Which Lens is Best for Astrophotography?

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Steppenwolf323

New member
I want to use my Nikon D5300 for Astrophotography. I currently have the 18-140mm and the 18-300mm Nikon Lenses. I have been told that Wide Angle is better for this kind of shooting so I am considering the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras or the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens (AF-S Motor) (for Nikon Cameras).

i can't decide which is better. Would someone with such experience please give me some guidance.

thank you

herbert
 
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Dave_W

The Dude
I use my 14-24mm f/2.8G for most of my star photography and while I shoot at the maximum width of 14mm, it still requires a panorama to capture most of the Milky Way. That said, I think you'll find the 35mm DX (which is really more of a 50mm) not as useful as a wider lens.
 
Bob Blaylock

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
One thing I have to say on the subject is that the 18-55mm “kit lens” that came with my D3200—probably similar to the one that came with your D5300—is almost completely useless for this application, due to the inability to precisely set the focus manually at infinity. I imagine that the same is probably true of many other autofocus lenses that provide only a very token, imprecise form of manual focusing.

You definitely want a lens that you can reliably, precisely set to infinity. I'd be surprised if there are any manual-focus lenses that do not have this attribute, and probably any of the higher-end autofocus lenses probably do as well.

The picture below was taken using an ancient (c. late 1960s to early 1970s) Nikkor 28mm ƒ3.5 lens mounted to my D3200. The bright star near the lower edge and left of center is one that you must never take lightly, nor make jokes about. It's Sirius!

OrionSirius_20131006_032008.jpg
 
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Steppenwolf323

New member
Thanks to both of you for your assistance. I suspected my current kit would not suffice. I went ahead and ordered the 14-24mm Nikon Lens.
if you have any further advice I would gladly welcome it. FYI I plan to photograph using the iOptron Sky Watcher with this.

Herbert
 
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Scott Ramsey

Senior Member
This may be too late since you have already ordered your lens but I've had great results with the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens for Astrophotography. I had been using a 24 but the 14 offers so much more of the sky and with the ability to go as long as 30-35 second shutter speeds, the needed ISO is so much lower and less noisy. I'm sure the 14-24 will do the same but it costs over three times as much. Good luck!
 
S

Steppenwolf323

New member
Thanks all,

I already have a great telescope setup and a CCD Camera. This kit is for traveling using an iOptron SkyTracker. Lightweight.

Herbert

Great Photos also

Herbert
 
S

Steppenwolf323

New member
Thanks all,

That lens looks really good. What about the Rokinon 10mm F2.8 ED AS NCS CS Ultra Wide Angle Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras with AE Chip for Auto Metering (10MAF-N)? Would that be better than the 14mm?

I already have a great telescope setup and a CCD Camera. This kit is for traveling using an iOptron SkyTracker. Lightweight.

Herbert

Great Photos also

Herbert
 
Bob Blaylock

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
Bob Blaylock said:
One thing I have to say on the subject is that the 18-55mm “kit lens” that came with my D3200—probably similar to the one that came with your D5300—is almost completely useless for this application, due to the inability to precisely set the focus manually at infinity. I imagine that the same is probably true of many other autofocus lenses that provide only a very token, imprecise form of manual focusing.
Click to expand...

More than a year later, I've made this discovery—With my stock 18-55mm “kit lens” on my D3200, if I let the camera try to autofocus with the lens cap on, it fails, of course, but it stops with the lens focused at infinity.

So, to use this lens for astrophotography, or for any other application where you need it focused at infinity but cannot trust the autofocus to do so; with the camera and lens on autofocus, and the lens cap in place, push the shutter button halfway until the lens stops after failing to get focus. Then set the camera (but not the lens) to manual focus. With the lens still set to autofocus, the focus mechanism will hold the lens at the focus setting as long as the camera doesn't try to change it, which it won't if the camera is set to manual focus.

I don't know if this works on all lenses, or on all camera bodies, but it seems to consistently work with my 18-55 on my D3200. I only discovered this after I put an infinity focus mark on my lens, and then, playing with autofocus,noticed that with the lens cap on,it consistently stopped at that mark. It seems to focus at infinity more precisely than I can consistently achieve manually my using my infinity mark.
 
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aroy

Senior Member
You can also use either MF or "D" lenses to set focus it infinity easily, though MF lenses have an edge as their throw is longer.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
After a quick check, I believe the af-d lenses will work great using the same method but on Nikon models with the built-in focus motor! I tried it on my af-d 85mm f1.4 using my D800E Nikon! Then all I would need to do is turn of the cameras auto focus switch, and then the lens would stay at infinity! :)

Very handy info! Thank you! :D

Bob Blaylock said:
More than a year later, I've made this discovery—With my stock 18-55mm “kit lens” on my D3200, if I let the camera try to autofocus with the lens cap on, it fails, of course, but it stops with the lens focused at infinity.

So, to use this lens for astrophotography, or for any other application where you need it focused at infinity but cannot trust the autofocus to do so; with the camera and lens on autofocus, and the lens cap in place, push the shutter button halfway until the lens stops after failing to get focus. Then set the camera (bit not the lens) to manual focus. With the lens still set to autofocus, the focus mechanism will hold the lens at the focus setting as long as the camera doesn't try to change it, which it won't if the camera is set to manual focus.

I don't know if this works on all lenses, or on all camera bodies, but it seems to consistently work with my 18-55 on my D3200. I only discovered this after I put an infinity focus mark on my lens, and then, playing with autofocus,noticed that with the lens cap on,it consistently stopped at that mark. It seems to focus at infinity more precisely than I can consistently achieve manually my using my infinity mark.
Click to expand...
 
W

wornish

Senior Member
Bob Blaylock said:
More than a year later, I've made this discovery—With my stock 18-55mm “kit lens” on my D3200, if I let the camera try to autofocus with the lens cap on, it fails, of course, but it stops with the lens focused at infinity.

So, to use this lens for astrophotography, or for any other application where you need it focused at infinity but cannot trust the autofocus to do so; with the camera and lens on autofocus, and the lens cap in place, push the shutter button halfway until the lens stops after failing to get focus. Then set the camera (bit not the lens) to manual focus. With the lens still set to autofocus, the focus mechanism will hold the lens at the focus setting as long as the camera doesn't try to change it, which it won't if the camera is set to manual focus.

I don't know if this works on all lenses, or on all camera bodies, but it seems to consistently work with my 18-55 on my D3200. I only discovered this after I put an infinity focus mark on my lens, and then, playing with autofocus,noticed that with the lens cap on,it consistently stopped at that mark. It seems to focus at infinity more precisely than I can consistently achieve manually my using my infinity mark.
Click to expand...

Just tried this with on my D810, both the 80-400mm and the Tamron 24-70mm seem to do the same. Cant check if the focus is exactly on infinity but it is certainly very close.

Very useful tip - thanks
 
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