Planning a Yellowstone trip (Page 2): I have used the Tokina 11-16 and been very happy with it for night sky or wide angle landscape on crop body. It is reasonably priced and an f2.8.

In-lightened Loc: Kansas City

I have used the Tokina 11-16 and been very happy with it for night sky or wide angle landscape on crop body. It is reasonably priced and an f2.8. I ran 2 cameras when I was in Chena Springs for the aurora and many of those were with the Tokina. Yellowstone is one of my favorite places hands down. Good luck!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

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 the Nikon 20mm 1.8 and 24mm 1.8 lenses for "stellar" results.
Since you are on a budget you can get a new, prime Nikon 24mm 2.8 lens for less than $400.00. And it will also give you "stellar" results, you can order it from B&H.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/66980-USA/Nikon_1919_Wide_Angle_AF_Nikkor.html

Dave Sr Loc: Nazareth, Pennsylvania

Milky way with Nikon D750, Tamron 15-30mm, f/2.8, Di VC USD. I was very pleased with the Tamron.

Gatorcoach Loc: New Jersey

[quote=Gatorcoach]

ckescher wrote:

Hi. I have a Nikon D7100 and would like to photogr... (show quote)

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

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.

Unless your standards are pretty low, I wouldn’t recommend ANY zoom lens wider than 28mm. Since you’re on a budget, check out Rokinon or Samyang primes. Either will compare very favorably with my personal favorite, a 50-year-old Leica 21 f/4.0 Elmarit-R. Happy shooting!
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?ci=274&fct=fct_brand_name%7crokinon%2bfct_brand_name%7csamyang%2bfct_brand_name%7cyongnuo%2bfct_lens-mount_3316%7cnikon%2bfct_lens-format-coverage_3332%7cfull-frame-lenses%2bfct_zooms-primes_4389%7cprime-lenses%2bfct_lens-types-for-full-frame-cameras_3321%7cwide&N=4288584247

’

photoman43

Here are some thoughts for you:

https://photographylife.com/landscapes/the-best-night-photography-lenses-for-nikon-cameras

https://www.lonelyspeck.com/best-lenses-for-milky-way-photography-nikon/

If you do not want to buy a lens consider renting one from Borrowlens.com or lensrental.com.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

You might consider the the Nikor 35mm 1.8, I've seen several milkey way photos which look great. YellowStone in the summer is frustrating, you may sit for hours due to Bison walking down the road with everyone taking photos. Bear sighting are worse. Their are so MANY visitors during summer. We go their ever May to shoot bears. If your going to shoot wildlife take a long lens. Have fun it's a great park.

Chris Hayes

I used the Tokina 11-16, when i had a D7000 liked it very much, fast reasonably priced and very good images. I still have and use it now i have D810 & D850 cameras, as it works well on a FX camera should you go that rout, but only at 16mm.

ricardo00

Dave Sr wrote:

Milky way with Nikon D750, Tamron 15-30mm, f/2.8, Di VC USD. I was very pleased with the Tamron.

Beautiful photo Dave! I am sure the Tamron is a great lens (much better than the Tokina), but at $1,200 and on a D7100 (the OP camera), not sure that would fit with the OPs budget nor would it give the 35mm equivalent POV of the Tamron on a full frame. A Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 (almost the equivalent of the Tamron on a full frame body) is $380.

Dave Sr Loc: Nazareth, Pennsylvania

ricardo00 wrote:

Beautiful photo Dave! I am sure the Tamron is a great lens (much better than the Tokina), but at $1,200 and on a D7100 (the OP camera), not sure that would fit with the OPs budget nor would it give the 35mm equivalent POV of the Tamron on a full frame. A Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 (almost the equivalent of the Tamron on a full frame body) is $380.

Thanks for the nice comment. The OP didn't mention any budgetary limits and did mention the thought of going for a D750. Thus my suggestion of what I had used. Actually, I rented the camera and lens :-)

ckescher

I also will take my Tamron 16-300. It is an older lens, but I have gotten some great shots using it.

ckescher

I do have a budget. I would prefer to come in for less than$700.00. I returned a Sigma 150- 400 cause too heavy and not spontaneous enough. I love shooting wildlife.thus need for Tripod and not in a blind,doesn’t quite fit. I recently viewed some pretty impressive work with the Milky Way as a backdrop. Thus my quest for a wide angle lens.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

(removed as unnecessary due to a subsequent post)

Properframe Loc: US Virginia

jerryc41 wrote:

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

Condensation is a real consideration !!
Another permanent device used to keep the lens from condensing. I have a different brand but the theory is the same. Plugs into a small stick cell charger via USB. You probably already have the cell charger so nothing else is needed.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lens+warming&i=photo&ref=nb_sb_noss

knutte

On a FF Canon I used a 16-35 when I captured OF erupting at night with Milky way in the background AND a shooting star happened to be captured in the photo. That moment 3 years ago I will never forget. But bring, buy, borrow or rent a long lens as well for wild life, often times they're not right by the road, I bought an 100-400 just for my Yellowstone trip (that also got great use in Denali NP). When my daughter saw the lens and asked me how much I paid for it, her response after she heard how much it was, "I guess I should keep working at national parks with lots of wildlife!". Yes, a very understanding daughter.