14 Best Nikon Lens For Astrophotography

Are you looking for the best Nikon lens for astrophotography? Astrophotography is one of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of photography. Capturing breathtaking shots of the night sky is a magical experience that can be truly rewarding for an eager photographer. The challenge lies in finding the perfect combination of camera and lens to achieve sharp, detailed shots of astronomical phenomena.

Nikon is one of the leading brands of cameras and lenses and its offerings in the astrophotography genre are just as good. In this article, we take a look at the 14 best Nikon lenses for astrophotography and what they have to offer.

1. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED

This ultra-wide-angle Nikon lens is a great choice for those looking to capture sweeping shots of the night sky. It offers a fast f/2.8 aperture, which allows plenty of light to enter the camera and reduces the need for long exposure times. The sharpness of the images produced by this lens is quite impressive and chromatic aberration is kept to a minimum. The ultra-wide angle allows you to capture a large portion of the night sky to include stars, nebulae, and other astronomical phenomena in the frame.

Pros:

• Fast f/2.8 aperture allows for shorter exposure times
• Ultra-wide angle for larger portions of the sky
• Impressive sharpness and minimal chromatic aberration

Cons:

• Expensive
• Heavy and bulky

2. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens is a great all-rounder that can be used for all types of photography, including astrophotography. This lens is much lighter than the 14-24mm lens and can be easily mounted on most cameras. The fast f/2.8 aperture means that you can use shorter exposure times to capture the night sky. The sharpness and color accuracy of the images produced by this lens are great and it has very minimal chromatic aberration.

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy to mount
• Fast f/2.8 aperture for shorter exposure times
• Great image quality

Cons:

• Expensive
• Focal length not wide enough for some astrophotography shots

3. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G ED

The Nikon 24mm f/1.4G ED lens is designed for prime or fixed-length astrophotography, offering a fast maximum aperture of f/1.4 and an ultra-wide angle of view. The extra-large aperture allows for maximum light transmission and opens up possibilities for extremely long exposures. The autofocus is fast and accurate, making it a great choice for capturing star trails and other astronomical phenomena. The image quality is impressive, with great sharpness and minimal chromatic aberration.

Pros:

• Fast maximum aperture of f/1.4
• Ultra-wide angle of view
• Autofocus is fast and accurate

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not suitable for all astrophotography shots

4. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED

The Nikon 20mm f/1.8G ED lens is an excellent choice for wide-field astrophotography. The fast f/1.8 maximum aperture allows for maximum light transmission, making this a great lens for longer exposures. The image quality is great, with minimal chromatic aberration and impressive sharpness. The autofocus is fast and accurate, making this lens a great choice for capturing star trails.

Pros:

• Fast maximum aperture of f/1.8
• Great sharpness and minimal chromatic aberration
• Autofocus is fast and accurate

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not suitable for all astrophotography shots

5. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.8G ED

The Nikon 24mm f/1.8G ED lens is an excellent choice for wide-field astrophotography. This lens offers the same maximum aperture as the 20mm lens, but with a slightly wider angle of view. The ultra-wide angle allows for larger portions of the night sky to be included in the frame, making it a great choice for capturing sweeping shots of the Milky Way. Autofocus is fast and accurate, and image sharpness and chromatic aberration are very good.

Pros:

• Fast maximum aperture of f/1.8
• Ultra-wide angle of view
• Autofocus is fast and accurate

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not suitable for all astrophotography shots

6. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED

The Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED lens is an excellent choice for those looking to capture more detailed shots of the night sky. This lens offers a great zoom range, allowing you to zoom in on a specific area of the night sky to capture more detailed shots. The maximum aperture of f/3.5-4.5 is slightly slower than some of the other lenses listed here, but this can be compensated for by using longer exposure times. Image sharpness and chromatic aberration are both very good.

Pros:

• Wide range of zoom
• Good image sharpness and chromatic aberration
• Can be used for more detailed shots

Cons:

• Slower maximum aperture
• Longer exposure times required

7. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

The Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens is a great choice for those new to astrophotography and looking for an affordable option. This lens offers a decent zoom range and a good maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6, allowing you to capture detailed shots of the night sky. The image sharpness and chromatic aberration are both good, and you can expect decent results with this lens.

Pros:

• Affordable price
• Good maximum aperture
• Decent image sharpness and chromatic aberration

Cons:

• Does not offer a wide-angle view
• Slower maximum aperture

8. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

The Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR is a great all-in-one solution for those looking for an all-purpose lens for astrophotography. This lens has a great zoom range and a decent maximum aperture. It also has Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, which can reduce the effects of camera shake, allowing you to use longer exposures without introducing blur into the image. Image sharpness and chromatic aberration are both quite good.

Pros:

• All-in-one solution
• Good zoom range and maximum aperture
• Vibration Reduction technology

Cons:

• Not a wide-angle lens
• Slower maximum aperture

9. Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR

The Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR lens is another great choice for those looking to capture more detailed shots of the night sky. This lens has a good zoom range and a decent maximum aperture, allowing you to zoom in on specific areas in the sky to capture more detailed shots. The image sharpness and chromatic aberration are both good and you can expect good results from this lens.

Pros:

• Good zoom range
• Good maximum aperture
• Decent image sharpness and chromatic aberration

Cons:

• Not a wide-angle lens
• Slower maximum aperture

10. Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

The Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR is an affordable option for those new to astrophotography. This lens offers a decent zoom range and a good maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6. It also has Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, which can reduce the effects of camera shake, allowing you to use longer exposures without introducing blur into the image. Image sharpness and chromatic aberration are both quite good.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Good maximum aperture
• Vibration Reduction technology

Cons:

• Not a wide-angle lens
• Slower maximum aperture

11. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

The Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens is a great all-in-one solution for astrophotography. This lens has a great zoom range and a good maximum aperture. It also has Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, which can reduce the effects of camera shake, allowing you to use longer exposures without introducing blur into the image. Image sharpness and chromatic aberration are both quite good.

Pros:

• All-in-one solution
• Good zoom range and maximum aperture
• Vibration Reduction technology

Cons:

• Not a wide-angle lens
• Slower maximum aperture

12. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF ED

The Nikon 12-24mm f/4G IF ED lens is an excellent choice for ultra-wide angle astrophotography. This lens has a maximum aperture of f/4, which is fast enough for shorter exposure times. The image sharpness and chromatic aberration are both quite good. The autofocus is fast and accurate, making this an ideal lens for capturing star trails and other astronomical phenomena.

Pros:

• Fast maximum aperture of f/4
• Ultra-wide angle of view
• Autofocus is fast and accurate

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not suitable for all astrophotography shots

13. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6G ED

The Nikon 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6G ED is another great choice for ultra-wide angle astrophotography. The maximum aperture of f/4.5-5.6 is slightly slower than the 12-24mm f/4 lens, but can be compensated for by using longer exposure times. The image sharpness and chromatic aberration are both quite good. This lens also has Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, which can reduce the effects of camera shake, allowing you to use longer exposures without introducing blur into the image.

Pros:

• Ultra-wide angle of view
• Good image sharpness and chromatic aberration
• Vibration Reduction technology

Cons:

• Slower maximum aperture
• Longer exposure times required

14. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

The Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II lens is a great all-in-one solution for those looking for an all-purpose lens for astrophotography. This lens has a great zoom range and a decent maximum aperture, making it a great choice for capturing more detailed shots of the night sky. The Vibration Reduction (VR) technology can reduce the effects of camera shake, allowing you to use longer exposures without introducing blur into the image. Image sharpness and chromatic aberration are both quite good.

Pros:

• All-in-one solution
• Good zoom range and maximum aperture
• Vibration Reduction technology

Cons:

• Not a wide-angle lens
• Slower maximum aperture

Final Thoughts On Best Nikon Lens For Astrophotography

When it comes to astrophotography, choosing the right lens is critical. Nikon is one of the leading brands of cameras and lenses and its offerings in the astrophotography genre are just as good. In this article, we have taken a look at the 14 best Nikon lenses for astrophotography and what they have to offer. From fast and wide-angle lenses to all-in-one solutions and more, there is something here for everyone. No matter what your budget or skill level, there is sure to be a Nikon lens to suit your needs.