Astrophotography with DX Camera

jlogan223jlogan223 Posts: 2Member
edited July 2015 in Nikon DSLR cameras
Hello All,

Firstly I have just joined [NR] today so very new, therefore if this topic/question has been discussed before, I am sorry, please just point me in the right direction.

Okay, Question time:

I bought a D7100. My aim is to try and get some stunning Astro-photography images, of the stars, Milky Way and eventually the Northern Lights (when I can finally make time to travel). What I am hoping I can get help with is what Lenses I should buy. I currently have the Kit 18-105mm Nikon, and the 35mm 1.8f Nikon. I want to get a good quality wide angle Lens that would be suited for Astro-photography, but here is the twist, if possible I would like it to be compatible with FX cameras, as I plan to upgrade in the next couple years again. I am happy to consider 3rd Party Lenses, and I understand that technology waits for no man (or woman), so I can not be sure that a lens bought today would be compatible with a FX camera in the future, I can just hope :-)

Any thoughts on what Lenses to be considered and why would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Comments

  • IronheartIronheart Posts: 3,017Moderator
    edited July 2015
    I recommend reading these two articles:
    http://www.lonelyspeck.com/lenses-for-milky-way-photography/
    http://www.lonelyspeck.com/best-lenses-for-milky-way-photography-nikon/

    Excerpt:
    Affordable Lenses for Landscape Astrophotography

    I highly recommend lenses from Samyang or its other equivalent name brands, Bower and Rokinon for astrophotography. Most of these lenses are available for a whole range of cameras including Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fuji, Pentax, Olympus and Samsung. I currently use a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 and Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 for most of the nightscapes you see on lonelyspeck.com. They’re wide, cheap, sharp, and fast.
    ...
    Rokinon/Bower/Samyang 8mm f/2.8 (APS-C Mirrorless)
    Rokinon/Bower/Samyang 10mm f/2.8 (APS-C)
    Rokinon/Bower/Samyang 12mm f/2.0 (APS-C Mirrorless)
    Rokinon/Bower/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 (Full-Frame or APS-C)
    Rokinon/Bower/Samyang 16mm f/2.0 (APS-C)
    Rokinon/Bower/Samyang 24mm f/1.4 (Full-Frame or APS-C)
    Rokinon/Bower/Samyang 35mm f/1.4 (Full-Frame or APS-C)
    Post edited by Ironheart on
  • PhotobugPhotobug Posts: 5,751Member
    Hello All,

    Firstly I have just joined [NR] today so very new, therefore if this topic/question has been discussed before, I am sorry, please just point me in the right direction.

    Okay, Question time:

    I bought a D7100. My aim is to try and get some stunning Astro-photography images, of the stars, Milky Way and eventually the Northern Lights (when I can finally make time to travel). What I am hoping I can get help with is what Lenses I should buy. I currently have the Kit 18-105mm Nikon, and the 35mm 1.8f Nikon. I want to get a good quality wide angle Lens that would be suited for Astro-photography, but here is the twist, if possible I would like it to be compatible with FX cameras, as I plan to upgrade in the next couple years again. I am happy to consider 3rd Party Lenses, and I understand that technology waits for no man (or woman), so I can not be sure that a lens bought today would be compatible with a FX camera in the future, I can just hope :-)

    Any thoughts on what Lenses to be considered and why would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.
    First, welcome to NRF. Second, use the search function in the upper right hand corner and you will find there is a forum on this topic with lots of discussion on lens.
    D750 & D7100 | 24-70 F2.8 G AF-S ED, 70-200 F2.8 AF VR, TC-14E III, TC-1.7EII, 35 F2 AF D, 50mm F1.8G, 105mm G AF-S VR | Backup & Wife's Gear: D5500 & Sony HX50V | 18-140 AF-S ED VR DX, 55-300 AF-S G VR DX |
    |SB-800, Amaran Halo LED Ring light | MB-D16 grip| Gitzo GT3541 + RRS BH-55LR, Gitzo GM2942 + Sirui L-10 | RRS gear | Lowepro, ThinkTank, & Hoodman gear | BosStrap | Vello Freewave Plus wireless Remote, Leica Lens Cleaning Cloth |
  • PistnbrokePistnbroke Posts: 2,443Member
    With a D7100 then 10mm is wide 18mm is now considered normal for everyday use ...If you buy a 10mm lens eg Sigma 10-20mm then it will not work on a FX camera ...so as suggested you are down to the samyang 14mm ig you intend to go FX one day . The samyang 14mm which to be honest is rubbish at 2.8 but great at F4 upwards
  • Spy_BlackSpy_Black Posts: 79Member
    edited July 2015
    You can rent lenses from lensrentals.com, among a few other rental places. Although primes are usually used for this, consider the relatively new Tokina 11-20 f/2.8. It may be good, it may suck, but it'll only be a $44 for a 6-day rental gamble for you to find out:
    https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/nikon/lenses/wide-angle/tokina-11-20mm-f2.8-at-x-pro-dx-for-nikon
    Post edited by Spy_Black on
  • heartyfisherheartyfisher Posts: 3,186Member
    edited July 2015
    Astrophotography is a specialist area and you would get specific tools for it.. unless you are really not that serious and only want a lense that can do several general things including astro.
    My recomendation in order of seriousness
    1) 16mm samyang
    2) 14-24 F2.8
    3) 11-16 or 11-20 tokina
    4) 20mm F1.8
    5) Your current kit at 18mm is F3.5 .. which is OK to practice with until you decide if you are really interested in sitting out in a camp in the cold night in the middle of nowhere... ;-) with an astrotracker mounted on a heavy tripod .. and a warming pad( on your camera and lense .. not you, you will have to make do with a blanket and cup of coffee .. :-) )
    Post edited by heartyfisher on
    Moments of Light - D610 D7K S5pro 70-200f4 18-200 150f2.8 12-24 18-70 35-70f2.8 : C&C very welcome!
    Being a photographer is a lot like being a Christian: Some people look at you funny but do not see the amazing beauty all around them - heartyfisher.

  • WestEndFotoWestEndFoto Posts: 3,742Member
    Why do you want a warming pad on your camera and lens?
  • tcole1983tcole1983 Posts: 981Member
    Why do you want a warming pad on your camera and lens?
    Why not? Jk I have no idea.
    D5200, D5000, S31, 18-55 VR, 17-55 F2.8, 35 F1.8G, 105 F2.8 VR, 300 F4 AF-S (Previously owned 18-200 VRI, Tokina 12-24 F4 II)
  • jlogan223jlogan223 Posts: 2Member
    Thanks all, that is some great help, I am liking the idea of the 11-16mm Tokina (as it has Auto Focus, so will still be easier to use as a walkaround), but also the Rokinon 14mm for the ability of being able to use if I upgrade, but doesn't seem to have Autofocus.
    until you decide if you are really interested in sitting out in a camp in the cold night in the middle of nowher
    I am not a lover of the cold but to capture the images I would like to of the Milky Wayt then I think I could deal with it, especially if I had enough Coffee, and maybe a hot water bottle ;-) haha.
    Why do you want a warming pad on your camera and lens?
    Why not? Jk I have no idea.
    I have heard of needing this before, and if I remember correctly its to stop condensation forming on the lens due to the temperature difference inside the camera and the ambient temp.
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    That is right. Keeps the condensation away. When I'm out it is usually cold enough to freeze the snot on the end of one's nose and it is hard to put a nice warm pad on the camera instead of in your glove!
    Always learning.
  • proudgeekproudgeek Posts: 1,422Member
    Doesn't keeping a battery warm also prolong the charge?
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    True, but I have not heard of that being the biggest problem before.
    Always learning.
  • heartyfisherheartyfisher Posts: 3,186Member
    Moments of Light - D610 D7K S5pro 70-200f4 18-200 150f2.8 12-24 18-70 35-70f2.8 : C&C very welcome!
    Being a photographer is a lot like being a Christian: Some people look at you funny but do not see the amazing beauty all around them - heartyfisher.

  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    I'd be all over that if I didn't have an FX. At the moment I am trying a Siggy 24-35 f2 on my D750. My mate got one and when I saw the IQ I sold my 24-120 and got it.
    Always learning.
  • heartyfisherheartyfisher Posts: 3,186Member
    edited April 2016
    I am tempted to upgrade my 12-24 to this little Tokina. I am not a wide angle shooter.. but astro is an interest I would like to get into. This 14-20 + D500 with its High ISO capability could be a very fun astro setup !! flippy screen would be nice too . would help with focus at an angle ..... 2 stops brighter than my 12-24 F4 hmmm .... and its so sharp !! May get me to play with landscapes more !
    Post edited by heartyfisher on
    Moments of Light - D610 D7K S5pro 70-200f4 18-200 150f2.8 12-24 18-70 35-70f2.8 : C&C very welcome!
    Being a photographer is a lot like being a Christian: Some people look at you funny but do not see the amazing beauty all around them - heartyfisher.

  • NSXTypeRNSXTypeR Posts: 2,286Member
    Hmm, if you leave your camera outside for a few hours would condensation still be a problem?

    I thought it would be a problem only with big temperature swings?

    I'm going to bookmark this thread and come back to it later. I'm in the middle of the city most of my time anyway, I don't think I can do this sort of photography easily.
    Nikon D7000/ Nikon D40/ Nikon FM2/ 18-135 AF-S/ 35mm 1.8 AF-S/ 105mm Macro AF-S/ 50mm 1.2 AI-S
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    I'm afraid that you will always get condensation at time of high humidity. The only solution is to warm your lens with something. I use those click-start hand-warmer thingies.
    Always learning.
  • daveznspacedaveznspace Posts: 180Member
    my 2 cents is that if you want really detailed milky way shots just use your 35mm 1.8 and don't worry about wide but you'll have to shoot it in sections then stitch together. While that kinda sucks you'll end up with a huge and much more detailed shot that you can down-sample to clean up the noise too.

    I say this as I've been shooting the milky way almost every night for several months and usually take a d700 and d7000 with me and mostly use the d700 and was at first using a samyang 14mm but just wasn't really happy with results. On a whim one night shot it in sections with a 50mm 1.8 and the end product was so much better. I ended up actually preferring to use a nikkor 24-120mm 3.5-5.6 at 24mm and considering its supposed to be a crap lens it works very well.. well it did before my new tripod decided to start breaking me gear.

    Really it doesn't take that long since you're shooting at much faster shutter speeds, so you can blaze through them. And if the moons out or you aren't in a seriously dark area f4 at iso 6400 works great so even a kit lens should be fine.
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