ideal lens for night photography?

markD90

Senior Member
should i get a35mm 1.8 or a 50mm 1.8 for night photography?

i will be using at about 800 iso so suppose my question is which is the sharpest lens??
 

Rick M

Senior Member
They are both extremely sharp, I think it would come down to which focal length best suites your needs, I have the 35 and it is fantastic
 

Browncoat

Senior Member
Depends on your subject. If you're doing night landscapes, I'd go with the 35mm. The 50mm is an all-purpose lens for just about everything else.
 

markD90

Senior Member
i have a tripod thanks!!

think its gonna be the 35mm ! i need the 1.8 because on startrails im not getting enough light in on the sensor and not getting many stars in my pictures!
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
How many stars you get in your picture depends on the amount of light pollution present, ISO setting and shutter timing. Your 18-55mm, f/3.5 will do as good a job as a 35mm, f/1.8. The only thing a 35mm, f/1.8 will do for you is allow a faster shutter speed or a lower ISO. To get more stars try a higher ISO and/or a longer shutter speed.
 

markD90

Senior Member
i usually use my 10-20 sigma wide open and iso200 and have tried 30 secs and 60 to no avail!
i have an intervalometer and remote shutter release as well!

most other people i shoot with shoot at least 200iso with 30 sec exposure and 2.8 and get good results...... but not mine!
just wondered what i was doing wrong/different!
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Try using the 18-55mm and kick up the ISO to 400 or even higher. Or with the 18-55mm, kick up the EV a stop or two. It's all about getting the right combination of f/stop, shutter speed, and ISO setting. Getting a f/1.8 lens will not help in finding the right exposure combination. Quality of the glass will make a difference for which Sigma lenses are not that well noted. If you are looking for a very good quality f/2.8 lens try the Tokina 11-16mm. I have one and it's as good as they come.
 

markD90

Senior Member
thanks Joseph!

i see what your saying about getting the right combination!..... i dont have the 18-55! its an 18-105! sorry my signature is wrong! i just noticed that....!

iv only heard good things about the sigma and have been very happy with it......surprising thing is i hear Tamron has the problem you describe but not the sigma! i have heard Tokina are good but overpriced in the UK!
 

Eye-level

Banned
Get a Noct Nikkor! That is the best lens Nikon has ever made for the night sky and is still to this day one of the sharpest if not the sharpest Nikkor ever made in the company history...but you have to have very very deep pockets to be in the Noct Nikkor club... :)

A 50/1.8 Nikkor anyway you slice it is dirt cheap...a fast 35 was once upon a time the Nikon wedding photographer's main ammo. They are a bit pricier however...
 
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