Has anyone used this lens for shooting the Northern Lights, lunar eclipses or star trails?
842336
I haven't but I can tell you this lens is very wide and appears to be coming from a very far distance. it might be a bit too wide & distant to really capture what you want but try it out and let us know how it comes out!
842337
I used this lens to take some full moon snow covered landscape photos and found the 16mm limit a little short to get a good image of the moon included (at 16mm moon is less than .2mm on sensor). But I did get some very good landscape images under only moonlight. It is a really good lens, great glass in the one I have and a good value. However it really is a full time wide angle lens. I do want to do star trails with it, expect good results based on what I have used it for in the past. It's -7F tonight so that wont be happening soon...
1311664
Yes its ideal for landscapes because of its wide angle and moderate distortion the f/ 2.8 aperture is good for low light but if you want everything in the foreground and background sharp you'll want to stop it down. If thats the case youll need a tripod so you can shoot at a low ISO and keep ur noise minimal. Also cheaper lenses can do this, you are mostly paying for the 2.8 aperture with this lens. Also if you want to shoot the moon you might wana zoom in so there are other good options.
862650
Cant answer your question because I've never tried that Nikon lens you're referring to however, I'm extremely pleased with my Sigma lens and use it 90% of the time for all situations currently.
1407036
I've never used this lense for landscapes. I generally use it for portraits, which I find it works great for.
1606764
This works well for moon shots. That's one of the reasons I purchased the lens and I am very happy with the sharpness and quality of the images. This is an awesome lens.
1205531
It's a lens, not a camera. I bought it specifically for taking photos of the moon and I haven't had any issues with that. You will need to use a tripod when using this lens. It takes a little getting used to, but it's not a particularly steep learning curve.
416864
Like others who have answered, yes its awesome for night shots and its not ridiculously expensive like the Nikon and Canon options. This is a manual focus lens vs. the Nikon/Canon but you will have to focus manually anyways since your AF won't work at night. That said, the full benefit of this lens requires a full frame sensor but I have used it on the crop sensors and its great there too, just not as wide a field of view but wide enough in IMO.
726799
I've had good luck with normal distances with this lens. I've used it on a Dfx, D800 and J1.
2242944
It performs well in low light, sometimes throws a shadow, but I think that is my inexperience as a user. Wonderful lens!
352399
I have used this lens very successfully with my Canon EOS T3i. I hope that you have the same experience. Bob
1884588
I have used the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS several times in Baja to take pictures of the moon rising over the mountains east of my house. This lense makes the moonlarger and clearer than my 40-200mm. I have tried the 2x extender but did not have my tripod set up when I used the 2x. I used a remote shutter release all the times before that and it gives me clearer photos. hope this helps.
1414088
I have used mine for astrophotography but it is on the slow end if what is possible. For occasional use it is fine, but if this will be its main use you may well get frustrated. How well does your camera handle noise at high ISO? I don't think 1/3 stop should make enough difference for you to change your mind if this is the lens you prefer. It is very light and the IQ on full frame is fantastic. I have since bought a 24 - 70 f2.8 and despite the longer focal length I use this at night for the extra speed. So for dedicated astrophotography lens consider something faster. For occasional use it will do the job.
1606758
No problem at all. This lens is a quality piece of glass. I took pictures of the moon hand held and they turned out great. On a tripod they would be even better. Hope this helps.
1250345
It's a great lens but I have not used it for portraits. I have used it for travel photography and other family events.
1619210
I'm not sure it'll be the best lens but it's pretty sharp so I'm guessing it would do well. Here are some shots I took with it. Unfortunately, some are with an infrared conversion camera and none of astrophotography. https://www.flickr.com/photos/95942445@N06/sets/72157646972522711/
765654
Just used it for moon eclipse watching last night and it worked great at 20F Michigan night condition. No fog occurred on the lenses at all.
2102763
I use Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 for general purpose (also at night). I love its sharpness. It is also suitable for portraits. For the professional portraits, look at prime lenses with f1.4 or f1.8.