The following page provides individually examined and accredited most popular cameras and lenses for Milky Way, famous people, northern lighting & nighttime sky pictures.
There are many options for the best camera & first-rate lens for nighttime photography.
It all relies upon your personal shooting style & rate range choice.
Below, I’ve indexed my favorites to get you begun, alongside in-intensity picture guides that train you in the camera technique & settings for night photography.
Nikon Full Frame Cameras for Night Photography
Nikon D810 (My Main Camera) – One of the great night sky & panorama images digicam bodies made. A Tough metal frame makes it ideal for mountain climbing and backpacking.
I distinctly advise this digital camera to all panorama photographers who count on their tools to carry it out at the top degree and take a beating at the identical time.
You can reference my Latest Night Sky Photos to see some of the images created with this digicam.
Nikon D800 (My Backup Camera) – I sense the equal of this camera as the D810. The dynamic range isn’t quite as accurate, however, nonetheless, it is around an extraordinary camera.
I don’t convey this backup for backpacking / touring. This is a backup digicam for lengthy distance picture journeys. This used to be my important digicam and has worked flawlessly for the beyond five years.
Nikon D850 – After my D810 wears out, this is the next digital camera I will get. This is Nikon’s replacement for the D810.
I have shot with the following cameras. They paint well.
That being said, if you may come up with the money for it, go together with the D810 or the D850.
Nikon Lenses for Night Photography
Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G – The excellent nighttime sky & landscape photography lens currently made.
You can reference my Latest Night Sky Photos to peer at a number of the snapshots created with the Nikkor 14-24mm.
Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF Autofocus Lens – Another fantastic huge perspective lens. If you’ve got a desire, go together with the 14-24, above.
Nikkor 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye – This is not a totally flexible most popular lens. It will paint, but go along with one of the lenses above if you’re shopping for a new one.
Sony Full Frame Cameras for Night Photography
Most popular Sony and Nikon cameras have first-class sensors for low-light and nighttime sky images. They are also wonderful for landscape images.
Nikon uses Sony sensors within the D810 and D800 noted above.
I don’t locate Sony cameras to be as difficult as Nikon Cameras, this is my fundamental cause for no longer the usage of them.
The 2d motive is that doesn’t want to apply an adapter for the Nikkor 14-24mm required with the aid of Sony.
Here are the two fashions I advocate for night sky pictures.
- Sony a7R III Mirrorless Camera
- Sony A7R II Mirrorless Camera
Sony Lenses for Night Photography
I’d suggest using an adapter with the Nikkor 14-24mm lens, over any of the following choices.
That being said, if you don’t want to spend 2000$ on a lens plus an adapter, these alternatives work nicely too!
Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 – If I have been best taking night sky images this will be my lens of desire.
Sony 12-24mm f/four G – If I had been taking panorama & nighttime sky images, this would be my lens of preference.
Canon Full Frame Cameras for Night Photography
Even the exceptional Canon Cameras no longer carry out thoroughly in low mild and feature a reduced dynamic range in comparison to Nikon & Sony.
This has not anything to do with manufacturers and a whole lot to do with sensor science.
I do now not advise the most popular Canon Cameras for night photography.
That being stated, in case you have already got a Canon, it doesn’t hurt to give it a try.
Here are the fashions that might work for night sky photography.
- Canon 5D Mark III
- Canon 6D