Experience Stellar Astrophotography with NIKKOR Z S-Line f/2.8 Lenses

Astrophotography manifests itself in the form of an epic journey into the cosmos, replicating the stunning beauty of the night sky in almost pitch-black, tranquil environments far from city lights. Through the lens of a camera, time piles up upon itself, stacking to create incredibly detailed images. The longer the light spills in, the more hidden details get revealed. Astrophotography allows us a rare glimpse of nature from a completely different perspective; escaping the arrow of time for a brief moment. 

Nikon’s NIKKOR Z S-Line mirrorless lenses, particularly the NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S and the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S are designed to reproduce these awe-inspiring moments. From the expansive stretches of the Milky Way to far-flung glimmering constellations, both lenses are not only superb for capturing immersive landscapes and the night sky but also offer lightweight endurance without compromising on quality and detail.

Astrophotography is a challenging yet rewarding pursuit, demanding lenses that excel in low light and are portable enough for traveling to far-flung destinations. Traditional lenses often fall short, struggling with chromatic aberration, distortion, and insufficient light gathering. However, this is where the NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S and the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lenses truly stand out. 

For astrophotography, the wide-angle and standard zoom lenses are particularly valuable as they allow photographers to delineate expansive night skies and detailed celestial events regardless of weather or lighting conditions. Both lenses provide versatility for different styles of shots, from wide-angle Milky Way compositions to constellations within nebulae, making it a versatile addition to any photographer’s kit. When the story calls for videos and time-lapses, you get precise control over the depth of field right from the lens.

The NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S is a workhorse wide zoom lens that’s light in weight yet durable, standing out as one of the best ultra-wide zooms available today. Renowned for being a compact f/2.8 wide-angle zoom, it weighs in at just 650g — perfect for extensive carrying. Its broad field of view and constant f/2.8 aperture make it an obvious choice for documenting stars and celestial events, framing vast portions of the night sky without distortions. Excelling in capturing the Milky Way, streaming star trails, and expansive night landscapes, photographers are spoiled for choice when rendering immersive midnight skyscapes.

The lens’ optical design, featuring various elements and anti-reflective coatings maintain image sharpness, keeping them free from unwanted reflections and flaring. The Nano Crystal and ARNEO coatings on the front element minimise reflections and maintain uniform light entry, crucial for depicting clear and detailed night sky images. Its optical construction includes 16 elements in 11 groups, with its four extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements delivering to the optical sharpness and reduction of chromatic aberration. Keeping the stars of the night sharp, round and clear without sagittal coma are the aspherical lens elements of the NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S.

The NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is celebrated for its all-purpose functionality and weather-sealed construction, making it a favourite among astrophotographers due to its ability to faithfully reproduce stars as well-defined, rounded points — sans bokeh and halo. The lens offers a versatile range of focal length, allowing photographers to zoom in on specific objects in the sky or outline broader night sky scenes. Its constant rounded nine-blade aperture and advanced optical construction ensure that images are sharp and well-exposed, even in low light conditions.

Known for its adaptability and speed, it produces sharp images even at wide-open apertures, avoiding common issues like dark corners. Constructed with 17 elements in 15 groups, including ED glass and Nano Crystal Coat, the lens effortlessly focuses in low light situations while reducing ghosting from conflicting light sources. These features make it an excellent choice for both still long-exposure photography and video, providing the flexibility needed for various shooting scenarios.

One of the standout features of this lens is its customisable Fn button, which can be assigned up to 21 different functions, including AF lock, metering, and bracketing. Additionally, the OLED information display panel on the lens provides quick access to crucial settings like aperture, focus distance, exact focal length, and depth of field for rapid adjustments on the fly.

The NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S and NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lenses are built to seamlessly integrate with Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, such as the Z 8 and Z 9. Known for their exceptional image quality, fast processing speeds, and robust builds, both are ideal companions for the S-Line trinity lenses, playing off one another for optimal results in the field.

Moreover, utilising Nikon’s suite of software solutions, including NX Studio, helps with streamlining post-production editing for both astrophotography and videos. 

Whether you’re a seasoned astrophotographer or just getting started, both lenses offer the fundamentals needed to excel in astrophotography. Pairing them with Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras unlocks new synergies when capturing the breathtaking beauty of the night sky and beyond.