Best Lenses for Astrophotography

This compact, speedy body is one of our best camera lenses for astrophotography, hitting the sweet spot for detailed compositions of the Milky Way with Earth landscapes in the foreground thanks to its wide 16mm focal length and lightning-fast f/2.8 aperture. What really makes the lens excel for enthusiasts is its brightness. The fast and wide aperture lets more light enter the lens, meaning that stars, constellations and more are bright, clear and crisp. While the lens doesn’t include image stabilisation, you can use it with a tripod for clear and stable nighttime photography.

While a wide-angle lens is great for landscape shots of the stars and Earth foreground, you can use a super telephoto to capture images of celestial bodies such as the Moon and the Sun (as long as you use a filter to prevent damage to the sensor or your eye). With an incredible 800mm focal length, this Canon RF astrophotography lens is a unique option for photographing the Moon’s craters, mountains and more. Although the f/11 aperture is too slow for stars, it has 4 stops of image stabilisation for bringing out images clear and blur free. Finally, an intuitive Lens Control Ring gives you more control over exposure and ISO settings.

A wide angle, super-fast zoom lens for professional astrophotographers, this compact body has everything you need to take award-winning images of the night sky. One of the best lenses for the Milky Way, its F/2.8 aperture is fast and wide. It means that more light enters the lens, great for fast but steady images of constellations, stars, nebulas and the Milky Way, all revealed in detail impossible to see with the naked eye. As with all of our L-Series lenses, it uses advanced technology to stay ahead of the competition. 3 aspherical and 2 UD lens elements provide sharpness while weather sealing means you can carry on during dewy, damp nights.

This ultra telephoto astrophotography lens has a 1200mm focal length that enables it to become the master of Moon or Sun photography. Not only can you get close to the Moon, but you can reveal craters, mountains and its geography in awe-inspiring detail. Although the lens has a slower and narrower F/8 aperture, it’s 4 stop Image Stabilizer prevents shaking in low light, while UD and Super UD coatings reduce ghosting and flare to deliver fantastic sharpness. This sharpness is crucial in low light, as blur becomes more apparent when the lens doesn’t have a lot of light to play with. The lens is built to last, with weather sealing that is great for damp nights.

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II makes incredible astrophotography possible. Aside from breakneck speed, the camera uses an Image Stabilizer that can deliver up to 8 stops of image stabilisation, perfect for low light, handheld photography. It’s a reliable option for the night, especially as its -6.5EV focusing capabilities mean that it will continue to focus in less light than a half-Moon and its full frame sensor delivers superior high ISO performance. A great companion for your astrophotography lenses, this camera is great for long exposures, even without the use of a tripod.

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II makes incredible astrophotography possible. Aside from breakneck speed, the camera uses an Image Stabilizer that can deliver up to 8 stops of image stabilisation, perfect for low light, handheld photography. It’s a reliable option for the night, especially as its -6.5EV focusing capabilities mean that it will continue to focus in less light than a half-Moon and its full frame sensor delivers superior high ISO performance. A great companion for your astrophotography lenses, this camera is great for long exposures, even without the use of a tripod.