Investing in a Sony lens ensures you have the advanced optics to capture stunning images of the night sky with exceptional quality and reliability.
Discover three of the best Sony lenses you can buy for astrophotography. They range from a great choice for beginners, an intermediate lens ideal for the next level, and a top choice for professional level astrophotography.
| Image | Name | Focal Length | Aperture | Mount | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS | 55-210mm zoom | f/4.5-6.3 | Sony E-Mount | 345g (12.2oz) | Check Latest Price |
 | Sony FE 20mm F 1.8 G | 20mm prime | f/1.8 | Sony E-Mount | 374 g (0.83 lbs) | Check Latest Price |
 | Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM | 24mm prime | f/1.4 | Sony E-Mount | 445 g (0.98 lbs) | Check Latest Price |
Budget-friendly Quality: Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS
A solid entry-level lens can help you capture stunning night skies, even if you’re still learning the ropes.
Choosing a lens as a beginner involves a few key criteria. You want something versatile, with a decent zoom and aperture range. Some stabilization is desirable to help keep those stars sharp, even if your hands aren’t steady.
One lens to put on your list is the Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS. This budget friendly Sony lens for astrophotography strikes a balance between affordability and performance. Beginners find this lens easy to handle because it doesn’t overwhelm with overly complicated features.
The optical image stabilization feature helps keep your shots crisp without the need for a tripod, making it perfect for spontaneous stargazing sessions.
The zoom lets you experiment with framing – whether you’re taking wide shots of the Milky Way or zooming in to catch lunar craters.
Its lightweight nature means you won’t feel bogged down during those long night sessions.
This lens pairs easily with various Sony camera bodies, expanding its usability as you explore different setups.
In terms of cost, it’s pretty much a solid investment. It’s affordable and yet plays a substantial role in advancing your Astro skills.
Intermediate Choice: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G
Reaching the intermediate level in astrophotography means you’re refining your skills and knowledge and are looking to push the boundaries of your night sky captures.
At this stage, your gear needs to match your aspirations for capturing those intricate celestial scenes with more precision and flair.
The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens, part of Sony’s premium G series, is known for its outstanding optical quality and makes a great intermediate choice.
With a lightweight design and fast f/1.8 aperture, this lens allows you to shoot in low light without needing to crank up your ISO settings too high. This helps maintain clearer, noise-free images.
Having a 20mm field of view makes this lens an attractive choice for those wide, sweeping star shots.
You can capture vast portions of the sky in one frame, making it easier to include those beautiful night landscapes with the Milky Way stretching overhead.
Plus, it’s great for creating dynamic compositions with a foreground as well.
Considering all these factors, the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is a strong candidate for anyone serious about astrophotography.
Its light-gathering capabilities, wide angle and sharpness, are excellent at capturing the beauty of the night skies.
The Premium Choice: Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM
The Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM is a top-tier wide-angle prime lens designed for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras.
It is renowned for its exceptional image quality, fast aperture, and advanced optical design.
The lens delivers superb sharpness and clarity across the frame, even at its widest aperture of f/1.4. The advanced optics, including XA and ED elements, minimize aberrations and ensure high resolution.
The f/1.4 maximum aperture allows for excellent low-light performance and beautiful background bokeh, making it ideal for astrophotography and other low-light scenarios.
Despite its high performance, the lens is relatively compact and lightweight, enhancing portability and ease of use.
The lens is well-built with weather and dust sealing, making it durable and reliable in various shooting conditions.
The lack of built-in image stabilization is a minor issue, as it means you’ll need to rely on the camera’s stabilization or use a tripod for steady shots.
Nevertheless, many award-winning photographers laud the FE 24mm for its ability to render breathtakingly clear images, whether it be capturing meteor showers or the ethereal glow of the Milky Way.
Can I Use The Same Sony Lens For Either DSLR Or Mirrorless Cameras?
Yes, you can use the same Sony lens for both DSLR and mirrorless cameras, but you may need an adapter.
Sony’s A-mount lenses, which are designed for their DSLR cameras, can be used on Sony’s E-mount mirrorless cameras with the appropriate adapter.
Sony offers the LA-EA4 and LA-EA3 mount adapters, which allow you to use A-mount lenses on E-mount cameras. These adapters maintain full functionality, including autofocus and image stabilization.
Bear in mind that using an adapter can add some bulk and weight to your setup, which might affect the balance and handling of the camera.
Learn more on the subject of cameras and lenses in the post Astrophotography For beginners.
