Re: Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 for landscape + some astro? Or go for a zoom?
For astro you need a wider lens that is sharp at f2.8 and faster than f2.8 is even better. I find 18mm about ideal for milky way landscapes, though 14 through 20mm also work, though 20 can often feel a bit cramped.
I personally used a Samyang 18/2.8 for a bit and it did a credible job, not perfect, but made fully usable full-frame astro shots in a tiny, affordable package — it might be the perfect addition to your existing kit? The Sony 16/1.8 would be better, but at probably 4x the cost and size.
I have since acquired the new Tamron 12-20/2.8 zoom and that’s now my goto travel and landscape super wide, and about equal to the Samyang in astro performance. The Tamron zoom is not in your budget, but the Samyang definitely is, and in fact if you are interested in mine, PM me and I’ll make you a great deal since I don’t really need it anymore.
Aug 17, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Previous versions of Jack Flesher's message #17090564 « Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 for landscape + some astro? Or go for a zoom? »
