Your camera is only half the equation in astrophotography. The lens you attach to it determines how much light you gather, how sharp your stars are, and how wide a field of view you can capture. For full spectrum astrophotography, lens choice matters even more than in standard photography — not all lenses perform equally under the night sky, and some characteristics that are minor inconveniences in daylight become significant problems when you're trying to capture faint nebulae. This guide covers what to look for and recommends the best options across different categories and budgets. For advice on camera settings to pair with your lenses, read: The Best Settings for Astrophotography with a Full Spectrum Camera.
What Makes a Good Astrophotography Lens?
Several characteristics separate a great astrophotography lens from a merely adequate one:
Maximum Aperture
A fast lens — f/2.8 or wider — gathers significantly more light than a slower lens, allowing shorter exposures for the same signal level. For untracked shooting where exposure time is limited by star trailing, a fast lens is particularly valuable. An f/1.8 lens gathers four times as much light as an f/3.5 lens — a difference that translates directly into shorter exposures or fainter targets.
Coma and Astigmatism
Coma is an optical aberration that causes stars near the edges of the frame to appear as small comet-like smears rather than points of light. Astigmatism causes stars to appear as small crosses or ovals. Both are most pronounced at wide apertures and are the primary optical quality concern for astrophotography lenses.
Chromatic Aberration
Chromatic aberration causes different wavelengths of light to focus at slightly different points, producing coloured fringing around bright stars. For full spectrum astrophotography, where you're capturing a broader range of wavelengths than a standard camera, chromatic aberration can be more pronounced. Apochromatic (APO) lenses are corrected for chromatic aberration across a wider range of wavelengths and are preferred for serious astrophotography.
Vignetting
Vignetting — darkening of the corners of the frame — is common at wide apertures and can be corrected in post-processing using flat frames as part of your calibration frame workflow.
Wide-Angle Lenses — Milky Way and Wide-Field Imaging
Wide-angle lenses are the workhorses of untracked astrophotography — Milky Way photography, star trails, and wide-field constellation imaging. For a complete guide to Milky Way photography, read: How to Photograph the Milky Way with a Full Spectrum Camera.
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 Art
One of the finest wide-angle astrophotography lenses available. The f/1.8 maximum aperture is exceptional for a 14mm lens, and the optical quality — particularly coma control — is outstanding. A top choice for Milky Way photography. Available in Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, and L-mount.
Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Art
Another outstanding Sigma Art lens for astrophotography. The 20mm focal length is a versatile choice — wide enough for sweeping Milky Way shots but with enough reach to frame specific regions of the sky. Excellent coma control and sharpness. Available in multiple mounts.
Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G
Sony's own 20mm f/1.8 is a compact, lightweight option with excellent optical performance for astrophotography. Good coma control, fast autofocus, and a compact form factor that makes it ideal for travel astrophotography.
Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f/2.8
A budget-friendly option that has been popular with astrophotographers for years. Stopping down to f/4 produces much better star shapes, and the price makes it an accessible entry point. Available in virtually every mount.
Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D
An excellent wide-angle option with very low distortion and good coma control. The f/2 aperture is a useful step up from f/2.8 lenses. A strong choice for astrophotographers who also shoot architecture or landscapes.
Standard and Short Telephoto — Tracked Deep-Sky Imaging
For tracked deep-sky imaging — where a star tracker compensates for the Earth's rotation and allows longer exposures — standard and short telephoto focal lengths (35mm–135mm) are ideal for imaging larger deep-sky objects such as the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Pleiades.
Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 Zeiss
An outstanding standard prime for astrophotography. The Zeiss optical design produces excellent star shapes across the frame, and the f/1.8 aperture is fast enough for both untracked and tracked work. One of the sharpest lenses available for Sony E-mount.
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art
A versatile focal length that bridges wide-field and standard imaging. The Sigma Art optical quality is excellent, with well-controlled coma and chromatic aberration. A strong choice for both Milky Way photography and tracked deep-sky work on larger targets.
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art
For tracked imaging of medium-sized deep-sky objects, the 85mm focal length is ideal. The Sigma 85mm Art produces excellent star shapes and has the speed to gather light efficiently. A popular choice for imaging objects like the Orion Nebula and the Lagoon Nebula.
Telephoto Lenses — Tracked Imaging of Smaller Targets
For smaller deep-sky objects — planetary nebulae, globular clusters, and smaller galaxies — longer focal lengths of 200mm–600mm are needed. At these focal lengths, a star tracker is essential.
Sony FE 200–600mm f/5.6–6.3 G OSS
A superb telephoto zoom that doubles as an excellent astrophotography lens for smaller deep-sky targets and planetary imaging. The optical quality is outstanding for a zoom of this range, and the optical stabilisation is useful for shorter tracked exposures.
Sigma 150–600mm f/5–6.3 Contemporary
A cost-effective alternative to the Sony 200–600mm with good optical performance for astrophotography.
Refractor telescopes with camera adapters
For serious deep-sky imaging at longer focal lengths, a dedicated apochromatic refractor telescope with a camera adapter is worth considering. Telescopes designed for astrophotography — such as those from William Optics, Sky-Watcher, or Askar — are optimised for flat, well-corrected fields and produce excellent results with full spectrum cameras.
Testing Your Lenses for Coma
Before committing to a lens for serious astrophotography, it's worth testing it for coma. Point the camera at a star-filled area of sky, shoot at maximum aperture, and examine the corners of the frame at 100% magnification. Round, sharp stars indicate good coma control; comet-like smears indicate significant coma.
For advice on lenses for infrared and UV photography (as opposed to astrophotography), see our companion guide: The Best Lenses for Full Spectrum and Infrared Photography. And if you have questions about specific lenses or need advice on building an astrophotography kit, get in touch — we're happy to help.