What to look for…

Here are a few features and functions to set your sights on

OPTICAL STABILIZATION

Optical stabilization isn’t an advantage for astrophotography. It’s better to switch it off and rely on a sturdy tripod. Only the Tamron lens in this group features stabilization.

APERTURE CONTROL

Some ‘manual’ lenses demand that the aperture, as well as the focus distance, is set via a control ring on the lens itself. This is the case with the Z-mount Samyang 14mm.

FOCUS SYSTEM

Manual focusing is often preferred to autofocus in astrophotography. Indeed, the Irix 15mm and both Samyang 14mm lenses don’t even have an autofocus facility.

PRIME OR ZOOM?

A high-quality prime lens will usually have a slightly faster aperture rating than a similarly wide-angle zoom. For composition, however, a zoom can be more versatile.

APERTURE RATING

Super-fast apertures of f/1 to f/1.4 would be great but are impractical when manufacturing ultra-wide-angle lenses. Look for an aperture rating of f/1.8 to f/2.8.

FOCAL LENGTH

For shooting the Milky Way core, a focal length of around 10-14mm is best for DX format cameras. Using a full-frame body, a 14-20mm focal length is more ideal.