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Posted: 7/17/2016 5:27:59 PM EDT
I are noob with a Nikon D3200 and a tripod, camera has the stock 18-55mm lens. I'm wanting to do some night sky photography, and the mountain passes are only 2 hours away for clear viewing. Budget-Up to $1k. Recommendations? A few recs on noob photog resources would be appreciated too. 
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Posted: 7/17/2016 7:26:08 PM EDT
[#1]
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 prime. About $200 new. (ETA, oops. wrong frame! Corrected)
 DSC_5286-MilkyWay by FredMan, on Flickr
Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. About $400 new.  House Starstack 2016-04-03a by FredMan, on Flickr
Tamron 150-600 f/5-6.3. About $1000 new.  DSC_6122-Moon160519 by FredMan, on Flickr
Questions you should be asking yourself are: Do you want to take wide-field sky shots? Get the 35 prime or the 11-16 (or some other fast, relatively wide lens) Do you want to take moon pictures? Get the super zoom. All three of these lenses also have plenty of other uses. |
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Posted: 7/17/2016 8:11:33 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 prime. About $200 new. (ETA, oops. wrong frame! Corrected) <a href="https://flic.kr/p/K3WFjP" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8837/28256642351_4349d04af3_b.jpg</a>DSC_5286-MilkyWay by FredMan, on Flickr Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. About $400 new. <a href="https://flic.kr/p/FQAFaC" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/2/1537/26147871322_34b2cf8926_b.jpg</a>House Starstack 2016-04-03a by FredMan, on Flickr Tamron 150-600 f/5-6.3. About $1000 new. <a href="https://flic.kr/p/Hdxzsk" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7140/27052586451_cca64dd3f2_b.jpg</a>DSC_6122-Moon160519 by FredMan, on Flickr Questions you should be asking yourself are: Do you want to take wide-field sky shots? Get the 35 prime or the 11-16 (or some other fast, relatively wide lens) Do you want to take moon pictures? Get the super zoom. All three of these lenses also have plenty of other uses. Thanks for the advice...sounds like that in true ARFcom fashion, I shall have to get one wide-field and one superzoom. 
Something tells me it won't stop there... 
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Posted: 7/17/2016 9:06:58 PM EDT
[#3]
My actual suggestion is the 35mm prime. It's cheap, has lots of utility, and is an excellent all-around lens. The only thing it doesn't have is reach, and good reach costs big bucks.
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Posted: 7/17/2016 10:35:48 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My actual suggestion is the 35mm prime. It's cheap, has lots of utility, and is an excellent all-around lens. The only thing it doesn't have is reach, and good reach costs big bucks. I really like mine. I don't use it quite as often as the 50, but I'm glad I've got it and it does come in handy. |
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Posted: 7/18/2016 5:44:14 PM EDT
[#5]
I really never use any of my primes.
I do however use the hell out of my Tamron 150-600, and my 18-70. |
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Posted: 7/18/2016 9:34:17 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I really never use any of my primes. I do however use the hell out of my Tamron 150-600, and my 18-70. I'd say the two I use most are that Tamron 150-300 and the 18-105. The 18-105 is one I'm not as happy with as I'd like (wish it was a bit faster at the long end and a bit sharper, but it's a fine walking-around lens and the range is tough to beat) I do really like the 35 for it's 1.8 aperture and razor sharpness and the Tokina 11-16 for those really wide landscape shots. For example This is cropped a bit at the top to emphasize the wide). 11mm, gives a 104 degree FOV:  DSC_3310-Sunset Storm1 by FredMan, on Flickr
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Posted: 7/19/2016 2:01:00 AM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
I are noob with a Nikon D3200 and a tripod, camera has the stock 18-55mm lens. I'm wanting to do some night sky photography, and the mountain passes are only 2 hours away for clear viewing. Budget-Up to $1k. Recommendations? A few recs on noob photog resources would be appreciated too. The astrophotography forum at Nikonians.org would be a good place to ask this question: https://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=432 |
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Posted: 7/19/2016 4:59:54 PM EDT
[#8]
The primes are fantastic lenses, but on a DX body they are roughly a 50mm and 75mm lens comparatively. That said, I use my 50mm fairly often since it's the fastest lens I have.
Probably the most popular lens I've seen for wide angle and astro on a DX body is the Tokina 11-16 2.8f. Come aurora season, we couldn't even keep them in stock in the shop. Runs right under $500 and feels decent for it's price range, but takes some good images. https://www.amazon.com/Tokina-11-16mm-AT-X116-Digital-Cameras/dp/B007ORX8ME |
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Posted: 7/19/2016 8:51:35 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The primes are fantastic lenses, but on a DX body they are roughly a 50mm and 75mm lens comparatively. That said, I use my 50mm fairly often since it's the fastest lens I have. Probably the most popular lens I've seen for wide angle and astro on a DX body is the Tokina 11-16 2.8f. Come aurora season, we couldn't even keep them in stock in the shop. Runs right under $500 and feels decent for it's price range, but takes some good images. https://www.amazon.com/Tokina-11-16mm-AT-X116-Digital-Cameras/dp/B007ORX8ME If you are looking into the Tokina, make sure you get the newer version with DX II in the name. Get the AT-X 116 PRO DX-II and not the AT-X 116 PRO DX The main difference is the introduction of an internal focusing motor so it will work on camera bodies that don't have an AF gear and drive motor. http://www.tokinalens.com/tokina/products/atxpro/atx116prodxii/ |
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Posted: 7/19/2016 9:03:06 PM EDT
[#10]
Whoops. Thought I linked the II
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Posted: 7/19/2016 9:08:42 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Whoops. Thought I linked the II You did! Just wanted to make sure it was known there's the old (non-II) and new (II) versions of this lens and what the main difference was. |
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Posted: 7/19/2016 9:18:14 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You did! Just wanted to make sure it was known there's the old (non-II) and new (II) versions of this lens and what the main difference was. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Whoops. Thought I linked the II You did! Just wanted to make sure it was known there's the old (non-II) and new (II) versions of this lens and what the main difference was. Oh ok. 
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Posted: 7/20/2016 9:00:48 AM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
I are noob with a Nikon D3200 and a tripod, camera has the stock 18-55mm lens. I'm wanting to do some night sky photography, and the mountain passes are only 2 hours away for clear viewing. Budget-Up to $1k. Recommendations? A few recs on noob photog resources would be appreciated too. Sounds like you need a wide angle lens. Check out the Nikon 10-24mm lens. |
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