The Best Lenses for Night Photography: A Comprehensive Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 21 June 2023 9 min read

Night photography is an exciting and rewarding genre that allows photographers to capture the beauty of the night sky, cityscapes, and other low-light scenes. Choosing the best lens for night photography can make a significant difference in the quality and sharpness of your images. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the challenges of night photography, discuss camera settings, and recommend some of the best lenses available for capturing stunning night photos.

Understanding Night Photography

Before diving into the best lenses for night photography, it's essential to understand the unique aspects of this genre and how to tackle its challenges. Let's take a closer look at the challenges of night photography and the recommended camera settings for capturing the perfect shot.

Challenges of Night Photography

Night photography can be both exciting and challenging due to the following factors:

Low light conditions: Limited light sources can make it difficult for your camera to focus and capture sharp images.
Longer exposure times: To compensate for the lack of light, you'll need to use longer exposure times, which can lead to blurry images if not stabilized properly.
High ISO noise: Increasing the ISO can help capture more light, but it also introduces noise, which can degrade the image quality.
Dynamic range: Night scenes often have a wide dynamic range, with bright lights and deep shadows, making it challenging to capture all the details in a single shot.

Camera Settings for Night Photography

Optimizing your camera settings is crucial for capturing stunning night photos. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Shoot in manual mode: This gives you full control over the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings.
Select a wide aperture: A wide aperture (low f-number) allows more light to enter the camera, which is helpful in low-light conditions.
Use a slow shutter speed: A slower shutter speed allows more light to be captured, but make sure to use a tripod to minimize camera shake.
Adjust the ISO carefully: A higher ISO increases the camera's sensitivity to light, but also introduces noise. Experiment to find the right balance for your specific scene.
Shoot in RAW: RAW files retain more information than JPEGs, allowing for greater flexibility in post-processing.

Now that we understand the basics of night photography, let's explore the best lenses for capturing stunning night photos.

Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Night Photography

Wide-angle lenses are ideal for capturing expansive nightscapes, such as starry skies and cityscapes. They provide a broader field of view, allowing you to include more of the scene in your frame. Here are three of the best wide-angle lenses for night photography:

1. Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art

The Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art is an excellent lens for night photography, thanks to its wide-angle view and fast aperture. The f/1.8 aperture allows for more light to enter the camera, helping you capture sharp images in low-light conditions. This lens is compatible with both full-frame and crop-sensor cameras, and its high-quality build ensures minimal distortion and chromatic aberration.

2. Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC

The Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC is a budget-friendly option that still delivers impressive performance for night photography. Its wide-angle view and f/2.8 aperture make it suitable for capturing expansive night scenes, while its manual focus design ensures precise control over focus points. The lens is available for various camera mounts, including Canon, Nikon, and Sony.

3. Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM

For Canon users, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM is a top choice for night photography. This wide-angle zoom lens offers versatility in framing your shots, and its f/2.8 aperture allows for good low-light performance. The lens features a weather-sealed construction, making it a durable option for outdoor night photography sessions.

Best Standard Lenses for Night Photography

Standard lenses, also known as "normal" lenses, provide a field of view similar to what the human eye sees. These lenses are versatile and can be used for various types of night photography, including portraits and street scenes. Here are three of the best standard lenses for night photography:

1. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is a popular choice for night photography, thanks to its fast aperture and affordable price. The f/1.8 aperture allows for excellent low-light performance, capturing sharp images even in dimly lit environments. This lens is compatible with both full-frame and crop-sensor Nikon cameras, making it a versatile option for various types of night photography.

2. Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

For Canon users, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM is one of the best standard lenses for night photography. Its wide f/1.2 aperture ensures stunning low-light performance, while the lens's L-series designation guarantees exceptional build quality and image quality. The lens is compatible with full-frame Canon cameras and provides a beautiful bokeh effect, perfect for nighttime portraits.

3. Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Zeiss Sonnar T*

Sony mirrorless camera users looking for the best standard lens for night photography should consider the Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Zeiss Sonnar T*. This lens offers a fast f/1.8 aperture for low-light shooting and is designed specifically for Sony's full-frame E-mount cameras. The Zeiss T* coating minimizes flare and ghosting, ensuring high-quality images even when shooting at night.

Best Telephoto Lenses for Night Photography

Telephoto lenses are great for capturing distant subjects in night photography, such as the moon or far-off buildings. They provide a narrower field of view and a longer focal length, allowing you to create stunning images with a unique perspective. Here are three of the best telephoto lenses for night photography:

1. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR is a versatile and high-quality telephoto lens for night photography. Its f/2.8 aperture enables good low-light performance, while the built-in vibration reduction (VR) helps to minimize camera shake for sharper images. The lens is compatible with both full-frame and crop-sensor Nikon cameras, making it a great choice for various types of night photography.

2. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM

Canon users will appreciate the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM for its impressive performance in night photography. This telephoto lens features a fast f/2.8 aperture and image stabilization, ensuring sharp images even in low-light conditions. Its L-series designation ensures top-notch build quality and image quality, making it an excellent investment for any night photographer.

3. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS

For Sony users, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS is a top-of-the-line telephoto lens for night photography. Its f/2.8 aperture and optical stabilization provide excellent low-light performance, while its G Master designation guarantees outstanding image quality. The lens is compatible with Sony's full-frame E-mount cameras and offers a versatile zoom range for capturing various nighttime subjects.

Additional Tips for Night Photography

Choosing the best lens for night photography is only part of the equation. To achieve the best results, consider the following additional tips and techniques:

1. Tripod Recommendations

Using a sturdy tripod is essential for night photography, as it helps to eliminate camera shake and enables long exposure shots. Look for a tripod with a high load capacity, adjustable legs, and a reliable ball head for maximum stability and flexibility.

2. Using a Remote Shutter Release

A remote shutter release allows you to trigger your camera's shutter without physically touching the camera, reducing the risk of camera shake during long exposures. These devices can be wired or wireless and are compatible with most camera models.

3. Long Exposure Techniques

Long exposures are a key element of night photography, allowing you to capture more light and create stunning images. Experiment with different shutter speeds, apertures, and ISO settings to find the perfect balance for your specific scene and the best lens for night photography.

Best Telephoto Lenses for Night Photography

Telephoto lenses are ideal for capturing distant subjects in night photography, such as the moon, stars, or far-off cityscapes. They offer a narrower field of view and a longer focal length, enabling you to create captivating images with a unique perspective. Here are three of the best telephoto lenses for night photography:

1. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR is a versatile and high-performance telephoto lens for night photography. With its fast f/2.8 aperture, you can capture great low-light shots, while the built-in vibration reduction (VR) helps minimize camera shake for sharper images. This lens is compatible with both full-frame and crop-sensor Nikon cameras, making it suitable for various night photography scenarios.

2. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM

Canon users will appreciate the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM for its impressive performance in night photography. This telephoto lens features a fast f/2.8 aperture and image stabilization, ensuring sharp images even in low-light conditions. As an L-series lens, it guarantees top-notch build quality and image quality, making it a valuable investment for any night photographer.

3. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS

For Sony users, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS is a top-tier telephoto lens for night photography. Its f/2.8 aperture and optical stabilization provide excellent low-light performance, while its G Master designation ensures outstanding image quality. The lens is compatible with Sony's full-frame E-mount cameras and offers a versatile zoom range for capturing various nighttime subjects.

Additional Tips for Night Photography

Choosing the best lens for night photography is only part of the equation. To achieve the best results, consider the following additional tips and techniques:

1. Tripod Recommendations

2. Using a Remote Shutter Release

3. Long Exposure Techniques

Additional Tips for Night Photography

Besides using the best lens for night photography, there are several other factors and techniques to consider for optimal results. Here are some additional tips to enhance your night photography experience:

1. Focus Techniques

Focusing in low-light conditions can be challenging. To overcome this, try using manual focus and a technique called focus peaking, which highlights the in-focus areas of your image. Alternatively, you can use the camera's Live View mode to zoom in and fine-tune the focus.

2. Capture in RAW

Shooting in RAW format allows you to capture more image data, which can be helpful during post-processing. This enables you to recover shadow and highlight details, adjust white balance, and reduce noise more effectively than with JPEG files.

3. Use the Histogram

The histogram is a helpful tool for evaluating the exposure of your images. By reviewing the histogram, you can ensure that your images are not underexposed or overexposed, making adjustments as necessary for the best results.

4. Experiment with Composition

While night photography often focuses on the stars, moon, or cityscapes, it's important to explore different compositions and foreground elements for more unique and interesting images. Experiment with various angles, perspectives, and framing to create captivating night photos.

5. Patience and Practice

Finally, remember that night photography takes patience and practice. Don't be discouraged if your first shots aren't perfect. Keep experimenting with different settings, lenses, and techniques, and over time, you'll develop the skills needed to capture stunning nighttime images.

By combining the best lens for night photography with these additional tips and techniques, you'll be well on your way to creating memorable and captivating nighttime images. So grab your camera, tripod, and favorite lens, and head out into the night to capture the beauty and wonder of the world after dark.

If you're looking to expand your photography skills and capture stunning nighttime shots, don't miss the workshop 'Intro to Photographing at Night' by Caleb Stein. This workshop will provide you with the essential techniques, tips, and tricks to create breathtaking nighttime images and elevate your photography skills.