Lens for astrophotography...with a budget...

Hi,

I'm in need for an astrophotography lens that is also useable for "normal use", but with a budget of 1000$, maybe 1200$ if it's needed.


I'll be shooting it with the rebel XT(350D), so please don't forget the 1,6x crop factor.

Criterias:

-Very fast (IS won't be used for this one)
-Focal lenght between 75-150mm
-Nice built would be very appreciated
-I need AF as astrophotography won't be it's only use.

And it will certainly be my best lens, so I'll be using it A LOT.

Thanks,

P.S: Don't consider wishlist, they'll come later.

100mm f/2? 85mm f/1.8?

or my personal favourite... 135mm f/2.0.

Jim G wrote in post #5272477
100mm f/2? 85mm f/1.8?

or my personal favourite... 135mm f/2.0.

Thanks for the fast answer... I was considering 135 f/2L too.

Any other thoughts?

jsboutin wrote in post #5272486
Thanks for the fast answer... I was considering 135 f/2L too.

Have a look at the 135L archive thread on here... beautiful lens to use and it's stunningly sharp with great colours. That'll tempt you.

The 135/2, 85/1.8 and 200/2.8 all have about the same light gathering ability for Astro photography. Which lens do you want for everyday use? Do you really need Af?

Other possibilities include the 200/2.8L or the 70-200/2.8. I use my 70-200/4 and still get very satisfying results. Here's my best with it so far:

Jim G wrote in post #5272511
Have a look at the 135L archive thread on here... beautiful lens to use and it's stunningly sharp with great colours. That'll tempt you.

You really are right when you say it's tempting...

gasrocks: I'll use it to shoot a bit of hockey and gymnasium sports, so yes I really need it.

Madweasel:Thanks for the advice, but I think f/2.8 will be quite slow with a crop body...and somewhat too long for my other uses, but many thanks.

Photoprice.ca tells me to buy it from B&H, but it's gray market...should I pay a bit more than that for a Canadian warranty?

The 400 5.6 google it for stars I saw a good comp with it and a telescpoe camera.

Astro + hockey + poorly lit gymnasiums = 135/2

Littlefield wrote in post #5273436
The 400 5.6 google it for stars I saw a good comp with it and a telescpoe camera.

Thanks, but it will be very slow for anything except the Moon, and, at f/5,6, too slow for hockey and gymnasiums too.

Gasrocks:Thanks. I'll order it pretty soon...before the end of the schoolyear I think.

85/1.8 (or 50/1.4) and a flash because you can get creative and add a foreground subject amidst a beautiful constellation in the background!

If you're going to be doing a lot of astro you'll need a good equatorial tracking mount. If you already have one then maybe a good Meade telescope with T-adapter would be better than a fast lens. If you just want a new lens then the 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS or any L prime is a really good place to start. Just remember that the tracking mount is the most important part especially for deep space astro.

If you are going to manually track using an equatorial mount, the rule of thumb is: tracking scope = 2 x lens focal length. Ironic isn't it?

I'm building an Orion Astroview with Ken Dauzat's dove-tail adapter and dual saddle dove-tail bar to install my Tele-Vue Ranger (480mm) and 40D+50/1.4 or 85/1.8.

bsaber wrote in post #5273801
If you're going to be doing a lot of astro you'll need a good equatorial tracking mount. If you already have one then maybe a good Meade telescope with T-adapter would be better than a fast lens. If you just want a new lens then the 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS or any L prime is a really good place to start. Just remember that the tracking mount is the most important part especially for deep space astro.

Thanks for the scope suggestion, but a astro tele+mount isn't really good for other uses than astro.

ebann: I'll try to motorize my mount, but I do have a 750mm scope, so I might use it as a tracking.

Another option I consider is The Cube link here

Anyway, I think everything is fine for my decision now. Thanks to everyone who answered me in this wonderful forum.

jsboutin wrote in post #5274022
Thanks for the scope suggestion, but a astro tele+mount isn't really good for other uses than astro.

ebann: I'll try to motorize my mount, but I do have a 750mm scope, so I might use it as a tracking.

Another option I consider is The Cube link here

Anyway, I think everything is fine for my decision now. Thanks to everyone who answered me in this wonderful forum.

"The Cube" will not do much good. It is an Alt/Az mount so it will keep the object in the view finder but it will not account for the rotation in the field of view. You need an equatorial mount or short exposures and rotate/stack them.