An important point and beautifully illustrated, to not just reach for the widest possible lens to get in as much as possible, but to consider longer focal lengths where possible, esp when the core is low in the sky. The 50mm shot gets beautiful detail of the core, with the same foreground subject size, and makes for a more fascinating nightscape than the widest one.
Thanks for the video Richard, it was an interesting comparison of the different focal lengths of each lens! I noticed though the shape of the Milky Way was smaller using the 14-24 f2.8 lens compared to the 50mm f1.8 lens where the Milky Way shape was wider. I've always wondered why some photos of the Milky Way were wider than my photos when I use a crop sensor camera and a 9mm Laowa f2.8 lens. Thanks again Richard for teaching us all here, on RUclips.
Wow Richard. Phenomenal difference in Images between the Lens. Longer focal length of course compresses the Image, but never quite appreciated the stark difference in how good the the Core looks on a fast 50mm. Definitely will bring my 50mm next month!! Can't wait. All the best
Dear Richard, thank you so much for sharing with us your tutorials. With your clear explanations I have learned how to take these pictures that I have always admired and wanted to take. Thank you so much.
Great video, I've been flip flopping between buying one of these lenses for ages and this is the first direct starscape comparison I've been able to find. Thanks a million
I have been surfing the net for this video since long time and here it is...thanks for help us to see the night sky in a different perspective and my 50mm lens from now on will be in my bag in coming nights under the stars. Richard thanks for such informative video and clear skies.
Hey Richard - thanks for this unique and informative tutorial. Interesting to note that what you lose in image width, you gain in detail, with the longer focal lengths. Time to try out my Nikon 50mm f1.4 for a nightscape. This video proves that there is no "right" focal length for night images - 14mm is not a holy grail.
I'm watching this video out in the field,literally,grass under foot,stars over head and thanks largely to the inspiration from your tutorials I've been amazing myself with the nightscape/astro images I've captured this evening. It's 23:30,cold,the clouds have moved in and it's time for a cuppa and a swag. All in all a pretty good night.
I just stumpled over your videos, and I must say they are just breathtaking. You´re such a good teacher and the way you bring us through your settings and computerwork is amazing. I nearly cant wait to get out shooting the Milkyway myself, but im going through all of your videos and at the same time gathering led´s and other stuff for shooting. You really have inspired me in a way I never thought I would be. Thanks Mate! from Denmark
Your comments are very encouraging Kurt. It's certainly my intention to inspire people to get out there under the stars and shoot the milky way. I'll be keen to see how you go.
Thanks for this tutorial among with many others I’ve watched Richard, I’ve shared this with a friend of mine that wants to get in Astrophotography as you’re so easy to follow and I love your work.
Excellent video. While searching for the "perfect" wide angle lens to do nightscape photography with, I started using my 35mm as a stand in. As it turned out, I really liked the detail it gave me. I do have a couple of great wide angle lenses now but I still fallback on my 35mm for a great deal of my night sky shots. Imagine the stir I caused the last time I was in Moab Ut. and I used my 35MM some of the arches and stars. I took a lot of ribbing for it but once I processed my images, I had quite a few converts.
Man - I've been waiting for a video like this for 5 years !!! Thank you very much indeed for this and congratulation to that wonderful idea. Well done!
Greetings from Iowa! Thank you Richard for sharing your stunning photos and how you go about it. I watch your videos and think, yeah, maybe I could do that. You are truly an inspiration and make this seemingly technical process seem doable by an amateur like me! I always look forward to every new video. As a woman afraid of going out in the middle of nowhere by myself, I can't help but worry about you out there wondering alone in the dark! Stay safe!
Hi Paula, I really appreciate you watching .. and your concern for my safety. Things are a little different here in Australia, plenty of wide open spaces with no-one around for miles. I do take plenty of precautions though. I'm really glad you like my videos.
Thanks, Richard. Another excellent video, and I'm now keen to have a go with my "nifty fifty", f1.4D to see how it fares. We're a little short of clear skies in the UK at the moment (nothing unusual there, I suppose). Thanks again.
Thanks Richard useful comparison of the different focal lengths. They are all good looking images so I think this shows that you can be flexible about the setup and your access to the site. Very easy to follow your explanations and thanks for posting the shots side by side at the end.
Thanks a lot for watching Peter. I think we often get stuck in a rut with our thinking and it's good sometimes to look at other options .. in this case lens focal length.
Thanks for taking the time to do this comparison. It's well explained and the photos are fantastic. I just got interested in astro photography and I'm glad to see that it's not a must to use a wide angle lens. Your video was really helpful! :)
Thanks, very informative explanation about the difference focal length makes. I like using my 50mm f1.8, it never fails to amaze me how much more detail you can get out with that fl.
Greetings from Sweden. Great video to watch, I purchased my D750 this winter because I wanted to get into starscapes/astrophotography. Because of budget constraints, I ended up just getting a used Nikkor 50mm/f1.8 G lens. It's a decent lens, but I've always wondered how well it would fare in starscape photography. Lately I've been eyeballing the Samyang 20mm/f1.8 MF lens, decent price and 20mm would allow for a longer exposure than the 50mm does. So thank you so much for making this apples-to-apples comparison of a couple of the more popular focal-lengths used in both landscape and starscape photography. :)
Dear Richard! 😍 This is such an interesting video .... again! I own the 14-24mm, the 50mm 1.4 along with the 24-120mm Nikkor.... I’ll try all of them just to see the different results it’ll give. You thank us for watching.... well, I thank you so much for posting. You’re really a wonderful person ! Thank you for all you’re given !
Wouldn’t it be so wow if we could go out together and take pictures of the Milky Way and stars ✨.... as I haven’t find yet a person as crazy as I am that is willing to spend the night out and take pictures with me. You’re that crazy!!! 😂 Well, sometimes, the husband comes along but sleep in the car the whole time ... 😆 !
Currently im shooting with my fujifilm gfx50s + 23mm + 45mm + 120mm macro. Anyway your comparison of nikon lenses is really amazing! I'll inform my nikon friends to watch your video :)
@@nightscapeimages.richard Unfortunately not yet, but you giving me a lot of an information how to do it right ) Planning to prepare night coffee (like you) and waiting to a clear sky at the night (in Ukraine it's very complicated) ))
Richard, thanks for the great examples and informative video as usual. Love your work and now I have an idea of what to look for in a nightscape photography lens.
Thanks for your inspiring videos. We are going out after Memorial Day to Fort Rock, Oregon (near black sky) to try out my 24MM Samyung 1.4. Will try some light painting too.
Thanks for the video. Some useful content as always. Heading to the Province of Buri Ram in Thailand in a few days to do my 1st night scape shoot. This is the nearest location to me with zero light pollution . Hoping for some nice shots. Should be some great fore ground composition to light paint as I will be shooting near a ancient Buddhist temple..Fingers crossed for clear Skys.. and no wind..
Another fantastic video Richard, thank you. There are so many comments and I bet somebody has already asked this, but I would like to know which photo you prefer out of them all? I realise that the night sky got darker as the night went on and it could make a bit of difference, however, I just love that 50mm shot.
Thanks a lot for watching Anne-Maree. I had to take a break between the 20mm and the 35mm due to cloud cover. Because of this the milky way is higher in the last 2 images. I will always favour the longer focal length as it brings the milky way closer into view. I'd say the 35mm is the sharpest of them all as well.
Very informative Richard. I think it would be worth doing a follow up video discussing the results and the pros/cons in more detail. I would also like to see more on panoramas ; specifically wider ones....... I think that's why most people do them rather than for the extra detail. Great channel, very inspiring!!! Rory
My most recent shots were with my 35mm, the widest prime I own, but I am amazed at your results with the 50mm. I have a distinct advantage with my camera when it comes to shutter speeds. I can shoot at lower ISO and longer exposures with my Pentax K1 since it has the Astrotracer function. Now I want to try my 50mm and see what I can get. Thanks!!!!
@@nightscapeimages.richard I have learned a great deal from your videos, I just posted my most recent attempt on IG and tagged you in it. I can remove the tag if you would like. I do love the Astrotracer feature of the K1 as it allows long exposures with no star trails.
ah ASTROMAN another great vid and the different shots you did i am easy pleased so like all of em it must be getting abit nippy but there you are shooting away just a happy little shooter love em all mate stay cool cheers an beers bobby j.
Interesting comparison. I find the focal length of my 24-70mm at 24mm gives so much more detail of the core than my 14mm lens that I rarely ever use anything else. In fact last time out I took some shots at 45mm and was blown away by the result. I'll be keen to try my 50mm prime and see what it can do on my next night out.
Great observation Dean. I'm always a little amused by people continually stating that you must use a very wide angle lens to shoot nightscapes. As you may be aware I use my 20mm lens the most followed by the 35mm. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Richard, Always love your videos. I have been using my Canon F4 L 16-35 IS Lens and getting results I am happy with. Will have to try my Canon 50mm F1.8 now. Cheers Jim
Well, that was something quite different. Amazing, one spends years doing something and often overlooks the basics ! I too have the 20mm f1.8 and this is my standard for nightscapes. I also have the 16mm f2.8 and of course the 50mm f1.8 After watching your video, I will certainly try the 50mm ( but throw it on the Star Adventurer ). I live quite far north and I think doing this may have the benefit of showing the relatively small galactic center better in the frame. Thanks again for a great video.
Thank you very much for watching David. I think it's really beneficial to think outside the normal when shooting to ... maybe stretch the boundaries a little.
Great video (as always). All your videos are informative, but it's appreciated when you focus on something/do comparisons to help people get a better understanding. I got a Canon M50 and a 20mm f2.0 a few months ago but haven't had a chance to try it out under dark skies yet. I don't live in a large city, but even though I can actually capture stars from my backyard, it's not ideal for milky way photography. Hopefully I'll get a chance to get a little further out soon, starting to come up on milky way season here in the states.
I've been playing with the 50 mm for stars quite a bit recently, including a 110 frame star trails image. Thanks for doing this comparison as I'm rethinking which lens to buy.
Fantastic Theresa. I think we should always think about why we use certain lenses and not just follow what everybody else does. There is a time and a place for every lens and I reckon the 35 and 50's are particularly useful for nightscapes especially now with the amazing low light cameras available to us.
That was a great little exercise. You know I think I might prefer the longer focal length shots in this instance - seeing the core in more detail - like you mentioned - is quite nice... and the way that 50mm especially is able to isolate the tree in amongst the rest of the (albeit sparse) foreground elements works well. 👍👍
Thanks a lot Richard .. .yes I reckon the longer focal lengths are largely forgotten for nightscapes but as you said, I like the look they produce with the background compression etc.
Different focal lenght... all beautiful pictures!! I'll definetly give a try to the 50 1.4 in my travel in Provence, instead of using only the samyang 14!
Great video Richard. I just purchased the Nikon 20mm f1.8 based a lot on your videos and lots of research . I can’t wait to try it out paired with my Z6 and D750. Looks like it’s a little cold where you’re at. Have a great day.
Hello Richard, I just got back from Arizona this weekend and have to say how much I absolutely love the Z6 and Nikon 20mm f1.8 combination. What an incredible lens. Have a great day!
Yet another masterpiece of a tutorial from the Milky Way Maharaja ! Quick question about the distance you move from the tree: Do you simply move just about as far back as to get the tree in the frame? Thanks Suresh, France
Thank You, Richard, again! Have you ever tried Sigma 20mm 1,4 Art lens? I know, there is a lot reviews who complain about this lens but one my favorite photographer actually praises this lens. So, you are also one my favorite, hope to see your opinion.
wow thank you for this video! you've really changed my opinion on what the "correct" lens 'should' be used for milky way shooting....time to grab my 35mm and try something new :)
Thanks Richard for this amazing tutorial. I've used my fast 17-70 and wanted to try with the 10-18, but it's too dark. Next time I'll try with the 50 mm. 1.8, let's see what I get. Greetings from Spain.
@@nightscapeimages.richard I have no experience with 35mm for that usage - will try it soon - but it looks like to be the limit for untracked milkyway, because of exposure time reduction. Above, while it looks very nice too, I think a track mount becomes mandatory.
Very interesting. I will use my nifty fifty the Next Time I Will Go for milky way shots. Btw, just came back from Holiday Trip to Mallorca and I was anlegen to get some nice shots, thanks to your videos.
I really enjoyed this video. Never given it much though to use my 50mm 1.8 lens for MW shots as I always assumed that it was too narrow for a decent view of landscapes. One thing I did notice in your comparison shots was that the milky way seemed to be fuller with the 35 and 50mm lenses. Is that because of the later time you shots these shots compared to the 14mm (factoring in moving tripod and setting up again) or due to focal length.
Hi Sue, thanks heaps for watching. What happens with longer focal length lenses is that the background is"compressed" (Made to look closer to the foreground) and that's what you're noticing. It's the factor I love most about these longer lenses and I use them quite often. As you would have noticed I had to move a long way from the tree to get a similar composition.
Thanks for this Richard. I've just bought a Sigma Art 20mm 1.4. Sharp lens but disappointed with the amount of coma. I'll stick with my Samyang 14mm I think, there is less coma and it gives you a bit of leeway to crop in. Milky way season looms near in Scotland so looking forward to putting your techniques into practice. :-)
Very interesting video this week Richard. I'm amazed to see how much more color there is in the core with the 50mm, compared with the others. I'm yet to try any panorama shots with a longer focal length(crop sensor and 50mm lens makes it more difficult). Curious to see your opinion on which was your favourite of the 4 images?
Thanks for watching Mick. To be honest i love the compression of the background in the 50mm shot but the Sigma 35mm is the sharpest of them and I love that focal length. Appreciate your comments.
Thanks for watching Jon. Yes it's getting colder but it never gets too cold where I live. I love the winter here in Australia .. beautiful crisp clear nights ..!!!
Great job again, I know I say it every time, but you just keep bringing content people want. Your shots should be in National Geographic, would love to see them without the RUclips compression..
Wow, thanks again for a wonderfully informative video. I now know astro photography is available to me with my nifty 50, albeit on a crop sensor camera (guess a few different calculations to work out there) One thing that confuses me, (please be gentle, am a total beginner). It seems from the video footage that you are wandering around in shot light painting yet you are not in the final pic. Is this just a different angle and you are not i the frame? and do you set a delay timer to get yourself in position? Sorry if this is a lot to ask. Still loving your vids from Tassie. I presume you are now back in my beloved (and missed central Vic now). Wheres your next adventure to? Cheers, Gary
Hi Gary, really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment. Yes I've been back home from Tassie for a while now. As for getting in the shot ... yes it does happen sometimes .. a lot of the footage you're seeing is not the actual time of taking the shot. I shoot a lot of behind the scenes or "B Roll" to use in the videos to help explain the process. Your 50mm on a crop sensor is about 75mm. I use a wireless remote trigger to activate the camera shutter, it saves me having to keep going back to the camera all the time.
@@nightscapeimages.richard thanks for your reply, that explains a lot (b roll) maybe I will look at one of canons pancakes, 24mm to experiment with, shouldn't break the bank too much 🤣
Good job I have an idea in my head but I couldn't prove it to be right or no. Since I don't have a lens with a wide aperture, I though of shooting the Milky Way with a vintage lens as it has a wide aperture of F2. It's the Helio 58mm. I know it can get only a part of the Milky way. Do you think it can be interesting to use it for nightscape photography?
Thanks for watching. Why not give it a try .. the only thing with some vintage lenses is that they can display a fair amount of coma distortion at the edges of the frame. Try it out and see.
Hi again, in this link to my photography page you can find my ever first vertical panorama of the Milky Way on 03.06.2019 using the vintage lens I told you about. It's a 58mm and I used f 2.8 on crop sensor of the Sony Nex6. For me it was a great success that I have to be proud of and many thanks to you for the idea of using different focal length to shot the Milky Way facebook.com/guess.photography/photos/a.487436158339031/711044075978237/?type=3&theater
Hi Richard, great comparison video, I’m so intrigued to try stitching together some picture to create a panorama now. One thing I wanted to ask, I’m having some problems focussing on object such as mountains when it’s so dark. Focus peaking works very well for stars or the odd randomly lit object, and focussing on the stars in general isn’t hard at all. With my 20mm 1.8 I still have a few issues though with mountains and far away objects, would you have any advice? Thanks again for another great video.
Thanks for watching Chris. If you can focus on stars then your mountain will be in focus as well. Check out this video: ruclips.net/video/lqYf2w_BAQ8/видео.html
Hi Richard, interesting video!! And to ask a silly question....and also by reading some of the comments below...how come you don't shoot with the 50mm more often?? It does seem to bring out the Milky Way in greater detail....yet most of your shoots are with the wide angle....I have a Canon 50mm, will give it a whirl!
Hello Carmel, thanks for watching. It's a lot harder to shoot with the 50mm with a smaller foreground subject as the focus changes dramatically. Compared to say a 20mm lens I can get everything in focus from about 6mtrs. With the 50mm you have to go over 20 mtrs away which is fine for things like this tree but more tricky with say an old car or wagon or something similar. Also when the milky way core is much higher in the sky it's almost impossible to line it up with something on the ground as a foreground subject with a 50mm lens. Also, just to clarify, you'll notice I use the 20mm lens far more than the 14mm .. that's because i prefer the longer focal length and less distortion that provides. Sort of part way to the 35 and 50 I suppose.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks Richard...I did think of the distance involved etc...but it is a good point re the MW being high in the sky for some shots. All part of the learning curve ey!! Ina gunna try the bridge at Cairn Curran with the 50mm!!! Cheers mate
Another great video thanks for sharing your tips 👍 On a side note what are your thoughts on the Nikon d7500 with the tokina 11-20mm f2.8 for astro photography.
Another wonderful video! I like the look of the 20mm and love the look of the 35mm! I'm about to purchase my first 'nightscape' lens for my new full frame camera...trying to decide between those two! Which one do you think would be a good start? Cheers!
Thanks so much for watching again Robin. I think the 20mm is more practical for nightscape photography as a general use lens. I would say I use the 20mm about 95% of the time.
Hi Richard, awesome video and this is actually something i've been wondering for a while. I love landscapes especially those with the milkyway. I've upgraded my camera from D5300 to Z6 so I don't have any full frame lenses below 24mm. Do you think I should get the 20mm 1.8S or a 14-24mm F2.8 since they cost the same? I take landscapes during the day more often and really cares about corner to corner sharpness. Your video helped me narrow down that 20mm is what I want but wondering if a wide zoom perhaps offers more value.
Thanks for watching Jerry. I have both of those lenses and rarely use the 14-24 anymore. But I pretty much only do nightscapes. Having said that I think 20mm is plenty wide enough for most landscape photography. They will be releasing a Z mount 14-24 f2.8 at some stage . .that would be a great lens. The other thing to consider is that it's not easy to attach filters to the 14-24 but the 20mm is really easy.
Greetings from Canada. Great video and a great channel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise. I hope you do not mind me asking if you would ever shoot a nightscape like the one in this video with a lens wide open (say to f/1.4). It is my understanding that you kept the aperture fixed to f/2.8 for the comparison purposes is that correct?
Thanks very much Marek. I usually stop down the aperture a little bit to sharpen up the edges. Some of the newer lenses from Sigma and Sony are vewry good wide open though. Also the new Nikon Z series lenses are incredibly sharp so I may shoot these wide open in the future.
Really good comment Bruce. I don't own the Sigma 50 but I think it's significantly better then the Nikon 50mm f1.8. This video is more focusing on the focal length comparison rather than absolute quality of each lens. Thanks a lot for watching.
Just that first sentence does it for me. Liked and subscribed!
Thanks very much Martin. I just love it out there under the stars.
An important point and beautifully illustrated, to not just reach for the widest possible lens to get in as much as possible, but to consider longer focal lengths where possible, esp when the core is low in the sky. The 50mm shot gets beautiful detail of the core, with the same foreground subject size, and makes for a more fascinating nightscape than the widest one.
Thanks a lot for watching Martin
It is always a pleasure to see his work Mr. Richard
Thank you very much Marcelo .. really appreciate that.
Great video, thank you! Old but still useful!
Thanks so much for watching Simo
Thanks for the video Richard, it was an interesting comparison of the different focal lengths of each lens! I noticed though the shape of the Milky Way was smaller using the 14-24 f2.8 lens compared to the 50mm f1.8 lens where the Milky Way shape was wider. I've always wondered why some photos of the Milky Way were wider than my photos when I use a crop sensor camera and a 9mm Laowa f2.8 lens. Thanks again Richard for teaching us all here, on RUclips.
Thanks again for watching Walter. Yes as you magnify the milky way it gets progressively larger in the frame.
Wow Richard. Phenomenal difference in Images between the Lens. Longer focal length of course compresses the Image, but never quite appreciated the stark difference in how good the the Core looks on a fast 50mm. Definitely will bring my 50mm next month!! Can't wait. All the best
Good on you Manjul. Looking forward to it.
Dear Richard, thank you so much for sharing with us your tutorials. With your clear explanations I have learned how to take these pictures that I have always admired and wanted to take. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much for watching Luca, really appreciate your comments.
Great video, I've been flip flopping between buying one of these lenses for ages and this is the first direct starscape comparison I've been able to find. Thanks a million
Thanks for watching. I use the 20mm and the 35mm the most
Always a pleasure to watch you! Thanks for the great info.
You're very kind indeed Lyne, thank you.
I have been surfing the net for this video since long time and here it is...thanks for help us to see the night sky in a different perspective and my 50mm lens from now on will be in my bag in coming nights under the stars.
Richard thanks for such informative video and clear skies.
Fantastic Zarcos, really appreciate your kind words.
Hey Richard - thanks for this unique and informative tutorial. Interesting to note that what you lose in image width, you gain in detail, with the longer focal lengths. Time to try out my Nikon 50mm f1.4 for a nightscape. This video proves that there is no "right" focal length for night images - 14mm is not a holy grail.
Thanks a lot Eugene, i agree totally about the detail in the longer lenses.
I'm watching this video out in the field,literally,grass under foot,stars over head and thanks largely to the inspiration from your tutorials I've been amazing myself with the nightscape/astro images I've captured this evening.
It's 23:30,cold,the clouds have moved in and it's time for a cuppa and a swag.
All in all a pretty good night.
That's absolutely awesome .. well done.
I just stumpled over your videos, and I must say they are just breathtaking. You´re such a good teacher and the way you bring us through your settings and computerwork is amazing. I nearly cant wait to get out shooting the Milkyway myself, but im going through all of your videos and at the same time gathering led´s and other stuff for shooting. You really have inspired me in a way I never thought I would be. Thanks Mate! from Denmark
Your comments are very encouraging Kurt. It's certainly my intention to inspire people to get out there under the stars and shoot the milky way. I'll be keen to see how you go.
I love how the sole tree becomes the "sentry" of the Milky Way. Great video, thanks for the comparisons of all the lens.
Very pleased you like it Walter, appreciate you watching
Thanks for this tutorial among with many others I’ve watched Richard, I’ve shared this with a friend of mine that wants to get in Astrophotography as you’re so easy to follow and I love your work.
Thanks a lot for watching Mat, really appreciate your support.
another great one, which help me understand a lot more of the relative results with different focal length of lens.
Thanks very much Noreen
Awesome channel for those of us that love nightscaping. Thank you for your efforts and work.
Really appreciate you watching Ryan, thanks very much
Excellent video. While searching for the "perfect" wide angle lens to do nightscape photography with, I started using my 35mm as a stand in. As it turned out, I really liked the detail it gave me. I do have a couple of great wide angle lenses now but I still fallback on my 35mm for a great deal of my night sky shots. Imagine the stir I caused the last time I was in Moab Ut. and I used my 35MM some of the arches and stars. I took a lot of ribbing for it but once I processed my images, I had quite a few converts.
Thanks a lot for watching. I really love the 35mm focal length as well. Lots of people just follow the leader with the ultra wide angle stuff.
Man - I've been waiting for a video like this for 5 years !!! Thank you very much indeed for this and congratulation to that wonderful idea. Well done!
Really appreciate your comments Hans .. thanks a lot.
The longer focal length as expected does make the milky way appear closer and more dominant and I quite like the one shot with the Sigma 35mm.
Totally agree with you Edward, thanks heaps for watching and taking the time to comment.
Greetings from Iowa! Thank you Richard for sharing your stunning photos and how you go about it. I watch your videos and think, yeah, maybe I could do that. You are truly an inspiration and make this seemingly technical process seem doable by an amateur like me! I always look forward to every new video. As a woman afraid of going out in the middle of nowhere by myself, I can't help but worry about you out there wondering alone in the dark! Stay safe!
Hi Paula, I really appreciate you watching .. and your concern for my safety. Things are a little different here in Australia, plenty of wide open spaces with no-one around for miles. I do take plenty of precautions though. I'm really glad you like my videos.
Thanks, Richard. Another excellent video, and I'm now keen to have a go with my "nifty fifty", f1.4D to see how it fares. We're a little short of clear skies in the UK at the moment (nothing unusual there, I suppose). Thanks again.
Thanks for watching Simon. I'd certainly give your 50 1.4 a go.
Thanks Richard useful comparison of the different focal lengths. They are all good looking images so I think this shows that you can be flexible about the setup and your access to the site. Very easy to follow your explanations and thanks for posting the shots side by side at the end.
Thanks a lot for watching Peter. I think we often get stuck in a rut with our thinking and it's good sometimes to look at other options .. in this case lens focal length.
Many thanks again for your great enthusiasm and dedication to your art, and most of all for sharing it with us.
I'm really pleased that you like it Roy, thanks so much
Thanks for taking the time to do this comparison. It's well explained and the photos are fantastic. I just got interested in astro photography and I'm glad to see that it's not a must to use a wide angle lens. Your video was really helpful! :)
Really appreciate you watching Dancing Panda.
Thank you Richard,,, your enthusiasm and skill is amazing ... Thank you so much for sharing and encouraging me... Really appreciate your guidance
Thanks so much for watching, really appreciated
Thanks, very informative explanation about the difference focal length makes.
I like using my 50mm f1.8, it never fails to amaze me how much more detail you can get out with that fl.
Thanks for the comment Ernie. I totally agree.
Greetings from Sweden. Great video to watch, I purchased my D750 this winter because I wanted to get into starscapes/astrophotography. Because of budget constraints, I ended up just getting a used Nikkor 50mm/f1.8 G lens. It's a decent lens, but I've always wondered how well it would fare in starscape photography. Lately I've been eyeballing the Samyang 20mm/f1.8 MF lens, decent price and 20mm would allow for a longer exposure than the 50mm does. So thank you so much for making this apples-to-apples comparison of a couple of the more popular focal-lengths used in both landscape and starscape photography. :)
Really appreciate you watching Hakan, thanks a lot.
Watching all your videos again, I'm going to do a comparison from the same spot with the same settings. Once again great video
Yes it's well worth doing Phillip. I love all the different focal lengths for different reasons . .but I'd say I prefer the longer one's the best.
Dear Richard! 😍 This is such an interesting video .... again!
I own the 14-24mm, the 50mm 1.4 along with the 24-120mm Nikkor.... I’ll try all of them just to see the different results it’ll give.
You thank us for watching.... well, I thank you so much for posting. You’re really a wonderful person ! Thank you for all you’re given !
Really kind of you Carole .. once again ...!!! Thank you so much
I just simply “luv ya” ! You inspire all my future nights out shooting Milky Way! You’re my hero !
@@carolelabrecque2799 I'm very honoured Carole, but I'm just like you ... someone who loves the night sky and enjoys getting out there with my camera.
Wouldn’t it be so wow if we could go out together and take pictures of the Milky Way and stars ✨.... as I haven’t find yet a person as crazy as I am that is willing to spend the night out and take pictures with me. You’re that crazy!!! 😂
Well, sometimes, the husband comes along but sleep in the car the whole time ... 😆 !
@@carolelabrecque2799 I appreciate the "compliment" Carole ...!!!
Hello Richard, thanks for another fantastic video.
My pleasure Nuno, glad you like it
Another great video Richard, Love seeing the final comparison.
Thanks a lot Bob, really appreciate your comments
Nice one Richard, good selection of lens to compare.
Thanks very much Paul, really appreciate your comments
This was really fun and informative! Thank you for taking the time to make it! I now want a 50mm lens though
Thanks mate, yes that's the problem isn't it ...!!!
Currently im shooting with my fujifilm gfx50s + 23mm + 45mm + 120mm macro. Anyway your comparison of nikon lenses is really amazing! I'll inform my nikon friends to watch your video :)
Thanks a lot Alex. Have you tried the GFX50s for nightscapes ...???
@@nightscapeimages.richard Unfortunately not yet, but you giving me a lot of an information how to do it right ) Planning to prepare night coffee (like you) and waiting to a clear sky at the night (in Ukraine it's very complicated) ))
@@alexandervasilenko7773 I can understand that .. let me know how you go.
Very cool comparison!
Thank you very much
Very interesting set of pictures with the same lens.You have produced a very informative video once again. Many thanks.
Many thanks indeed Three-phase, always appreciate you watching
Nice one Richard. Good comparison, but wide lens always gives more dramatic effect.
Thanks for video. Have a good day.
Very pleased you like it Rajiv, thank you
Richard, thanks for the great examples and informative video as usual. Love your work and now I have an idea of what to look for in a nightscape photography lens.
Really pleased to see it was helpful Ross, appreciate the comment.
Richard, thank you for this very helpful video.
I'm really pleased you got something out of it, thank you.
I love your videos. Please keep up the great work.
Really appreciate the comment Al
The 35 and 50 were the most impactful, excited to try my 35 1.4 Gmaster
Yes I love those 2 as well Arthur.
Thanks for your inspiring videos. We are going out after Memorial Day to Fort Rock, Oregon (near black sky) to try out my 24MM Samyung 1.4. Will try some light painting too.
That's great John, I'm sure you'll get some awesome shots. Thanks for watching
Thanks for the video. Some useful content as always. Heading to the Province of Buri Ram in Thailand in a few days to do my 1st night scape shoot. This is the nearest location to me with zero light pollution . Hoping for some nice shots. Should be some great fore ground composition to light paint as I will be shooting near a ancient Buddhist temple..Fingers crossed for clear Skys.. and no wind..
Fantastic, sounds like an awesome location. All the very best with it.
Another fantastic video Richard, thank you. There are so many comments and I bet somebody has already asked this, but I would like to know which photo you prefer out of them all? I realise that the night sky got darker as the night went on and it could make a bit of difference, however, I just love that 50mm shot.
Thanks a lot for watching Anne-Maree. I had to take a break between the 20mm and the 35mm due to cloud cover. Because of this the milky way is higher in the last 2 images. I will always favour the longer focal length as it brings the milky way closer into view. I'd say the 35mm is the sharpest of them all as well.
Very informative Richard. I think it would be worth doing a follow up video discussing the results and the pros/cons in more detail. I would also like to see more on panoramas ; specifically wider ones....... I think that's why most people do them rather than for the extra detail. Great channel, very inspiring!!! Rory
Thanks very much for watching. I'll see what I can do in future videos.
Very clear explanation thank you
Thanks so much for watching
My most recent shots were with my 35mm, the widest prime I own, but I am amazed at your results with the 50mm. I have a distinct advantage with my camera when it comes to shutter speeds. I can shoot at lower ISO and longer exposures with my Pentax K1 since it has the Astrotracer function. Now I want to try my 50mm and see what I can get. Thanks!!!!
Thanks a lot for watching Kennon. I'd be very kjeen to see what you can get with that K1 .. it looks like a great camera.
@@nightscapeimages.richard I have learned a great deal from your videos, I just posted my most recent attempt on IG and tagged you in it. I can remove the tag if you would like. I do love the Astrotracer feature of the K1 as it allows long exposures with no star trails.
ah ASTROMAN another great vid and the different shots you did i am easy pleased so like all of em it must be getting abit nippy but there you are shooting away just a happy little shooter love em all mate stay cool cheers an beers bobby j.
Thanks heaps my friend, as always appreciate your comments Bob
Great work as usual Richard. You always make things seem so easy :o)
Really appreciate you watching Lyndon
Thanks for sharing this video!
You are very welcome .. thanks for watching
Thank you mate , that was great. I may have to use my 50mm more, I liked how that looked.
Thanks a lot Tim. Yes I love those longer focal length lenses .. .they make the milky way really stand out.
Great info mate, given freely...thanks, your a good sort. - Subbed !
Really appreciate you watching Arthur, thanks so much.
Interesting comparison. I find the focal length of my 24-70mm at 24mm gives so much more detail of the core than my 14mm lens that I rarely ever use anything else. In fact last time out I took some shots at 45mm and was blown away by the result. I'll be keen to try my 50mm prime and see what it can do on my next night out.
Great observation Dean. I'm always a little amused by people continually stating that you must use a very wide angle lens to shoot nightscapes. As you may be aware I use my 20mm lens the most followed by the 35mm. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Richard,
Always love your videos. I have been using my Canon F4 L 16-35 IS Lens and getting results I am happy with. Will have to try my Canon 50mm F1.8 now.
Cheers Jim
Thanks heaps for watching Jim
Well, that was something quite different. Amazing, one spends years doing something and often overlooks the basics ! I too have the 20mm f1.8 and this is my standard for nightscapes. I also have the 16mm f2.8 and of course the 50mm f1.8 After watching your video, I will certainly try the 50mm ( but throw it on the Star Adventurer ). I live quite far north and I think doing this may have the benefit of showing the relatively small galactic center better in the frame. Thanks again for a great video.
Thank you very much for watching David. I think it's really beneficial to think outside the normal when shooting to ... maybe stretch the boundaries a little.
Nice, and very interesting, comparison. Thanks.
Really appreciate you watching, thank you
Great video (as always). All your videos are informative, but it's appreciated when you focus on something/do comparisons to help people get a better understanding. I got a Canon M50 and a 20mm f2.0 a few months ago but haven't had a chance to try it out under dark skies yet. I don't live in a large city, but even though I can actually capture stars from my backyard, it's not ideal for milky way photography. Hopefully I'll get a chance to get a little further out soon, starting to come up on milky way season here in the states.
Really appreciate your comments Ryan. I'll look forward to hearing how you go shooting the milky way soon. Thanks so much for watching.
I've been playing with the 50 mm for stars quite a bit recently, including a 110 frame star trails image. Thanks for doing this comparison as I'm rethinking which lens to buy.
Fantastic Theresa. I think we should always think about why we use certain lenses and not just follow what everybody else does. There is a time and a place for every lens and I reckon the 35 and 50's are particularly useful for nightscapes especially now with the amazing low light cameras available to us.
Fantastic Richard tips I will put into practice
You are very welcome Kym, thanks for watching.
Great video, thank you.
Thank you so much for watching Veronica
Very helpful video. Thank you
Thanks very much for watching
GREAT SHOTS I think I like the 50mm the best I have two old prime 50 but they are not sharp .
Still learning have fun Rickard.
Good comments Jeff .. .I also like the longer focal length shots better in this series. Appreciate you watching.
That was a great little exercise. You know I think I might prefer the longer focal length shots in this instance - seeing the core in more detail - like you mentioned - is quite nice... and the way that 50mm especially is able to isolate the tree in amongst the rest of the (albeit sparse) foreground elements works well. 👍👍
Thanks a lot Richard .. .yes I reckon the longer focal lengths are largely forgotten for nightscapes but as you said, I like the look they produce with the background compression etc.
hey Richard thanks so much for such a good videos i have learnt heaps through your videos. you such a great man.
Really appreciate your kind words .. .thank you.
Different focal lenght... all beautiful pictures!! I'll definetly give a try to the 50 1.4 in my travel in Provence, instead of using only the samyang 14!
I haven't shot at 14mm for ages.
Great video Richard. I just purchased the Nikon 20mm f1.8 based a lot on your videos and lots of research . I can’t wait to try it out paired with my Z6 and D750. Looks like it’s a little cold where you’re at. Have a great day.
Thanks again for watching Terry. I love the Nikon 20 f1.8 and I know you'll get great results with it.
Hello Richard, I just got back from Arizona this weekend and have to say how much I absolutely love the Z6 and Nikon 20mm f1.8 combination. What an incredible lens. Have a great day!
Nice work, very interesting. Thank you.
Thank you so much for watching Phil
great shots : )
Thanks a lot Noel, really appreciated
Great video as usual. Keep up the good work.
Really appreciated Spence
Interesting comparison, thanks for sharing.
Really appreciate you watching Nina, thank you
Thank you again
I like my 50mm lens
Always very educational
Thanks a lot for watching Phillip ... I really love the longer focal lengths also.
Yet another masterpiece of a tutorial from the Milky Way Maharaja !
Quick question about the distance you move from the tree: Do you simply move just about as far back as to get the tree in the frame?
Thanks
Suresh, France
Thanks very much Suresh. Yes that's exactly what I did. I moved back until the tree was roughly the same size in the frame as the previous shots.
Thank You, Richard, again! Have you ever tried Sigma 20mm 1,4 Art lens? I know, there is a lot reviews who
complain about this lens but one my favorite photographer actually praises this lens. So, you are also one my favorite, hope to see your opinion.
Thanks for watching. I don't own this lens but I know a few people who do and love using it for nightscapes.
wow thank you for this video! you've really changed my opinion on what the "correct" lens 'should' be used for milky way shooting....time to grab my 35mm and try something new :)
Thanks so much for watching. There are lots of "Correct Lenses" I reckon.
Thankyou for an informative tutorial...
I'm glad you liked it Darren, really appreciate you watching
Thanks Richard for this amazing tutorial. I've used my fast 17-70 and wanted to try with the 10-18, but it's too dark. Next time I'll try with the 50 mm. 1.8, let's see what I get. Greetings from Spain.
Many thanks Gabriel ... thanks for watching.
Excellent video. Makes me realize 35mm is a great option too.
Yes I reckon it is.
@@nightscapeimages.richard I have no experience with 35mm for that usage - will try it soon - but it looks like to be the limit for untracked milkyway, because of exposure time reduction. Above, while it looks very nice too, I think a track mount becomes mandatory.
I shoot 10 sec shutter speeds with the 35mm with good results without a tracker.
love the 35mm shot, think i need one of those 🤔
Those Sigma art lenses are amazing Craig. Now they have a couple of new ones which are fantastic also. 28mm f1.4 and 40mm f1.4
Very interesting. I will use my nifty fifty the Next Time I Will Go for milky way shots.
Btw, just came back from Holiday Trip to Mallorca and I was anlegen to get some nice shots, thanks to your videos.
Thanks again for watching ... really appreciated.
I really enjoyed this video. Never given it much though to use my 50mm 1.8 lens for MW shots as I always assumed that it was too narrow for a decent view of landscapes. One thing I did notice in your comparison shots was that the milky way seemed to be fuller with the 35 and 50mm lenses. Is that because of the later time you shots these shots compared to the 14mm (factoring in moving tripod and setting up again) or due to focal length.
Hi Sue, thanks heaps for watching. What happens with longer focal length lenses is that the background is"compressed" (Made to look closer to the foreground) and that's what you're noticing. It's the factor I love most about these longer lenses and I use them quite often. As you would have noticed I had to move a long way from the tree to get a similar composition.
Thanks for this Richard. I've just bought a Sigma Art 20mm 1.4. Sharp lens but disappointed with the amount of coma. I'll stick with my Samyang 14mm I think, there is less coma and it gives you a bit of leeway to crop in. Milky way season looms near in Scotland so looking forward to putting your techniques into practice. :-)
Thanks again for watching Ford. It's always interesting getting people's perspective on the different lenses out there.
Very interesting video this week Richard. I'm amazed to see how much more color there is in the core with the 50mm, compared with the others. I'm yet to try any panorama shots with a longer focal length(crop sensor and 50mm lens makes it more difficult). Curious to see your opinion on which was your favourite of the 4 images?
Thanks for watching Mick. To be honest i love the compression of the background in the 50mm shot but the Sigma 35mm is the sharpest of them and I love that focal length. Appreciate your comments.
Love the Nikon 14mm. Always been a Fuji guy myself, but I think I'll have to get a second hand Nikon and have a play with it.
All the camera brands have some awesome lenses ... thanks for watching, really appreciated.
Hello and thanks for all your videos. The best would be a panorama with 4 or 6 shots with the 50mm. Don't you think ?
Hi Henri, thanks so much for watching. I think a panorama with the 50mm would look amazing.
Awesomeness!
I’ll be sure to put my 50mm to work this summer.
Seems it’s getting a little cold for
You out there now.
Thanks for watching Jon. Yes it's getting colder but it never gets too cold where I live. I love the winter here in Australia .. beautiful crisp clear nights ..!!!
Nightscape Images I’ll trade you for our near arctic cold here during a Canadian winter. Though the deep cold gives us clear stable night skies.
@@QuantumShifter69 Well I'm sure you don't get the incredibly hot summers that we have to endure here either Jon ..!!!
Nightscape Images you win lol
Очень познавательно. С удовольствием смотрю и учусь. Готовлюсь к фото сессии на выезде.👍
Thank you so much for your encouraging comments
Informative ,educational ,great .
Always really appreciate your comments my friend
Great job again, I know I say it every time, but you just keep bringing content people want. Your shots should be in National Geographic, would love to see them without the RUclips compression..
Very kind of you to say Cliff .. means a lot, thank you
Thanks. I've wondered about this.
Really appreciate you watching
Wow, thanks again for a wonderfully informative video. I now know astro photography is available to me with my nifty 50, albeit on a crop sensor camera (guess a few different calculations to work out there) One thing that confuses me, (please be gentle, am a total beginner). It seems from the video footage that you are wandering around in shot light painting yet you are not in the final pic. Is this just a different angle and you are not i the frame? and do you set a delay timer to get yourself in position? Sorry if this is a lot to ask. Still loving your vids from Tassie. I presume you are now back in my beloved (and missed central Vic now). Wheres your next adventure to? Cheers, Gary
Hi Gary, really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment. Yes I've been back home from Tassie for a while now. As for getting in the shot ... yes it does happen sometimes .. a lot of the footage you're seeing is not the actual time of taking the shot. I shoot a lot of behind the scenes or "B Roll" to use in the videos to help explain the process. Your 50mm on a crop sensor is about 75mm. I use a wireless remote trigger to activate the camera shutter, it saves me having to keep going back to the camera all the time.
@@nightscapeimages.richard thanks for your reply, that explains a lot (b roll) maybe I will look at one of canons pancakes, 24mm to experiment with, shouldn't break the bank too much 🤣
@@garybarton5291 Thanks again Gary
Good job
I have an idea in my head but I couldn't prove it to be right or no.
Since I don't have a lens with a wide aperture, I though of shooting the Milky Way with a vintage lens as it has a wide aperture of F2. It's the Helio 58mm. I know it can get only a part of the Milky way. Do you think it can be interesting to use it for nightscape photography?
Thanks for watching. Why not give it a try .. the only thing with some vintage lenses is that they can display a fair amount of coma distortion at the edges of the frame. Try it out and see.
@@nightscapeimages.richard
I will. Thank you very much
I appreciate your work a lot
Following you from Algeria
Hi again, in this link to my photography page you can find my ever first vertical panorama of the Milky Way on 03.06.2019 using the vintage lens I told you about. It's a 58mm and I used f 2.8 on crop sensor of the Sony Nex6. For me it was a great success that I have to be proud of and many thanks to you for the idea of using different focal length to shot the Milky Way
facebook.com/guess.photography/photos/a.487436158339031/711044075978237/?type=3&theater
@@TheOnlyGuess Wonderful work .. .I'm really glad you got the shot
@@nightscapeimages.richard
Thanks to your educative tutorial.
Looking forward to try light painting
Hi Richard, great comparison video, I’m so intrigued to try stitching together some picture to create a panorama now.
One thing I wanted to ask, I’m having some problems focussing on object such as mountains when it’s so dark. Focus peaking works very well for stars or the odd randomly lit object, and focussing on the stars in general isn’t hard at all. With my 20mm 1.8 I still have a few issues though with mountains and far away objects, would you have any advice?
Thanks again for another great video.
Thanks for watching Chris. If you can focus on stars then your mountain will be in focus as well. Check out this video: ruclips.net/video/lqYf2w_BAQ8/видео.html
Hi Richard, interesting video!! And to ask a silly question....and also by reading some of the comments below...how come you don't shoot with the 50mm more often?? It does seem to bring out the Milky Way in greater detail....yet most of your shoots are with the wide angle....I have a Canon 50mm, will give it a whirl!
Hello Carmel, thanks for watching. It's a lot harder to shoot with the 50mm with a smaller foreground subject as the focus changes dramatically. Compared to say a 20mm lens I can get everything in focus from about 6mtrs. With the 50mm you have to go over 20 mtrs away which is fine for things like this tree but more tricky with say an old car or wagon or something similar. Also when the milky way core is much higher in the sky it's almost impossible to line it up with something on the ground as a foreground subject with a 50mm lens. Also, just to clarify, you'll notice I use the 20mm lens far more than the 14mm .. that's because i prefer the longer focal length and less distortion that provides. Sort of part way to the 35 and 50 I suppose.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks Richard...I did think of the distance involved etc...but it is a good point re the MW being high in the sky for some shots. All part of the learning curve ey!! Ina gunna try the bridge at Cairn Curran with the 50mm!!! Cheers mate
@@carmelthomson9917 All good Carmel
Great Like Always
Thanks so much Alex
Another great video thanks for sharing your tips 👍
On a side note what are your thoughts on the Nikon d7500 with the tokina 11-20mm f2.8 for astro photography.
Thanks so much Keith. I think the Nikon D7500 with Tokina 11-20 is a wonderful choice for night photography
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks again 👍 I had a feeling that it would be a good performer due to the good sensor that has high iso performance.
Another wonderful video! I like the look of the 20mm and love the look of the 35mm! I'm about to purchase my first 'nightscape' lens for my new full frame camera...trying to decide between those two! Which one do you think would be a good start? Cheers!
Thanks so much for watching again Robin. I think the 20mm is more practical for nightscape photography as a general use lens. I would say I use the 20mm about 95% of the time.
@@nightscapeimages.richard thank you for this, it is most helpful! I shall start my nightscape adventures with a 20mm prime!
@@robinc-k7162 Good choice
Hi Richard, awesome video and this is actually something i've been wondering for a while. I love landscapes especially those with the milkyway. I've upgraded my camera from D5300 to Z6 so I don't have any full frame lenses below 24mm. Do you think I should get the 20mm 1.8S or a 14-24mm F2.8 since they cost the same? I take landscapes during the day more often and really cares about corner to corner sharpness. Your video helped me narrow down that 20mm is what I want but wondering if a wide zoom perhaps offers more value.
Thanks for watching Jerry. I have both of those lenses and rarely use the 14-24 anymore. But I pretty much only do nightscapes. Having said that I think 20mm is plenty wide enough for most landscape photography. They will be releasing a Z mount 14-24 f2.8 at some stage . .that would be a great lens. The other thing to consider is that it's not easy to attach filters to the 14-24 but the 20mm is really easy.
Greetings from Canada. Great video and a great channel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise. I hope you do not mind me asking if you would ever shoot a nightscape like the one in this video with a lens wide open (say to f/1.4). It is my understanding that you kept the aperture fixed to f/2.8 for the comparison purposes is that correct?
Thanks very much Marek. I usually stop down the aperture a little bit to sharpen up the edges. Some of the newer lenses from Sigma and Sony are vewry good wide open though. Also the new Nikon Z series lenses are incredibly sharp so I may shoot these wide open in the future.
Would like if had included the Sigma 50mm to see the comparison to that of the Nikon.
Really good comment Bruce. I don't own the Sigma 50 but I think it's significantly better then the Nikon 50mm f1.8. This video is more focusing on the focal length comparison rather than absolute quality of each lens. Thanks a lot for watching.