New to RF full frame, what glass for Astro?

[tiim]

Hello everyone, 

My first post!

I have been a Canon user since the AE-1.

My first mirrorless camera was the original EOS-M (still have it).

I am finally upgrading to full frame after 10 years of APS-C, and bought an RP (I'm aware it's being discontinued soon) with the kit 24-105? lens and 16mm F2.8 on the second-hand market.

I decided to stick with Canon and not move to the Sony A7CII. My reason was the body size is great on the Sony, but any serious glass will negate that experience somewhat.

I am going on a trip to photograph the night sky. I have years of experience on APS-C doing this. I am looking at the Rokinon 14mm F2.8 manual lens and will likely buy that, as I am oh so familiar with my M6 (with tilting EVF, haha full-framers...) with the manual Rokinon F2.0 APS-C equivalent. I don't mind manual work, I feel it makes me a better photographer. Not using the viewfinder (because it dosent tilt on any modern Canon) will be a learning curve for me.

All this said, I see a really nice (and pricey to me) glass for Leica and Sony, the Sigma 14mm F1.4

I understand Canon hasn't allowed AF lenses for full frame RF yet, is there a faster, wide alternative to the Rokinon?

Again, I don't mind manual focus. I'm accustomed to using the zoom focus in the EVF on my M6. (which I'll never part with, such a great pocket camera with the 22mm pancake)

Asking you experts. I really want to get an R6 Mkii or Mkiii (if one comes out in 2025) for now, the RP is my big sensor with the M6 as my backup. Hey, they have the same battery!

Thanks everyone.

Tim (Tiim, long story...)

[justadude]

Personally, I love the Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 lenses.  I have owned three versions of this lens over the years (2 with Canon mounts, one with Pentax) over the past 10 years.  

However, this past year I ended up buying a Venus Optics Laowa RF 15mm F/2 Zero-D lens.  While the distortion is not zero, it is far less than the Rokinon, and much easier to correct in post processing. The biggest issue with the Rokinon is even with Lightroom lens correction tools for the exact Rokinon lens, horizons still seemed to have a bit of a mustache type curve.  It is especially noticeable when I shoot night skies over the Lake Michigan shoreline - which should be a perfectly straight line, but it is not.  The Venus Optics Laowa 15mm corrects into a perfectly level horizon, and less vignetting.  Tilt distortion is still there (like with any lens this wide), but with the correction in LR, it is less noticeable than with the Rokinon.  It seems like a better build as well, more solid.  

I like this lens so much more than the Rokinon, that I ended up selling the last one I still had.  The 15mm Laowa is my dedicated astro lens now.  I've used it on general night sky photos, long time lapse photos, and the Northern Lights - no complaints on any of the images I take.  I really love this lens!

[ebiggs1]

"Personally, I love the Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 lenses."

As well as me. Almost all my astrophotography friends use that lens. It is a favorite. Another one that seems very popular is the 16mm F2.0 High Speed Wide Angle at least I have heard but I have not used one yet.

[justadude]

The only drawback in this particular case is that Tim is asking about a lens for a full frame camera, and the Rokinon 16mm F/2 High Speed Wide Angle is for ASP-C only.  But I have also heard great things about this lens.  

[ebiggs1]

Thanx Gary. That's what I get for talking something I have never used. I should know better as I generally don't, won't, do that.

[justadude]

I never used that lens either... but you were the third person I heard talk about it, so I went to look it up.  That's the only reason I knew it wasn't full frame.  Hey, in your defense, the other two users never mentioned it was ASP-C either, so we'll blame them.  😄 

[John_Q]

Hello tiim,

You should be able to use the manual lens you referred to. You can set the camera to a setting in the Custom Function menu (orange camera), [C.Fn III-7: Release shutter without lens]. This is ideal for using manual lenses and telescopes and such the like. 

[tiim]

Hanks everyone fpr the replies!

I'll look for the Laowa lens, maybe I can get one in time for my trip. The Rokinon seems to be readily available just in case!