Planning a Yellowstone trip: Hi. I have a Nikon D7100 and would like to photograph the night sky. I have a tripod and a remote, but I could use some suggestions for a wide angle lens.

ckescher

Hi. I have a Nikon D7100 and would like to photograph the night sky. I have a tripod and a remote, but I could use some suggestions for a wide angle lens. I have looked at some of the Sigma, Tamron. Unfortunately, I am unable to afford a Nikon lens. I even thought of upgrading my camera to a D750, but I still would need to purchase a lens. Thankfully, I have until the summer to purchase and become adept at using this. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks.

Doyle Thomas Loc: Vancouver Washington ~ USA

watch out if u do Old Faithful, ppl tend to jump in front when it erupts for Photos, especially Japan ppl.

Doyle Thomas Loc: Vancouver Washington ~ USA

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ckescher

Thanks Doyle. I appreciate your words of caution. As to your second reply, I do agree. I have seen some photos of the Milky way with a large DOF which had been lit from the side and you could see a person standing there. I think,it may have been in Az. Do you have any suggestion on the type of lens?

ricardo00

ckescher wrote:

Hi. I have a Nikon D7100 and would like to photograph the night sky. I have a tripod and a remote, but I could use some suggestions for a wide angle lens. I have looked at some of the Sigma, Tamron. Unfortunately, I am unable to afford a Nikon lens. I even thought of upgrading my camera to a D750, but I still would need to purchase a lens. Thankfully, I have until the summer to purchase and become adept at using this. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks.

I would look at the Tokina series. I have the 11-16mm Tokina and like it. They just came out with a newer version, don't know if it is any better. They also have ones with more range. I used it in Yellowstone as well as for the aurora in various places.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I would use a 24-70 2.8 or pick up a Rokinon something between a 14 and 20 mm. Won't break the bank and is highly touted for astro work. Check the reviews.

The D7100 served me well with thousands of shot in Yellowstone, but I never got into night skies. A new camera would likely not produce anything magical in my opinion.

ckescher

Thanks for your advice. Your photographs are gorgeous. I would be a very happy camper if my photography is half as good as yours.

Doyle Thomas Loc: Vancouver Washington ~ USA

ckescher wrote:

Thanks Doyle. I appreciate your words of caution. As to your second reply, I do agree. I have seen some photos of the Milky way with a large DOF which had been lit from the side and you could see a person standing there. I think,it may have been in Az. Do you have any suggestion on the type of lens?

the best lens is the one on the camera.

ckescher

Thank you.

ricardo00

ckescher wrote:

Thanks for your advice. Your photographs are gorgeous. I would be a very happy camper if my photography is half as good as yours.

Thanks! Forgot to mention that both of those photos were taken with the D7100. The advantage of the Tokina is that on the D7100 it is still wide enough for these photos and it is f/2.8 and quite reasonably priced. Good luck on your photography!

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

ckescher wrote:

Hi. I have a Nikon D7100 and would like to photograph the night sky. I have a tripod and a remote, but I could use some suggestions for a wide angle lens. I have looked at some of the Sigma, Tamron. Unfortunately, I am unable to afford a Nikon lens. I even thought of upgrading my camera to a D750, but I still would need to purchase a lens. Thankfully, I have until the summer to purchase and become adept at using this. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks.

I use a Tokina 11-16 2.8 on a Nikon D7000. It's a reasonably priced lens and does a decent job. Here is a multiple image star trail shot over 3 hrs and then stacked in Starstax to create the trail.

(Download)

CO

I just recently purchased the new Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD lens for my Nikon D7000 and D500. The reviews I read before purchasing indicate that it's the best ultrawide zoom lens for cropped sensor cameras right now. It has vibration compensation and is fully weather sealed including a weather seal at the lens mount. It's extremely resistant to flare and ghosting. Its HLD (High/Low modulated-drive motor) has very accurate and consistent focusing. It has very low chromatic aberration.

Gatorcoach Loc: New Jersey

[quote=ckescher]Hi. I have a Nikon D7100 and would like to photograph the night sky. I have a tripod and a remote, but I could use some suggestions for a wide angle lens. I have looked at some of the Sigma, Tamron. Unfortunately, I am unable to afford a Nikon lens. I even thought of upgrading my camera to a D750, but I still would need to purchase a lens. Thankfully, I have until the summer to purchase and become adept at using this. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Just curious, what other lenses will you be taking? Yellowstone offers a plethora of opportunities for wide angle, normal, telephoto, scenic, action (animals), that change at a moments notice. I would be very disappointed if when I had a long telephoto lens on my camera and we suddenly met up with a herd of about 40 bison taking a stroll down the road along side of us. Luckily I wasn't driving and my camera bag was on the floor next to me.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I took a night sky course that lasted several days. The instructor recommended something in the 16-28 mm range. I used my Tokina. We all had to buy these (below) to prevent condensation from forming on the lens.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0028AD6V0/?coliid=I3VPP2MNRL9FHV&colid=397RKZB5HZQZX&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I agree with the Tokina. I have the 11~16 and like it very much. As good as the Nikon and way less $$