topic Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro? in EF & RF Lenses

L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Far-Out-Dude — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 06:26:59 GMT

I am looking for a L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape for my R5 Mark ii. I shoot a lot of landscape and am very interested in Astro, I would eventually like to get into some deep space stuff but that is not going to happen just yet. I am hoping someone could suggest an L-series rf lens that would be good for both? I had been looking at the 16mm RF lens but it is not a L series and I have gotten spoiled with the quality of images from my EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens so I think I would like to stick with the L series, if I can afford them.

The other kinds distant thought is a RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens. I have a interest in Macro but can't kneel, squat or bend due to injuries and most of what interests me is on or near the ground so I am not sure, I would have to have a tree or a chair to use to get off the ground if I sat. I like the idea of photographing eyes, raindrops/ice droplets as they cling to a tree and other outdoor kinda stuff.

I am attaching some of my landscape shots to give you and idea of what I like to shoot, I almost always shoot from a tripod and from the sitting position as standing is quite painful for me. I am having problems uploading the ones I want, they all need to be resized and I am not good at getting them to the right size, stupid numbers again.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Waddizzle — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 05:45:08 GMT

Welcome to the Community. What camera body are we talking about?

It sounds like you are looking for one lens to do it all. Such a lens doesn’t exist. If one did, then we wouldn’t see the wide variety of lenses on store shelves.

I do not understand the rationale or requirement for an L series lens. Many astrophotographers use fully manual lenses because of the significant reduction in power consumption during long periods of capturing images.

Also, the lens requirements for general night sky photography of say the Milky Way are very different from those used for deep space photography.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Far-Out-Dude — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 06:26:00 GMT

Sorry, I thought I had put that in there, I will edit it in after this. I have a R5 Mark ii that I am trying to learn. My other camera is an M50 but I don't think I want to use that as it is hard to find EF-M lenses anymore.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Far-Out-Dude — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 06:34:05 GMT

Oh I know one like that does not exist, that is why I said deep space is not going to happen for a bit. Macro is a whole different kind of lens. I am looking for one that will do Milky Way shots, maybe so other space stuff in that range like some nebula's though that may be deep space, I am just being to get interested in it so I am unsure.

What I am hoping for is something that will work for both astro as I describe above and landscape, landscape is something I do a lot more at this time but would like a lens that would allow me to do both at some level. Thank you much for the reply. Oh I have a R5 Mark ii

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

shadowsports — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 08:04:40 GMT

Hey Far-Out Dude,

Glad to see you back and with your new body. Sure beats your old M huh?

The 3rd shot is a good one... Reminds me of Ice Road Truckers. Not a show I really watched, but I saw the ads and after visiting Alaska, I have respect for the drivers who do ice and snow as well as Australia's Outback.

Any recent Turkey shots... Thanksgiving is here 😊

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Ron888 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:08:49 GMT

It's relatively easy and inexpensive to do high quality macro without a dedicated macro lens.There are extension tubes,using older manual focus macro lenses via an adapter,screw-in type add on lenses or even a reversed lens (with a manual diaphragm obviously).
If any of those options float your boat, then it makes sense to spend on the landscape and/or astro lens

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:49:37 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:

Welcome to the Community. What camera body are we talking about?

It sounds like you are looking for one lens to do it all. Such a lens doesn’t exist. If one did, then we wouldn’t see the wide variety of lenses on store shelves.

I do not understand the rationale or requirement for an L series lens. Many astrophotographers use fully manual lenses because of the significant reduction in power consumption during long periods of capturing images.

Also, the lens requirements for general night sky photography of say the Milky Way are very different from those used for deep space photography.

Some of the lower priced (non L) RF lenses rely on digital optical aberration correction rather than via optical design. That allows for less expensive lenses, but requires either in-camera lens correction ( I.e JPEG output) or using editing software that have good lens correction data. The RF 16mm lens is one of those lenses.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Far-Out-Dude — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 14:25:45 GMT

I had looked at the 16mm very heavily but would rather have an L-series. I am not the greatest at editing and with the new AI programs my 10 year old computer is not doing well with Lr or Neo though my specs say I should.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Far-Out-Dude — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 03:04:36 GMT

Hope this will load. This is the only this year, I was taking care of my girlfriend since her stroke last year so there was just no time really for taking pictures. This is one of only maybe 20 days I had to myself where I was not with her. She passed away on the 17th of Sept. I bought the camera 2 days later, my friend keeps calling it a grief purchase and I think she is right. We had planned for me to get one this coming April before the start of turkey season but I got it early. To tell the truth financially I should have waited, but I am glad I did not, there is a whole lot to learn, I feel like I have gone from a Model A to a Lamborghini and need the learn time.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Far-Out-Dude — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 14:47:20 GMT

I do not think from what I have seen that they make them to go from RF to EF though I am wondering if with my adapter can they work with my lighter Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM? I am not sure. Any suggestions on a RF Lens for Landscape and Astro both? One that would cross over and is in the L series I mean?

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

ebiggs1 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 15:34:09 GMT

"I had looked at the 16mm very heavily but would rather have an L-series. I am not the greatest at editing..." "I am looking for one that will do Milky Way shots, maybe so other space stuff in that range like some nebula's though that may be deep space..."

First an "L" lens is not going to make post editing unnecessary. Forget that thought if great photos are your goal as I would expect with the camera you recently bought. Milky Way, deep space, nebula's are all the same thing basically. They are so far away that even the biggest telephotos don't make any difference. That's why astrophotographers prefer fully manual WA to UWA lenses like the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC Lens.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Far-Out-Dude — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:47:41 GMT

I do understand that with the L series lens, but it will help if I do my job. I do not know much yet about Astro so I appreciate that information, guess I will be going for a landscape lens then as that is what I do much more. Any suggestion in the RF L series line? By the way, I had indeed looked at that Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC Lens but wanted to stick with Canon. I think I have that lens on one of my wish lists on B&H I have to leave, I will reply later.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Far-Out-Dude — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 03:36:45 GMT

I looked at my wish lists at B&H turns out it was not on any of my lists. Must have been something I had looked at one time or another, or at least the brand because I remember the name brand. Since things did not seem to be going well here I made a thread for just a Landscape lens and you can find it here. https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/forums/postsuccesspage/board-id/efandrflenses/message-id/34810

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

jrhoffman75 — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 11:23:52 GMT

Best Lenses for Astrophotography (2024)

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

justadude — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 20:38:03 GMT

If you end up not sticking with a Canon lens for the Milky Way, I have a better suggestion than the Rokinon 14mm F/2.8. Don't get me wrong... that's a great lens. I owned three different variations of that lens over the years - two with Canon mounts, one with a Pentax mount.

Last year I bought a Venus Optics Laowa RF 15mm F/2 FE Zero-D lens. I found it so much better than the Rokinon that I sold the Rokinon lenses. Less distortion, less vignetting, and what there is of both is much easier to correct. In addition, this lens is built much more solid. It just has the feel of a well machined lens as you are turning focus and changing aperture.

Like you, I prefer Canon lenses. However I feel this lens was well worth not buying a Canon lens for at $600 for this lens vs. $2,400 for the Canon RF 15-35mm F/2.8

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Far-Out-Dude — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 22:10:19 GMT

Thank you much. I may go that way. I had hoped for a crossover but was not sure that was possible, I knew that the macro would not work, somebody above misunderstood me, I knew that would be a whole other direction and no lens would do all three. I want to be able to shoot my landscapes at a high tier level so I am going to go that way first. I am going to make a Astro list in my B&H wishlist and will add that to the list. Thank you much.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Far-Out-Dude — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 22:22:58 GMT

Thank you very much, I am just perusing it right now, but have saved it to my desktop so I could read it in further detail later.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

JamesHarvey — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 06:26:04 GMT

FYI shot this with an R6ii, RF16 & Benro Polaris tracker; sky (tracked) and foreground (untracked) images were combined in post; both were 30s, f/2.8, ISO2000. As others have noted, the lens does require a lot of digital correction: the foreground image, even after full lens correction in DPP required further correction in PS to remove the remaining pincushion distortion. Interestingly, the tracked MW shot did not appear to require so much correction, there was no obvious stretching of corner objects.

If you are going to use a tracker then your lens choice will be dictated by the maximum head load it can turn. No problem with any shorter lens, but for deep space work the heaviest lenses the Polaris will take (that I have used & had success with) have been the RF100-500 & RF800/11, and these are considered about the max load for that tracker. To go heavier you need to look at a tracking mount designed for a similarly sized telescope. Just remember that in astro you major limit is the atmosphere, even with the best lenses to get great images, tracking and multi-image stacking are required.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

Ron888 — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 09:30:47 GMT

Yes i'm sure you could use the EF70-300 with extension tubes. The order would be (from the front) EF lens,then EF extension tubes and the EF to RF adapter.
There are also non canon brand extension tubes suitable for RF mount if you want to go that way.
Sorry i have very little experience with landscape or astro so not confident recommending lenses for those.

Re: L series RF Lens For Astrophotography and Landscape Or do I go Macro?

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 11:46:27 GMT

Nice image.