Nikon Astrophotography Lenses
To learn more about what to look for when buying the best milky way lens for you, please watch this video.
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Milky Way - Wide Angle
(Mirrorless, APS-C & Full Frame - Z-Mount)
These lenses can be used without a tracker on Nikon Z-Series cameras with an APS-C or Full Frame sensor.
***COMPATIBILITY***
These lenses CANNOT be used on regular DSLRs. If you want to use a lens that is not a Z-mount on a Mirrorless camera purchase the FTZ adapter below.
For APS-C please multiply the focal length by 1.5x to get the effective focal length.
NIKON MOUNT ADAPTER FTZ
If you are going to use any F mount lenses then you need this adapter
(F mount To Z mount)
NIKON NIKKOR Z 14-24MM F/2.8 S LENS
This is a great all around lens. It will be perfect for landscapes, architecture and anything wide angle.
It is overkill for astrophotography, but will work great.
However just for Astro I would get instead the Rokinon 14mm f2.8 and the Rokinon 24mm f1.4.
ROKINON 14MM F2.8 UMC
This lens is manual focus.
This is generally the first astrophotography lens people buy. It is a perfect starting lens. This is the Z series version.
Milky Way - Wide Angle
(DSLR Full Frame, APS-C - F Mount)
These lenses can be used without a tracker on Nikon DSLR cameras with an Full Frame or APS-C sensor.
***COMPATIBILITY***
If you want to use on a Mirrorless camera purchase the FTZ adapter. For APS-C please multiply the focal length by 1.5x to get the effective focal length.
NIKON 14-24MM F/2.8G ED
As with the above Z version this is a fantastic overall lens.
It is the wide angle lens that I use- however that is because I bought it many moons ago for other subjects. If I was getting an astro only wide angle I would get the Rokinon 14mm F2.8
Actually I impulse bought it when I was on my first ever trip to Switzerland as an adult and I felt I needed it because of all the amazing landscapes.
SIGMA 14-24MM F/2.8 DG HSM ART
A more budget friendly alternative to the Nikon 14-24mm.
This lens looks good, though there is coma at f2.8 at the wider focal lengths.
TAMRON SP 15-30MM F/2.8 DI VC USD G2
This is a good alternative to the Nikon and Sigma.
I wouldn’t expect the build quality to last quite as long though.
ROKINON 14MM F/2.8 IF ED MC
This is the classic first lens for any astrophotographer.
It is a manual focus lens.
ROKINON 14MM F2.8 AF
This is an autofocus version of the Rokinon 14mm f2.8
Good if you plan to use it for things OTHER than night sky work.
ROKINON SP 14MM F2.4
I haven’t used this lens, but it has rave reviews from a lot of astro-photographers and is well corrected for aberrations.
SIGMA 14MM F/1.8 DG HSM ART
Only purchase this if you want a fast autofocus 14mm.
When it is stopped down to f2.8 it performs worse than the Rokinon 14mm at f2.8.
The pros are that it lets in more light and autofocuses. But you won’t take advantage of either of those for night photography.
ROKINON 24MM F/1.4 ED AS UMC
Is it ok to have a favourite lens? Well, if not don’t tell all my other lenses. This is my favourite!
I personally shoot with this lens on my full frame cameras, it is a fantastic focal length to photograph the Milky Way.
It is manual focus, but it is better corrected for aberrations than any other lens in this focal length category.
SIGMA 35MM F/1.4 DG HSM ART
I use this lens and am very happy with it.
There is some aberration at the corners, but not very much.
Actually this is one case where the Sigma outperforms the Rokinon in this focal length range.
ROKINON 50MM F/1.4 AS IF UMC
I love this lens for a bigger Milky Way! I used this a lot to take vertical panos and get a big, beautiful Milky Way in my frame!
For best results use on a tracker, but can be used un-tracked.
This is a manual focus lens.
Milky Way - Wide Angle
(DSLR APS-C only - DX F Mount)
These lenses can be used without a tracker on Nikon DSLR cameras with a APS-C sensor.
***COMPATIBILITY***
These are not compatible with Full Frame cameras, you would only use the DX part of the sensor. I do not recommend putting an APS-C lens on a Full Frame camera.
If you want to use on a Mirrorless camera purchase the FTZ adapter.
ROKINON 10MM F/2.8 ED AS NCS CS
This is a manual focus lens specifically made for APS-C sensors.
ROKINON 16MM F/2.0 ED AS UMC CS
This is a manual focus lens specifically made for APS-C sensors.
This is my favourite effective focal length (24mm on full frame)
TOKINA ATX-I 11-20MM CF F/2.8
This is an autofocus lens.
It is optically quite good with only a little aberrations.
The build quality is generally not as good as name brand or Sigma Art lenses, so make sure not to be rough with it and it will last you a long time.
Milky Way - Mid-Range
(DSLR, APS-C & Full Frame - F Mount)
The following lenses are recommended to use in conjunction with a star tracker.
SIGMA 135MM F/1.8 DG HSM ART
If you want an auto focus lens this one is a good choice. Otherwise go with the Rokinon.
ROKINON 135MM F/2.0 LENS
A beautifully sharp lens with a hard stop at infinity. This is a favourite lens of mine to use. This is a manual focus only lens.
Milky Way - Mid-Range
(DSLR, APS-C only - DX F Mount)
SIGMA 50-100MM F/1.8 DC HSM ART
This is a unique lens, and only available for APS-C sensors. If I had an APS-C camera I would own this too.
Deep Space Objects - Telephoto
(Mirrorless, APS-C & Full Frame Z Mount)
NIKON NIKKOR Z 70-200MM F/2.8 VR S
The z series version of the popular workhorse lens. If you are going to only shoot mirrorless then get this version.
Deep Space Objects - Telephoto
(DSLR, APS-C & Full Frame - F Mount)
NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 70-200MM F/2.8E FL ED VR
This is a classic lens, and has served me well for entry level deep sky work.
I don’t have experience with the Tamron and Sigma. But in general expect the Nikon version of the lens to last longer.
I have had this lens for over 10 years and used it extensively for weddings and pet photography and it is still in perfect working order.
TAMRON SP 70-200MM F/2.8 DI VC USD G2
SIGMA 70-200MM F/2.8 DG OS HSM SPORTS LENS
NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 200-500MM F/5.6E ED VR
Stars look best with this when shot at F7.1, but are acceptable at F5.6.
This is a HEAVY lens, but it does work well for smaller targets in the sky. Note that getting your tracker balanced with this is a bit more difficult.
NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 300MM F/4E PF ED VR
I love using this lens to shoot DSOs!
It is an amazingly sharp and light lens due to it’s innovative design. It can easily track because of its light weight!
NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500MM F/5.6E PF ED VR
Ditto to the 300mm, this is an awesome lens. I don’t yet own one but have a friend who does.
Great for birding too if that’s your thing.
SIGMA 100-400MM F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM CONTEMPORARY
I haven’t tested any of these third party lenses for DSO work. They come highly rated, however when it comes to zoom AF lenses I prefer to stick with Nikon branded lenses.
SIGMA 150-600MM F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM CONTEMPORARY
I haven’t tested any of these third party lenses for DSO work. They come highly rated, however when it comes to zoom AF lenses I prefer to stick with Nikon branded lenses.
TAMRON SP 150-600MM F/5-6.3 DI VC USD G2
I haven’t tested any of these third party lenses for DSO work. They come highly rated, however when it comes to zoom AF lenses I prefer to stick with Nikon branded lenses.