Best MFT lens for astrophotography (Page 2): I’m not familiar with a “light pollution” filter. Do you have a link? I’m mainly referring to the use of UV or clear glass protectors. Even...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

repleo wrote:

Bill,
Does that advice apply to so called 'light pollution' filters? I have been looking into these. I have no prior experience with them. My astro shoots are mainly on Outer Cape Cod which is just so-so for dark skies, but is the best location within 200 miles of home.
I always value your advice.
Phil

I’m not familiar with a “light pollution” filter. Do you have a link?

I’m mainly referring to the use of UV or clear glass protectors. Even the best of them can add flare when photographing point sources of light (stars).

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

mniblick wrote:

I plan to get a fast(ish) , wide angle lens for astrophotography. I have a Micro Four-Thirds DSLR. At the moment I am leaning towards the Sigma 16 mm f 1.4 but I have also heard good things about the Rokinon 12 mm 2.0 lens. They are both in my budget range.

Does anybody out there have experience with these lenses, or is there another lens that I should consider?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I've had very good results with Samyang lenses, particularly their 14mm f/1.4, 24mm f/1.4 and 35mm f/1.4. Mind you, all of these are used on full frame Sony mirrorless cameras.

The 14mm is great for Auroras and the 35mm is just about perfect for Milky Way shots.

bwa

redrocktom Loc: Sedona

I use the Venus Optics Laowa 7.5mm f2.0 on an Olympus EM-1 MkII for my Milky Way photography and like it very much. I usually shoot at 7.5 and f2.0 with 2000 ISO. It is not a fish eye.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

It all depends on what your trying to get wide angle for milk way telephoto for planets and space object for long exposers you need a equational mount with a motor drive I use a 2000mm 12inch telescope ps any exp over 30to45 sec you will start to get star trails for about 125.00 you can get a tracking mount it fits on your tripod and it will track the stars do not buy a key wind get a battery powered one you may find them at bh.

repleo Loc: Boston

burkphoto wrote:

I’m not familiar with a “light pollution” filter. Do you have a link?

I’m mainly referring to the use of UV or clear glass protectors. Even the best of them can add flare when photographing point sources of light (stars).

Bill,
I probably should post the topic on a separate thread, buy here are a few links. The B&H article is in three parts. The must useful one is Part 3. Some of the results are downright ugly.

https://www.lonelyspeck.com/purenight/

https://breakthrough.photography/products/night-sky-filter?variant=11505393041450

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/hands-on-review/9-light-pollution-filters-tested-do-they-really-work

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

repleo wrote:

Bill,
I probably should post the topic on a separate thread, buy here are a few links. The B&H article is in three parts. The must useful one is Part 3. Some of the results are downright ugly.

https://www.lonelyspeck.com/purenight/

https://breakthrough.photography/products/night-sky-filter?variant=11505393041450

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/hands-on-review/9-light-pollution-filters-tested-do-they-really-work

Yeah, the last link has videos of different scenarios. The last two of them illustrate clearly how filters can add a lot of flare to a scene.

Personally, I didn't see anything here to convince me I need any of those filters! The Kenko is definitely a pop bottle bottom. Now, if you LIKE that effect, go for it.

I'd probably set my WB to 4800K and use no filter, or MAYBE the Purenight filter in the first link. But I'd go outside the city if my primary aim was to photograph stars and planets and galaxies.

Canisdirus

The sharpest lens rokinon makes is the 16mm F2.0

DrJ

burkphoto wrote:

For astro work on Micro 4/3, I'd get the fastest, ... (show quote)

What about leaving the protective filter on for moon photos? Thanks, DrJ

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

DrJ wrote:

What about leaving the protective filter on for moon photos? Thanks, DrJ

Never... Any time you have a very bright object on a very dark field, you have the potential for flare if there’s a filter on the lens. Light bounces off the lens’ front element, then off the inside surface of the filter, then back into the lens.

I only use protective filters in hazardous or dangerous situations (at the beach or in a desert, at a race track, photographing welding or chemical processes, or in a riot... You get the idea).

repleo Loc: Boston

mniblick wrote:

I plan to get a fast(ish) , wide angle lens for astrophotography. I have a Micro Four-Thirds DSLR. At the moment I am leaning towards the Sigma 16 mm f 1.4 but I have also heard good things about the Rokinon 12 mm 2.0 lens. They are both in my budget range.

Does anybody out there have experience with these lenses, or is there another lens that I should consider?

Thanks in advance for your help.

There is a full 'Astro Lens Score' ratings list here. Not sure how up to date it is.
https://www.scribd.com/document/348240784/astrophotography-nightscape-lens-rating-astro-lens-score

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

repleo wrote:

There is a full 'Astro Lens Score' ratings list here. Not sure how up to date it is.
https://www.scribd.com/document/348240784/astrophotography-nightscape-lens-rating-astro-lens-score

It’s definitely not exhaustive, but I see my Olympus 17mm 1.8 is one of the top mirrorless choices.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

redrocktom wrote:

I use the Venus Optics Laowa 7.5mm f2.0 on an Olympus EM-1 MkII for my Milky Way photography and like it very much. I usually shoot at 7.5 and f2.0 with 2000 ISO. It is not a fish eye.

ding...we have a winner here. That's the lens I'd use if I owned it.

Alan1729 Loc: England UK, now New York State.

Voigtlnder make some very good lenses for m4/3 at f0.95 10.5mm, 17mm, 25mm, 42.5mm. To me the all appear to be sharp and really pull the light in, though I have read that there may be some distortion in the corners of the 10.5mm lens.

mniblick wrote:

I plan to get a fast(ish) , wide angle lens for astrophotography. I have a Micro Four-Thirds DSLR. At the moment I am leaning towards the Sigma 16 mm f 1.4 but I have also heard good things about the Rokinon 12 mm 2.0 lens. They are both in my budget range.

Does anybody out there have experience with these lenses, or is there another lens that I should consider?

Thanks in advance for your help.