Astrophotography is one of the few genres where gear can make a profound difference that is impossible to replicate without it. One of the most important tools — if not the most important tool — is the lens on the front of your camera.
I’ve talked about astrophotography on a number of occasions; it’s almost like a forbidden fruit for me. Though I love the discipline dearly, both shooting and viewing its images, I am usually unable to partake. I live in a country with precious few true dark spots and I live wedged between the brightest point on the map and another very bright city. Nevertheless, whenever I travel, I can’t wait to shoot it. What is most alluring to me is the blend of science and photography. That is, the better your understanding of astronomy, the better images you have the opportunity to create for the most part. That simultaneously makes it more interesting, but also more difficult.
However, it is also difficult in a less scholarly way: equipment. Unlike portraiture and landscape photography where you can make do with less than ideal gear, it’s much more difficult in astrophotography. You typically need a wide-angle lens with a wide maximum aperture, ideally f/2.8 or lower. Many astrophotographers go one further though and shoot with an ultra-wide-angle lens, allowing a more complete view of the night sky.
In this video, Mike Smith goes through his top 10 picks for ultra-wide-angle lenses for astrophotography. Now, it’s worth noting that he shoots on a Sony full frame body, but most of the list is comprised of lenses that come in different mounts, so fear not if you shoot with a different brand. It’s also worth mentioning that Sony has just released the amazing 14mm f/1.8 GM which will be a titan in this area.
Lead image is a screenshot of the video but the original image is by Bryan Carnathan