[MatBloodaxe]

I have a K-5 with the DA 18-135 F3.5-5.6 lens which has been great for night photos so-far, but I'm after something with a wider angle of view and, ideally, a lower F. I want it to take photos of the night sky such as the Milky Way or star trails with landscapes/buildings/trees in the foreground, and landscapes on full moon nights.

So-far I have found the following which might suit what I'm after:

PENTAX DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ($529)
PENTAX FA 31mm f1.8 ($1,199)
Samyang 14 mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC (~$400)

I'm hoping there's someone on here who has tried these lenses in the same conditions or can recommend any others.

Thanks in advance!

[Bramela]

I would have good look into the Pentax DA15 4.0 A brilliant lens, to be honest.

[Sandy Hancock]

Sigma EX DG 15mm f/2.8 diagonal fish-eye?

[calsan]

The larger the filter size of the lens, the better. Note FILTER size, not aperture.
Although a large filter size and large aperture tend to go hand in hand. Basically, for point light sources, the front lens is the aperture, as with a telescope.

[hcc]

Surprisingly I found that the DA15mm f4 can do a decent job.

Yes the Da15mm is f4 (not 2.8), yes I use a K-7 (not great at high ISO)... Altogether it may work for you by increasingly ISO and using slower shutter speed.

My 5 cents...

[rawr]

The Tamron 17-50 also does a good job wide, and is a constant f2.8.
Software support for it on Pentax (Lightroom, DxO etc) is also very good.

[asp1880]

There's a Samyang 16mm f/2.0 which gives you fast and wide at the same time. I don't know if it's good at far focus though, which
is what you want for landscape and astro work.

Regards,
--Anders.

[Na Horuk]

I have the 14mm Samyang and.. well, the 16mm f2.0 Samyang might be a better fit. Not as crazy wide, a little faster.. But Im not sure the 16mm Samyang is even available in stores yet
But feel free to search the forums for astrophotography or something, there were a couple threads on "best lenses for star photography" already

[MatBloodaxe]

Thanks for the replies! I've got a few more lenses to consider now. I particularly like the look of the 16mm Samyang, though it's hard to tell how it would go without a proper review of it yet.
Has anyone got hands on experience with the 10-17mm at night?

[Kozlok]

+1 for the DA15LTD. It is a superb lens.

[bdery]

I will propose something a bit different. the best I've used, ever, is the DA21. Amazing for colours, sharpness, plus it creates the most beautiful star effect I've yet to see.

[Driline]

I will propose something a bit different. the best I've used, ever, is the DA21. Amazing for colours, sharpness, plus it creates the most beautiful star effect I've yet to see.

Can you post a few pics?

[bdery]

Can you post a few pics?

Here are a few I collected quickly.

[EarlVonTapia]

For nightscapes, almost any lens will do. A good tripod + ballhead is really the essential thing, as you want to have the camera be rock steady for long exposures.

That being said, I'll throw my vote in for the DA 15 Ltd.

[EarlVonTapia]

I want it to take photos of the night sky such as the Milky Way or star trails with landscapes/buildings/trees in the foreground, and landscapes on full moon nights.

The kit lens works great imo.



An upgrade on that would be something like the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (or something like it). You really want that wide aperture to suck in as much starlight as possible.