Northern Lights thumbnails only

Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens, The Ultimate Northern Lights Lens Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens, The Ultimate Northern Lights Lens
 

When cost, time, and effort are invested into a photography trip, generally only the best-available gear (or something new being reviewed) makes the pack. Milky way and aurora nightscape photography opportunities were on the potential list for a recent trip, and my three favorite night sky lenses were packed specifically for these subjects.

When the milky way is visible, the scene is extremely dark. While the milky way exposures are long, the earth is rotating, creating a form of action photography.

The aurora has varying intensities and can be pulsing and dancing around the frame. If the exposure is too long, the dancing and pulsing aurora turns into a big smear of color. Thus, aurora photography also involves action, an action that is often moving considerably faster than the earth's rotation.

Wide apertures are a big advantage for stopping action, and each of the lenses included in the above list is the widest available at its respective focal length. Just because a lens has a wide aperture does not mean that you want to use that aperture, as many wide aperture lenses are not sharp wide open, becoming considerably sharper as they are stopped down. However, those in the above list are outstanding performers wide open.

While the f/1.4 aperture is a clear advantage held by the FE 24 over the other two lenses, f/1.8 is still very wide. Motion blur is caused when subject details cross over pixel wells on the imaging sensor. Because the 24mm focal length magnifies subject details more than the 14mm and 20mm options, a slightly faster shutter speed is required to photograph the same subject at the same distance with an equivalent amount of motion blur. This shutter speed difference offsets some of the aperture difference.

Mostly, I selected between these three prime lenses based on the angle of view they provide.

The day started with a 5:30 AM alarm and a long search for moose. Upon returning late morning, we learned that the northern lights forecast was favorable. However, the weather did not appear to be favorable, with heavy cloud cover promising to block all higher altitude subjects. Still, the National Weather Service hourly forecast showed the skies expected to clear at 2:00 AM at our desired viewing location. That time coincided with the moon setting, yielding darker skies.

After a short nap, a 2-hour drive ensued, heading north for darker skies and a favorable viewing location. Intermittently checking the skies, the clearing began right on schedule. Unfortunately, the aurora was not yet apparent to the eye. Dim northern lights are considerably easier to see in a long exposure image, so cameras were mounted to tripods and put into action. Test images showed a small vertical column forming over Denali, the mountain in the bottom of this image.

Initially, the northern lights were small, muted, and stationary. The 24mm lens made the little show larger in the frame than the other two lens options, and also accentuated Denali in the foreground.

The show progressed, significantly increasing in intensity and motion, with this image requiring only a 4-second exposure at f/1.4 and ISO 2500. Eventually, the 20mm angle of view (sample here) was needed to take it all in, and the 14mm angle of view (sample here) became optimal not long afterward.

We pulled into the driveway at 6:30 AM. Aside from a short nap and a few eyes-closed rests, it was a 25-hour day. As is usually the case, I struggle to remember the details of the exhaustion, but the memory of the dancing northern lights is still clear, and the images will last a lifetime, keeping the memory alive.


 
24mm  f/1.4  4s  ISO 2500
Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G, The Ultimate Northern Lights Lens Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G, The Ultimate Northern Lights Lens
 

As I share this image, the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Lens is one of my three favorite night sky lenses.

While it is one of three, it is not always the third choice. This lens is my first choice when the 20mm angle of view is desired.

Read the full story behind this northern lights shoot in the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens sample image from the same night.


 
20mm  f/1.8  8s  ISO 3200
Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM, The Ultimate Northern Lights Lens Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM, The Ultimate Northern Lights Lens
 

As I share this image, the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Lens is one of my three favorite night sky lenses.

While it is one of three, it is not always the third choice. This lens is my first choice when the 14mm angle of view is desired.

Read the full story behind this northern lights shoot in the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens sample image from the same night.


 
14mm  f/1.8  8s  ISO 3200
Northern Lights 4 Northern Lights 4
 

A dramatic display of the Northern Lights. Like fire coming from the sky.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 400
Red and Green Northern Lights Picture Red and Green Northern Lights Picture
 

Amazing bright red and bright green Northern Lights light up the sky in this picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 500
Fire Falling From The Sky Northern Lights Picture Fire Falling From The Sky Northern Lights Picture
 

Bright red and green northern lights appear to be falling like fire from the sky.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 500
The Sky Is On Fire - Northern Lights Picture The Sky Is On Fire - Northern Lights Picture
 

Like fiery smoke billowing above the trees, the Northern Lights light up the night sky.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 640
Aurora Borealis Aurora Borealis
 

It looks like something out of a science fiction special effects movie. An high performing Aurora Borealis picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 500
The Incredible Northern Lights The Incredible Northern Lights
 

Green Northern Lights form a long glowing band across the sky.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 400
Night Lights - Northern Lights Night Lights - Northern Lights
 

The night lights are on! Brilliant Northern Lights light up the night time.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 400
Red Ball Northern Lights Picture Red Ball Northern Lights Picture
 

The Northern Lights form a bright red ball in this picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 500
House Backlit by Northern Lights Picture House Backlit by Northern Lights Picture
 

A mountain top house is illuminated from behind by red and green Northern Lights.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 500
Northern Lights 3 Northern Lights 3
 

Like radio-active clouds hanging over the mountains, Northern Lights provide an amazing show in this picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 400
Red and Green Aurora Borealis Picture Red and Green Aurora Borealis Picture
 

The beautiful Aurora Borealis lights up the night with red and green color in this picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 400
Rainbow at Night - Northern Lights Picture Rainbow at Night - Northern Lights Picture
 

Rainbow-colored bands of Northern Lights create a colorful night time picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 500
Streaks of Northern Lights Picture Streaks of Northern Lights Picture
 

The Northern Lights streak down from the sky in this picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 500
Night Sky of Color by the Northern Lights Night Sky of Color by the Northern Lights
 

The night show presented by the Northern Lights.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 400
Northern Lights 2 Northern Lights 2
 

The Northern Lights provide the back-light to the trees in this picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 400
The Northern Lights The Northern Lights
 

The Northern Lights in this picture are nearly overhead - in Pennsylvania, USA!


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 500
Green Northern Lights Green Northern Lights
 

Green is the primary light color in the Northern Lights picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 400
Descending Northern Lights Picture Descending Northern Lights Picture
 

Brightly-colored Northern Lights stream toward Earth in this picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 500
Clouds and Northern Lights Picture Clouds and Northern Lights Picture
 

Clouds float in contrast to brightly colored Northern Lights in this picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 640
Aurora Borealis 2 Aurora Borealis 2
 

The Aurora Borealis is putting on one of its best shows ever in this picture.


 
14mm  f/2.8  20s  ISO 500
Northern Lights 5 Northern Lights 5
 


 
17mm  f/4.0  30s  ISO 400
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