2023 Milky Way Photography Gear

Quick Jump:

1. Milky Way Photography Lenses

2. Milky Way Photography Cameras

3. Miscellaneous Night Photography Gear

Be sure to check out our 2023 Milky Way Photography Workshops and free Milky Way Photography 101 Guide.

Milky Way Photography Lenses

A good wide-angle lens is an essential tool for capturing the Milky Way. The aperture should be f/2.8 or wider. Fast lenses are ideal for astrophotography, as they allow to capture more light and create a brighter image. Be aware that some fast lenses are not sharp wide open and also show a lot of coma which is a type of lens aberration that causes stars to appear distorted and have comet-like tails in photographs. Image stabilization is not a requirement for astrophotography and should be turned off. Autofocus is also not needed as we manually focus on the stars. With the right lens, you can capture stunning images of the Milky Way and the night sky. We are recommending lenses that offer a great value at different price points.

Canon

Canon Crop DSLR

Canon Full Frame DSLR

Canon RF Crop Mirrorless

Canon RF Full Frame Mirrorless

 

Nikon

Nikon Crop DSLR

Nikon Full Frame DSLR

Nikon Crop Mirrorless

Nikon Mirrorless

 

Sony

Sony Crop Mirrorless

Sony Mirrorless

 

Fuji APS-C

Olympus and Panasonic MFT

Panasonic Full Frame

 

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Night Photography Cameras

Generally, full frame cameras will provide a better and cleaner image than crop cameras (APS-C/MFT) due to the larger sensor. With a fast wide angle lens it is however possible to capture the Milky Way with most recent digital cameras. If you are starting out and looking for a new camera, a mirrorless camera is recommended. You will be able to buy new mirrorless lenses (there will not be any new DSLR lens designs in the future) and can still use older DSLR lenses with an adapter. Mirrorless cameras also have more features.

Canon

Canon RF Crop Mirrorless

  • Canon EOS R50 (most affordable RF mount camera, same sensor as RF10, $680)
  • Canon EOS R7 (most powerful Canon crop camera, $1500)

Canon Full Frame Mirrorless

  • Canon EOS R8 (best full frame value, same sensor as the R6 II, $1500)
  • Canon EOS R6 II (feature rich full frame camera,$2600)
  • Canon EOS R5 (Canon’s best landscape camera is great for astrophotography too, $3900)

Nikon

Nikon Z Crop Mirrorless

  • Nikon Z50 (great value, $1000 with kit lens)

Nikon Full Frame Mirrorless

Sony

Sony Crop Mirrorless

Sony Full Frame Mirrorless

  • Sony A7IV (great feautures and performance, $2500)
  • Sony A7RV (great for landscapes and astrophotography, $3900)

Miscellaneous Night Photography Gear

Tripods

L-Brackets

  • L-Brackets let you quickly and easily switch between a portrait-oriented shot and a landscape-oriented shot. Go to Amazon and search for “L-Bracket” & your camera as they are camera specific.

Shutter Remotes

  • Wired remotes are a useful photography tool. We recommend buying two as the cables can easily break in cold temperatures. Go to Amazon and search for “shutter remote” & your camera as they are camera specific.

 Headlamps

  • Fenix HM50R (great light, keeps your hands free, USB-C rechargeable, $60)

Misc Tools

  • Smallrig Tool Set (all the tools you need for tripods, ballheads, etc in a compact package $20)

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