10 Best Sony Lenses for Astrophotography in 2024

Astrophotography enthusiasts know the importance of having the right lens to capture the vast beauty of the night sky. The best Sony lenses for astrophotography offer you everything you need to capture stunning images of the galaxy around us.

Our top choice, the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM, earns its top spot thanks to its versatility and sharpness. But if it’s not quite the right fit for you, we have nine other lenses for you to choose from as well.

What Is the Best Sony Lens for Astrophotography?

Selecting the best Sony lens for astrophotography involves considering factors like aperture size, focal length, and optical quality. The lenses listed, including models from Sony and Sigma, excel in low light conditions, ensuring sharp, detailed captures of the night sky. Their wide apertures and minimal distortion make them ideal for photographing vast star fields. They provide both versatility and exceptional image quality for astrophotography enthusiasts.

Our Favorite Sony Lenses for Astrophotography

Let’s take a closer look at our favorite Sony lenses for astrophotography. We’ve chosen wide-angle zooms and prime lenses, so there’s a perfect match for every photographer’s needs. We think that our suggestions will help you to find the ideal lens for your astrophotography adventures.

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM is a top pick for astrophotography due to its wide aperture and focal length range. This lens lets in a lot of light, which is key for capturing the faint details of the night sky. Its zoom range from 16mm to 35mm offers flexibility in framing, from wide star fields to more focused sections of the sky. However, at 16mm, some barrel distortion is present, which might slightly alter the shape of stars at the image edges. A combination of Sony’s in-camera profiles and post-processing should minimize this problem

The edge-to-edge sharpness is a big plus with this lens. And it manages this even wide open at f/2.8. This is important as stars need to be sharp across the whole frame to create a stunning astrophotography image. Low dispersion elements reduce chromatic aberration, ensuring stars are pinpoint lights without color fringing.

Compared to the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM | A, the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM offers more versatility with its zoom capability, though it sacrifices a bit of light-gathering ability with a slightly narrower aperture. For astrophotographers who value framing flexibility over the ultimate in low-light performance, the Sony lens is a good option. Its weight of 1.5 lbs (680 g) makes it manageable for night-long shooting sessions, especially on a tracking mount.

The Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM | A is a great choice for astrophotography thanks to its wide f/1.8 aperture. You won’t want to use high ISOs because of the noise they create in the dark areas of the image. So this fast aperture really helps. Its fixed 14mm focal length offers a broad view, perfect for taking in vast star fields or the Milky Way.

This lens is built tough, with a mix of metal and Thermally Stable Composite materials. It weighs 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg), which is a bit heavy but manageable. The weight is a small price to pay for the image quality it delivers. Sharpness is top-notch, with minimal distortion, which is important for keeping stars looking like pinpoints across the frame.

For those into astrophotography, the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM | A is a great tool. It doesn’t have image stabilization, but that’s not a deal-breaker since most night sky photography is done on a tripod anyway. Its ability to reduce chromatic aberration means stars appear clear and colorful, without the distracting halos that lesser lenses might produce. And you’ll find uses for the spectacular world view of a 14mm lens in the daylight hours too!

The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is a superb astrophotography lens with its fast f/1.8 aperture. Its 20mm focal length is perfect for wide shots of the Milky Way or star fields. The lens is light, weighing just 13 ounces (373 g), making it easy to handle during long nights of shooting.

Optically, this lens impresses with sharp images from edge to edge. Minimal distortion means stars look natural, not stretched or warped at the edges. It also features elements that reduce chromatic aberration, keeping stars sharp against the dark sky.

The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is a top choice for astrophotography. It doesn’t have image stabilization, but that’s not a drawback for tripod-based work. Its build quality and optical performance make it very useful for capturing the beauty of the night sky.

The Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG DN | A is a fast prime lens that excels in astrophotography. The wide f/1.4 aperture makes it that much easier to capture detailed night skies. Its 20mm focal length is perfect for wide views of the Milky Way. Weighing   1.39 lbs (630 g), it’s manageable for night-long sessions.

We think you’ll appreciate the impressive sharpness and minimal distortion. This means the stars appear as crisp points across the frame. The sharpness of individual stars is also helped by the lens construction, with chromatic aberration kept well under control.

For astrophotography enthusiasts, the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG DN | A is a top choice. Its lack of image stabilization is not a concern when mounted on a tripod. This is a Sigma Art lens, so it’s built for daily professional use. The weather sealing will help to protect it from any damp and dew that you might encounter. It’s a combination that makes this an attractive choice if you’re looking for an astrophotography lens.

The Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A is a prime lens that excels in astrophotography, thanks to its wide f/1.4 aperture. The wide aperture reduces exposure times, and unless you have a star tracker, this is what you need to reduce the risk of capturing the movement of the stars, rather than a crisp, still image. The 24mm focal length isn’t as all-encompassing as some, but is ideal for expansive star fields or the Milky Way. Weighing 1.47 lbs (665 g), it’s manageable for extended shooting sessions.

The impressive sharpness and minimal distortion ensure stars appear as crisp points across the frame. This is also helped by the lens construction that keeps chromatic aberration to a minimum. As a result, the stars appear as crisp in the image as they do in the sky.

For astrophotography enthusiasts, the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A is a top choice. Sigma’s Art lens build quality ensures that it’s robust enough for frequent outdoor use. Its lack of image stabilization is not a concern when mounted on a tripod. We are impressed with its build and optical performance, which make it an ideal choice for Milky Way photography.

The Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM is a fast prime lens that is ideal for astrophotography. You’ll appreciate the wide f/1.4 maximum aperture, which allows you to keep your ISOs low to minimize noise. The 24mm focal length is ideal for star fields or the Milky Way. Weighing just under one pound (445g), it’s manageable for extended shooting sessions.

You probably won’t find a sharper 24mm lens anywhere, or one with less distortion. Images are free from coma, without any lens corrections or post-processing, which is another strength. As a non-astrophotography bonus, it produces the best bokeh you could wish for.

For astrophotography enthusiasts, the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM is a top choice. It has a hard-to-beat combination of incredible sharpness, almost total lack of distortion, and no aberrations. Even the tiny distortion can be easily removed in-camera with that feature turned on. It’s a great lens that you’ll find plenty of uses for outside of astrophotography as well.

The Sigma 16mm F/1.4 DC DN | Contemporary is a great lens for astrophotography on an APS-C camera, thanks to its wide f/1.4 aperture. That extra speed lets you reduce ISO or increase shutter speed to get a better image. Its 16mm focal length, equivalent to 24mm on a full-frame camera, is ideal for Milky Way pictures. Weighing just 14 ounces (405 g), it’s relatively lightweight and easy to handle.

This Sigma lens offers good value for money, with levels of sharpness that belie its price tag. It controls distortion and aberration remarkably well, both of which are essential for crisp star images. For those passionate about astrophotography, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN | C is a top choice. Its lack of image stabilization is not a drawback when mounted on a tripod, and its optical performance makes it ideal for capturing the beauty of the night sky.

The Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A for Sony E is a prime lens that shines in astrophotography due to its wide f/1.4 aperture. This allows a significant amount of light to reach the camera’s sensor, capturing detailed images of the night sky. Its 28mm focal length offers a broad view, perfect for expansive star fields or the Milky Way. Weighing about 1.9lb (865g), it’s a bit heavy but manageable for night-long sessions.

Sharpness is a standout feature, with minimal distortion, ensuring stars appear as crisp points across the frame. The lens also includes elements that reduce chromatic aberration, keeping star colors true against the dark backdrop. For those passionate about astrophotography, the Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A is a top choice. Its lack of image stabilization is not a drawback when mounted on a tripod, and its optical performance makes it very useful for capturing the beauty of the night sky.

The Sigma 24mm f/3.5 DG DN | C for Sony E is a prime lens with a compact design and excellent optical performance. With a maximum aperture of f/3.5, it’s not the widest available but still allows for effective low-light shooting and astrophotography. Its 24mm focal length offers a wide field of view, perfect for capturing expansive night skies and the Milky Way. Weighing just 8 ounces (225 g), it’s incredibly lightweight, making it easy to carry all day as well as all night.

Sharpness is impressive across the frame, ensuring that stars and celestial objects are captured with clarity. The lens’s minimal distortion is a significant advantage, keeping the edges of the frame as true to reality as possible, which is crucial for astrophotography. Despite its smaller aperture, the Sigma 24mm f/3.5 excels in capturing detailed and contrast-rich images of the night sky. It’s a great value option if you’re looking for a lightweight and sharp wide-angle lens.

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is a fast prime lens that is worth your consideration for astrophotography, thanks to its wide f/1.4 aperture. Its 35mm focal length is a touch narrow for expansive star fields, but works well for the Milky Way. At 1.16 lbs (524 g), it’s relatively lightweight, and won’t put a strain on your back.

It’s a lens that is notable for the way it controls distortion and aberrations. It’s incredibly sharp, and pretty much free from distortion. While it might not be the first pick for specialist astrophotography, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is a superb multi-purpose lens. With the bonus that it will serve you well with the night sky too. 

Conclusion: The Best Sony Lenses for Astrophotography

We think that this collection of the best Sony lenses for astrophotography in 2024 should give you a good idea of what your best options are. We’ve kept in mind a range of budgets, and chosen lenses that perform superbly when shooting the night sky.

Our top choice, the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM, stands out for its versatility and sharpness, making it the go-to lens for capturing breathtaking night shots. This lens offers a perfect balance of wide aperture and focal range, ideal for astrophotography. If it’s not quite right for you, then the lens you need is probably sitting in the collection of nine other products that we’ve chosen.