A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | |
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1 | Lens | Focal Length (mm) | Relative Aperture (f/number) | Clear Aperture Diameter (mm) | Aperture Area (mm^2) | Angular Area (radians^2) | FF Suggested Exposure Time (seconds) = 500/Focal Length | APS-C Suggested Exposure Time (seconds) = 360/Focal Length | Astro Lens Score | Mirrorless and Rangefinder | Third Party DSLR | Canon | Nikon | Fuji | Micro 4/3 | Sony | Lenses Ian Norman Uses Currently (Canon EOS 6D) | Lenses Ian Norman Uses (Fuji X) |
2 | 300mm/2.8 | 300 | 2.8 | 107.1 | 9,016 | 0.00 | 2 | 1 | 64 | |||||||||
3 | 200mm/2.0 | 200 | 2 | 100.0 | 7,854 | 0.01 | 3 | 2 | 188 | |||||||||
4 | 200mm/2.8 | 200 | 2.8 | 71.4 | 4,007 | 0.01 | 3 | 2 | 96 | |||||||||
5 | 135mm/2.0 | 135 | 2 | 67.5 | 3,578 | 0.02 | 4 | 3 | 278 | |||||||||
6 | 100mm/2.0 | 100 | 2 | 50.0 | 1,963 | 0.04 | 5 | 4 | 374 | |||||||||
7 | 85mm/1.2 | 85 | 1.2 | 70.8 | 3,941 | 0.05 | 6 | 4 | 1,220 | Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L | ||||||||
8 | 85mm/1.4 | 85 | 1.4 | 60.7 | 2,895 | 0.05 | 6 | 4 | 897 | Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 | ||||||||
9 | 85mm/1.8 | 85 | 1.8 | 47.2 | 1,751 | 0.05 | 6 | 4 | 542 | |||||||||
10 | 70mm/2.8 | 70 | 2.8 | 25.0 | 491 | 0.08 | 7 | 5 | 271 | |||||||||
11 | 56mm/1.2 | 56 | 1.2 | 46.7 | 1,710 | 0.12 | 9 | 6 | 1,830 | Fujinon XF 56mm/1.2 | ||||||||
12 | 55mm/1.4 | 55 | 1.4 | 39.3 | 1,212 | 0.12 | 9 | 7 | 1,368 | Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4* | ||||||||
13 | 55mm/1.8 | 55 | 1.8 | 30.6 | 733 | 0.12 | 9 | 7 | 827 | |||||||||
14 | 50mm/0.95 | 50 | 0.95 | 52.6 | 2,176 | 0.15 | 10 | 7 | 3,252 | Leica 50mm/0.95 Noctilux M | Mitakon 50mm f/0.95 | |||||||
15 | 50mm/1.2 | 50 | 1.2 | 41.7 | 1,364 | 0.15 | 10 | 7 | 2,038 | Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L | ||||||||
16 | 50mm/1.4 | 50 | 1.4 | 35.7 | 1,002 | 0.15 | 10 | 7 | 1,497 | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art* | Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G/D | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 | ||||||
17 | 50mm/1.8 | 50 | 1.8 | 27.8 | 606 | 0.15 | 10 | 7 | 906 | Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II | Nikkor 50mm 1.8G | |||||||
18 | 50mm/2.0 | 50 | 2 | 25.0 | 491 | 0.15 | 10 | 7 | 734 | |||||||||
19 | 40mm/1.4 | 40 | 1.4 | 28.6 | 641 | 0.23 | 13 | 9 | 1,844 | Voigtlander 40mm f/1.4 Nokton | ||||||||
20 | 40mm/1.7 | 40 | 1.7 | 23.5 | 435 | 0.23 | 13 | 9 | 1,251 | |||||||||
21 | 40mm/2.8 | 40 | 2.8 | 14.3 | 160 | 0.23 | 13 | 9 | 461 | |||||||||
22 | 35mm/1.2 | 35 | 1.2 | 29.2 | 668 | 0.30 | 14 | 10 | 2,834 | Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 II | ||||||||
23 | 35mm/1.4 | 35 | 1.4 | 25.0 | 491 | 0.30 | 14 | 10 | 2,082 | Sigma 35mm/1.4 Art* | Fujinon XF 35mm/1.4 | Fujinon XF 35mm/1.4 | ||||||
24 | 35mm/1.8 | 35 | 1.8 | 19.4 | 297 | 0.30 | 14 | 10 | 1,259 | Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G | ||||||||
25 | 35mm/2.0 | 35 | 2 | 17.5 | 241 | 0.30 | 14 | 10 | 1,020 | Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 IS | ||||||||
26 | 35mm/2.8 | 35 | 2.8 | 12.5 | 123 | 0.30 | 14 | 10 | 520 | |||||||||
27 | 28mm/1.8 | 28 | 1.8 | 15.6 | 190 | 0.45 | 18 | 13 | 1,530 | |||||||||
28 | 28mm/2.8 | 28 | 2.8 | 10.0 | 79 | 0.45 | 18 | 13 | 632 | |||||||||
29 | 27mm/2.8 | 27 | 2.8 | 9.6 | 73 | 0.48 | 19 | 13 | 652 | |||||||||
30 | 24mm/1.4 | 24 | 1.4 | 17.1 | 231 | 0.60 | 21 | 15 | 2,869 | Rokinon 24mm/1.4* | Rokinon 24mm/1.4 | |||||||
31 | 24mm/1.8 | 24 | 1.8 | 13.3 | 140 | 0.60 | 21 | 15 | 1,736 | Sony 24mm/1.8 - E Mount | ||||||||
32 | 24mm/2.0 | 24 | 2 | 12.0 | 113 | 0.60 | 21 | 15 | 1,406 | Fuji X100s 23mm/2.0 | Sony 24mm/2.0 - A Mount | |||||||
33 | 24mm/2.8 | 24 | 2.8 | 8.6 | 58 | 0.60 | 21 | 15 | 717 | |||||||||
34 | 23mm/1.4 | 23 | 1.4 | 16.4 | 212 | 0.64 | 22 | 16 | 2,967 | Fujinon XF 23mm/1.4 | Fujinon XF 23mm/1.4 | |||||||
35 | 23mm/2.0 | 23 | 2 | 11.5 | 104 | 0.64 | 22 | 16 | 1,454 | |||||||||
36 | 22mm/2.0 | 22 | 2 | 11.0 | 95 | 0.70 | 23 | 16 | 1,505 | Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0 | Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0 | |||||||
37 | 21mm/1.4 | 21 | 1.4 | 15.0 | 177 | 0.76 | 24 | 17 | 3,180 | Leica 21mm/1.4 Summilux M | ||||||||
38 | 21mm/1.8 | 21 | 1.8 | 11.7 | 107 | 0.76 | 24 | 17 | 1,924 | Voigtlander 21mm f/1.8 Ultron | ||||||||
39 | 20mm/1.8 | 20 | 1.8 | 11.1 | 97 | 0.82 | 25 | 18 | 1,994 | |||||||||
40 | 20mm/2.8 | 20 | 2.8 | 7.1 | 40 | 0.82 | 25 | 18 | 824 | Sony 20mm/2.8 - E Mount | ||||||||
41 | 19mm/2.8 | 19 | 2.8 | 6.8 | 36 | 0.90 | 26 | 19 | 855 | Sigma 19mm/2.8 | ||||||||
42 | 18mm/1.8 | 18 | 1.8 | 10.0 | 79 | 0.98 | 28 | 20 | 2,146 | Sigma 18-35mm/1.8* | ||||||||
43 | 18mm/2.0 | 18 | 2 | 9.0 | 64 | 0.98 | 28 | 20 | 1,738 | Fujinon XF 18mm/2.0* | ||||||||
44 | 18mm/2.8 | 18 | 2.8 | 6.4 | 32 | 0.98 | 28 | 20 | 887 | |||||||||
45 | 18mm/3.5 | 18 | 3.5 | 5.1 | 21 | 0.98 | 28 | 20 | 568 | |||||||||
46 | 17mm f/1.8 | 17 | 1.8 | 9.4 | 70 | 1.08 | 29 | 21 | 2,228 | Olympus 17mm/1.8 | ||||||||
47 | 17mm/2.8 | 17 | 2.8 | 6.1 | 29 | 1.08 | 29 | 21 | 921 | Canon EF-S 17-55mm/2.8 | ||||||||
48 | 17mm/4.0 | 17 | 4 | 4.3 | 14 | 1.08 | 29 | 21 | 451 | |||||||||
49 | 16mm/1.4 | 16 | 1.4 | 11.4 | 103 | 1.19 | 31 | 23 | 3,826 | Fujinon XF 16mm/1.4 | ||||||||
50 | 16mm/2.0 | 16 | 2 | 8.0 | 50 | 1.19 | 31 | 23 | 1,875 | Rokinon 16mm/2.0* | ||||||||
51 | 16mm/2.8 | 16 | 2.8 | 5.7 | 26 | 1.19 | 31 | 23 | 956 | Sony 16mm/2.8 - E Mount | ||||||||
52 | 16mm/3.5 | 16 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 16 | 1.19 | 31 | 23 | 612 | |||||||||
53 | 15mm/2.8 | 15 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 23 | 1.32 | 33 | 24 | 994 | Zeiss 15mm/2.8 ZM | Zeiss 15mm/2.8 ZE/ZF.2 | Canon EF 15mm/2.8 | ||||||
54 | 15mm/3.5 | 15 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 14 | 1.32 | 33 | 24 | 636 | |||||||||
55 | 14mm/2.8 | 14 | 2.8 | 5.0 | 20 | 1.47 | 36 | 26 | 1,032 | Rokinon 14mm/2.8* | Nikkor 14-24mm/2.8G | Fujinon XF 14mm/2.8* | Rokinon 14mm/2.8 | Fujinon XF 14mm/2.8 | ||||
56 | 12mm/1.6 | 12 | 1.6 | 7.5 | 44 | 1.85 | 42 | 30 | 3,400 | Hyperprime 12mm/1.6 | ||||||||
57 | 12mm/2.0 | 12 | 2 | 6.0 | 28 | 1.85 | 42 | 30 | 2,176 | Rokinon 12mm/2.0* | Olympus 12mm/2.0 | |||||||
58 | 12mm/2.8 | 12 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 14 | 1.85 | 42 | 30 | 1,110 | Zeiss Touit 12mm/2.8 | ||||||||
59 | 12mm/4.5 | 12 | 4.5 | 2.7 | 6 | 1.85 | 42 | 30 | 430 | |||||||||
60 | 11mm/2.8 | 11 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 12 | 2.08 | 45 | 33 | 1,149 | Tokina 11-16mm/2.8* | ||||||||
61 | 10mm/2.8 | 10 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 10 | 2.36 | 50 | 36 | 1,184 | Rokinon 10mm/2.8 | ||||||||
62 | 10mm/3.5 | 10 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 6 | 2.36 | 50 | 36 | 758 | |||||||||
63 | 8mm/2.8 | 8 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 6 | 3.09 | 63 | 45 | 1,237 | Rokinon 8mm f/2.8 II | ||||||||
64 | 8mm/3.5 | 8 | 3.5 | 2.3 | 4 | 3.09 | 63 | 45 | 792 | Rokinon 8mm/3.5 Fisheye | ||||||||
65 | 7.5mm/3.5 | 7.5 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 4 | 3.31 | 67 | 48 | 796 | |||||||||
66 | 7mm/2.8 | 7 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 5 | 3.55 | 71 | 51 | 1,246 | Zuiko 7-14mm/2.8 | ||||||||
67 | Use this link to SHARE THIS DOC: | goo.gl/iU13yN | Recommended Lenses | |||||||||||||||
68 | ||||||||||||||||||
69 | *Highly Recommended! | |||||||||||||||||
70 | ||||||||||||||||||
71 | Cameras and Lenses in my current kit | |||||||||||||||||
72 | Canon 6D | Fuji X-T1 | Canon EOS M | Sony a7S | ||||||||||||||
73 | Rokinon 14mm/2.8 | Fujinon XF 14mm/2.8 | Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0 | Rokinon 14mm/2.8 | ||||||||||||||
74 | Rokinon 24mm/1.4 | Fujinon XF 23mm/1.4 | Rokinon 12mm/2.0 | Rokinon 24mm/1.4 | ||||||||||||||
75 | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art | Fujinon XF 35mm/1.4 | Rokinon 35mm/1.4 | |||||||||||||||
76 | Rokinon 12mm/2.0 | Voigtlander 40mm f/1.4 Nokton | ||||||||||||||||
77 | Rokinon 8mm f/2.8 Fisheye II | |||||||||||||||||
78 | ||||||||||||||||||
79 | Click here for an interactive exposure calculator that will also output the astro lens score. | |||||||||||||||||
80 | ||||||||||||||||||
81 | The "Astro Lens Score" is a number derived by multiplying the values of various lens/camera traits such as angle of view, clear aperture size and maximum exposure time without star trails. It's an arbitrary number and is only useful for comparing lenses to each other for the purposes of taking untracked astrophotos. Calculations use the sensor area of an APS-C sensor but the shutter time suggestions of a full frame lens. Lenses with higher ratings will be able to make higher signal to noise ratio photographs directly proportional to their rating numbers. In other words, a lens that scores 2000 would be capable of making a photograph with twice as much signal versus a lens with a score of 1000. This chart is purposed merely as a way to more easily compare one lens to another without having to swirl your brain around with f-stops and angles of view. | |||||||||||||||||
82 | ||||||||||||||||||
83 | For example: A 24mm/1.4 scores about 2800 while a 24mm/2.0 scores about 1400. Based on these numbers, the f/1.4 lens should be able to collect approximately 2x more light (1 stop) than the f/2.0 lens which is what we would expect just by comparing f/numbers. | |||||||||||||||||
84 | ||||||||||||||||||
85 | Theses scores do not account for noise and thus are NOT directly comparable across differing sensor sizes or different cameras. Differing cameras have differences in sensor quantum efficiency and these calculations only assume a single sensor size and exposure length. Keep in mind that these scores also do not take into account the other aspects of a lens's performance such as resolution, astigmatism, chromatic, coma, spherical aberration, distortion, build quality etc. | |||||||||||||||||
86 | ||||||||||||||||||
87 | If you wish to compare lenses across different sensor sizes and account for aberration performance check out the other sheet tabs for each sensor size. | |||||||||||||||||
88 | ||||||||||||||||||
89 | Suggested exposure times are the maximum recommeded exposure duration without star trails. The number may vary from what's shown here depending on your sensor resolution or where in the sky you are pointing your camera. This number is a good starting point, but check for star trails and adjust. You want to use the longest exposure you can with out star trails to maximize your light gathering. | |||||||||||||||||
90 | ||||||||||||||||||
91 | Rokinon, Samyang and Bower lenses are all identical lenses made by the same Korean manufacturer: Samyang | |||||||||||||||||
92 | ||||||||||||||||||
93 | About the product links in this doc: I use affiliate links to the respective products that I mention on this page. If you decide to buy one of these products, consider using the links in this article to support Lonely Speck. It won't cost you anything extra but Lonely Speck gets a small commission to support the website. | |||||||||||||||||
94 | ||||||||||||||||||
95 | By Ian Norman, Creative Commons, Attribution, Sharealike, International 4.0 |
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