Exploring the night sky with quality camera lenses is an engaging experience for budding star gazers as well as experienced astrophotographers alike. Below are some of the best Nikon lenses that offer wide-angle views or close-up images of celestial formations.
If you want to skip the reviews, we say get the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED.
Best Nikon Lenses For Astrophotography Reviews
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM | A
- Ultra-wide-angle zoom lens
- Fast F2.8 maximum aperture
- Falls into Sigma's Art range of lenses
- Fast HSM autofocus
- Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM A Canon Fit; Case; Cover Lens Cap; Back Cap; Warranty Card; Instruction Manual
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM is the ideal lens for those who seek high-quality wide-angle shots in low light conditions, boasting a maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout its zoom range for stunning photos with shallow depth of field and gorgeous background blur.
Furthermore, this lens boasts built-in image stabilization to help ensure sharp images even in challenging situations.
Not only is this lens well-renowned for its optics, but it is also lightweight and compact enough to carry for extended periods.
Furthermore, its weatherproof seal ensures that it can withstand even harsh environments; however, note that its widest focal length does exhibit some barrel distortion – a potential issue for those wanting to shoot real estate or architecture photography.
Sigma Art lenses are known for their exceptional optical design and build quality, as exemplified in this lens from their Art line. Constructed of several high-precision glass elements – three aspherical lenses and two FLD/SLD low dispersion lenses as well as nine blade rounded diaphragm – this lens also includes an SWM motor for fast autofocus performance as well as Nano Crystal Coat technology to prevent flare and ghosting effects.
One of the key components of astrophotography is capturing an accurate image, something which can be challenging when using consumer-level lenses.
Astrophotographers often require specialist lenses that produce sharp images at wide angles – this full frame lens features a wide focal range with an ultra-low minimum focus distance of just 0.3m (1ft), as well as an ED glass element to reduce chromatic aberrations.
This lens is the shortest full-frame f/2.8 ultra-wide zoom available to consumers, featuring impressive optics that feature minimal distortion, vignetting, and excellent edge sharpness.
Furthermore, its LCD display makes viewing your image in low light easier; although priced higher than its competitors this lens stands out with superior quality and value for money.
Samyang 10mm F2.8 ED AS NCS CS Ultra Wide
- Nano Crystal Coating System (NCS) for increased light transmission and reduced internal reflections
- Fast F2.8 maximum Aperture + close-focusing to 9.5 inches = maximum versatility in all shooting...
- Optimized for excellent optical quality and true ultra-wide 110 degree edge to edge coverage with APS-C...
- Utilizes 3 high precision (2 Aspherical + 1 ED) lens elements for superior image quality
- Inner focusing system (IF) - length doesn't change and front element does not rotate - keeps integrated...
The Samyang 10mm F2.8 ED AS NCS CS Ultra Wide astrophotography lens features ultra-wide-angle views, with its fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 designed to work on cameras equipped with an APS-C sensor.
Available with various mounts including Canon, Nikon, and Sony Pentax Four Thirds this lens boasts excellent optical performance at all apertures making it the perfect lens to capture night sky imagery.
This lens features two aspherical elements and one extra-low dispersion ED element to deliver outstanding optical performance. You can use it wide-open for meteors and time-lapse starscapes and stopped down it is ideal for landscapes, constellations, and the Milky Way.
With superior sharpness and contrast even at f/2.8 shooting aperture settings – while filter-induced astigmatism was virtually eliminated; its user-friendly features include a large manual focus ring/aperture ring combination near its front with depth-of-field scale at its back – lightweight yet sturdy feel!
As with all astrophotography lenses, wider lenses tend to produce more distortion when it comes to shooting close-up images or cropped down to extreme sizes. Distortion patterns may cause the edges of frames to warp or cause difficulty in creating straight lines in pictures.
When using any wide-angle lens for astrophotography, when using wide-angle lenses it’s also important to keep in mind any instances of coma and astigmatism which could cause stars to appear as long, narrow ellipses on one side of the focal point, but at the right angles to other parts.
These issues can be corrected using special filters or techniques in post-processing software.
This lens is an excellent option for astrophotography, providing a wide field of view at an economical price. Available in different mounts for use on DSLR and mirrorless cameras alike, as well as manual focus capabilities (IBIS is highly recommended).
Samyang XP 14mm f/2.4
- Aperture range: f/2.4 - f/22
- Angle of view of 114.12 Degree with minimum focus distance of 11.02" (28 cm)
- Magnification of 0.08x with 9 diaphragm blades
- Constructed with 18 elements in 14 groups
The Samyang XP 14mm ultra-wide angle prime lens is an excellent tool for landscape and astrophotography, offering an expansive 114deg field of view at a fast f/2.4 aperture to capture vast landscapes while its petal-shaped lens hood effectively counters flare, while nanostructure coatings reduce ghosting and glare – these features ensure excellent image quality from center to corner with excellent sharpness throughout its zoom range.
However, its performance when shooting wide open at f/2.8 may not always meet expectations when shooting wide open at this aperture – these issues could potentially become more problematic due to vignetting or lateral chromatic aberration issues than expected.
This flexible and affordable lens makes an excellent addition to astrophotography photography, offering great value at its price point. Ideal for photographing the moon, planets, stars, and the night sky; featuring an f/2.4 aperture to enable shooting images even in low light; quality glass ensures sharp images with accurate colors; lightweight and easy to carry around for transportability – this lens represents great value!
Although many mistakenly think this lens belongs to Samyang, it actually falls under the Rokinon brand name.
Samyang used to produce lenses under multiple brands; now they focus on their most popular models alone. Rokinon is based in South Korea and produces some of the finest lenses on the market – one such being their top-selling 14mm lens called XP 14mm.
Whether or not the XP 14mm is suitable for astrophotography depends on your priorities. If your aim is to create time-lapse movies, a lens capable of tracking motion over long exposures is required; for tripod photography, it should produce sharp images in all corners.
The Samyang XP 14mm f/2.4 lens is an excellent choice for astrophotography, yet does not support autofocus. Unfortunately, its rectilinear perspective produces significant distortion that may require post-processing corrections to correct. For a more versatile option consider Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC.
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM | A
- Large diameter delivering f/1.8 brightness
- Beautiful bokeh effect, and outstanding control of light streaking
- Ultra-wide angle of view
- Super multi-layer coating helps reduce flare and ghosting
- Large HSM (Hyper-Sonic Motor) delivers ample torque to the focusing group for outstanding speed, ensuring...
The Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM lens is one of the most beloved astrophotography lenses on the market, and for good reason.
With an extremely bright maximum aperture and wide field of view that makes it suitable for landscape and cityscape photography as well as its lightweight nature – perfect for travel astronomy trips!
The Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG lens features aspherical and ultra-low dispersion elements to minimize chromatic aberrations, with multi-layer coatings furthering image quality.
In addition to its impressive optical performance, its autofocus system employs a quiet ring-type ultrasonic motor for faster and more accurate autofocusing, along with a focus distance window with hyperfocal markings for zone focusing.
Although the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 lens focuses quickly and accurately, it should not be used for astrophotography without using a star tracker.
Due to its relatively small maximum aperture size, stars cannot be captured with sufficient depth of field. It remains an excellent option for nightscape photography or cityscape images, however.
This lens comes in both APS-C and full frame versions, making it a versatile option for any Nikon camera. Ideal for portraiture and architecture photography alike, as well as having an outdoor-durable build suitable for weather resistance – making this lens an excellent value.
No matter your skill level as an astrophotographer, finding the ideal lens is key.
Nikon lenses designed specifically for astrophotography offer outstanding image quality as well as various focal lengths to cover everything from expansive landscapes to more intimate views of space – giving you all the tools needed to capture night skies in stunning detail! So choose wisely! Let your adventure start now!
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
- Focal Length Range: 14 -24 millimeter
- Minimum focus distance 0.9 feet. (0.28 meter), minimum f/stop 22
- Lens construction 14/11 (2 ED glass elements, 3 aspherical lenses and 1 Nano Crystal Coat)
- Angle of View: 114° - 84°
This lens is the ideal lens for astrophotography, offering an extremely wide field of view to capture stunning nighttime scenes.
Furthermore, its fast f/2.8 maximum aperture lets you shoot in low light conditions with beautiful background blur.
Furthermore, the lens is very sharp throughout its frame even at f/2.8, and features Silent Wave Motor autofocus for accurate tracking while Super Integrated Coating helps minimize ghosting and flare – making it an excellent choice for astrophotography.
This wide-angle zoom lens from Nikon DSLR cameras with either an APS-C or full-frame sensor is designed for versatile photography applications, from landscapes, cityscapes, and architecture shots to astrophotography with longer shutter speeds.
Furthermore, its maximum aperture offers great versatility when shooting astrophotography – the lens even comes complete with its own tripod mount to support it!
This lens is exceptionally sharp at all apertures, with only slightly less sharp corners than its center.
Although ultra-wide lenses tend to exhibit some barrel distortion that can be corrected with post-processing software, the minimum focusing distance on this one makes focusing easier than ever on small objects – not only that but it’s lightweight and portable enough for travel purposes!
Although more expensive than some of the options on this list, this lens is worth every penny to astrophotographers. Perfect for capturing images of the night sky with outstanding optical performance on offer; additionally durable enough for outdoor usage and suitable for any environment.
If you’re on a tight budget, the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX lens makes an excellent astrophotography lens choice.
Featuring an extremely wide focal length and fast maximum aperture – two key elements necessary for astrophotography – as well as built-in image stabilization technology to help minimize vignetting and coma effects, it makes an excellent astrophotography lens choice.
Tokina ATX-i 11-20mm F2.8
- New modern and comfortable design for better handling
- New coating providing oimproved reslution and efficient flare management
- Ultra-wide angle focal with constant F2.8 aperture
- Constant size whatever the focal and focus for easier stabilizer calibration
- High-level optical performances.Max focal length: 20.0 millimeters
The Tokina ATX-i 11-20mm F2.8 ultra wide angle lens offers a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout its focal range. Ideal for photographers seeking an all-purpose ultra-wide lens to capture landscapes, architecture, group shots, and environmental portraits for weddings, street snaps, or astrophotography.
Unlike plastic-bodied lenses such as those produced by Canon or Nikon; making this durable tool is great for professional astrophotographers or amateur photographers who need something robust enough to carry with them for astrophotography photography sessions or astrophotography sessions alike!
The lens performed exceptionally well in our image quality tests, offering excellent sharpness and resolution at wider apertures while performing less well at narrower ones.
Distortion and vignetting performance were good too, while its only weakness is a visible chromatic aberration in highly contrasted areas of an image, which may prove challenging when photographing astrophotography of night skies where accurate color representation is key.
This Tokina 11-20mm lens marks its third generation and features an all-new optical formula to deliver enhanced flaring performance and reduce ghosting with multi-layer coating technology.
Furthermore, coma aberration, often found with wide-angle lenses, has been significantly decreased through redesign.
One-touch focus clutch mechanisms make switching between AF and MF modes simple, while an internal focusing design enables photographers to add filters easily through its 82mm front thread.
A Silent Drive motor powers this lens while an integrated metering system delivers accurate exposure data in live view mode.
Overall, this lens offers great value for money and exceptional image quality. While autofocus accuracy can sometimes be inconsistent, this should not affect most users significantly – making this an excellent wide-angle lens option without breaking the bank!
Irix Blackstone 15mm f/2.4-22 Ultra Wide
- IRIX 15 mm f2.4 wide-angle lens with Nikon F bayonet for full format for impressive landscape, travel and...
- Lightweight design ideal for travel photography, classic design meets perfect handling, made of...
- Engraved, leuting markings for optimal adjustment in low light, neutral rinio coating for almost no image...
- Splash-proof thanks to different rubber seals for all weather, filter window for optimal mounting of grey...
- Box contents: 1x Irix ultra-wide angle Blackstone 15 mm f2.4 lens for Nikon F (95 mm filter thread, for...
This lens offers an outstanding combination of wide-angle coverage and fast maximum aperture, perfect for landscape, cityscape, and night sky photography.
Additionally, its excellent image quality and weather seal make this weatherproofed lens weather-sealed; furthermore, it features a customizable Lens Function button enabling easy changes even without using a flashlight!
As with any lens purchase, it is essential to understand its purpose and the images you intend to capture before making your choice.
In astrophotography photography, the wide-angle focal length is essential as this allows more stars in one frame; furthermore, it reduces star trails for longer exposures. Furthermore, full-frame sensor cameras require lenses with wide aperture settings and higher image resolution capabilities than usual.
Astrophotography requires lenses with precision optics that do not cause distortion, so avoiding zoom lenses is ideal.
But if a zoom lens is essential to the process, there are various great choices out there for astrophotography: some made from high-quality glass and featuring an internal ED element can provide superior optics compared to cheaper lenses.
If this option fits the bill for you, make sure that its cost justifies itself with improved optics!
Although it can be tempting to go for the highest-quality lenses available, you should always keep your budget in mind and whether or not you intend to use the lens regularly for astrophotography.
Also, keep your camera type and whether or not an adapter may be needed when selecting an adapter mount lens mount mount adapter is needed for astrophotography photography. Third-party lenses may also be good alternatives if money is tight – these third-party models offer great value!
Irix Blackstone 15mm f/2.4-22 Ultra Wide lens is an outstanding piece of astrophotography gear. Despite its compact and lightweight design, this lens delivers crisp photos without softening or distortions.
With an ample focus area and wide-open aperture, it produces low noise at long exposures with minimal vignetting or coma at its corners – as well as minimal color fringing or barrel distortion at the edges of its image.
Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
- 14-24mm ultra-wide, ultra-compact zoom with an f/2.8 constant aperture.
- Outstanding optics and resolution across the entire frame.
- Great for landscapes, cityscapes, night skies, architecture, interiors and environmental portraits.
- Weatherproof build.
- Compatible with all Nikon Z series mirrorless cameras.
Quality astrophotography lenses are essential in creating night sky photos. Specifically tailored for low light conditions associated with astrophotography, these lenses often boast wide apertures to allow for large depths of the field as well as excellent image stabilization – essential features when taking long exposure shots.
If you’re in search of one such astrophotography lens that will help capture incredible shots then consider investing in the Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S lens as it has all of these attributes and more!
This ultra-wide-angle zoom is the shortest full-frame f/2.8 lens on the market and is an excellent option for astrophotography. Offering a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout its zoom range, it captures ample light even in low-lighting environments.
Plus, its compact and lightweight construction makes it easy to carry with you; not to mention excellent image quality with minimal distortion, vignetting, and virtually no coma!
Another unique feature of this lens is its customizable control ring, which can be programmed to control various camera settings without using your camera’s menus.
This saves you both time and energy and works especially well for astrophotography as you can program it to control shutter speed! Furthermore, this weather-resistant lens comes equipped with a petal-shaped lens hood to minimize flares and ghosting effects.
The AF-S NIKKOR Z 14-24mm lens focuses quickly and precisely, while both its zoom and focus rings are smooth and precise. It features Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements to reduce chromatic aberrations while its Nano Crystal Coat reduces ghosting and flare.
Weatherproof construction also makes this lens suitable for outdoor astrophotography while its wide zoom range enables users to capture scenes from multiple perspectives; furthermore, it is compatible with in-camera image stabilization capabilities on Nikon Z series cameras to improve handholding stability further.
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