Which lenses are your using for startrails and night sky

Conqueror · 12-10-2012, 02:47 PM

Which lenses are your using for startrails and night sky?

Have you got pictures/links also?

ta

Karl Stevens · 12-10-2012, 03:56 PM

For night sky, I've had good luck with the Samyang/Rokinon 8mm f/3.5.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/115017005099942426830/albums/562644153569...55596215214514
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/115017005099942426830/albums/562644153569...39981624048002

**PentaxJax** · 12-10-2012, 05:56 PM

Originally posted by Karl Stevens

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...55596215214514

Karl. This shot of the Milky Way is stunning.
Can you give us a reason for this lens choice vs others? I too would like to take the first steps in night sky/ Astro photography but have a limited budget and would like to know what lenses and why.

Professor Batty · 12-10-2012, 08:09 PM

I've had some fun in Iceland with the DA 15mm F4 Limited, not a cheap lens but very handy for Auroras:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YviKJTzUdhdf0ZO967x2etMTjNZETYmyPJy0li...eat=directlink

... and other things:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GLQ_COlTj5CuDwXn5h85XdMTjNZETYmyPJy0li...eat=directlink

**bpv_UW** · 12-10-2012, 09:31 PM

I'll second the DA 15. A great lens for star trails...and a great landscape lens all around.

_IGP4504 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

_IGP4966 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

-Brandon

**PentaxJax** · 12-10-2012, 09:50 PM

Originally posted by bpv_UW

I'll second the DA 15

Brandon.
Why the 15/4 and not the 14/2.8?. I am not doubting the quality of those two posts you have included but would I get acceptable results with a manual Samyung? This is a picture I took from the backyard with my K-r and a Tamron 28-70. Its not good but it got me thinking! This was taken on a table with a gorillapod focus (the only tripod I had at the time!)

**bpv_UW** · 12-10-2012, 11:23 PM

I don't have direct experience with the Samyang 14/2.8, but I don't see why it wouldn't work just as well. AF isn't really needed; just have to MF to infinity or thereabouts. The real key is having a cable release (to allow long exposure time) and a very stable tripod and calm conditions.

-Brandon

bdery · 12-11-2012, 05:57 AM

My favourite is the DA21 limited, its field of view is quite comfortable, it creates beautiful star bursts around light sources, and it's plenty sharp enough...

DeadJohn · 12-11-2012, 07:15 AM

To the OP, what lenses do you already have? I suggest starting from there. Even the 18-55 can be used to learn how to take night sky shots. Camera settings, pointing at an interesting part of the sky, getting a good foreground (sometimes), and processing techniques apply regardless of the lens used.

Professor Batty · 12-11-2012, 07:40 AM

The DA 15 is small and has an infinity stop. Optically, I think you could get good results with any of those much larger lenses. . The question is: how much gear do you want to haul around in the dark?

mikeSF · 12-11-2012, 09:05 AM - **1 Like**

+1 on the DA15

I also often use the Sigma 10-20

mikeSF · 12-11-2012, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by bpv_UW

I'll second the DA 15. A great lens for star trails...and a great landscape lens all around.

_IGP4504 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

_IGP4966 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

-Brandon

nice!

bdery · 12-11-2012, 11:10 AM

mikeSF, your picture with the Sigma 10-20 is great! EXIF claims you exposed for 151 seconds, how did you manage to avoid some star trail on the image? Did you mount the cemara on a telescope mount?

ISO 2500, wow. That's a testament to the quality of the K-5 sensor... I could never pull that off with my K20D.

mikeSF · 12-11-2012, 01:05 PM

i used the O-GPS1 for the long exposure

EarlVonTapia · 12-11-2012, 03:09 PM

Originally posted by mikeSF

+1 on the DA15

I also often use the Sigma 10-20

Wow! This photo is so amazing and inspiring. The colors are fantastic.

12-10-2012, 02:47 PM	#1
Conqueror Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: UK Posts: 440	Which lenses are your using for startrails and night sky Which lenses are your using for startrails and night sky? Have you got pictures/links also? ta

12-10-2012, 09:50 PM	#6
PentaxJax Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eastern shore Posts: 138	Originally posted by bpv_UW I'll second the DA 15 Brandon. Why the 15/4 and not the 14/2.8?. I am not doubting the quality of those two posts you have included but would I get acceptable results with a manual Samyung? This is a picture I took from the backyard with my K-r and a Tamron 28-70. Its not good but it got me thinking! This was taken on a table with a gorillapod focus (the only tripod I had at the time!) Attached Images Last edited by PentaxJax; 12-10-2012 at 10:00 PM. Reason: typo

12-11-2012, 07:40 AM	#10
Professor Batty Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 118	The DA 15 is small and has an infinity stop. Optically, I think you could get good results with any of those much larger lenses. . The question is: how much gear do you want to haul around in the dark? Last edited by Professor Batty; 12-11-2012 at 08:03 AM. Reason: misunderstood question

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12-10-2012, 03:56 PM	#2
Karl Stevens Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 128	For night sky, I've had good luck with the Samyang/Rokinon 8mm f/3.5. https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/115017005099942426830/albums/562644153569...55596215214514 https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/115017005099942426830/albums/562644153569...39981624048002

12-10-2012, 05:56 PM	#3
PentaxJax Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eastern shore Posts: 138	Originally posted by Karl Stevens https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...55596215214514 Karl. This shot of the Milky Way is stunning. Can you give us a reason for this lens choice vs others? I too would like to take the first steps in night sky/ Astro photography but have a limited budget and would like to know what lenses and why.

12-10-2012, 08:09 PM	#4
Professor Batty Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 118	I've had some fun in Iceland with the DA 15mm F4 Limited, not a cheap lens but very handy for Auroras: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YviKJTzUdhdf0ZO967x2etMTjNZETYmyPJy0li...eat=directlink ... and other things: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GLQ_COlTj5CuDwXn5h85XdMTjNZETYmyPJy0li...eat=directlink

12-10-2012, 09:31 PM	#5
bpv_UW Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 765	I'll second the DA 15. A great lens for star trails...and a great landscape lens all around. _IGP4504 \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! _IGP4966 \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! -Brandon

12-10-2012, 11:23 PM	#7
bpv_UW Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 765	I don't have direct experience with the Samyang 14/2.8, but I don't see why it wouldn't work just as well. AF isn't really needed; just have to MF to infinity or thereabouts. The real key is having a cable release (to allow long exposure time) and a very stable tripod and calm conditions. -Brandon

12-11-2012, 05:57 AM	#8
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	My favourite is the DA21 limited, its field of view is quite comfortable, it creates beautiful star bursts around light sources, and it's plenty sharp enough...

12-11-2012, 07:15 AM	#9
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833	To the OP, what lenses do you already have? I suggest starting from there. Even the 18-55 can be used to learn how to take night sky shots. Camera settings, pointing at an interesting part of the sky, getting a good foreground (sometimes), and processing techniques apply regardless of the lens used.

12-11-2012, 09:05 AM - 1 Like	#11
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	+1 on the DA15 I also often use the Sigma 10-20

12-11-2012, 09:05 AM	#12
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	Originally posted by bpv_UW I'll second the DA 15. A great lens for star trails...and a great landscape lens all around. _IGP4504 \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! _IGP4966 \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! -Brandon nice!

12-11-2012, 11:10 AM	#13
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	mikeSF, your picture with the Sigma 10-20 is great! EXIF claims you exposed for 151 seconds, how did you manage to avoid some star trail on the image? Did you mount the cemara on a telescope mount? ISO 2500, wow. That's a testament to the quality of the K-5 sensor... I could never pull that off with my K20D.

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12-11-2012, 01:05 PM	#14
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	i used the O-GPS1 for the long exposure

12-11-2012, 03:09 PM	#15
EarlVonTapia Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,207	Originally posted by mikeSF +1 on the DA15 I also often use the Sigma 10-20 Wow! This photo is so amazing and inspiring. The colors are fantastic.