My new "Standard" Wide Field setup? :P

[Macavity]

After a lot of review-reading and pondering, for the moment,
I've adopted the "new" Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM as standard.
(About a "Thirty Degree Diagonal" on APS-C Camera chips!)

In practice, the field is "Nicely ORION sized"?

On modest budget, neither hugely horrible or blazingly brilliant?
The lens is a tad IF-y at full aperture, but improves at f/2.8 - f/4!
As a beginner at DSLR Astro, commended as a starting point? 

Added to this "kit", I have a 49mm/48mm (2") filter adapter +
(recommended) 2" --> 1.25" filter reducer (by return!) from:

http://www.365astronomy.com/365Astronomy-2-to-1.25-Filter-Adapter.html



Currently, I'm gravitating to using the 2" Baader UHC-S (left)
for "everything", but the latter adapter (right) allows me to
experiment with a much larger collection of 1.25" filters... 

[Alien 13]

The STM version of the "nifty fifty" is a fine lens that has pretty much corrected all of the originals faults, it is also a good all rounder for most general photography even macro and video shooting.

I like the use of adapters for additional filters 

Alan

[scross86]

That very lens is what introduced me into astrophotography. The fast speed and cheap price are a great starting point. I was using it at first with a fixed tripod and was able to get 3.2 sec exposures and being overly picky for star trails. I started using it wide open at F1.8 and it makes for a very soft image, at F4 this thing is amazing. The downside to F4 is the total star count in the picture, it only has a 12.5mm opening for light at that point. Still fun though. If you don't have insane light pollution I would wait on the filters, while it will kill bad light it is also blocking usable light. If light pollution is an issue well then I guess you don't have much choice.

Once I upgraded to Star Adventurer Sky Watcher mount I found 50mm to be more wide field than my targets made sense for. Once funds allow I have my eyes on Canons 200mm F2.8L prime lens. Much more expensive but many more targets to work with.

You won't be upset for using the 50mm STM lens to take star shots though.