For astrophotography I am an old school prime user. My go to lens is a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 followed by a super sharp Sigma 40mm f/1.8 Art lens. Definitely at both end of the affordability spectrum.
Wow the price has come down a lot since I bought mine. They're now available on MPB for just £494 at like new condition and down to £444 for excellent condition!
I'm just planning in the last few days to trade in some gear for this lens, it's like you read my mind. Planning to use it for Astro and also on my A6400 as a street rig. I believe it's got potential for IR work too.
I found that the biggest problem carrying so much was due to the size of my camera bags. All are rather large so of course I pack as much as I can in them. Then, it is hard to put them on my back! I am downsizing to Tenba Axis bags and will probably sell off my F-Stop bags or trade them in.
100% Primes for me, not only for Astro but also found that prime "forces" to think more and better and more often than not translates into finding much better compositions as well, I use both the Sony 14mm F1.8 GM and Sony 20mm F1.8 G for Astro :)
I totally feel that way as well. I've only been doing photography as a hobby for 3 years, but I can definitively say I prefer prime lens. Granted, my preferred photos are landscapes, so it's easy to not need a zoom lens. And prime just look so much sharper than a zoom. Nothing against zoom lenses, they just don't suit my needs.
Thanks for this Video. I shot astro with samyang 14 mm and with this tamron. I changed the samyang to the Sony 14 GM. This is my astro Lens now. I wont use the tamron for night shots any longer.
Hi Alyn, thank you so much for that run down and pointing out the differences. I use the Sigma 20 1.4 dgdn the most and I love the lens for its aberration free rendering straight from the get go. that enables me to do stacked shots like never before. Usually, i don't even mind it's Vignette at 1.4 because I add a vignette anyways. There are certain times when I wish I had a wider lens specially, when I need to do a Panorama and deal with reflections and time passing messes up the stars in the water.
I am definitely a prime shooter for astro landscape! I shoot astro modified Nikon Z6 II. Love this camera because it has built-in timer that allows me to shoot longer than 30 sec without using intervalometer and can program it to shoot 1-2 min exposure repeatedly. It also has built-in focus bracketing that I now no longer need to use flashlight to shine on the subject I want to focus on in the dark! Just let the camera do its job in the dark and everything will be focused. No more cables, intervalometer and flashlights. This is HUGE for night shooters. As for the lenses, I definitely vote for primes. Bigger apertures, light weight are 2 main benefits over the zooms. I love my Nikon 20mm f1.8, Sony 35mm f1.4 GM and Voigtlander 50mm f2.0 APO lenses(thank you for your recommendation!). They are all excellent astro lenses that covers all the focal length I need for my milkyway landscape.
I love my Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 for Astro, I’m a recent Astro shooter and I love the results I get from it. Getting more confident with Astro however I would love to treat myself to a prime 24mm for that additional sharpness & light. Still love the results I get from the Tamron and find it is amazing value for money!
I use a Sigma 14mm f1.8 DG (via an adapter for the EOS-R5) and it is by far the best lens I have ever used for any wide field astro. Used the Tokina and Samyang f2.8's but the difference is chalk and cheese with the Sigma winning hands down across the board. So much so with it being f1.8. While in Virginia I had to step it down to f2.4 with the Milky Way way being so bright. If only I could get those same conditions closer to me in the UK. Off course there is the massive cost difference but, for someone like me that makes as much use of it as possible it is worth every penny with the clarity of shot and a lot less post editing due to noise or CA that does not exist now. 🙂
Great comparison, the results are always subjective but anyone just starting out should be happy with what the Tamron produces. The Sony FE 20/1.8G has been my most used lens recently, taking over from the FE 24/1.4GM. Great field of view, and really appreciate how easy it is to manually focus.
The other thing is, as myself, many photographers are not 100% involved in astroscape. Many of us are mainly shooting daylight landscapes and occasionally nightscapes that's why I think zoom lenses are more versatiles and convenient for most of photographers knowing their limitations and the ways to deal with them.
I use the Nikon 14-24S 2.8. It ain't 1.4 but it creates very pinpoint stars to the corners (almost pinpoint in the corners. Amazing. It is a bit big and heavy ( but very light for what it is) and I wish I had the 20 1.8 but at the time of purchase I opted for a more versatile lens for all my landscape needs, day or night.
Thanks for this comparison. This was very helpful for me. I recently got my Sigma 20mm f1.4 and I love it for night shots. At daytime I would probaly prefer my Sigma16-28 mm f2.8 because of its felxibility in zoom range. I got some nice results from the 16-28mm f2.8 with northern lights, too but now that I saw what difference f1.4 vs f2.8 makes, I wouldn't go back.
for astro & landscape, i use Z20mm f/1.8 with Z8 camera. will see what new lens are coming this year from Nikon. and I also use Nikon D7100 paired with Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8. this Sigma lens is amazing and i like that zoom range and still can use f/1.8.
I’ve not had a lot of experience here but I certainly prefer my Nikon 20mm 1.8 over my Rokinon 14mm 2.8. Largely for the reason you noted - I can shoot at 2.0 or 2.2 and improve the image while maintaining the light gathering ability. In addition, for me, 14mm is just too wide.
Interesting, I just purchased a Nikon 20mm 1.8 and can’t wait to try it for Astro landscape photography. I have been using a Tamron 24-70 2.8 which is good for night photography but a bit noisy a higher iso.
Although it's for crop sensor cameras, the Signa 18-35mm f/1.8 was a fantastic intro to astrophotography. And 35mm was much more handy when travelling around cities and wanting a 50mm equivalent
I have traded two wide angle lenses, a 20mm 1.8 and a 14-30 F/4 for my 14-24m 2.8. It is great and i like it a lot for landscapes and astro. 2.8 is more than enough if you do astro on occasion ONLY aurora and meteor strike you want an f/1.8 or bigger. I am perfectly ok with the 14-24 2.8 wide open. It is crazy sharp (not as sharp as the prime but it is a zoom).
Everybody's situation is different, but for me, it isn't as simple as getting the best lens for the task at hand. It is often more a matter of getting the best lens that I can afford for the task at hand. At one point, that meant lenses like the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 on my Canon 7D. After I became a bit more skilled (and switched camera brands) I was able to set aside the funds to get the 14mm f/1.8 GM for my Sony A7R3. This was a significant upgrade in the image quality (especially when I also paired it with a Move-Shoot-Move tracker). I have recently switched systems again and I am saving for a Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S lens for my Z8.
I am, kinda new in photography and where i live lenses are really expensives so zoom lens are the best options to me since i still don't have a identity or style neither a field of focus to pinpoint the better length (i do DSO astrophotography and landscape) to buy a prime lens
Have you looked into the newer Sigma 20/1.4 DG DN Art lens? It's specifically made for astro & from most reviews/"real world tests", it seems to be fantastic.
@@karyleianawildernesscapes I have but with the front element means I can't use filters for my wide angle photos outwith astrophotography....tha thanks for your suggestion
I use zoom lenses for landscapes, but always a prime for astro. Current favorite for my Fuji X-H2 is the Viltrox 13/1.4. I stack images for noise reduction, rather than use a star tracker, and have been delighted with the results for what is a relatively inexpensive and light-weight kit.
@@talaydanielastro I process on a Mac, where I use an app called Starry Sky Stacker. It is an Apple-only app. If you use Windows there is a different app which serves the same purpose; I’ve never used it, but recall that it is called DeepSkyStacker or similar.
Great rundown of the pros and cons. I've been using the Sigma 14-24 2.8 on my Canon 6D for about 1,5 years now and I love the flexibility but hate the weight. That thing is heavy. I shoot tracked 90% of the time, so mostly it doesn't matter if I stop down to f/4 for sharper stars. Would love to have the lightbucket mode of a good prime once in a while though. Something to think about 🤔.
Awesome video, as I’ve been debating on snagging a zoom lens to double as a landscape photography tool as well. As far as astro, I love my Sony 20mm f1.8!
Hi Alyn, I think the biggest factor for me is weight (am I hiking a lot) or traveling far for a pic? These are why I switch between primes and zoom lens. I do agree primes cut down on a lot of post processing. Also hope you are liking the Nikon Z8 mk2.
Hi Alyn, my name is Chris playle from swansea in Wales, i do my imaging down in worms head gower in Roshilly, my favourite prime lens is the Rokinon 135mm prime and my 50mm cannon prime lens. Also i used a 1300d dlsr canon camera and a star adventurer 2i Pro tracking mount. By the way another great video, Wish you were back home in Wales.
Hi alyn i recently aquired a samyang 14mm f2.8 and afraid that shooting at this f ratio just gives spinning tops for stars. I find that anything under f4 gives distorted stars same with my samyang 24mm and well my nifty fifty isnt worth trying without my tracker so just do f4 anyway for long expos. Maybe i need to spend crazy money on a lense that at f1.8 actually delivers. 🤔
I recently sold all my Canon RF gear due to the lack of fast primes. With the $$$ from that (some where sold to MPB) I got myself an A7III, a Sigma 14mm 1.4 and a Sigma 24 1.4 and couldn’t be happier. Although the 14mm is a monster of a lens……
um Deine Frage zu beantworten, ich bin böse in das 24mmGM von Sony verknallt, aber es ist eine teure Liebe... das Tamron ist bestimmt eine Alternative, gerade für Landschaft am Tag und in der Nacht. Viele wollen sich nicht festlegen mit 24mm, manche wollen flexibel sein. Mich würde ein Test bei 24mm f/2.8 zwischen Tamron und Sony interessieren, die Ergebnisse bei 17mm vs 14mm sind ja beeidruckend genug, die 14mm noch zu kaufen.
Thanks for this great comparison and explanation of your decision points. I shoot astro, primarily with a Sony 14mm GM and a Sony 16-35 GM (Mark I), but I’ve always had my eye on the Sony 20mm. It seems like such a relatively well priced, high quality, useful lens. Should I be drooling over the 24mm instead? I am tempted to try the GM II, but my wallet keeps kicking me from my back pocket when I think about it.
@@AlynWallace Asking because I had seen your video 50mm prime lens for Sony and in your website, gear section Sony FE 50mm is still there, so i thought you sold Voigtlander. Thanks Love from India 🇮🇳
I've always wondered about using fast telephoto (prime) lenses for astrophotography. I understand this is landscape photography you're talking about here--I've watched many astrophotography videos, but never see anything about using (fast) tele-lenses.
When it comes to Astro, PRIMES just are superior. & I absolutely agree, the "do-it-all" prime for Astro has to be the 20mm**. I'm looking at just getting the Sigma 20/1.4 DG DN Art lens & MegaDap PRO or Neewer ETZ adapter to mount it to my Z9/Z8. Which adapter were you using for the Z6ii? **My preferred focal length for Astro is actually the 35mm. It's wide-enough typically, but also "punched in" enough to get way more details + structures out of certain areas of the sky. Like the MWC or any part of the MW "arms". Waiting not-so-patiently for the Z 35/1.2 S lens. In the meantime, my Tamron 35/1.4 SP lens is fantastic.
1. Check your video description, it might be a typo (or an intended pun), but you have "tampon 17-28" there :P 2. I think I missed when you switched from sony to nikon?! how come?
I prefer prime lenses for Milky Way. I have the 20mm and 35mm Nikkor f/1.8 S lenses for my Nikon Z6ii which was H-alpha modded by Spencer's Camera (thanks for the shipping coupon). How did you like using a Z6ii?
Hey Alyn,...I think it is so cool that your wandering the Ancient Ruins of Turkey....I would also...LOL......I have been doing Astrophotography for 18 years, and I agree... Primes Rock. However, I have a small Cavate to the argument...Having a Small Zoom is Good thing to have in the bag, especially in those moments where you wish you had just a little more focal Length. I always carry my Old 75-300mm..( Canon Guy...LOL)..It sits in my bag, always at the ready along with my 14, and 24...9 times out of 10 however, my Prime 50mm F/1.8 is always on my body...(Love that Lens..LOL)....Having a Zoom is a Comfort...I like knowing I have one with me...Maybe I won't use it, Maybe I will....Its good to know the situation is Covered....I do have a Roki 85 and 135 now, but They are a Lug up the Mountains here in Arizona...Choices, Choices...Its good to have them.... Clear Skies Alyn, Be Safe.
With such a narrow zoom range like 17-28mm, I wouldn't waste my time with a zoom lens, unless it just fell into my lap. If it was a longer zoom range like 28-70mm, then it would probably be worth it, depending on the price and performance. The guy in one of the channels I watch frequently uses a Tamron 28-70mm F2.8 Canon EF mount, and he gets really good results. I'm not sure specifically which model and release he has. I know sometimes those longer zoom lenses can be quirky and might be sharp at the wider end and the zoomed in end, but then they might be soft in the middle, or vise versa. But his lens seems to be sharp end to end. On my budget, the advantage would only be in reducing my load, assuming I got one of good quality. Costwise, it's been less expensive to buy 3-4 prime lenses in that focal range, vs buying one zoom lens that's of good quality. I bought a version of that Tamron 28-70mm thats probably 10-12 years old, and it''s really soft wide open, so I don't even use it for nighttime, but it's great for daytime. I have really decent copies of Samyang 24mm, 35mm and 85mm, and just picked up a Nikon brand 50mm, all of them F1.4, and I easily paid less than $1,000. The Nikon is the only used one. When I priced out that Tamron 28-70mm, whatever the last release was for DSLRs, I'm pretty sure the price was $1200+ new. If I were a little more discriminating on quality, I could probably only afford two primes for that price. But my Samyang are really decent, and I don't make a living off of photography, so I don't have to be as picky as someone in your position.
17-28mm is not a narrow zoom range. The angle of view of 17-28 is approximately a 30 degree shift from one end to the other. 24-70 is approximately 50 degrees. So while 24-70 is more, the number 17-28 (read: 11mm for 30deg, as opposed to 46mm for 50deg) is not as little as it seems. Furthermore, in real world use, the wider the angle, the more dramatic the difference looks to us even by 1mm changes. Most people won't even notice the difference between 65-70mm, but will notice a significant difference between 17-19mm.
Awesome video. What sort of settings would you recommend for a Nikon D7200 with a 1.4 teleconverter and Sigma 150 to 600, shooting a planet like Jupiter or any deep sky object? I tried shooting Jupiter with that gear and I failed astronomically.
Which adapter are you using? I’ve been using the Megadap and have enjoyed the results and flexibility of one set of glass on two manufacturer’s bodies.
Nice video and well explained, Anyone here tried sony alpha 6700 for astrophotography? I want to buy an apc for landscape and ocasionaly astrophotography and didnt found anything online about it and i dont want to waste money in buying something that i cant fully use
I have both the Tamron 17-28 and the Sony 20mm 1.8 G. I honestly don't know which I should keep (if not both). I don't exclusively do astro, so sometimes if I'm on a hike to get landscape shots and astro shots and space/weight is a premium because something like a Tamron 50-400 and a MSM tracker is coming with, I don't know how i feel about bringing lenses that overlap. Like bringing my 17-28 2.8 and the 20 1.8, or a Zeiss 55 1.8 (for portraits) and the tamron 50-400 4.5-6.3. Or even when to consider bringing the Sigma 24-70 2.8. I'm a bit stuck right now. Would love someone's opinion.
well Alyn, I am wondering, can you give me the name of an app that will show Bortle ratings for my area? Looking at apps and apps and apps and don't know which would be a good start?
Hi Alyn, I use Rokinon 24 mm f/1.4 for astrophotography and landscape. But then again this is the one and only lens I have that I bought 10 years ago. So I can't compare primes to zooms naturally. Yet again when I see comments like "zoom is softer than the prime" in the reviews, i tend to lean towards the primes. One question on the heavy lenses that you mention that do not balance very well with the star trackers. Would it be a factor to choose i.e. Sony A7C II with Sony 24 mm f/1.4, because of the relatively light camera body of A7C II compared to say A7 IV? Would there be issues about balancing on the star tracker or generally on the tripods as it'd be front heavy? I am considering to buy A7C II with Sony 24 mm f/1.4 and that would already stretch my budget a lot, so i will have to stick with 24 mm for a while longer. Tüm videolar icin çok teşekkürler bu arada. Müthiş değerli bir iş yapıyorsun. Sosyal medyaya daha az zaman ayırmaya çalıştığını okumuştum, o yüzden okuyor musun buraları emin değilim ama kırk yılın başı yorum yazmışken bahsedeyim istedim. Kolay gelsin.
Would i be better off getting a great lens or a star-tracker? My current lens needs an upgrade and I have been eyeing off that 16-35 GM for a while now.... Also tamrons 35-150 as I also photograph music festivals and this 2 lens kit woild probably suit all my needs and help me with astro as my hobby! I am a huge fan of zoom lenses, but I have never experienced anything better than F2.8 so im unsure what to do in this situation, my current lens is only f2.8 at 28mm and I need mooooorreee! Does anyone have any advice for me??
Upgrade your LENS for sure to a prime in the 1.4-1.8 range. As he said & as many other astro-photogs will attest to: Primes just are superior for astro. After that, get the tracker. BTW, I own the Tamron 35-150 (for Z mount) & it's INCREDIBLE for any & all events. It rarely leaves my camera now...except for Astro. I bought it for astro use too & it is very hit/miss in my use/testing. I'm doing a mini review video of that lens, but basically that's my findings: incredible for all different types of photography, but it's hit/miss for Astro (wouldn't recommend it for that).
"A zoom lens lets you use diff focal lenght, so you don't need to carry 3-4 primes". "I usually use a wide prime and crop". Amazing advice. You must be a pro..... Thank you for helping up, the noobs, by being impartial. Its better this way, we don't want a future sponsor to avoid us....
I have the Sigma 14-24 f2.8 and don't have any problems with it. Yes, it's heavy. But, I have a spot that is just off the road. During the day, I've been hiking in the Dolomites with a peak design clip on my backpack strap. Makes it seam invisible and avoids the whole thing of getting it out of my backpack. Just plop down my tripod and snap off my camera from the clip and onto the tripod (a Benro, thanks to Alyn) it's easy peezy.
I only switched to Sony because of the A7S and how capable it is of filming my vlogs at night. I don't care about the tools I use to capture photos and I'm no brand fanboy either
Hi Alyn, for me me best lens is the Sony 20mm 1.8 is not a GM but the quality is good, the size and weight is just perfect because I always go in my motorcycle and space and weight is critical Take care and still waiting for you here in Cusco Peru 🫡
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For astrophotography I am an old school prime user. My go to lens is a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 followed by a super sharp Sigma 40mm f/1.8 Art lens. Definitely at both end of the affordability spectrum.
Wow the price has come down a lot since I bought mine. They're now available on MPB for just £494 at like new condition and down to £444 for excellent condition!
I'm just planning in the last few days to trade in some gear for this lens, it's like you read my mind. Planning to use it for Astro and also on my A6400 as a street rig. I believe it's got potential for IR work too.
Just received your book. Thank you for writing it. Very helpful to beginners.
You just popped up on my home feed again,i really miss you alyn,i hope you are at peace,i really miss your videos...
I found that the biggest problem carrying so much was due to the size of my camera bags. All are rather large so of course I pack as much as I can in them. Then, it is hard to put them on my back! I am downsizing to Tenba Axis bags and will probably sell off my F-Stop bags or trade them in.
I use the Sony 20mm f1.8. Before that, I was using the Samyang 14mm f2.8. The viewing angle is a small sacrifice in favor of image quality.
100% Primes for me, not only for Astro but also found that prime "forces" to think more and better and more often than not translates into finding much better compositions as well, I use both the Sony 14mm F1.8 GM and Sony 20mm F1.8 G for Astro :)
I totally feel that way as well. I've only been doing photography as a hobby for 3 years, but I can definitively say I prefer prime lens. Granted, my preferred photos are landscapes, so it's easy to not need a zoom lens. And prime just look so much sharper than a zoom.
Nothing against zoom lenses, they just don't suit my needs.
Thanks for this Video. I shot astro with samyang 14 mm and with this tamron. I changed the samyang to the Sony 14 GM. This is my astro Lens now. I wont use the tamron for night shots any longer.
Hi Alyn, thank you so much for that run down and pointing out the differences. I use the Sigma 20 1.4 dgdn the most and I love the lens for its aberration free rendering straight from the get go. that enables me to do stacked shots like never before. Usually, i don't even mind it's Vignette at 1.4 because I add a vignette anyways. There are certain times when I wish I had a wider lens specially, when I need to do a Panorama and deal with reflections and time passing messes up the stars in the water.
I am definitely a prime shooter for astro landscape! I shoot astro modified Nikon Z6 II. Love this camera because it has built-in timer that allows me to shoot longer than 30 sec without using intervalometer and can program it to shoot 1-2 min exposure repeatedly. It also has built-in focus bracketing that I now no longer need to use flashlight to shine on the subject I want to focus on in the dark! Just let the camera do its job in the dark and everything will be focused. No more cables, intervalometer and flashlights. This is HUGE for night shooters. As for the lenses, I definitely vote for primes. Bigger apertures, light weight are 2 main benefits over the zooms. I love my Nikon 20mm f1.8, Sony 35mm f1.4 GM and Voigtlander 50mm f2.0 APO lenses(thank you for your recommendation!). They are all excellent astro lenses that covers all the focal length I need for my milkyway landscape.
Bro ❤️ make another astrovlog on capturing Orion and Andromeda Galaxy....
I love my Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 for Astro, I’m a recent Astro shooter and I love the results I get from it. Getting more confident with Astro however I would love to treat myself to a prime 24mm for that additional sharpness & light. Still love the results I get from the Tamron and find it is amazing value for money!
Saving for and can’t wait to get my sigma 20mm f1.4 and 40mm f1.4 I have heard great things about both of those lenses. 🤩✨
I use a Sigma 14mm f1.8 DG (via an adapter for the EOS-R5) and it is by far the best lens I have ever used for any wide field astro. Used the Tokina and Samyang f2.8's but the difference is chalk and cheese with the Sigma winning hands down across the board. So much so with it being f1.8. While in Virginia I had to step it down to f2.4 with the Milky Way way being so bright. If only I could get those same conditions closer to me in the UK. Off course there is the massive cost difference but, for someone like me that makes as much use of it as possible it is worth every penny with the clarity of shot and a lot less post editing due to noise or CA that does not exist now. 🙂
Great comparison, the results are always subjective but anyone just starting out should be happy with what the Tamron produces. The Sony FE 20/1.8G has been my most used lens recently, taking over from the FE 24/1.4GM. Great field of view, and really appreciate how easy it is to manually focus.
20mm 1.8G Compact and incredibly light 🤝
@@robertsouzza5529 Definitely going to be in my kit for the long term!
The other thing is, as myself, many photographers are not 100% involved in astroscape. Many of us are mainly shooting daylight landscapes and occasionally nightscapes that's why I think zoom lenses are more versatiles and convenient for most of photographers knowing their limitations and the ways to deal with them.
I use the Nikon 14-24S 2.8. It ain't 1.4 but it creates very pinpoint stars to the corners (almost pinpoint in the corners. Amazing. It is a bit big and heavy ( but very light for what it is) and I wish I had the 20 1.8 but at the time of purchase I opted for a more versatile lens for all my landscape needs, day or night.
Thanks for this comparison. This was very helpful for me. I recently got my Sigma 20mm f1.4 and I love it for night shots. At daytime I would probaly prefer my Sigma16-28 mm f2.8 because of its felxibility in zoom range. I got some nice results from the 16-28mm f2.8 with northern lights, too but now that I saw what difference f1.4 vs f2.8 makes, I wouldn't go back.
for astro & landscape, i use Z20mm f/1.8 with Z8 camera. will see what new lens are coming this year from Nikon. and I also use Nikon D7100 paired with Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8. this Sigma lens is amazing and i like that zoom range and still can use f/1.8.
Great video alyn 🌌
R.I.P Alyn
Gut wrenchingly sad, teacher will live on in all his students. 😢❤
I’ve not had a lot of experience here but I certainly prefer my Nikon 20mm 1.8 over my Rokinon 14mm 2.8. Largely for the reason you noted - I can shoot at 2.0 or 2.2 and improve the image while maintaining the light gathering ability. In addition, for me, 14mm is just too wide.
Interesting, I just purchased a Nikon 20mm 1.8 and can’t wait to try it for Astro landscape photography. I have been using a Tamron 24-70 2.8 which is good for night photography but a bit noisy a higher iso.
Your Watch is giving nice effect 😉
Although it's for crop sensor cameras, the Signa 18-35mm f/1.8 was a fantastic intro to astrophotography. And 35mm was much more handy when travelling around cities and wanting a 50mm equivalent
I have traded two wide angle lenses, a 20mm 1.8 and a 14-30 F/4 for my 14-24m 2.8. It is great and i like it a lot for landscapes and astro. 2.8 is more than enough if you do astro on occasion ONLY aurora and meteor strike you want an f/1.8 or bigger. I am perfectly ok with the 14-24 2.8 wide open. It is crazy sharp (not as sharp as the prime but it is a zoom).
Everybody's situation is different, but for me, it isn't as simple as getting the best lens for the task at hand. It is often more a matter of getting the best lens that I can afford for the task at hand.
At one point, that meant lenses like the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 on my Canon 7D. After I became a bit more skilled (and switched camera brands) I was able to set aside the funds to get the 14mm f/1.8 GM for my Sony A7R3. This was a significant upgrade in the image quality (especially when I also paired it with a Move-Shoot-Move tracker). I have recently switched systems again and I am saving for a Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S lens for my Z8.
Alyn, you should try the new Sigma 14mm f1.4 with the incredible manual focus lock funtion 😮💨
I wish all lenses had focus lock
Too big and heavy for me, I'm happy with my Sony 14 GM
I suppose there are better ones - but as a good zoom compromise I like the Sigma 16-28mm 2.8 a lot
Nice video, alyn!❤
I am, kinda new in photography and where i live lenses are really expensives so zoom lens are the best options to me since i still don't have a identity or style neither a field of focus to pinpoint the better length (i do DSO astrophotography and landscape) to buy a prime lens
Great video, Alyn!) I prefer 20mm f1.8 GM and 24-70 GMII is my go to lens)) Thank you for involving me into sony system ❤🔥
Thanks Alyn...I am considering the f1.8 20mm Sony....I already have the 24-70mm f2.8 and think this will benefit me.
Have you looked into the newer Sigma 20/1.4 DG DN Art lens? It's specifically made for astro & from most reviews/"real world tests", it seems to be fantastic.
@@karyleianawildernesscapes I have but with the front element means I can't use filters for my wide angle photos outwith astrophotography....tha thanks for your suggestion
The 20mm Sigma can use filters. It has an 82mm thread.
I use zoom lenses for landscapes, but always a prime for astro. Current favorite for my Fuji X-H2 is the Viltrox 13/1.4. I stack images for noise reduction, rather than use a star tracker, and have been delighted with the results for what is a relatively inexpensive and light-weight kit.
Which stacker do you use ?
@@talaydanielastro I process on a Mac, where I use an app called Starry Sky Stacker. It is an Apple-only app. If you use Windows there is a different app which serves the same purpose; I’ve never used it, but recall that it is called DeepSkyStacker or similar.
My faves are the Sony 24 f1.4 and a Canon 15 f2.8 fisheye adapted to Sony
Great rundown of the pros and cons. I've been using the Sigma 14-24 2.8 on my Canon 6D for about 1,5 years now and I love the flexibility but hate the weight. That thing is heavy. I shoot tracked 90% of the time, so mostly it doesn't matter if I stop down to f/4 for sharper stars. Would love to have the lightbucket mode of a good prime once in a while though. Something to think about 🤔.
I typically shoot with my Rokinon 14mm 2.8 or 24-70mm 2.8, I will periodically throw my 50mm 1.4 on for a different view of the MW.
Awesome video, as I’ve been debating on snagging a zoom lens to double as a landscape photography tool as well. As far as astro, I love my Sony 20mm f1.8!
Hi Alyn, I think the biggest factor for me is weight (am I hiking a lot) or traveling far for a pic? These are why I switch between primes and zoom lens. I do agree primes cut down on a lot of post processing. Also hope you are liking the Nikon Z8 mk2.
Hi Alyn, my name is Chris playle from swansea in Wales, i do my imaging down in worms head gower in Roshilly, my favourite prime lens is the Rokinon 135mm prime and my 50mm cannon prime lens. Also i used a 1300d dlsr canon camera and a star adventurer 2i Pro tracking mount. By the way another great video, Wish you were back home in Wales.
great video Alyn how you you rate THE SIGMA 16-28 F2.8 VR TAMRON??
How did you get on with the Nikon z6ii 👌
Hi alyn i recently aquired a samyang 14mm f2.8 and afraid that shooting at this f ratio just gives spinning tops for stars. I find that anything under f4 gives distorted stars same with my samyang 24mm and well my nifty fifty isnt worth trying without my tracker so just do f4 anyway for long expos. Maybe i need to spend crazy money on a lense that at f1.8 actually delivers. 🤔
I recently sold all my Canon RF gear due to the lack of fast primes. With the $$$ from that (some where sold to MPB) I got myself an A7III, a Sigma 14mm 1.4 and a Sigma 24 1.4 and couldn’t be happier. Although the 14mm is a monster of a lens……
um Deine Frage zu beantworten, ich bin böse in das 24mmGM von Sony verknallt, aber es ist eine teure Liebe... das Tamron ist bestimmt eine Alternative, gerade für Landschaft am Tag und in der Nacht. Viele wollen sich nicht festlegen mit 24mm, manche wollen flexibel sein. Mich würde ein Test bei 24mm f/2.8 zwischen Tamron und Sony interessieren, die Ergebnisse bei 17mm vs 14mm sind ja beeidruckend genug, die 14mm noch zu kaufen.
Honestly I am a zoom guy and the older Tamron 28-75 is still the best I have ever used for shooting the night skies on a Canon DSLR.
Favorite lens? Umm 24mm GM ofc but its still not the perfect one for hires A7RIII... I mean those little comets with wings at corners wide open. 😊
Thanks for this great comparison and explanation of your decision points. I shoot astro, primarily with a Sony 14mm GM and a Sony 16-35 GM (Mark I), but I’ve always had my eye on the Sony 20mm. It seems like such a relatively well priced, high quality, useful lens. Should I be drooling over the 24mm instead? I am tempted to try the GM II, but my wallet keeps kicking me from my back pocket when I think about it.
Are you switching to the Nikon z6ii?
Are you still using the Sony FE 50mm Zeiss?
Looking for recommendations for my Sony a7IV.
TIA
Nope Voigtlander 50mm f/2
@@AlynWallace Asking because I had seen your video 50mm prime lens for Sony and in your website, gear section Sony FE 50mm is still there, so i thought you sold Voigtlander. Thanks
Love from India 🇮🇳
Primes! 24mm f1.4 & 14mm 1.8
I've always wondered about using fast telephoto (prime) lenses for astrophotography. I understand this is landscape photography you're talking about here--I've watched many astrophotography videos, but never see anything about using (fast) tele-lenses.
I have some videos on my channel using tele zoom lenses to capture Andromeda and objects in Orion
When it comes to Astro, PRIMES just are superior. & I absolutely agree, the "do-it-all" prime for Astro has to be the 20mm**. I'm looking at just getting the Sigma 20/1.4 DG DN Art lens & MegaDap PRO or Neewer ETZ adapter to mount it to my Z9/Z8.
Which adapter were you using for the Z6ii?
**My preferred focal length for Astro is actually the 35mm. It's wide-enough typically, but also "punched in" enough to get way more details + structures out of certain areas of the sky. Like the MWC or any part of the MW "arms".
Waiting not-so-patiently for the Z 35/1.2 S lens. In the meantime, my Tamron 35/1.4 SP lens is fantastic.
1. Check your video description, it might be a typo (or an intended pun), but you have "tampon 17-28" there :P
2. I think I missed when you switched from sony to nikon?! how come?
Nikon video coming? I’ve been shooting Z5 for a few years and just upgraded to Z7ii. Interested to hear your thoughts.
Intersting comparison, I use the Sony 14mm 1.8 & 24mm 1.4 , better results !
I would like to ask,. Most of the time, which tracker you always to bring along.? Nomad ? Or sky tracker?
I use Tokina 14-20 f2 on a Nikon d7500. I usually stop down to f2.8. Results are ok, but probably due more to me not the equipment 🙄
I prefer prime lenses for Milky Way. I have the 20mm and 35mm Nikkor f/1.8 S lenses for my Nikon Z6ii which was H-alpha modded by Spencer's Camera (thanks for the shipping coupon). How did you like using a Z6ii?
Prime :) Sony 14mm GM, Sony 24 mm GM 👌
Hey Alyn,...I think it is so cool that your wandering the Ancient Ruins of Turkey....I would also...LOL......I have been doing Astrophotography for 18 years, and I agree... Primes Rock. However, I have a small Cavate to the argument...Having a Small Zoom is Good thing to have in the bag, especially in those moments where you wish you had just a little more focal Length. I always carry my Old 75-300mm..( Canon Guy...LOL)..It sits in my bag, always at the ready along with my 14, and 24...9 times out of 10 however, my Prime 50mm F/1.8 is always on my body...(Love that Lens..LOL)....Having a Zoom is a Comfort...I like knowing I have one with me...Maybe I won't use it, Maybe I will....Its good to know the situation is Covered....I do have a Roki 85 and 135 now, but They are a Lug up the Mountains here in Arizona...Choices, Choices...Its good to have them.... Clear Skies Alyn, Be Safe.
With such a narrow zoom range like 17-28mm, I wouldn't waste my time with a zoom lens, unless it just fell into my lap. If it was a longer zoom range like 28-70mm, then it would probably be worth it, depending on the price and performance. The guy in one of the channels I watch frequently uses a Tamron 28-70mm F2.8 Canon EF mount, and he gets really good results. I'm not sure specifically which model and release he has. I know sometimes those longer zoom lenses can be quirky and might be sharp at the wider end and the zoomed in end, but then they might be soft in the middle, or vise versa. But his lens seems to be sharp end to end.
On my budget, the advantage would only be in reducing my load, assuming I got one of good quality. Costwise, it's been less expensive to buy 3-4 prime lenses in that focal range, vs buying one zoom lens that's of good quality. I bought a version of that Tamron 28-70mm thats probably 10-12 years old, and it''s really soft wide open, so I don't even use it for nighttime, but it's great for daytime. I have really decent copies of Samyang 24mm, 35mm and 85mm, and just picked up a Nikon brand 50mm, all of them F1.4, and I easily paid less than $1,000. The Nikon is the only used one. When I priced out that Tamron 28-70mm, whatever the last release was for DSLRs, I'm pretty sure the price was $1200+ new. If I were a little more discriminating on quality, I could probably only afford two primes for that price. But my Samyang are really decent, and I don't make a living off of photography, so I don't have to be as picky as someone in your position.
17-28mm is not a narrow zoom range. The angle of view of 17-28 is approximately a 30 degree shift from one end to the other. 24-70 is approximately 50 degrees. So while 24-70 is more, the number 17-28 (read: 11mm for 30deg, as opposed to 46mm for 50deg) is not as little as it seems. Furthermore, in real world use, the wider the angle, the more dramatic the difference looks to us even by 1mm changes. Most people won't even notice the difference between 65-70mm, but will notice a significant difference between 17-19mm.
Awesome video. What sort of settings would you recommend for a Nikon D7200 with a 1.4 teleconverter and Sigma 150 to 600, shooting a planet like Jupiter or any deep sky object? I tried shooting Jupiter with that gear and I failed astronomically.
Which adapter are you using? I’ve been using the Megadap and have enjoyed the results and flexibility of one set of glass on two manufacturer’s bodies.
MPB sounds great. If only they supported us here in Australia. 🤩🤦♂️🤷♂️
Nice video and well explained, Anyone here tried sony alpha 6700 for astrophotography? I want to buy an apc for landscape and ocasionaly astrophotography and didnt found anything online about it and i dont want to waste money in buying something that i cant fully use
RIP mate !!!
I have both the Tamron 17-28 and the Sony 20mm 1.8 G. I honestly don't know which I should keep (if not both). I don't exclusively do astro, so sometimes if I'm on a hike to get landscape shots and astro shots and space/weight is a premium because something like a Tamron 50-400 and a MSM tracker is coming with, I don't know how i feel about bringing lenses that overlap. Like bringing my 17-28 2.8 and the 20 1.8, or a Zeiss 55 1.8 (for portraits) and the tamron 50-400 4.5-6.3. Or even when to consider bringing the Sigma 24-70 2.8.
I'm a bit stuck right now. Would love someone's opinion.
Someone else's opinion shouldn't matter. Only you can work out what you prefer. As they say, suck it and see
well Alyn, I am wondering, can you give me the name of an app that will show Bortle ratings for my area? Looking at apps and apps and apps and don't know which would be a good start?
lightpollutionmap.info
Which rotating bracket is this? I've checked Smallrig and Atoll, but I've heard it's not supporting Tamron lenses due to USB port.
I don't think this lens has a USB port but it's from Ulanzi
Hi Alyn, Are you using any Sony astro-modified cameras now? If so, which camera, which modification, and any problem with green/aqua stars? Thanks.
Sony cameras can have green stars (particularly with sharp lenses facing north) regardless of modification
@@AlynWallace How do you correct them or do you leave them as is. I've been trying to correct them with the aqua slider or defringe in Lightroom.
Hi Alyn, I use Rokinon 24 mm f/1.4 for astrophotography and landscape. But then again this is the one and only lens I have that I bought 10 years ago. So I can't compare primes to zooms naturally. Yet again when I see comments like "zoom is softer than the prime" in the reviews, i tend to lean towards the primes.
One question on the heavy lenses that you mention that do not balance very well with the star trackers. Would it be a factor to choose i.e. Sony A7C II with Sony 24 mm f/1.4, because of the relatively light camera body of A7C II compared to say A7 IV? Would there be issues about balancing on the star tracker or generally on the tripods as it'd be front heavy? I am considering to buy A7C II with Sony 24 mm f/1.4 and that would already stretch my budget a lot, so i will have to stick with 24 mm for a while longer.
Tüm videolar icin çok teşekkürler bu arada. Müthiş değerli bir iş yapıyorsun. Sosyal medyaya daha az zaman ayırmaya çalıştığını okumuştum, o yüzden okuyor musun buraları emin değilim ama kırk yılın başı yorum yazmışken bahsedeyim istedim. Kolay gelsin.
O kadar hafif bir kombinasyon ile endişelenmem gerek yok
Would i be better off getting a great lens or a star-tracker? My current lens needs an upgrade and I have been eyeing off that 16-35 GM for a while now.... Also tamrons 35-150 as I also photograph music festivals and this 2 lens kit woild probably suit all my needs and help me with astro as my hobby! I am a huge fan of zoom lenses, but I have never experienced anything better than F2.8 so im unsure what to do in this situation, my current lens is only f2.8 at 28mm and I need mooooorreee! Does anyone have any advice for me??
Upgrade your LENS for sure to a prime in the 1.4-1.8 range. As he said & as many other astro-photogs will attest to: Primes just are superior for astro.
After that, get the tracker.
BTW, I own the Tamron 35-150 (for Z mount) & it's INCREDIBLE for any & all events. It rarely leaves my camera now...except for Astro. I bought it for astro use too & it is very hit/miss in my use/testing.
I'm doing a mini review video of that lens, but basically that's my findings: incredible for all different types of photography, but it's hit/miss for Astro (wouldn't recommend it for that).
"A zoom lens lets you use diff focal lenght, so you don't need to carry 3-4 primes". "I usually use a wide prime and crop". Amazing advice. You must be a pro..... Thank you for helping up, the noobs, by being impartial. Its better this way, we don't want a future sponsor to avoid us....
Hi Alyn, you might like to change the typo in your description of this video 🤣
Have you tried the Sigma 14-24mm since it starts and ends at 14 and 24mm which you like. Or is it too heavy to justify replacing the primes with?
Yeah probably too big and heavy to convince me and doesn't take filters either
I have the Sigma 14-24 f2.8 and don't have any problems with it. Yes, it's heavy. But, I have a spot that is just off the road. During the day, I've been hiking in the Dolomites with a peak design clip on my backpack strap. Makes it seam invisible and avoids the whole thing of getting it out of my backpack. Just plop down my tripod and snap off my camera from the clip and onto the tripod (a Benro, thanks to Alyn) it's easy peezy.
What watch do you have? It has some IR emitter that is going nuts... has it ever ruined any of your photos?
Apple Watch. Hasn't ruined any photos no but I need to start taking it off for video
@@AlynWallace is it the heat rate monitor? Can it just be disabled, instead of taking it off?
Once you try the Z 20mm f1.8, you’ll never go back to the Tamron 🙃
What is the back story with the Nikon... I thought you were going to the grave with Sony.... 🙂
I only switched to Sony because of the A7S and how capable it is of filming my vlogs at night. I don't care about the tools I use to capture photos and I'm no brand fanboy either
01:12 had to be said
Completely out of context, but there is a shooting star at 8:02
If it was a meteor it would be way more out of focus. I think it's a bug in my head torch light.
I use Zoom Lenses for my Wild Life BUT for Milky Way pass me my Z 20mm f1.8 S lens
RIP
I swore off zoom lenses. Prime lenses are much better for astro.
You passed too soon, Alyn.
Hi Alyn, for me me best lens is the Sony 20mm 1.8 is not a GM but the quality is good, the size and weight is just perfect because I always go in my motorcycle and space and weight is critical
Take care and still waiting for you here in Cusco Peru 🫡
So sad that you passed 🥲
RIP