The best lenses for astrophotography in 2024: fast ultra-wide lenses for the night sky

Astrophotographer on location with 14mm lens
(Image credit: Future)

The best lenses for astrophotography are arguably the most important tools in your arsenal for getting clear, sharp images of the night sky. An astro lens needs to offer a wide-angle perspective, not just for capturing as much of the sky as possible, but also for allowing the use of slower shutter speeds without incurring star trails (i.e. stars smearing across the sky). A fast maximum aperture is also critical.

There's more to it of course – and we get into the weeds in our 'how to choose' section at the bottom of this page – but that's the essence of the matter. Astrophotography is an immensely enjoyable shooting discipline, but getting great results is technically challenging. We go into a lot more detail in our astrophotography tips and how-to guide, but choosing the right lens is one of the most important first steps to take. 

Our go-to lens expert
Matthew Richards
Our go-to lens expert
Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! Here, he's picking the lenses that have most impressed him for astrophotography.

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.