Choosing the best lens for Milky Way photography isn’t about buying the most expensive model; it’s about knowing what actually matters under real night-sky conditions. Here’s a simple way to choose the right lens; before we get into my favorite models:
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If you don’t have the best lens to photograph the Milky Way, it doesn’t really matter which camera you’re using.
I’ve been testing and comparing different camera lenses and, in short, these are the best lenses to photograph the Milky Way:
1. Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
2. Sony 20mm f/1.8 G
3. Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 S
4. Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM
5. Venus Laowa 15mm f/2
6. Rokinon 14mm f/2.8
7. Irix 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone
8. Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG
9. Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD
10. TT Artisan 11mm Fisheye f/2.8
Mount | System | Focal length | Aperture | Weight | Price |
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 | Most Mounts | Mirrorless | 20 mm | f/1.4 | 1.38 lb | $900 |
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 | Sony | Mirrorless | 20 mm | f/1.8 | 0.82 lb | $900 |
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 | Nikon Z | Mirrorless | 20 mm | f/1.8 | 1 lb | $1000 |
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 | Canon RF | Mirrorless | 24 mm | f/1.4 | 1.1 lb | $1500 |
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 | Nikon | Mirrorless | 15 mm | f/2 | 1.10 lb | $750 |
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 | Most Mounts | DSLR | 14 mm | f/2.8 | 1.43 lb | $300 |
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 | Nikon | DSLR | 15 mm | f/2.4 | 1.34 lb | $550 |
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 | Nikon | DSLR | 14-24 mm | f/2.8 | 1.75 lb | $1300 |
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 | Sony E | Mirrorless | 17-28 mm | f/2.8 | 0.92 lb | $800 |
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 | Sony E | Mirrorless | 11 mm | f/2.8 | 0.96 lb | $235 |
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| BEST LENSES FOR MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY | |||||||
How to choose a lens for Milky Way photography?
Choosing the right lens is just as important as choosing the camera when photographing the Milky Way. A good astro lens needs to gather as much light as possible, cover a wide field of view, and deliver sharp stars across the frame, especially in the corners. Beyond focal length and aperture, factors like coma control, distortion, and overall optical consistency play a major role in real-world results.
In the sections below, I’ll break down the key characteristics to look for in a Milky Way lens, explain why they matter in practice, and help you understand the trade-offs between fast apertures, focal length, image quality, and budget.
Focal length: why 14-24mm is the default
For most Milky Way landscapes, the sweet spot is 14–24mm on full frame; wide enough to capture a strong foreground and a large portion of the sky, while still keeping exposure times manageable. On APS-C cameras, that’s roughly 10–16mm (depending on your crop factor).
That said, wider isn’t always better. Ultra-wide lenses can make the Milky Way look smaller in the frame; if you want a more prominent core, 20–35mm is often a better choice, especially for panoramas. These focal lengths let you build a higher-resolution file while keeping the perspective more natural.
If you move into 50mm+, you’re no longer in “astrolandscape” territory; you’re framing Milky Way regions and details (nebulae, star clouds, specific constellations). For that purpose, I recommend prime lenses like 50, 85, and 135 mm.
Milky Way panorama captured with a 20mm lens at Rainbow Mountain, Peru
Prime vs. Zoom lenses for Milky Way
Primes are usually the best choice for Milky Way photography because they tend to be faster (wider maximum aperture), and often deliver better low-light performance at a given focal length. They’re usually lighter and cheaper than zoom lenses.
Zooms are more versatile. A high-quality wide zoom can cover multiple compositions in one lens, which is valuable if you travel light or you’re shooting in fast-changing conditions. The trade-offs are typically more weight, higher cost, and, in most cases, slower apertures and more aberrations than primes.
Fast aperture vs. “usable” aperture
A fast lens matters because Milky Way exposures are always a balancing act between shutter speed, ISO, and image quality. In general, look for lenses f/2.8 or lower; ideally f/1.8 or f/1.4.
However, the number printed on the lens is not the whole story. What really matters is the usable aperture; the widest aperture where stars still look clean, especially toward the edges. Some lenses are technically f/1.4, but you’ll get better results stopping down to f/1.8 or f/2.0 because aberrations are better controlled.
Coma, astigmatism, and corner performance
This is often what separates an average Milky Way lens from a great one. Coma, astigmatism, and chromatic aberrations make stars appear as little comets or wings, being more pronounced at the corners and edges of the frame.
When you evaluate lenses (or read reviews), look for real tests at different apertures and prioritize how stars look in the center and corners at your working aperture.
Some lenses produce more coma than others, look out for this when buying
Vingnetting and flare resistance
Vignetting is common in wide, fast lenses. A little isn’t a big problem, but heavy vignetting can darken the corners enough that you end up pushing exposure in post, which can increase noise and reduce perceived sharpness. Lenses vary a lot here; some reduce vignetting dramatically when stopped down a bit.
Flare resistance matters more than many people expect. Even in “dark” locations, you can have a bright moon, a nearby town glow, or a light source near the edge of the frame. A lens with good coatings and strong flare control will produce fewer ghost artifacts.
Strong vignetting, like in this image, can happen in many Milky Way lenses
Weight, balance, and star tracker friendliness
Weight matters in two common scenarios: hiking/travel, and tracking. If you often hike to locations or you’re building a lightweight kit for travel, shaving a few hundred grams off the lens can make a real difference.
For star trackers, weight is even more important. Heavier lenses are harder to balance and can be less forgiving if your tripod, head, or tracker setup isn’t rock solid. A lighter lens generally tracks more consistently and makes your field setup simpler, especially on compact trackers.
Precise manual focusing
Choose a lens with a smooth focus ring and good “feel”. Some lenses have a very loose focus ring that can make the focusing process more difficult or easier to accidentally “miss” your focus.
Some modern lenses allow automatic focus at infinity or lock focus at a specific distance; this can be a great bonus for a lens for Milky Way.
Filters: front threads vs. rear slots
Not all Milky Way lenses are equally filter-friendly. Many of the widest lenses have a bulbous front element and no front threads; that doesn’t make them bad, but it changes how you work with them. If you use night-sky filters, lenses with front filter threads are much simpler.
Some lenses offer rear filter slots instead; these can be a great solution when front filters aren’t possible, but keep in mind that not all Astro filters can be designed as “rear filters”. If filters are part of your workflow, it’s worth considering early to avoid extra accessories, weight, and money.
Astrophotography filters can greatly enhance your images. Image taken with the Capture the Night Astro filter
In addition to having a good lens, using the best settings to shoot the Milky Way is crucial to capturing the best possible images. Also, don’t forget that the camera is fundamental in night photography, so make sure you use your lens with one of the best cameras for Milky Way photography.
And now it’s time to get into models! The list below of the best lenses for Milky Way photography includes only wide-angle lenses, as they are best for capturing our galaxy. Also, these lenses are specifically designed for Full-Frame cameras.
However, throughout this article, you’ll find a list of the best lenses to take pictures of the Milky Way according to your budget and preferences. I’ve included some of the best prime and zoom APS-C lenses, as well as the best Nikon, Sony, and Canon lenses for Milky Way photography.
Ready to find the best lenses for shooting the Milky Way?
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1. Sigma 20mm f/1.4 – Best overall lens for Milky Way photography
Sigma 20mm f/1.4
- LENS MOUNT: Sigma SA, Canon EF, L-Mount, Nikon F, Sony E
- LENS FORMAT: Full-Frame
- WEIGHT: 1.38 lb (630 gr)
- MAX-MIN APERTURE: f/1.4-f/16
- FOCUS TYPE: Autofocus
- IMAGE STABILIZATION: No
- FILTER SIZE: None
Pros
- Manual focus lock
- Wide field of view
- Build quality
- Fast lens
Cons
- Big and heavy
- Best alternative:
| For one more year, the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 lens is the best lens for Milky Way photography. It offers everything you need to capture stunning night images: sharpness, fast aperture, and a wide-angle field of view. It does all this while still being fairly affordable. Another great feature of the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM is its compatibility with most lens mounts, including Nikon, Sony, and Canon full-frame cameras. You can’t go wrong with this lens. |
If weight and size are not a problem, this is one of the best lenses you can consider for your Milky Way photography.
2. Sony 20mm f/1.8 G – Best Sony lens for Milky Way photography
Sony 20mm f/1.8
- LENS MOUNT: Sony E
- LENS FORMAT: Full-Frame
- WEIGHT: 0.82 lb (373 gr)
- MAX-MIN APERTURE: f/1.8-f/22
- FOCUS TYPE: Autofocus
- IMAGE STABILIZATION: No
- FILTER SIZE: 67mm
Pros
- Tack sharp from corner to corner
- Compact and lightweight
- Customizable button
- Affordable
Cons
- Can't program focus
- Focus ring feels soft
- Best alternative:
| The Sony 20 mm f/1.8 is a fantastic lens for shooting the Milky Way. The quality in low-light photography is stunning. It’s fast and sharp, even in the corners, with very controlled deformations, aberrations, and other issues common to other Milky Way lenses. It’s also light and compact, and the price is affordable compared to other quality prime lenses. |
As soon as I tested it, it became my absolute favorite lens for shooting the Milky Way, and after many years, I’m still using it in almost all my night shoots. You can see some examples of the images I’ve taken with this lens in my Milky Way Gallery. Additionally, Sony has other superb lenses for Milky Way photography such as the 24mm f/1.4 GM, the 16mm f/1.8 G, and the 14mm f/1.8 GM, even though it doesn’t take front filters.
3. NIKKOR Z 20 MM F/1.8 – Best Nikon lens for Milky Way photography
Nikkor 20mm f/1.8
- LENS MOUNT: Nikon Z
- LENS FORMAT: Full-Frame
- WEIGHT:1 lb (450 gr)
- MAX-MIN APERTURE: f/1.8-f/16
- FOCUS TYPE: Autofocus
- IMAGE STABILIZATION: No
- FILTER SIZE: 77mm
Pros
- Exceptional build quality
- Very sharp
- Fast lens
Cons
- Expensive
- A little big
- Best alternative:
| If you’re shooting with any Nikon Z mirrorless camera, this is your lens for Milky Way photography. It’s very fast, reliable, and offers excellent performance even when shooting wide open. I’ve tested this lens on many occasions with our Capture the Atlas Photo Tour students, and I think that it should be mandatory on any Nikon Shooter Astro bag. |
4. Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM – Best Canon lens for Milky Way photography
Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM
- LENS MOUNT: Canon RF
- LENS FORMAT: Full-Frame
- WEIGHT: 1.1 lb (515 g)
- MAX-MIN APERTURE: f/1.4-f/16
- FOCUS TYPE: Autofocus
- IMAGE STABILIZATION: No
- FILTER SIZE: 67mm
Pros
- Image quality
- Very fast
- Build quality
- Fairly compact
Cons
- Expensive
- No manual focus lock
- Best alternative:
| The Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 lens is the best Canon lens for Milky Way photography. It’s designed to work with their mirrorless EOS R models. It’s wide, fast, and one of the sharpest lenses for Canon shooters. Pair this lens with the Canon EOS R8 Astro camera, and you’ll see the best results |
As an alternative, the Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 is another outstanding lens for Milky Way photography.
5. Venus Laowa 15mm f/2 – Best third-party lens for Milky Way photography
Venus Laowa 15mm f/2
- LENS MOUNT: Sony E, L Mount, Canon R, Nikon Z
- LENS FORMAT: Full-Frame
- WEIGHT: 1.1 lb (500 g)
- MAX-MIN APERTURE: f/2-f/22
- FOCUS TYPE: Manual focus
- IMAGE STABILIZATION: No
- FILTER SIZE: 72mm
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Wide field of view
- Focus ring markings
- Great for daylight photography
Cons
- Not the sharpest
- Not weather sealed
- Best alternative:
| This is one of the best 3rd-party lenses for Milky Way photography. It’s designed specifically for night and low-light photography, and it’s very compact and light. It doesn’t require special filters, which is also something to consider if you plan to use it as a general landscape lens. Compatible with: Sony, Nikon, and Canon mirrorless cameras. |
6. Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 – Best affordable lens for Milky Way photography
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8
- LENS MOUNT: Sony E, Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K, Fuji X
- LENS FORMAT: Full-Frame, APS-C, Micro 4/3
- WEIGHT: 1.43 lb (650 gr)
- MAX-MIN APERTURE: f/2.8-f/22
- FOCUS TYPE: Manual
- IMAGE STABILIZATION: No
- FILTER SIZE: None
Pros
- Very affordable
- Compact and light
- Multiple mounts and formats
- Fast lens
Cons
- Build quality
- No screw-in filter allowed
- Best alternative:
| This is the best quality-priced lens for Milky Way photography. It’s wide, light, fast, it doesn’t have a strong coma in the corners, and the best thing is that it’s very cheap. The only con is the lack of autofocus, but it’s always better to use manual focus when shooting the Milky Way, as I explain in the focus section of my Milky Way photography guide. Compatible with: Nikon, Sony, Canon, Fuji, Pentax. |
If you are on a budget, Rokinon makes some great lenses for Milky Way. However, their quality control is very inconsistent, and I highly recommend doing tests and checking the coma and aberrations when you purchase a new Rokinon lens
*Note: If you prefer a longer focal length to shoot the Milky Way, the Rokinon 20 mm f/1.8 and Rokinon 24 mm f/1.4 are also quality options at a great price.
7. Irix 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone – Best affordable lens for DSLR
Irix 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone
- LENS MOUNT: Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K
- LENS FORMAT: Full-Frame
- WEIGHT:1.34 lb (608 gr)
- MAX-MIN APERTURE: f/2.4-f/22
- FOCUS TYPE: Manual focus
- IMAGE STABILIZATION: No
- FILTER SIZE: 95mm
Pros
- Focus ring markers
- Sharp from corner to corner
- Takes front and back filters
- Affordable
Cons
- Few mount options
- On the heavier side
- Best alternative:
| This lens can also be considered one of the best value-for-money options for shooting the Milky Way with DSLR cameras. Compatible with: Nikon and Canon Full-frame DSLR models and Pentax. |
8. Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG – Best ultra wide-angle zoom lens for Milky Way photography
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8
- LENS MOUNT: Canon EF, L-Mount, Nikon F, Sony E
- LENS FORMAT: Full-Frame
- WEIGHT:1.75 lb (795 gr)
- MAX-MIN APERTURE: f/2.8-f/22
- FOCUS TYPE: Autofocus
- IMAGE STABILIZATION: No
- FILTER SIZE: None
Pros
- Great for night and daylight
- Wide field of view
- Great sharpness for a zoom lens
- Affordable
Cons
- Bulky
- No screw-in filter allowed
- Best alternative:
| This is probably the best general wide-angle zoom for shooting the Milky Way. It’s robust, sharp, and built with impressive quality. Compatible with: Nikon, Sony, and Canon full-frame cameras. |
9. Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD – Best affordable wide-angle zoom for Milky way photography
Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
- LENS MOUNT: Sony E
- LENS FORMAT: Full-Frame
- WEIGHT: 0.92 lb (420 gr)
- MAX-MIN APERTURE: f/2.8-f/22
- FOCUS TYPE: Autofocus
- IMAGE STABILIZATION: No
- FILTER SIZE: 67mm
Pros
- Versatile
- Weather sealing
- Exceptional image quality
- Affordable
Cons
- Few mount options
- Plastic build
- Best alternative:
| This is a good wide-angle lens for Milky Way photography. The image quality is superb across its entire focal length range, which is difficult to find in other ultra-wide-angle lenses. It’s light and compact and has internal zoom, which is a great plus. If you are shooting with a Nikon or a Canon camera, check out the Tamron 15-35mm f/2-8 instead. |
10. TT Artisan 11mm Fisheye f/2.8 – Best affordable lens for Milky Way panoramas
TT Artisan 11mm f/2.8
- LENS MOUNT: Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Leica L
- LENS FORMAT: Fisheye Full-Frame
- WEIGHT: 0.96 lb (436 gr)
- MAX-MIN APERTURE: f/2.8-f/16
- FOCUS TYPE: Manual
- IMAGE STABILIZATION: No
- FILTER SIZE: No
Pros
- Good build quality
- very affordable
- Light and compact
- Ultra wide angle
Cons
- Not sharp in the corners
- Doesn't take threaded filters
- Best alternative:
| The TT Artisan 11mm Fisheye f/2.8 lens is one of the widest full-frame lenses in the market, and at an aperture of f/2.8, it’s great for Milky Way photography. It offers a 180º field of view, making it an absolute beast at capturing original compositions, panoramas, and even meteor showers. For its price, the TT Artisan 11mm Fisheye f/2.8 is built exceptionally well, with a metal body and metal rings. You can get this lens for Sony E, Canon RF, Leica L, Leica M, and Nikon Z. |
Best APS-C lenses for Milky Way photography
APS-C sensors are not the best at gathering light, so pairing your crop-sensor camera with a fast, high-quality lens is crucial if you want to get the best Milky Way images.
Best prime lenses for shooting the Milky Way (APS-C)
- Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 x-mount: The best all-around lens for photographing the Milky Way on APS-C mirrorless cameras. It’s light, sharp, fast, and highly affordable. Compatible with: Sony, Fuji, Canon, Olympus, and Panasonic.
- Rokinon 10 mm f/2.8 ED: A similar option to the previous one, but also available for Nikon and Canon APS-C DSLR cameras.
- Sigma 16mm 1.4 DC DN: If you’re looking for a lens with autofocus and some weather sealing, this is a good option. Compatible with: Sony E mount, Fuji X, Canon EF, Canon RF, Nikon Z, L Mount, and Micro 4/3 cameras.
Best wide-angle zoom lenses for shooting the Milky Way (APS-C)
- Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary: In terms of quality for price, this is the best generic wide-angle lens for photographing the Milky Way on APS-C cameras. Compatible with Sony, Canon RF, L Mount, and Fujifilm X APS-C cameras.
- Sony – FE 12-24mm F4 G: This is the best wide-angle Milky Way lens to pair with Sony crop-sensor models. It’s not f/2.8, but it’s wide and versatile. Compatible with: Sony.
Best Sony lenses for Milky Way photography
Sony has some of the best lenses to shoot the Milky Way. Apart from the Sony 20 mm f/1.8 mentioned above, these are my top picks:
- Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM: One of the most awaited lenses by Sony shooters, and it’s the best option if you want a fast ultra-wide-angle lens for Milky Way. It’s also a fantastic lens for Northern Lights, and even though it’s more expensive than the Sigma 14mm 1.8 commented above, this model offers more quality and a significant reduction in size/weight (1 lb/460 gr vs. the 2.5 lb/1170 gr of the bulky Sigma 14 f/1.8).
- Sony 16mm f/1.8 G: The Sony 16mm f/1.8 strikes a great balance between field of view, light gathering, and optical quality. Its f/1.8 aperture lets in plenty of light for capturing stars and the galactic core with shorter exposures and lower ISO, helping reduce noise. The wide 16 mm focal length frames the night skies beautifully while keeping stars relatively sharp across the frame. It also takes standard Astro filters, which is a great advantage for such a wide focal length.
- Sony FE 24mm F/1.4 GM: The 24 mm G Master model is more expensive, especially for being a prime lens, but it’s widely considered the best Sony Milky Way lens in terms of image quality and performance. It’s also a good lens for filming the Milky Way, thanks to its f/1.4. Personally, I still prefer the 20 mm f/1.8 even though it’s not a GM model.
- Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM: Wide-angle scenes, details, time-lapse… this is a very versatile lens to shoot the Milky Way. I’ve been using it in the field for a long time, and it’s my main go-to lens not only for the Milky Way but also for other night shootings like Northern Lights photography. It’s extremely sharp across the entire range with outstanding image quality. To me, it’s the best Sony wide-angle zoom lens for shooting the Milky Way. If you’re looking for a wider field of view, the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 might be the way to go; however, this is a much bulkier and heavier lens, which is not ideal for certain setups.
Best Nikon Lenses for Milky Way Photography
Talking specifically about the best Nikon lenses for shooting the Milky Way, apart from the Nikkor Z 20 f/1.8, you’ll find these lenses for full-frame cameras:
- Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 S: This is the flagship wide-angle lens for Nikon mirrorless cameras. It’s the lightest f/2.8 wide-angle zoom lens on the market, and the design keeps light-point sources like the stars round and sharp.
- Nikkor Z 24 mm f/1.8 S: If 20 mm feels too wide for you, a better option could be this model. It offers very similar specs to the Nikkor Z 20 f/1.8 but with a longer focal length. Good for general Milky Way photography and for stitching panoramas with no distortion.
Best Canon lenses for Milky Way photography
We are still missing some specific mirrorless Canon prime lenses for Milky Way, since the only good option is the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 at this moment. If you’re looking for the top Canon lenses to shoot the Milky Way, any of these 2 primes for Canon DSLR can be a nice addition to your kit:
- Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM: The Canon 20mm f/1.4 is one of the newest additions to Canon’s RF lens lineup, and it’s perfect for Milky Way photography. Its 20mm focal range puts it in the wide-angle territory, which, paired with Canon’s superb lens manufacturing, ensures sharp images even wide open. The real strength of this lens is its f/1.4 aperture, which gathers an enormous amount of light, reducing ISO and producing cleaner images. The main con is the price, which is more on the premium side.
- Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM: This is one of the most versatile Canon Lenses for Milky Way and landscape photography. This ultrawide Canon lens is both fast and sharp. If you have a mirror EOS R camera, you might definitely want to consider this lens.
Frequently asked questions about how to choose the best lenses for Milky Way
In this FAQ, we answer the most common questions about selecting lenses for Milky Way photography and explain which specifications truly matter, which trade-offs are unavoidable, and how to choose the best lens that suits you.
What focal length is best for the Milky Way on full-frame; and on APS-C?
For Milky Way astrolandscapes, 14–24mm on full-frame is the most versatile range; it captures a big sky while keeping exposure times manageable. On APS-C, aim for roughly 10–16mm (depending on your crop factor). If you want the Milky Way to look larger in the frame, 24–35mm (full-frame) works great, especially for panoramas.
Is f/2.8 enough for the Milky Way?
Yes, f/2.8 is enough to get strong Milky Way images, especially with modern cameras and good technique. Faster lenses (f/1.8–f/1.4) give you more flexibility.
14mm vs 20mm vs 24mm; which is easiest for beginners?
If you’re starting out, 20mm is often the easiest balance. It’s wide enough for dramatic skies and forgiving compositions, but not so wide that the Milky Way looks small or that the foreground becomes tricky to manage.
- 14mm: easiest to fit everything in; hardest to make the Milky Way look big; composition can feel “empty” without a strong foreground.
- 20mm: the most forgiving all-around option for Milky Way landscapes.
- 24mm: makes the Milky Way look larger; exposure time becomes slightly more restrictive; excellent if you like panoramas.
What is coma; and how do I know if a lens has too much?
Coma is an aberration that makes stars near the edges of the frame look stretched or wing-shaped instead of round points. The easiest way to check is to look at your own test shots at your intended aperture; zoom into the corners, not the center. If stars turn into obvious smears or “seagulls” when you view the image at 100%, that lens has a strong coma at that aperture.
Are zoom lenses good for Milky Way photography?
They can be, especially high-quality ultra-wide f/2.8 zooms. Zooms are great when you want one lens to cover multiple compositions, or you travel light. The trade-off is usually more weight and, in some cases, worse low-light performance than a top prime. If your priority is maximum star quality, primes still tend to win, but a good f/2.8 zoom is absolutely capable of excellent Milky Way results.
What lens is best for Milky Way panoramas?
For panoramas, the “best” lens is usually the one that stitches easily and gives clean stars at your working aperture. A common choice is 20–35mm (full-frame) because it produces a larger-looking Milky Way and higher resolution once stitched, with less extreme perspective than ultra-wides. Use a fast, sharp lens (ideally f/2.8 or faster) and plan on taking more frames with adequate overlap.
Do I need autofocus for Milky Way photography?
Not necessarily. Many excellent Milky Way lenses are manual focus, and once you dial in focus, you typically leave it there for the session. What matters is precise manual focusing; a lens with a smooth focus ring and good “feel” helps. Autofocus is convenient for daytime use and can help you get close at dusk, but for stars, you’ll usually finish by fine-tuning focus manually using magnified live view.
Conclusion
Choosing the best camera lens for Milky Way photography isn’t easy, but it’s essential if you want to capture the best possible images.
Once you have a good camera for shooting the Milky Way and know the best camera settings in Milky Way photography, having the right lens will be the key factor in having a sharp and quality shot.
Having the right lens is fundamental for taking the best images
Some Milky Way lenses are expensive, so a good tip is to rent a Milky Way photography lens for your trip. This is also a good option for testing a lens before purchasing.
In my case, I always rent my Milky Way photography lenses from Lensrentals, which operates in the US. Their rentals are cheap and straightforward. Plus, if you rent your equipment through this link and use the Lensrental promo code CTA15, you will get a 15% discount.
15% OFF your Camera and Photography Gear Rental
PROMO CODE: CTA15
For example, the one-week rental of the Sony 12-24 f/2.8 GM is $93, while the full price of this lens is $2,998.
You can check other camera rental companies in your location in our guide to Camera lens rental.
I hope this guide helps you choose the best Milky Way lens according to your needs. If you aren’t sure if you can shoot the Milky Way with your lens, or if you have any other questions, feel free to reach out in the comments 😉
Happy Captures and clear skies!
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Hi Dan,
Great article.
Always trying to shoot on a budget I have Rokinon and I wonder why you did not consider Viltrox 16/1.8, a fantastic and affordable lens with outstanding results.
I am buying a Sony and Nikon 20 mm/1.8 but would value your views on Sony 50/1.8 for this purpose (Milky Way). Thanks in advance.
Many thanks in advance.
Ashish,
I haven’t personally tested the Viltrox but I’ll try to get my hand on one and test it out for Milky Way.
Regarding the Sony 50/1.8 is a great lens but I’d much rather prefer the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 50 mm f/2. I own that lens and it’s simply stunning! By far the best 50 mm lens I’ve seen for Milky Way.
Hi Dan – love your content! What are your thoughts on the Canon RF 16 mm 2.8 lens? I bought it recently and hope to use it at Monument Valley in April.
Holly,
I’m not a big fan of than lens; I’d rather invest in the Canon RF 20 mm f/1.4 or the 24 mm f/1.4. I know there’s a price difference, but it’s more like a life investment 😉
Good luck in Monument Valley; it’s one of my favorite places to shoot the Milky Way!
Hi Dan,
I have the Nikon 20mm 1.8S that I love but just a month ago bought the Sigma 14mm 1.4 (adapted with megadap etz21) for an upcoming trip to Iceland and even though its a super heavy beast at 3 lbs., I fell totally in love with it and can´t wait to see it perform in Milky Way photography. I was surprised not to see neither of the 14mm sigmas (f 1.4 and 1.8) in you review.
Ray,
The Sigma 14 mm f/1.4 and f/1.8 are great lenses, but I consider that focal length not ideal for Milky Way work where you want to get more details in the MW band and the core. Personally, I use my 14 mm (Sony GM) to capture my foregrounds at night and also for almost all my Northern Lights images.
For Milky Way and sky images, I prefer the Sigma 20 mm f/1.4 or even the 24 mm
Hi Dan,
What is your favorite combination of tracked focal lengths for MW panoramas ? I am currently using my Sony 20mm 1.8 for the foreground and my Sony 24. 1.4 for my MW, My Sony A7Riv is set at Iso 640 for 3 min 30 sec and my quality is great but 3 rows plus foreground takes 3 hours +. I need some advise for pulling out more detail is my MW. I purchased your advanced Tracking course and I must have missed that part. I am loving the star reduction technique to isolate more of the galaxy but I still want a little more detail.
Your content is great, Keep it up
Taylor
Hi Taylor!
My favorite go-to focal lengths for tracking are:
-14 mm for the foreground (I use the Sony 14 GM)
-20 mm for the Sky (I use the Sony 20)
For tracked panoramas, in 90% of the cases I use the 20 mm for the sky.
In some cases, I also use the 24 GM or the 35 GM for the sky, but that’s in very specific cases and compositions.
To get more detail, I recommend checking the tracked camera settings tutorial in the course. I also recommend astromodifying your camera as that’s a game-changer 😉
I really like the Rokinon 14mm f2.4 SP. Seems to have better quality than my other Rokinon lens or maybe I just was lucky and got a good copy.
Thanks. Great website,btw.
It’s a great option for sure! You’re welcome, Robert.
The Canon EF 24mm f1.4 mentioned in the Canon lens section has A LOT of coma. From other reviewers of this lens, it seems to be characteristic of the design and not a manufacturing flaw. If shooting at f4 it’s probably not a problem, but that sort of defeats its use for astrophotography. For a prime lens at its price point, I would have expected better from Canon. I have one to sell if anyone is interested. ; )
I got a Rokinon/Samyang 24mm f1.4 as a replacement for a fraction of the cost of the Canon that performs much better, but be aware that it is a manual focus lens.
Thanks Alan! Also it’s important to mention to low quality control of Rokinon; I’ve seen everything from very good to absolutely terrible lenses even considering the same model.
Hi Dan, I’m thinking of purchasing the Sigma 14mm f1.8 lens for the upcoming northern lights tour and am considering using it for Milky Way photography. I currently own a Nikon d850 and am wondering if this is a good choice or should I purchase the Nikon 24mm f1.4 lens?
Hi Marianna,
For sure it’s a great lens for Milky Way and northern lights photography. You can also consider the Nikon 20mm f1.8 which is lighter lens.
Best,
Dan
Hi Dan,
You forgot that some of us have cameras like D850. And I’m not going to replace it soon.
Hi Avrom, then the Nikon 20mm f1.8 is a great option for the Milky Way 🙂
Surprised the lens featured on the email isn’t listed – the Sigma 14mm 1.8. It is has been my favorite for a long while and even though now I’m starting to play with longer focal lengths, it is a super easy lens to get images with.
You’re right, Randy. We’ll consider it to join the list. Thanks.
I HAVE THE OM-1. IS THE 8-25 ZOOM LENS OK?
Hi Don, I’d get something faster if possible, like the 17mm f1.8. Wide aperture and wide focal length is recommended.
I would also like to see the Sony E 11mm f/1.8 APS-C lens in the next update.
Thanks for the comment! We’ll take note for the APS-C section 😉
One to add to your list for APS-C lenses, is the very sharp Viltrox 13 mm / 1.4. ‘Not sure what all mounts are available, but I have it for Fujifilm.
Hillel,
Never tried it but I’ll consider it for the list!
I have 2 of the lenses you listed:
1. Tamron 17-28mm f2.8
2. Zeiss Batis 18mm f2.8 which do have grooves for screw in a filter. I have my filter on it. You’re right both give great images.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Both are great lenses for Milky Way! 😉
I have found the TTArtisans 7.5 mm f/2 fisheye to be quite good. I do long MW time-lapses and need for the MW to stay infield for hours.
You mention that most widefield large aperture primes distort in the corners. Nowadays some cameras allow in-camera (not post) lens correction. This would be particularly useful for time-lapse. But unfortunately this is not usually possible for third-party lenses.
What do you think of the Canon RF f/1.2 50mm? It gets rave reviews for sharpness even wide open, though of course it not really wide enough.
Paul,
I haven’t tried the Artisan nor the mentioned Canon. I’ll try to get my hands on them in case I can add them to the article 😉
Thanks for sharing!
Dan
I’m curious why you didn’t mention the Sigma 15-35 f1.8 art zoom lens which people rave about. It’s an aps-c lens.
Stefan,
We’ll probably include it in the next update along with the Sony 15 mm f/1.4, which looks phenomenal for Sony APS-C users
Replied to your email help with another question:
Yes Dan, I had it on iMac at home, was out and could not find it. I am covered now.
I know you must be swamped with work and contacts but I wonder if you could suggest a good LOW Coma lens in the 20mm focal length. I had a Canon EF 24 f1.4 and it had me surrounded in boomerangs. This would be almost exclusively for Astro…
For Canon R5 can be R or more likely EF I have EF – R adapter as most of my lenses are EF.
I currently have the R 15-35 Canon and
Rokinon R 14 2.8
Thanks,
John,
There’ll inevitably be some coma on any 20 mm fast lens. That said, in some lenses it’s worse than in others.
I don’t use canon, but I’ve tried many canon lenses in our workshops, and the R 15-35 is a good option. Sigma lenses are also good, but they are heavy and you’ll probably need an adaptor since most of them are designed for the Canon DSLR system.
I hope canon develop new lenses soon, like a high-quality 20 mm f/1.8!
Hi Dan, Since we typically manually focus anyway, have you ever tried any of the cine lenses for Milky-Way shots? I’m thinking specifically of the Canon CN-E 20mm T1.5 L Cinema Prime lens. It should be just as fast as the 24mm f/1.4L, but wider. Its a large, expensive lens, but should be as good as any 20mm full-frame option out there…
Eric, I haven’t tried those specifically since I also use my lenses for landscape and recording, so the autofocus is usually a must for me.
If you give them a try, I’d love to see the results 😉
I am finding out the Nikon 24mm 1.4 lens is great since I do a lot of panorama stitching both vertically and horizontally. This lens is perfect for that!!
That’s a very good lens and focal length for Milky Way photography 😉
Love using my Nikon Z 20 mm prime for Milky Way photography even though I am very new to this genre.
You have a very good lens for Milky Way photography Beth! You can learn how to make the most of your gear following our Milky Way photography guide, I’m sure you can take incredible shots with that lens 😉
Happy shooting and clear skies!
Dan