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Best Canon Astrophotography Lens
The best Canon astrophotography lens for those with a DSLR is the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM. It offers the best focal lengths at an aperture that works great for astrophotography.
The best Canon astrophotography lens for mirrorless cameras is the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM. Much like the Canon EF 16-35mm listed above, this RF 15-35mm is great for astrophotography thanks to it’s ideal focal lengths and solid aperture.
If you want to check out some reviews and recommendations on the best Canon lenses for astrophotography, then read on!
Table of Contents
Best Canon Astrophotography Lens
All lenses that are great for astrophotography shares a few things in common:
- Very wide apertures, meaning low F numbers like F/1.4 or F/2.8
- The ability to produce extremely sharp images
- A decently wide focal length, nothing tighter than ~70mm
Wide apertures are necessary to let in as much light as possible. Anything above F/4 is just not going to be wide enough for astrophotography. Ideally, you want something F/2.8 or lower.
The sharpness of the lens obviously plays a huge role as well. When focusing on stars, even a slight blur will be noticeable. You need the stars looking as crisp and sharp as possible to really have the image pop.
While focal length can be a matter of opinion, most astrophotographers opt to use a wide angle lens to show as much of the sky as possible. This doesn’t mean that you need a wide angle lens though. Anything from a fisheye to around ~70mm can be great for astrophotography.
All of the Canon lenses on this list will produce good astrophotography images. You’ll just have to figure out how you want to balance the higher end qualities of the best lenses and how far you can stretch your budget.
Best Canon Lenses for Astrophotography Overall
Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM
This Canon EF 14mm F2.8 is a favorite amongst Canon astrophotographers. At 14mm, you’ll be able to capture sweeping photos that can fit the entire night sky filled with stars.
It would be ideal if this lens had a slightly better aperture, but F/2.8 is still more than good enough to capture quality astrophotography images.
Pros:
- Extremely sharp
- Good aperture for astrophotography
- Lightweight and compact
- Top-of-the-line Canon lens
Cons:
- Only one focal length
- Expensive
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
Our choice for the best Canon astrophotography lens, this Canon 16-35mm F/2.8 is truly a great piece of glass.
It offers ideal focal lengths, very solid aperture capabilities, and sharp photos. That’s everything you’ll need for astrophotography coming in at a solid price.
Pros:
- Best overall Canon astrophotography lens
- Great focal lengths
- Produces very sharp images
- Excellent for night photography and other genres as well
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
Best Canon Astrophotography Lens: Budget Options
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM
The Canon EF 24mm F/1.4 is an extremely sharp lens at a great price.
It’s an excellent budget option if you don’t mind using a prime lens. 24mm won’t be wide enough to fit the whole night sky, but it’s a solid focal length that will be able to fit a decent amount inside the frame.
If you’re ok with those 2 things, then this is an excellent choice for you.
Pros:
- Extremely sharp
- Great aperture for astrophotography
- Lightweight and relatively compact
- Affordable
Cons:
- Only one focal length
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
The Canon EF 16-35mm F/4 is a sharp lens at a price that’s a great value. This lens offers most of the features that you could want for a astrophotography.
The only area this lens is lacking is in the aperture department. F4 is the minimum I’d recommend for astrophotography, so it just makes the cut.
Pros:
- Extremely sharp
- Good wide angle focal lengths
- Great build quality
- Very Affordable
Cons:
- Not ideal aperture
Best Canon Lenses for Astrophotography: Mirrorless Options
Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM
Our choice for the best Canon mirrorless astrophotography lens, this Canon 15-35mm F/2.8 is a lot like the EF 16-35mm version listed above.
It offers ideal focal lengths, very solid aperture capabilities, and sharp photos. That’s everything you’ll need for astrophotography coming in at a good value considering the quality you’re getting.
Pros:
- Great focal lengths
- Produces very sharp images
- Excellent for night photography and other genres as well
Cons:
- Most expensive on list
Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM
By far the most affordable lens on this list, this Canon 16mm F/2.8 is a good option for a mirrorless user that really needs to keep their budget in tact.
It’s not an ideal lens for astrophotography, but it can certainly get the job done.
Pros:
- Extremely affordable
Cons:
- Low quality lens
- Only one focal length
- Intro/Kit type lens
Recommendations for the Best Canon Astrophotography Lens
If you’re simply interested in the best Canon astrophotography lens, then it’s either the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM for those with a DSLR or the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM for those with a mirrorless camera.
They both offer excellent focal lengths at an aperture that works great for astrophotography.
If you can’t stretch the budget that far and are ok with using a prime lens, the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM is really a great astrophotography lens at a very attractive price.
Finally, check out our Gear page to read more articles just like this with up-to-date product reviews for gear across all photography genres.
Frequently Asked Questions
What lens is best for astrophotography Canon?
The best Canon astrophotography lens is the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM.
Which lens is good for astrophotography?
Any lens with an aperture of F/2.8 or lower with a relatively wide focal length will be good for astrophotography.
What is the best mm for astrophotography?
Anywhere between 10mm to 70mm will be great for astrophotography. Many astrophotographers prefer to photograph with a wide angle lens.