First lens for Milky Way

[lil_eddie]

Hey all,

So, I have mainly done deep space to date, dove right in the deep end so to speak. But want to get more Milky Way shots and not sure what lens to use exactly.

I have an APS-C Canon 77D so need to account for this.

From what I have seen, and within budget I am going Samyang/Rokinon unless I find a second hand Sigma, but the following come up all the time:

24mm f1.4

16mm f2.0

14mm f2.8

Now, on a crop, I am worried the 24mm may not be enough? I don't plan to get much landscape in there, would it work alright? I am happy to take 4 or 5 shots and mosaic them.

The 16mm seems a good mid point, but anyone who mentions it seems to sway to 14 or 24 in the end and not many people seem to pick that actual lens. I don't plan on going full-frame in a rush so not worried about it being crop frame only lens. But would the increased view prove better over the stop difference?

14mm - This seems very popular and would give me the best viewing angle and coverage, however I see comments about "moustache" effects on the images which need fixing (ok to do this), but then the 2.8 would be hitting the top of the ideal fstop right? So a little confused why this gets so many recommendations - is it purely down to most people being FF and wanting smaller than the 24mm?

The 24mm is a little pricier, hence the question as I don't want to spend money on the bigger focal length if quailty is about the same as the 16mm and have to do extra post editing.

I can only afford 1 - which would you recommend?

Off to Iceland next week and want to pick one up before I go.

My other lenses are 50mm 1.8, 18-65(?) kit lens, 135mm f2.3 but I am considering a new 135mm f2 Samyang too - but that is another months costs.

Thanks

[MarkAR]

I got a Samyang 14mm f2.4 off Ebay, seller refurbished, for a very good price. He took an offer of £525. The seller was intro2020xs, I believe he's an authorised Samyang dealer.

He did have another one but it looks like its gone. Available ones are probably over your budget.

Very sharp lens, very little coma if any at all and no moustache like the regular F2.8 version.

Now all I need is for my Skyguider to appear.

Edited February 28, 2020 by MarkAR

[Erling G-P]

Here's a shot I made with my Nikon D7000 (crop) & Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 at 11mm.   I would probably go for the widest you can get.

[lil_eddie]

Nice shot.

 

See that is 11mm on crop and frames nice, so the 14mm does appeal that way.

I dont think there is a similar lens fixed at 10 or 12 for canon ef mount?

Might look at the tokina but worried as zoom lens generally dont do as well? Just want to avoid changing it later on really

[Erling G-P]

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the Canon lens program, so can't say what's available.

I've been quite happy with the Tokina, as it does have a sharp image.  On paper though, a (good) prime lens should be better.

Here's a couple of non-astro images with it, again at 11mm (hope I'll be forgiven for posting these):

[MarkAR]

Forgot to mention there's also the IRIX 15mm F2.4 Firefly

Edited February 29, 2020 by MarkAR

[lil_eddie]

I think I'd just to 16mm f2 rather than 15mm f2.4, but thanks for the suggestion!

I think I would be tempted by the tokina but swayed by the prime 16mm as I dont plan to go FF for years yet, camera isnt that old. I feel like if the 16mm was FF then it would be used more than the 14mm as field of view is only a bit different.

I think the 24m 1.4 is too narrow for a crop on the milkyway, at least to begin with, plus is costs about 50% more so maybe save that one for now.

[Spaced Out]

I have both the 24mm f1.4 and 14mm f2.8 Samyang lenses.

The 24mm is my “go to” lens for Milky Way shots, however, I only use full frame. I find the 24mm is a much better lens than the 14mm for Milky Way, it gathers more light and when you stop down to f2 it is really sharp. The 14mm f2.8 is wide WIDE ! It definitely has that moustache warp effect so if you have a straight horizon like the sea it will appear a little wavy at both edges, this can be easily sorted out using photoshop tho.  

I started off with the 14mm and it was good but since I got the 24mm the 14mm has been relegated to wide star trail shots only.

Examples of shots using both lenses can be seen on my flickr pages here.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/132427272@N04/albums

I’m actually considering getting a good 50mm lens for Milky Way and stitching frames.

Edited February 29, 2020 by Spaced Out