: this is designed to be carried around, weighing just 1.85 lbs.
✅ You want good image stabilization: this lens has 5-stops of IS.
❌ You're on a budget: this lens is one of the more expensive ones on this list.
❌ You want edge-to-edge sharpness: this lens reveals softer edges at f/2.8.
🔎 The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is the brand's best ultra-wide zoom lens which makes it a sound investment for photographers. Unfortunately, it’s also quite pricey so it may put off some that are on stricter budgets. ★★★★½
Design: The Canon RF 15-25mm f/2.8 IS USM has a simple and sleek design, with only two buttons on the lens itself to operate the autofocus/manual focus and stabilizer. It's easy to store away in whatever camera bag you use thanks to the fact that it maintains the same shape all the way down the barrel of the lens.
We were pleased to see there's a large 82mm filter thread in the middle of the front element, making it easy to attach screw-in filters without requiring an adapter. The smooth and quiet operation of the focal length and focus rings is another positive feature, ensuring a hassle-free experience for time-lapses or video recording.
Performance: In our Canon RF 15-25mm f/2.8 IS USM review, we tested the lens out with the Canon EOS R6 camera and were extremely impressed with the results. It had excellent autofocusing speed and produced super-sharp images, with only a tiny bit of sharpness dropoff at the very edge of the image when shooting wide open at f/2.8.
When we reviewed the photos, we noticed a very slight chromatic aberration around the frame's edge, but only when zoomed in to 400%. While that's not ideal at this price point, especially for astrophotographers shooting wide open, the overall image quality was stunning.
Functionality: This lens features a healthy five stops of image stabilization, which can be increased to eight stops when attached to one of Canon’s RF mount cameras with in-body stabilization. This makes it a great choice for anyone who enjoys handheld shooting. It also has an incredible zoom range of 15-35mm, giving it the versatility to handle wide landscape shots as well as fine up-close detail. We think it's a must-have for any RF-mount Canon users.
- Read our full Canon RF 15-25mm f/2.8 IS USM review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sleek & portable design. |
| Performance | Softer images at f/2.8. |
| Functionality | Has 5 stop image stabilization. |
Best Sony prime lens
✅ You want a lightweight lens: at just 1.01 lbs, this is one of the lighter picks on this list.
✅ You care about the looks: this lens boasts an excellent build and design.
✅ You want outstanding image quality: the results obtained with this lens are impressive.
❌ You use front filters: they're not supported.
❌ You want image stabilization: this lens is not equipped with Sony's Optical SteadyShot technology.
🔎 The Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master is ideal for seasoned astrophotographers or professional street photographers that need a wide field of view combined with sharp optics and a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture. ★★★★½
Design: This bright, ultra-wide 14mm prime lens is Sony’s answer to Sigma's 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art lens. Both lenses offer the same fixed focal length and maximum aperture, but there's a substantial difference between the two.
The Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM has been designed specifically for its mirrorless system, which means Sony has been able to engineer a much smaller and lighter lens than the Sigma. For comparison, the Sony weighs in at 1.02 lbs and the Sigma tips the scales at a chunky 2.6 lbs. This translates into a much better balance when the native Sony lens is fitted to a Sony camera — not to mention it's much more pleasant to carry around with you on shoots, which we were very grateful for when we reviewed the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM.
Sony's FE 14mm f/1.8 GM stands out as Sony's widest full-frame prime lens, boasting high-resolution quality, weather sealing and smooth focusing common in Sony's G-Master lenses. Additionally, it features a handy aperture control ring for quick manual adjustments to exposure and other settings, which is particularly beneficial in low-light conditions when you can't see some of the buttons.
Performance: This wide-angle lens delivers exceptional image quality from f/1.8 all the way up to f/16. It maintains sharpness, creates lovely bokeh (background blur) and produces captivating sunstars even at f/4. It performs excellently at its widest aperture of f/1.8, with only a minimal amount of vignetting that can easily be corrected during post-processing.
Functionality: The image quality is insanely impressive considering this lens doesn't have image stabilization, even though most full-frame camera bodies do tend to have in-body image stabilization nowadays anyway. Plus, you won't need image stabilization for astrophotography as the camera will be on a tripod.
- Read our full Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Surprisingly compact and lightweight. |
| Performance | Beautiful image quality. |
| Functionality | No image stabilization, but it doesn't suffer for it. |
Best for versatility
✅ You want excellent optical clarity: this lens' is almost perfect.
✅ You want a flexible focal range: with a range of 14-24mm, this lens gives you options.
✅ You want a sturdy lens: this has an excellent build quality.
❌ You want a lightweight lens: at 2.54 lbs, this isn't one of the lightest lenses in this guide.
❌ You use filters a lot: this lens has no filter threads.
❌ You want a large maximum aperture: this lens taps out at f/2.8.
🔎 The Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM ART is a fantastically useful lens for astrophotographers. It easily holds its own against other high-end, wide-angle, big-aperture lenses and does so for a pretty impressive amount of money. ★★★★★
Design: The Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM is another lens from Sigma's 'Art' range, which is well known for its optical quality and high-class engineering. When we reviewed the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM we were struck by its similarity to the fixed 14mm focal length of Sigma's 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art. But the f/2.8 version has a superior zoom range of 14mm through to 24mm, making it a useful lens for anyone who shoots multiple styles of photography.
This lens is optimized for full-frame cameras and has the robust build quality that Sigma is known for. It features smooth zoom and focus rings, and its autofocus is both fast and almost silent, making it great for daytime shooting and video recording.
This lens offers versatile mounting options. It's compatible with Nikon and Canon cameras, and if you have a Canon version, you can also use it on the Sony E-Mount system with Sigma's MC-11 mount converter.
Performance: The lens delivers sharp, vibrant images with clean star rendering across the frame, showcasing minimal to no chromatic aberration, even at its widest f/2.8 aperture. Sigma claims that there's absolutely no image distortion on the Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM ART lens, which is a bold statement, but one that we think certainly holds true for this wide-angle lens.
Functionality: Using zoom lenses for astrophotography instead of prime lenses always involves a trade-off — a reduced maximum aperture of f/2.8. Despite this, a zoom lens provides versatility for composing at various focal lengths without having to move the camera. While it can't absorb as many photons as a 14mm f/1.8 lens, the f/2.8 aperture is more than suitable for occasional astrophotography.
- Read our full Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Strong, robust build quality Sigma is known for. |
| Performance | No image distortion and little to no aberration. |
| Functionality | Constant f/2.8 aperture. |
Best Canon EF lens
✅ You want good autofocus: it is fast and accurate on this lens.
✅ You want to produce sharp images: the quality is amazing across the field.
✅ You want to color correct: this lens can correct chromatic aberration and distortion.
❌ You want image stabilization: it is not equipped on this lens.
❌ You're on a budget: this lens is on the expensive side.
❌ You want a large maximum aperture: this lens taps out at f/2.8.
🔎 For the more experienced photographers for whom this lens is aimed, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM is certainly worthy of serious consideration if wide-field photography (either astronomical or terrestrial!) is one of your prime areas of interest. ★★★★★
Design: Canon 16-35mm L lenses are well known for their high quality, making them the lens of choice for many photographers, whether you're an amateur or a professional. The popular Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM replaces the previous Mark II and irons out many of the kinks encountered in its predecessor.
This lens was clearly made with astrophotography in mind. It has a constant aperture of f/2.8 and a focal range that provides 20mm of versatility for capturing a wide field of view across the night sky. The 82mm thread also means that you can add various filters of your choice onto the lens.
The lens is robust and user-friendly, equipped with a fast and precise USM autofocus system. While manual focusing is often preferred for night sky photography, this feature adds versatility, making the lens suitable for daytime shooting as well.
Performance: This lens is capable of correcting chromatic aberration and distortion, although extremely meticulous users might still be able to spot minor distortions at the very corners of the image. However, this distortion is only noticeable when closely examining the entire image at high magnification (also known as pixel peeping), so it's unlikely to be a significant issue for most users.
The performance isn't flawless, but considering the f/2.8 design, it's remarkably impressive and far superior to cheaper lenses. Despite the higher price, this lens excels at capturing exceptional wide-field images of the night sky.
Functionality: When reviewing the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM, we found it to be a significant step up on the Mk II in terms of quality. Canon has significantly enhanced the autofocus system, diaphragm and optics, enabling this lens to produce sharper images at the edge of the frame when using the widest aperture settings and focal length.
Sadly, this has come at the cost of dropping the image stabilization, but this likely won't bother astrophotographers too much since image stabilization would need to be switched off for long exposures at night anyway — not to mention the camera would also be on a tripod.
- Read our full Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sturdy and user friendly. |
| Performance | Pin-sharp image quality across the field. |
| Functionality | Fast and accurate autofocus. |
Best APS-C Sony lens
✅ You want to produce sharp images: the quality is impressive and the images are sharp.
✅ You're on a budget: For an astro lens, it's incredibly affordable.
❌ You want image stabilization: to keep the price down, there's no image stabilization in this lens.
🔎 The Sony E 11mm f1.8 has wholly revitalized Sony's APS-C lineup. This is the lens that crop sensor astro shooters have been waiting for. It's sharp, lightweight, affordable and produces fantastic results. ★★★★
Design: Although made of plastic, this lens boasts excellent build quality and doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. It's also incredibly lightweight at just 6.4 oz (181g), making it easy to carry. The lens features an autofocus/manual focus switch (though we thought it was a bit stiff to use) and a custom button, which was a nice addition.
The focus ring is smooth and quick to use, and we really liked the fact that the glass of this lens is less bulbous than on some other lenses and sits back a little. This makes it easy to fit a flat lens cap or front filters of your choosing. The only slight niggle we had with the design was that the lens hood is visible in the field of view when it's attached, which renders it a bit redundant.
Performance: When we tested this lens in our Sony E 11mm f/1.8 review, we were very impressed with the image quality. The images maintained their sharpness from the middle to the edge of the frame and there was barely any of the barreling or lens distortion that can sometimes make ultra-wide-angle images look warped.
This lens also performs fantastically in low light levels. When we took some long exposure shots with the shutter open for 25 seconds, the stars remained pin-sharp with no star trails to be seen. For the price, we really cannot complain.
Functionality: If you're shooting in daylight, you'll appreciate the highly effective autofocus and tracking, which we found to be especially good at capturing the eyes of both humans and animals. With a versatile aperture ranging from a constant f/1.8 down to f/16, this lens suits various shooting situations. Additionally, it's fully weather-sealed to protect it against dust and water.
The main thing to note is that you don't get any image stabilization with this lens, so it may not be the ideal choice for those looking to shoot videos or use longer shutter speeds handheld.
- Read our full Sony E 11mm f/1.8 review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Very compact and lightweight. |
| Performance | Sharp images with barely any defects. |
| Functionality | No image stabilization. |
Best APS-C DSLR lens
✅ You want a sturdy lens: this one boasts a great build quality.
✅ You benefit from constant aperture: this lens has a constant f/2.8 aperture.
✅ You want a lightweight lens: at just 1.23 lbs, this is one of the lighter picks on this list.
❌ You want edge-to-edge sharpness: you'll find chromatic aberration on contrasted edges.
❌ You want a quiet lens: the autofocus on this one is noisy.
🔎 The Tokina atx-i 11-20mm f/2.8 CF is perfect for wide field astro work and daytime shooting simultaneously thanks to the fast maximum and constant f/2.8 aperture. ★★★★½
Design: The Tokina atx-i 11-20mm f/2.8 comes in a Nikon DX F-mount and Canon EF-mount versions and manages to find a perfect balance between being smooth, sleek and lightweight, while also feeling robust.
It comfortably fits in one hand, despite its large 82mm filter thread. We appreciated the absence of fiddly auto/manual focus switches found on many other lenses. To switch between manual and automatic focusing, you just pull down the zoom ring. The focus and zoom rings are close to the barrel, maintaining a slimline look, and feature a textured pattern for easy grip, even with gloves on in colder weather.
Performance: In our Tokina atx-i 11-20mm f/2.8 review we were very pleased with the image quality on offer here for the price. You're able to get very sharp images throughout the zoom range and there's very little optical distortion, with lines remaining straight even when shooting at 11mm.
There's some chromatic aberration, especially around contrasting edges like stars, and we noticed notable vignetting when shooting wide open at f/2.8. While this can be corrected in post-production and isn't excessive for a lens in this price range, anyone aiming for superior image quality will need to consider investing in a pricier lens.
Functionality: We found the manual focus on this lens very quick and precise and were particularly pleased to note that the infinity marker on the ring matches almost perfectly with the manual focus results to infinity — something which is not always the case with other lenses. The autofocus works well for the most part but is definitely slower than you'd find on more expensive lenses. We still think this Tokina lens offers incredible value for money and is one of the best ultra-wide fast zoom lenses for APS-C cameras on the market.
- Read our full Tokina atx-i 11-20mm f/2.8 review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sleek, slim and lightweight. |
| Performance | Impressive optics, especially for the price. |
| Functionality | Constant f/2.8 aperture. |
Best Nikon DSLR lens
✅ You want a sturdy lens: this one has a strong build.
✅ You want to shoot the sharpest images: the optical quality on this lens is excellent.
✅ You want a versatile zoom range: with a focal range of 14-24mm, you have plenty of options.
❌ You use filters a lot: they're tricky to add on to the lens.
❌ You want a lightweight lens: this lens is on the heavier side.
❌ You want the latest tech: there are newer alternatives on the market.
🔎 To this day, the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED is still a go-to for many professionals and amateurs alike because it provides sharp, clean, straight lines for architectural or interior photography but also works well in low light. ★★★★½
Design: The Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED has been around since 2008 and is a part of the 'holy trinity' of Nikon FX lenses, along with the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8. In our Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED review it achieved very nearly full marks, so it's not surprising that this lens ranks as a strong favorite among astrophotographers.
Although no lens is completely immune to damage, this one is notably more durable than many others and can endure various challenges, including occasional bumps. Its smart design ensures it stays manageable and easy to use, even when you're wearing gloves during a cold night shoot.
Annoyingly, the lens includes a fixed petal-shaped hood that offers great front glass protection but prevents you from attaching any filters onto the front of the lens. To use filters, you'll have to buy a third-party filter adapter, which could be an issue for daytime use. On a positive note, the lens boasts a user-friendly and smoothly operating focus ring, adding to its well-crafted design.
Performance: Stars look clean and sharp in the images produced using this lens, even at an aperture of f/2.8. There is a slight amount of barrel distortion, but it is easily corrected with a simple click in the lens profile section in post-processing software.
This lens will particularly suit full-frame Nikon users, who will love the versatility and quality of images this lens delivers. But it's worth noting that there are now newer alternatives on the market, such as the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art which offers full weather sealing and fluorine-coated optics. However, if the extra weight doesn't bother you, the Nikon 14-24mm is still a superb ultra-wide zoom lens for astrophotography.
- Read our full Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Very robust. |
| Performance | Slight barreling, but easily corrected. |
| Functionality | Adding filters is tricky. |
Best budget lens
✅ You're on a budget: astro lenses aren't cheap, but this one is affordable.
✅ You want edge-to-edge sharpness: sharpness does deteriorate a bit towards when shooting wide open.
❌ You want no chromatic aberration: there is some distortion when shooting wide open.
❌ You want automated settings: this lens is fully manual.
🔎 If you’re looking for an inexpensive ultrawide lens for astrophotography or landscape/architecture use, then there's very little else on the market to touch the Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 lens. ★★★★
Design: Astrophotography can be an expensive hobby, primarily because it requires more specialist lenses with wide maximum apertures, which are generally a lot pricier.
Fortunately, the Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 stands as an impressive budget-friendly option. Although this South Korean-made lens is one of the cheapest models out there, we gave it four out of five stars in our Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 review, so it has well and truly earned its place on our list of the best lenses for astrophotography.
The main reason for the affordability of this lens is its fully manual nature, requiring manual control of both the focus and the aperture. While manual focus is normal in astrophotography and poses no issue, it may be less convenient for daytime use.
The aperture is also straightforward to set using the manual adjustment ring near the base of the lens. It does, however, mean that there's no electronic connection between the lens and the camera attached to it, meaning no image data will be relayed with your images. Although the lens body is constructed from plastic, we still found it to be robust and lightweight.
Performance: The Rokinon/Samyang lens captures stars sharply, although there's a slight decrease in sharpness at the corners when fully open at f/2.8, resulting in some coma and chromatic aberrations. Additionally, there's noticeable distortion and vignetting, but these issues can be rectified in post-processing, so they weren't a significant problem for us, particularly for the price.
If you're a newcomer to astrophotography or you're looking for a lens that can perform well on a smaller budget, then the Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 may just be the lens for you.
- Read our full Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Robust and lightweight despite its plastic construction. |
| Performance | Some soma, loss of sharpness and distortions — but all can be fixed in post. |
| Functionality | Fully manual focus and aperture only. |
Best lenses for astrophotography: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best astrophotography lens for Canon?
We think the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is the best RF-mount lens for astrophotography for Canon cameras, but for Canon EF-mount cameras we'd recommend the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art.
What is the best astrophotography lens for Sony?
After thorough testing and comparing, we think the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master is the best Sony astrophotography lens you can buy. It has an ultra-wide angle focal length up to a maximum of 12mm, which means it is ideal for wide shots of the night sky.
What is the best astrophotography lens for Nikon?
The Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S is our top pick of astrophotography lens for Nikon mirrorless cameras. It has a flexible focal length, fast maximum aperture and edge-to-edge sharpness. For DSLRs, look no further than the Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED - we think it’s the best lens for Nikon F-mount DSLR cameras but also for all DSLR-compatible lenses.
What kind of lens do you use for astrophotography?
In truth, there is no such thing as a lens specifically for astrophotography. The key is to look for a fast maximum aperture to let as much starlight onto the image sensor of the camera. Edge-to-edge sharpness is also an important factor to look out for, as it will ensure chromatic and coma aberrations are kept to a minimum.
Image stabilization is a nice plus but not essential as shooting with a tripod is a must in astrophotography, which will take care of the stabilization aspect.
For wide-field astrophotography, capturing a wide portion of the night sky and stars, we'd recommend a wide-angle lens. Wide-angle zoom lenses like the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master are versatile and allow multiple compositions without having to move the camera.
What size lens is best for astrophotography?
Generally, the lenses with better optics are heavier than others. As astrophotography required the use of a tripod, the weight and size of the lens while it is on the camera isn’t too much of an issue, although you’ll need to be mindful of your tripod’s payload.
However, the size of the focal length is important, too. Anything from 24mm and longer is best for wide-field astro, though a telephoto zoom lens like Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S-Line is better for deep-field, close-up work of specific celestial objects.
Mid-range focal lengths like 50mm should work in a pinch, especially if the maximum aperture is f/2.8 and wider, but it can be frustrating to compose foreground and include enough of the night sky at this focal length.
What is the 500 rule in astrophotography?
This is a rough calculation for determining exposure length for a specific lens before star trails* appear. Take 500 and divide it by the focal length (in millimeters) of your lens. I.e. 500 / 24mm = 20.83 seconds of exposure before star trails are noticeable.
*Star trails are the blurring of the stars during a long exposure, brought on by earth's rotation.
Should I buy a prime or zoom lens for astrophotography?
Zoom vs prime lenses: Which is best?
Some photographers prefer using fixed focal length prime lenses for astrophotography and others prefer zoom lenses, but which lens is the right astrophotography lens for you? It will come down to a balance between versatility, cost, personal preference and which camera system you use.
Generally speaking, you get less distortion from prime lenses and they perform better in low-light conditions. On the other hand, zoom lenses are more versatile and offer a larger range of focal lengths. However, they do also tend to offer a smaller maximum aperture and their light gathering ability is compromised.
If you’re looking for one lens to do the job, a wide-angle zoom option is a great choice as it allows you to work across a range of focal lengths in one convenient package. If, on the other hand, your priority is maximum light collection and you don’t mind a fixed focal length, go with one of the bright and extremely fast f/1.8 options we’ve listed here. These are excellent for photographers without star trackers, when exposure times are limited. Alternatively, if you’re just starting out on your astrophotography journey and don’t want to spend a fortune just yet, it’s hard to look past the very affordable Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 which is excellent value for money.
How much do astrophotography lenses cost?
Generally, good astrophotography lenses cost in the region of $250 to $2800 depending on the make and model of your camera. Interestingly, lenses that are suitable for astrophotography are also versatile enough for other types of photography disciplines such as landscape photography, travel, lifestyle, real estate and more.
Of course, your budget is an important part of your purchasing decision; whatever your needs and abilities, there's an option in this buying guide for you. From professional-grade Sony and Nikon lenses to more budget-friendly picks, we've made sure to include options at different price points but that still hold up as quality lenses.
What aperture value should my lens have for astro?
For astro lenses specifically, you'll want to consider lenses with fast maximum apertures of f/2.8 and wider (lenses with a lower f-number). E.g. f/2, f/1.8, f/1.4 etc. This is because they let in more light to your camera's image sensor. A wider aperture also means you can shoot with shorter shutter speeds or a lower ISO sensitivity, which is advantageous for shooting in low-light environments because it reduces camera shake blur, prevents star trails appearing and reduces image noise respectively.
Do I need any other camera gear to take astrophotographs?
The right camera accessories can be important when shooting starry skies and nightscapes. Indeed he best cameras for astrophotography are important but it's important to keep everything steady atop one of the best tripods or best travel tripods as well. To take things a step further and get even more reliable results it's important to invest in lens heaters which prevent lens fogging when shooting in colder climes and intervalometers to trigger the camera remotely, thereby reducing camera shake blur.
How we tested the best lenses for astrophotography
In order to guarantee you’re getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best lenses to buy here at Space.com we make sure to put every camera lens through a rigorous review to fully test each product. Each lens is reviewed based on a multitude of aspects, from its construction and design, to how well it functions as an optical instrument and its performance in the field.
Each lens is carefully tested by either our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors who know their subject areas in depth. This ensures fair reviewing is backed by personal, hands-on experience with each lens and is judged based on its price point, class and destined use. For example, comparing a 150-600mm superzoom telephoto lens suitable for a full-frame camera to a sleek little wide-angle prime destined for a crop sensor wouldn’t be appropriate, though each lens might be the best performing product in its own class.
We look at how easy each lens is to operate, whether it contains the latest up-to-date imaging technology and look at its weight and portability. We’ll also make suggestions if a particular lens would benefit from any additional kit to give you the best viewing experience possible.
With complete editorial independence, Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on camera lenses, whether you should purchase one or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.
