50mm f/1.8G for night sky shots

[John_G]

Hello;

Heading out to Yosemite for the weekend in the snow and I would like to try some night photography. I have a kits lens 24-120mm f/4 that came with the camera (d810) and I was wondering if a 50mm 1.8 would be better? I'm wondering if the trade off focal length vs aperture is worth it? I'm assuming that I might be setting the lens I have to 5.6 since it's a bit soft wide open. The 50mm is pretty cheap, it's not like the 2.8 zooms (16-24 or 24-70) which I can't purchase at the moment.

Thanks much,

-john

 

[swimswithtrout]

Hello;

Heading out to Yosemite for the weekend in the snow and I would like to try some night photography. I have a kits lens 24-120mm f/4 that came with the camera (d810) and I was wondering if a 50mm 1.8 would be better? I'm wondering if the trade off focal length vs aperture is worth it? I'm assuming that I might be setting the lens I have to 5.6 since it's a bit soft wide open. The 50mm is pretty cheap, it's not like the 2.8 zooms (16-24 or 24-70) which I can't purchase at the moment.

Thanks much,

-john

Why the "G" model ? I use my old f1.8D at f2.8 just fine. Reputedly the "G" is a little bit sharper below that, but by f2.8 they are identical. I don't have a "G" to test any actual differences.


50mm is a pretty strange lens f/l for nightscapes though. I'd want something in the 15-24mm range on your FF.

 

[John_G]

I was thinking of the G model because a local camera store that I pass by on my way to and from work has it in stock .

My question was really more about using a stepped down 24-120 or 50. Based on your replay I take it that 50 works just fine?

 

[starman1969]

The 50mm will be great for capturing constellations, like Orion for example. See how it goes wide open, but you'll probably find it performs much better between f2.4 & 2.8

 

[Wayno]

I agree with Starman -- I would go for the 50 f/1.8. You didn't mention whether you are tracking, so I assume you are not. That being the case, you will want to be shooting as wide open as image quality will permit. In a dark location with the D810, and with ISOs in the 800-2400 range, you should be able to get very nice 8-10 second images at 2.8 or even 3.2. Keep your histogram to the lower third. Good luck, and post your results.

Wayne

 

[jrsm]

Use a higher iso like 3200 to 6400 because your exposure time without stars blurring will be less than 6 seconds. Take lots of images then stack them.

Take some long exposures for the foreground and combine the two later. You can also try the zoom at the short end, you can get away with about 10-12 seconds. If you can handle a bit of blurring, you can go longer.

Use live view and manual focus to get your focus as infinity on the lenses is not infinity for stars.