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
- Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 (great value at $320)
- Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.4 (better quality; $720)
Canon Full Frame DSLR
- Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 (great value at $320)
- Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.4 (better quality; $720)
- Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 (more versatility; $1300)
Canon RF Crop Mirrorless
- NiSi 9mm f/2.8 (also great for sunstars; $460)
Canon RF Full Frame Mirrorless
- Rokinon RF 14mm f/2.8 (great value at $500)
- Laowa RF 15mm f/2.0 (better quality at $650)
- Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 (great allrounder for astrophotography and landscapes)
Nikon
Nikon Crop DSLR
- Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 (great value at $320)
- Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.4 (better quality; $720)
Nikon Full Frame DSLR
- Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 (great value at $320)
- Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.4 (better quality; $720)
- Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 (more versatility; $1200)
Nikon Crop Mirrorless
- Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 (very sharp, $460)
Nikon Mirrorless
- Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 (very sharp, $1000)
Sony
Sony Crop Mirrorless
- Rokinon 12mm f/2 (newer version with autofocus, $300)
Sony Mirrorless
- Sony 20mm f/1.8 (great quality, $900)
Fuji APS-C
- Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 (very sharp, $460)
Olympus and Panasonic MFT
- NiSi 9mm f/2.8 (also great for sunstars; $460)
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, will be out March 2023)
- 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
- Nikon Z5 (great value, $1400)
- Nikon Z6 II (feature rich full frame camera, $2000)
- Nikon Z7 II (great for landscapes and astrophotography, $3000)
Sony
Sony Crop Mirrorless
- Sony A6400 (compact system, $900)
Sony Full Frame Mirrorless
Miscellaneous Night Photography Gear
Tripods
- Vanguard VEO 2 235CB Tripod Kit (good entry level kit, $200)
- Leofoto LS-324C+LH-40 Tripod Kit (amazing value for the quality, $320)
- FLM CP30-L4 II (amazing tripod legs, goes very tall and very low, $500)
- Leofoto LH-40 Ballhead (we had a couple for years, works perfectly with the tripod legs above, $180)
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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